LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 99, 23 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A large number of townspeople left by the trains this morning for the Hawera Show. The annual Stratford School examination has been postponed indefinitely. A social takes place in the Methodist Schoolroom to-night at 7.45 p.m. on behalf of the Trentham Methodist Institute. At the County Council meeting yesterday, Cr Buskin said the work at the railway crossing at Bcaconsfield Hoard had been completed, and it Avas a "tip-top job." Praise from this quarter, Mr Engineer, is praise indeed ! Thero are about 3,000 members in the New Zealand Fire Brig.ade Association, and of these 900 have ed or are now on active service with the Dominion's forces in Franco. Of this number SO have been killed, and two are prisoners of war. Two hundred of these have been wounded in battle.

When a request at yesterday's County Council meeting was made by the Toko School Committee for the services of the Engineer to supervise work at the school playground, the Chairman remarked: "They must have a good opinion of the Engineer down there": Cr Walter added: "So we have." There is, generally speaking, too much said against people, and a word in a man's favour goes a long way to help him in his work. Some Councillors recognise these good points.

The official opening of the New Commercial Travellers' Club in Dunedin on Saturday night was marked by an unrehearsed incident. When the Hon. J. T. Paul took his seat on the platform, one of the members objected to his presence owing to his anti-con-scription views. As Mr Paul's- invitation was sent him as a memoer of the Legislative Council some weeks ago the complaint was ignored, whereupon the protestor and those in sympathy with him, quietly left the room. The farmers of Australia were solidly against conscription, says Mr Robert Semple, who took part in the anti-conscription campaign in Australia on behalf of the New Zealand Labour party and thy Miners' Federation, of which he is agent. He mentioned that in Bathurst, New South Wales, the centre of one of the largest farming districts, the vote was three to' one against conscription—the largest "no" vote recorded in Australia. The farmers did not vote from selfish motives, as Mr Hughes had promised them all the labour necessary. Sir Semple said that the farmers in Australia arc good democrats and were imbued with unionist principles asthe result of their connection in their younger days with the Australian Workers' Union, the great hotly of rural workers.

Probate of the will of the late Henry William Mudford, deceased, has been granted on the motion of Mr Percy Thomson (of Halliwell and Thomson) to the executors named in the will, by His Honor, Mr Justice Chapman. The local Postmaster advises as follows :—Owing to interruption on the cables between Porthcurnow (England) and Gibraltar, all Great Britain traffic via Eastern is subject to heavy delay. Soldiers and some deferred telegrams are" being posted between London and Gibraltar. A telegram from Wellington appearing in the News states : Apparently reliable reports from several quarters indicate that the Imperial Government intends to commandeer one-half of the New Zealand cheese output. The commandeering will be done in the United Kingdom, after the arrival of the cheese. The Government here has not yet received any official information on the subject, and has cabled to London for a statement. The reports state the price to be paid will be 100 s per c«t. The record heavy sheep to be slaughtered at the Stratford Abattors was among Wednesday's tally. It was a monster 6-tootb crossbred wether, fattened by Mr J. Brookes, of Pembroke Road, and killed to the order of Messrs Scott Bios, Ngaere, and turned the scales at no less than 196 lbs dressed weight. For the first time in the history of the abattors, it was necessary to make use of the block and tackle to hoist a sheep on to the hooks. The skin weighs oOlbs. The above is a striking example -of what can be done in this district on pasture carrying a few sheep with the cows. Among the many qualities which the gonial Chairman of the Stratford County Council possesses is that of a good temper. When it is recalled that the re-election of Mr Hathaway to the position of chairman is the sixth year in succession, it is a compliment indeed, and his services to the County , during the past twelve years cannot be over-estimated. During the coming year many difficulties will have to be faced, and it is to bo hoped that these will be lightened by the united efforts of all members to help ono another in the discharge of their duties as Councillors. At the Hawke's Bay Spring Show held at Hastings recently, sheep dippod in "McDougalPs" secured the following awards :—ll championships out of 14, 33 firsts, 16 seconds, 7 thirds, and 6 very "highly commended. 'rtiffiV ! x