LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 8, 4 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Masterton man received a surprise on Wednesday. He was accosted in the street by an apparent stranger, who handed him two shillings, with the remark, "Thanks very much. I borrowed that from you at a street corner in Wellington twelve years ago." A certain officer of high rank received orders to proceed to the front. He left London, crossed over, took a taxi to within three miles of the front, stepped out, was wounded by a long-distance shell, got back into the taxi, and came home again—all in eighteen hours.

There is likely to be a large house at the Concert to be given at the Town Hall on Wednesday next. A firstclass programme has been arranged, in which the well-known Hawera Male Choir take a prominent part, and the proceeds are on behalf of the Stratford Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

A Palmerston man with a dreamy reminiscent look in his eye, discussing wool prices and the anxiety of some of the wool' kings to exact payment for the last hair, recalled the time when he went to Makuri and bought a woolshed full of the golden. fleeces for 3d per pound—and lost money on them!

There is a strong probability that the man who has accustomed himself to taking from the whisky decanter a shilling's worth for sixpence, will find himself "euchred" i'n the Dunedin bars (says a southern correspondent). A number of the hotelkeepers are considering the advisability of using decanters with a patent stop, which will let out a quarter of a gill and no more.

A demonstration of the methods followed in the business of a butcher was given before the members of the Board of Trade at an Auckland shop last week. The carcase of a bullock, weighing 7001 b., was cut into joints ready for cooking in the remarkably short time of 8 minutes 25 seconds. When the joints were weighed it was found that the aggregate was very little less than that of the original carcase. The Board of Trade asked for the demonstration in order to obtain information regarding different matters governing meat prices. ' ]

It happened at a school not a hundred miles from Masterton. The teacher of a class, who is eligible for military service, ordered a lad to remain behind alter hours and write fifty lines, a course of punishment usually meted out to offending pupils. The lad, who considered his offence did not warrant the punishment, determined to get one back on the teacher. He completed the task set him, ami when the teacher went to examine the work, he was confronted bv fifty lines of the sentence, "Your King il1 "' Country • N " , '' H ' Yml -"

A general meeting of the Stratford District School Committee's Association will be held in the Stratford School to-morrow (Tuesday) at 2.30 p.m.

The Patriotic .Mart and Tea Rooms which wore in charge of Mesdames A. F. Grant, G. Smart, A. Maekay, and J Petrie, were well patronised on Saturday, the proceeds going to the Stratford Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

The Napier Harbor Board lias decided, in respect to the by-law which stipulates that harbormasters must be British subjects, to make a recommendation to the Minister for Marine that the stipulation should be amended to read : "That harbormasters must be British born." A street collection for the Belgian Relief Fund will be made by the Salvation Army on Saturday next, as a wind-up effort to their appeal for the Belgian children. Christmas "sacks" arc being distributed by the Army authorities, and each one receiving a sack is requested to fill or get filled a Christmas Sac.; for the Belgian children, and return sun. 1 to Adjutant Cook, who will gladly supp'y sacks for the purpose on request.

On Thursday evening next, the Merry Musical Maoris from Waitara open for one night in the Town Hall, Stratford. Th ir programme is a very good one, and amy one interested, in hearing good singing, will not be disappointed. They give one or two Maori choruses, "Takapuna," and "Karere," being the most effective. Singers, dancers and musicians are all Maoris, and each one an artist in his or her own line. The entertainment should lie an interesting one. Robert Frost and J. Lockwood were in partnership for some years as contractors in Northern Wairoa (says the Napier Telegraph.) Une was on the road to Whattgarei. His horse fell. He broke a leg and went to a hospital. The other was on the same road on the same horse afterwards. The horse fell at the same place. The rider's "same" leg was broken in the same place. The doctor who attended the first also attended the second. The nurse who nursed the one, nursed the other. Both enlisted, one with the Third Reinforcements, the other with the Fifth. Both were wounded.. They.met on the same boat, and came back .to New Zealand. They both-.put in for-land, and drew sections in the same:ballot.

A striking instance of official cheeseparing was mentioned by a delegate to Friday's meeting of the "War Funds Council at Invercargill (says the "Times"). A young Southlander enlisted. His teeth were not in very good order, and he was directed to have three or four of them out, the military authorities supplying him with an equal number of artificial molars. In camp the soldier contracted sciatica, and was eventually discharged from the Forces and sent home. But he was not allowed to keep the false teeth, as the military people demanded them. Now, although the young man can boast of no bullet marks or bayonet scars, he displays as evidence of his service with the colours, sundry gaps in the otherwise unbroken ranks of his masticating agents.'

A farmev in the--" Western district has n strong opinion- in regard to the employment now of canvassers for the supply of agricultural requirements, and he told a "Southland News" representative that the other day a young man mounted on a motor-cycle visited his place on quest of an order for guano. His reply was that the seeker after business should be serving his country in France and that he would send to the firm his visitor was representing for the guano when he wanted it. Next day another agent came along, this one being equipped with an expensive motor-car. His mission was to sell sheep dip, but he failed to secure business, the farmer, as in the other case, taunting the man of commerce that he should he defending his country in France or, m the cocky's own words: "You go and kill the Germans, I can kill the ticks."

Not to be outdone by other towns in New Zealand, Trentham Camp is now to have a "town clock." Some weeks ago Mr A. J. B. A'Deaue, of Takapu, presented Lieutenant-Colo-nel Potter (Camp Commandant) with a cheque for £SO to provide a camp clock Inquiries were made throughout New Zealand for a suitable timepiece but there were none forthcoming of the pattern desired. It was accordingly decided to have one made, and the order has now been placed in \\ ellington. The Post states that the clock will be mounted on a specially constructed tower on the Church of England Institute, the highest buildingin camp, and will be connected with a steam whistle at the boiler house, which will sound daily the honra oi reveille- parade, dinner, tea, etc. As everything in camp is done on schedule time the innovation should prove an exceedingly useful one, and will be appreciated by the officers and men alike.

The number of marriages registerocT iu the Stratford district for the s month of November was three: I

Railway workmen are busily engaged just now in strengthening ihe supports of the railway bridge over the Patea river, aB a safeguard against the effects of heavy floods.

The points prize in the Home Industries section of the Stratford Show was won by Miss K. Harrison with 28 points. * In the School Children's class, the points prizes were as follows: Louie Brown (Midhirst) 7 points, Mira Wilson (Ratapiko) ,5.

The result of the jiivenile judging of Jerseys at the Stratford Show has been issued by Mr E. Griffiths, the judge, as follows: R. Scown, Kakaramea (New Plymouth High School) 1, H. Glen (Taraiki School) 2, C. Fougere Ngaere (Stratford District High School) 3. The task of adjudicating occupied'some careful scrutiny, as the judge had 75 cards to handle.

A meeting of the teachers of the T&ranaki Teachers' Institute was held in Stratford on Saturday, about forty members being present. Mr Sims, of Ngaere, occupied the chair. The meeting was engaged principally with remits to the conference of the N.Z.b.I. to be held at Wellington during the first week in January. A protest was made against the injustice done to the children and parents throughout New Zealand by limiting the number of proficiency certificates.

A somewhat serious cycling accident happened to 'Mr Charles Gander, a few days ago when passing the Manganui Bridge, Midhirst. Riding .a cycle in the direction of Stratford, he came into collision with a motor car driven hy Mr Therkleston, of Tariki, resulting in a hroken collar bone. The injured man was brought into Stratford and was attended by Dr Paget, and subsequently he was taken to the Stratford 'Hospital, where he is still an inmate.