LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 11, 7 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The December mooting oi the Taranaki Education Board will he held on Wednesday, 20th inst., at It a.m. The Board’s offices will ho closed for the Christmas vacation, from Saturday, 23rd December, until Wednesday, 3rd January, 1917. The difficulties with regard to the train arrangements having been oveteome, High School hoys to the number of thirteen proceeded by the mail train to Hawera this morning for instruction in shearing and woolclassing. Mr Dixon, at the last meeting of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, said he thought the Chamber should mala' a request to the railway authorities to have the 7.25 morning train from Hawera to New Plymouth speeded up, also the late evening train horn New Plymouth to Hawera. H this were done it would give people a longer day in New Plymouth. He mentioned that Hie Department vas was losing a lot of passenger Dalit': because neople could make the .ioiuney more quickly hv motor ear, and he further slated that on one occasion he iwd left New Plymouth til live m He 'v'Viing, practically an hour altei Hi raiti left New Plymouth, ami hml ;i ,ug'(it it at Stratford. H' moved m his a’irection, and that the Chamber vrite An the Ell bam, Stratford and Slew Plymouth Chambers, request mg heir cooperation in the matter. Ihe notion V» as carried.

“I never took my clothes off, nor had a wash from August Ist, 1915, until May 20th this year—nearly ten long months”—said Sir Ernest Shackleton, in the course of his lecture at Wellington. The statement was greeted with laughter. “Well,” added the explorer, “when J made that statement in South America there was no such sensation as that. (Laughter.) 1 remarked on it afterwards to a man, saying that they hadn’t seemed to think anything of it. And the man replied, ‘ 1 hey would have'laughed if you had said that you had had a hath every day for ten months.” (Renewed laughter).

The rather unconventional actions of a Maori woman caused a picnic party, camped on the banks of tho river not far from New Plymouth, a great deal of amusement. The native in question .strolled down to the opposite hank and leisurely proceeded to remove her coat. This was all right, hut when another blue garment followed the onlookers sat up and began to take notice. The shed-

ding of further pink and yellow garments caused positive alarm, but still the process went on. Just as the campers were wondering whether it was time to retrie, it was seen, with relief, that the dusky lady was quite suitably dad in improvised bathing costume, and the performance just gene through was only a prelude to what was evidently the daily wash.

The outstanding evening event of next week will provide an opportunity to do a kindly deed for the children. As the outcome of a casual meeting of sympathisers with the work of the Sisters of the Notre Dame Dcs Missions, a picture-concert has been aiv ranged for Friday night in aid of the prize-fund of the Stratford Convent, '(hanks to the generosity of Mr F. Foley, the use of His Majesty’s Theatre and the cinema plant and films have been placed at the disposal of the management, and selected pictures will he screened to form the first half of the programme. The Sisters of the Convent have been steadily tutoring groups of children in action songs and hoop drill and these are sure to prove among the most interesting for the evening. Vocal and instrumental,, itejms. by leading musicians complete an; excellent night’s entertainment. Popular prices are being charged,''and a full attendance should be registered.

A strange new city, situated somewhere in Scotland,” already has a. population of over -1000, although it has only been in .existence about twelve months. A writer in the

“Christian Commonwealth” says that it resembles in many respects a rising city in the Far East, “with its long streets of small wooden houses, its high bridges, covered ways, railroads, and the,broad stretches of naked earth which day by day diminish as new buildings are erected. But the settlers here are almost entirely women. They are engaged in shell-filling, and are paid a regular weekly wage. It is the proud boast of this factory that it is the first in Scotland to have a woman works manager—a . Glasgow University graduate, who, like the heads of other departments, lives within the' city boundaries. Everything so far as* the actual work is concerned is up to date, and every' precaution is taken to keep the worker in the best of health. There are women fire patrols, under the direction of a fire master, while women inspectors and overseers - are employed. Spotlessly clean are the kitchens and diningroom's, high roofs and open windows helping to keep the places fresh even during the rush of the dinner hours, and the comfort of the workers generally is seen to by lady superintendents whose services are always at the disposal of the gills. Truly, the ideal of Tennvson’s ‘Princess’ realised!”

As the summer season advances, a number of folk desirous, of finding a. cool and refreshing retreat turn their steps towards the snow-peaked Mount Egmont, which at this season of the year is a tonic even to see from Stratford, while a stay at the Stratford Mountain House virtually proves to the jaded business man or woman an Elysium of bliss. Just now the bush is putting forth her summer dress, though here and there are signs that the native white clematis has shed her best flowers, but that does not rob Nature of her varying beauty. Along the track to the Mountain House, after leaving the Pembroke Hoad, glorious vistas appear, where the glint of tne Sun on varied shades of green throws a beauty which alone belongs to the hush. Here, too, the obstrusive little fantail approaches with its defect, note, while the whistle of the green parrot and the familiar vailing llute-liko song of the tui produce a harmony which' robs the mountain bush of its loneliness. These journevs fire i nthemselves 1 ruddying and give those periodical upliftings for which the human system craves. Before the season is too well advanced. it would be well to make the necessary arrangements to pay a visit to the Stratford Mountain House, where the caretakers, Mr and Mrs Elliot, w ill be only too pleased to welcome the visitors. It need scarcely be added that those who desire conveyance can find every means of locomotion at any of the Stratford garages and stables, while telephonic communication is available tit the house direct from Stratford.

A meeting of the committee of the Taranaki Education Board, consisting of M essrs R. Masters (chairman), E.

Dixon, and Rev. D. B. Chappell, met yesterday to consider the reorganisation of the office staff owing to increasing work necessitated by the Board’s forward policy with regard to the manual, technical, and general education. The committee will report to the next meeting of the Board.