LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 16 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At tho conclusion of the ordinary service at St. Andrew’s Churca, to-

morrow evening, a Choral Service will bo held. The Choir has been assiduously practising a number of bright Christmas Carols for some time past", and those will bo interspersed with vocal solos. There will be a retiring

collection in aid of the Choir estry Fund.

A very cheerful optimist strolled into the Christchurch Area Group Recruiting Office a day or two ago. He was a farmer, which fact probably accounted for his optimism. He had been drawn in the ballot, and his method of explaining the reason for his call at the recruiting office was to say, with a bright smile, “Well, my luck’s iu! I’ve drawn a section in France.

Several passengers travelling by the Auckland express to Wellington;: on Sunday were seized with mild ptomaine poisoning through eating, lapparently, fish served iu the dining car. Mr G. E. Alderton informed the Dom, inion that his son and several other members of the Royal Naval Boat Patrol Contingent, who were passengers, as well as some lady passengers, were sufferers, some of them very severely. It is complained by passengers that the service on the express dining-cars has fallen oil in a veiy marked degree of late.

Incident in S.M. Court proceedings yesterday. Sergeant: “Did you see him drinking?” Witness—“ Cm—no. There were so many there that 1 didn’t notice him specially. Seigeant: “Did you have a drink with him yourself?” Witness: “Oh; you’re a bit sudden!” S.M. : “See here "di-

much Ego in yfmr Compos!” iYoii are a business man, have had lots pH.experience, and should remember that as a citizen you have a duty to perform. In giving evidence you must remembei your. oath. In answer to further questions, witness admitted that he had partaken of liquid refreshment with the parties in dispute.

At yesterday’s sitting of the S.M. Court, Mr T. C. Fookes, on behalf of the Bar, extended the Season’s Greetings to Mr Haselden, SAL In the course of a few well-chosen renuuks, ho .assured the Bench of the friendly feelings that existed towards His Worship on the side of the legal pi actitioners of the circuit, and trusted that the Christmas vacation would prove a pleasant one. Mr Haselden thanked the speaker for the kindly remarks, and said that spoken compliments oftimes covered deeper feelings. He had been visiting Stratford now for just a year, and it had been a very busy and interesting one. He hoped to be here next year, and to continue his pleasant relations with the Bar. His decisions might at times appear a little arbitrary, but he was there, not for a pea ranees, but to keep “the cars on the rails,” and do his best to deal out Justice as well as Law. “And now,” said His Worship (with a glance at the charge sheet, the first case being one of assault) “to get back to sordid details again!

Referring to the recent refusal of the Minister for Railways to prevent a railway officer from taking up a P 1 rate occupation in his spare time, the Railway Officers’ Advocate states:— “In our service, where we are governed by rules and regulations to a great extent, where common business reasoning is almost barred, and where at times we find members so weighted with railway concerns that their one idea is Shop, Shop, Shop, continually until it becomes ingrained, and they become machines, we think it vill be found that members’ minds would broaden commercially and greatly benefit by the much-needed relaxation of being privileged to dabble in piivate business or hobbies. I here are many business pursuits and hobbies which can be turned to pro't in our own time, and which may be taken up without prejudice to the Service of Department, and we think that the Hon. Minister, in allowing this, will be securing a long-sought and needed benefit not only to the members oi the Service, but also to the Depai tment. ’ Gifts for men—-the right kind of gifts—are a puzzle to most people. Rut the way is made easy by the Egmont Clothing Company and how i this is done will best be discovered | by paying a visit to this up-to-date store. x

A meeting of the Stratford Jersey Breeders Association was called for this morning in the A. nd P. Association’s Rooms, but lapsed for want of a quorum. The meeting is now called for 1 p.m. on 13th January next.

At a meeting of Directors of the Central Co-op. Store Company, of Stratford, Ltd., held yesterday, it was resolved to pay a war bonus of ten per cent, to all assistants in, the Company’s employment.

Weather forecast.—The indications are for variable and moderate breezes but easterly moderate to strong winds prevailing. There is a prospect of fair weather, but weather cloudy to overcast at times. Barometer little movement, hut falling after about 3G hours.—Bates, Wellington.

The S.M. Court presented a busy appearance yesterday. Mr Haselden, S.M., was on the Bench, and the legal fraternity were well represented, there being no fewer than ten members of the Bar present. The public were also in full force, evidently on the look-out for fuu!

Something of a sensation was caused at Shannon on Wednesday, just as the New Plymouth express was pulling out of the station on its way to Palmerston. Amongst the passengers fram Wellington was an elderly man, named Willhuu Hodgson, who alighted at Shannon. When the train start-

ed again ho was seen to throw himself in front of the engine, which, fortunately, had not a great deal of way on. lb' was promptly seized and pulled off the rails. On examination he was found to have sustained only

a few scratches on the knees and face. He was arrested and brought on to Palmerston North, where he was handed over to the police. The rahn s condition was found to be such that it is intended to apply to the Magistrate for his committal to a mental hospital.

It is to be sincerely hoped that all who possibly can do so will make an effort to be present at the Stratford Town Hall on Monday evening next, when Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P.. will give an address under the auspices ""of the Stratford Patriotic Society and the Egmont Club, on “The War —and After.” When it became known that Mr and Mrs IJornsbriad decided to spend a short holiday m Taranaki, the opportunity" was welcomed to induce him to give addresses at Waitara, Stratford, and Hawera. Mr Hornsby is a powerful and fluent speaker, and his subject matter is deeply interesting and instructive. He has for long been a student of German thought and philosophy, and his researches enable him to throw light on questions which, to some of us at least, have been supremely puzzling.

In her “Watch-Tower” notes in the “Theosophist” tor October, Mis Annie Besaut says that she endorses every word she wrote tw r o years ago regarding the war and the noble part played therein by England. “I hold as strongly now as then that this war is a war of ideals, not merely jaf: nations, and that the place of 'every true Theosophist is on the side of righteousness and honour, of the sacradness of treaties and the protection, of the weak. There is but one end possible to this war, the triumph of righteousness over wrong. If wrong could tiiumpli, then the world w’ould entei on a period of frightful suffering. European civilisation'would perish as those of Babylon, of Egypt, of Rome, have perished, and Europe would be trampled into ruin under the heel of the new* Barbarians-. That will not be.”

An unusual case came before Mr Justice Stringer at the Auckland Supreme Court recently, Robert Henry Stevenson being charged with having written a letter to the Judge about a certain case that was to come before bis Honor. When the defendant answered to his name, his Honor remarked; “You addressed a letter to me in. connection with a recent case before me ?”—“I did, sir.” “Are you not aware that it was a very gross impropriety on your part Defendant; “I am aware- of that now, sir, and have here a written apology which 1 wish to hand in.” Hiis Honor, after perusing the apology', said: “I am very glad to have that letter. It is in a different tone from your former one. To address a letter to a Judge in connection with a case which ia coming before him is a very grave impropriety. You apparently thought from something that had been told you that this man’s case was not being properly presented. Your proper place, if you believed that to be the case, was in the witness-box, where vour could have been cross-examined. I am satisfied now with the apology von have addressed to me, therefore nothing more will be done m the matter. It is just as well for you and other people to know that writing such a letter is not merely inpertinence, but contempt of Court, for which a very heavy penalty is provided. As, However, your apology is satisfactory , you can go now.”