LOCAL AND GENERAL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 29, 30 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The "Stratford Evening Post" will not bo published on New Year's Day. The blacksmiths of Stratford and surrounding districts have been com-. polled to advance the price lor liorse-j shoeing sixpence per set owing to thej continued advance in the price ol j raw material. Both North nnd South J Tar.-.nnki increased their shoeing! rates some time ago.

Most of the visiting horseowucrs and trainers, with their ehargM, have arrived in Stratford for the races ncxi week. I Under the auspices of the Midhirst Soldiers' Farewell and Reception Committee, a sond-off social .wn! be tendered to Privates P. Andersen and A. Tickers on Thursday evening peso in the Midhirs! Public Hall. . Speaking at Wellington yesterday of the Imperial Conference. Mr Allen said there was no doubt that Mr Mnssey would attend the Conference and remain in England until it was concluded.—Press Association. Questioned as to the prospects ot, an early session of Parliament in New Zealand, Mr Allen yesterday said: "At the present moment there is no intention of calling Parliament to-' gether until Mr Massey returns."—' Press Association.' As a remarkable instance of growth in the space of 24 hours, the following record is worth notice (says the Hawke's Pay Tribune). Mr 'Ralph Paynter, orchardist, of Havelock road, Hastings, is now growing some pumpkins, and he resolved to measure their growth, and he found that one plant grew eight inches and another seven in the time mentioned.

The news that two men ha'd been fined £2O each in the North Island i'or "shouting," brought the following brief comment from the Westminster Gazette:—"We know that the treating instinct is deeply and firmly rooted, but if ridicule could kill, it could hardly survive this exposure of its folly. Two men each want—or would like—a drink, and instead of each paying for his own, they contrive to get fined in all £4O, because each must needs want to pay for the other."

"We (Auckland Observer) have sat in a picture theatre witnessing terrified prisoners, their wits gone (possibly for ever), greeted with laughter by people who would scream at a tram "accident. It's comedy to them ! There is as little comedy in war as there is in the first chapter of Genesis or the Book of Revelation. It is, imperative to believe that no 'Peace, goodwill to men' can come to the bleeding earth without more bloodshed, that the sacrifices the Allies arc making have to be increased, that in order to give 'Peace in our time' the ghastly havoc must be made ghastlier and that cold, calculated scientific butchery is the only way to end cold, calculated scientific butchery."

The Stratford racecourse is in better condition just now than it has ever been before. There should be some, great racing on Monday.

Speaking at a meeting of the Farmers' Union at Christ-church, Mr F. G. Horrell said that there was no doubt the situation was extremely serious. He did not wish to lie an alarmist.

but he thoughi that if no wheat could be obtained from Australia there would not be an ounce of bread ii New

Zealand by twelve months' time. No man could travel from Christchurch

to Timaru and see the crops and feel quiet in his mind as to the wheat supply. It was not a question ol price at all: the wheat must be obtained, and adequate encouragement must be given to the farmers to grow it. Every effort should be made to economise our wheat, and he thought that if the foivls of the country continued to be fed on wheat now, the people would be starving in twelve months' time.

That there is anxiety on the part of some wives that their husbands should go to the front has been impressed on the officials at the Wellington recruiting office reports the Times. Within the last few months several wives have entered the office and asked that their husbands be approached—even compelled—to enlist. Whether such requests were actuated by patriotism or more selfish motives was not quite clear in two or three cases. There have been instances, however, when "better halves" have almost tearfully asked that their husbands be sent to camp, and have quoted their household troubles and the fact that their erring husbands have been spending their wages in other directions than home upkeep. The recruiting officers have, of course, listened sympathetically, but have had to explain that they have no power in such matters.

Following the success of the past two years, the Stratford Racing Club has again arranged for the Watiganui band to give a sacred concert for patriotic purposes. The arrangements are being carried out by the Stratford Patriotic Committee. The A. and P. Association have lent their grounds free, and all conveniences for a big crowd arc available. Tile charge is Is for adults, 6d for children, all vehicles free. All proceeds go to swell the Taranaki "Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Afternoon tea will he procurable on the. grounds. There ought, to he a very large attendance from all parts of the district.

"Much may be conquered."—Shelley. But you must employ the right weapons. The enemies of the throat and lungs can be conquered most effectively by the use of Baxter's Lung Preserver, the tested remedy. Keep a bottle in your home always. In summer the danger of chills is evenpresent. At the first sign of a cold take a dose of "Baxter's'". U is delightfully soothing in ail threat and lung affections. Its tonic and vitalising powers fortify against disease. A big bottle of Baxter's Lung Preserver at Is lOd is a splendid investment. Buy, to-day.

A busy band of workers was to-day putting on the finishing touches at the Stratford racecourse. The mails which left New Zealand on .November 11th via Suez arrived in London on the morning of the 2oth instant. A Press Association message from Wanganui states: James Baldwin, who escaped from Wellington Prison on August 3, was captured at Aramoho last evening. Prisoner was remanded to Wellington. Weather Forecast.—The indications are for moderate to strong winds ami backing by east to north, then fresnening. Expect warm and sultry weather with increasing haze, and cloudiness for change after about 36 to 48 hours. Barometer falling soon.— Bates, Wellington. The Breakwater Picnic on Monday at Nov," Plymouth will be the seaside attraction for Taranaki. The new Pavilion will he opened, and there will be a big novelty programme including donkey races, aquatic events, children's races, and a marathon. A treasure hunt, in connection.with which quite a number of valuable prizes- will ! be bidden, should cause considerable excitement.

Amongst the passengers by the mail train ibis morning was Sister Cicely, a New Plymouth girl, who has done yoeman nursing service at the front. She was on duty on the Hosl pital Ship "Maheno," afterwards taking np her duties at the Walton-on-Thames Hospital, at which place two returned Stratford boys speak of her as a veritable 'ministering angel." On her health giving way, she returned to New Zealand by the Corinthic in August last. She is at present en route to Niue Islands, Raratonga, where she is to take charge of the hospital.

According to the "Sydney Morning Herald" the shipping problem, which has grown in intensity since the war started, may now be said to have been somewhat relieved by a series of events that will have a most desirable effect as far as the Australian grower is concerned. There are nearly 100 ships on their way to Australia to shift the wheat harvest and the wool clip, the vessels being tinder commission by the British Government. There is already in Australia a large quantity of wheat, the balance left over from last season, and as the new wheat is making its appearance every available inch of shipping space will bo heavily taxed. The partial failure of the Argentine crows owing to excessive rains, together with the comparative shortage of wheat in America, has naturally diverted a considerable amount of tonnage under the British Government's control towards Australia. Scarcity of tonnage last year was undoubtedly the most serious problem that faced Australian Wheat Board, and, had it not been for the

energetic action of the British authorities in purchasing these two products, it is more than probable that its? difficulties would have remained a disturbing factor in the whole of the industries of Australia. Twelve months hence Britain's indebtedness to Australia for wheat, alone will amount to some £28,000,000.

Many visitors from other parts of the Dominion are in Stratford for the Racing Club's meeting on Monday anu Tuesday next.