LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 81, 25 May 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Hawke’s Hay coach pass'eng&r had an uneviable experience during tiie recent phenomenal rainfall. The horses came to a standstill in a creek, and the passenger had to alight, the water being up to his chest. The horses were liberated, hut were swept, down the stream. The coach remained in the creek, and the passengers had to walk into Napier. The passing of the “Hello” girl has arrived. It was announced some weeks ago that a 100-set of .Automatic telephones had been landed in Sydney, and that it was to be erected' at the General Post Office, by the agent, in order to demonstrate its. .aridity, accuracy, and practicability. The chief point about' tho automatic phone is the elimination of the human factor. The Auckland Winter Exhibition was opened on Monday by the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture. The exhibition, which will last over a whole week, is the biggest of the kind yet held in Auckland,; the catalogue showing over 780 entries in the competitive classes, while over 100 industrial exhibits are made in the non-competitive section. As a sale was proceeding at Messrs Miller and Craig’s auction mart- at Gisborne the other day a person handed up a. couple of sovereigns, and asked that they be placed under offer. The bargain-seekers were evidently in doubt as to the genuineness of the metal, although the sovereigns were handed round for inspection. Eventually one bidder purchased them at 19s 6d each, netting a shilling on the transaction. Tho owner was satisfied that ho had had a shilling’s worth of fun out of tho deal.

Distinguishing hands on the funnels have been .decided upon lor live < f the cruisers of the Australian Squadron. The live vessels are the .Prometheus, Pyramus, Pioneer, Pvsehe, and Pegasus. Already the matk.s have been painted on three of the vessels, viz., the Psyche and Prometheus with two white hands, and the Pyramus with a red hand. It is explained hy the naval authorities that when two or more ships of the one class are on the same station the distinguishing hands are used so that the sister-ships may he distinguished from one another at a'distance. This practice lias been in vogue on ships on the Home Fleet ami on other stations For some time. .Jessie Brooks, a child of nine, was lost from Peiehhcith Well, in the Far North of Australia, and was found by the Hergott Springs police and trackers after she had been three days without food. When she realised that she was lost she kept in. sight of a mol) ol cattle belonging to Mr Burns, of Reiehhoilh. The child is, apparently, none the worse for her exposure to the weather. When the police and tracker came up with her, she laughingly remarked, “I knew the wild dogs would not get me, as the cattle would save me. The hull is a holy terror on wild dogs, and I knew he would get to any wild dog that wanted to kill mo.” Ihe policetracker had kept on the child's tracks for nearly twenty miles over the rough ranges, and, although scarcely a trace could he seen hy a white man, lie. minutely described places whore the child had rested and played; and, in one instance, ■ removed her hoots. At a meeting ol the laranaki Winter Snow Commit tee on I uos’day, a letter was read from Air. .1. (J. W ilson, president oi the .New Zealand Farmers’ Felon, le classes at technical schools for shearers, lie pointed out that every year our shearers get scarcer, and that the country is large-, lv dependent on Australian shearers, who may or may not attend. Shearing was so easily learned and was so well paid for that tin re ’should ho no dijiieult.\ in getting main young men in towns to learn and benefit themselves

by getting work ;ii shearing, and also I«' of advantage to sheep-owners as well. Such classes had been started in Christchurch and were cpiito successful. lands being provided by the generosity of the A. and P. Association, of owners, and the Klieon-breed-ers’ Association. He further poinjed out that now machine shearing vers so inneli in vogue. learners were almost a thine; of the past in private sheds. Kormcrlv (he “ilecee-olif.” wei;' able in learn l»\- shearing a sheep at ‘T.aioke, oh A -and- meal times'. A'Jliiirs wars now impossible, as the engines wore stopped at tiiose times, lipcnnelieani), tlm fetter urged Iho social * to trv and Arrange'mdfra: iim - fhrm*s during neat rpiinf" ! in rritiiieetiftn -with' the technical schools.

f*,J v'.irs are slid prevalent, in HaV.xr.i. At' the public sc hob 1 the at■•tend ;nce is ISS short of roll numbers. The alt ;-"l5 r.i of {ratting owners in drawn 10 the. programme cf the Woimate Mains Trotting Club, which is advt i tired in this issue. The headquarters of the club, have boon moved to Mawcra, and the meeting this year will be held on the Ha worn Racecourse. The programme is an attractive one, and caters for all classes of trotters. , We were informed the other day by duo of the oldest of Waverley residents, says the Patoa “Press,” that 'during the last two or three years, three families who had sold their farms and who had contemplated retiring in Waverley,- changed their hands and retired elsewhere, the main reason being the state of the AVavor'ley streets, particularly ' iif winter iiine. This is a strong argument in 'favour of the proposed metalling scheme. If a town is hot attractive 'and the streets at least to a certain extent negotiable in wet weather it is hardlv to be expected that people who can pick and choose will select such a town to live in. A rather unusual case was heard at the Eketahmiii Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning (says the “Ex,press”), when Mr. S. H. Easmussen, of Jlmrana, represented by Mr. T. Page, endeavoured to secure a conviction against Herbert McDonald (Mr Trenderville), for distorting his fea--1 tures and laughing at plaintiff. Such conduct it was contended was calculated to create a broach of the peace. It was also asked that McDonald be bound over to keep -the peace. After hearing evidence, ins Worship said it was not a case in which he could .convict, ami in dismissing the information, lectured defendant on the .impropriety of laughing at people. If New Zealand butter is fishy New Zealand factories make it fishy, unless what is complained of develops after shipment (says the Napier “Telegraph”). In that event the problem may he one for the refrigerating expert, or for tile chemist, and experiments to determine this .might easily, be carried out in New Zealand. A short time ago the Agricultural Department, which if it spoke according 1 to knowledge ought to have followed up its remarks by prosecutions, affirmed that the pracmakingi was on the increase, and making was on he increase, and that this tended to spoil butter. Is the solution of the puzzle the use of chemicals, or has working as near to the maximum moisture standard .anything to do with it? Mr. Yung-liang Hwang, late Chi-

; ,gc\se Consul, Wellington, interviewed at Melbourne, said: “I spent twentyseven very happy months in New Zealand, and left many good friends there with regret to fulfil the appointment here.” Mr HwAng spoke 'of Chinese politics, and said unit tho recent appointment of a Cabinet was but an expression of the sentiment of the Chinese people,, so great was their desire for reform. “In about three years,” he remarked, “China ; will have its Parliament, to consist 'of Upper and Lower Houses. The Tact that the original period for this consummation has been shortened is evidence of tbc way in which public opinion in China has shaped itself.” In Sydney recently a question which has received attention has been that of the effect, on the minds of the young people of sensationalism in picture shows, and in some No\d' Zealand 1 toifh'6', thfe' hi litter has bean referred to. Speaking to the Tl'-’v. A. E. Hunt on the subject, a • “Herald” reporter learned that that 'gentleman, being a regular patron of 'picture entertainments, had found riothiug in the local entertainments to which he could take objection. Ho stated that the introduction of scenic and industrial subjects was of distinct educational value. He would ‘fiiive no hesitation in sending child-# ’ten to the local picture shows,. for, "riven in the way of the more exaggerated drama, be had found nojtiling which could possibly affect •children in the wrong direction. Tho picture business was a decided acquisition to public life, and the films Would, no doubt, lie included in the 'education system in time to come. A comedy, which was not without its serious side, was enacted in tho harbour the other evening (says tho Tim.am Herald). A man had grown tired of his old retriever dog, arid hit upon a novel way of getting rid of him. Ho rowed to the harbour ■mouth in company with the dog, and there tipped tho weighted animal out. The dog’s death-struggle Avas greater than the OAvner had reckoned upon, hoAvever, for he succeeded in paddling boatwards and sprang so suddenly into the fragile craft that the man lost lu's balance and Avas tipped into the ,< water. It Avas then that the funniest scene, as viewed by a Avatchman and some Avharf Avorkers, took place, tho dripping dog squatting carelessly in tho boat and av« tching his master splutter and splash for'a place of safety. Assistance was soon at hand, and the man, thoroughly exhausted, was rescued. The dog was towed ashore, and will hoav he disposed of by another method—anything but drowning. A Avcll-knoAvn South Canterbury farmer is retiring, and another old farmer has recalled tho fact that Avhen he started farming farmers Avere not dubbed “the backbone of tho country.” Instead they Avero contemptuously! called “cockatoos” ■by the big ruuholders, the term of Australia, Avhere tho farmer Avas in The habit of “selecting” on the big CroAvn leasehold rims, arid settling on the good land as the cockatooAvas wont to do on the crops. In those days men of the .John McKenzie typo had strenuous battles to fight to enable the selector to obtain CroAvn leases as against the big man, and it took a very sturdy fight to put an end of the “gridironing” tactics by Which the farmer Avas checkmated. To-day the farmer lias forgotten irninny instances Avhieh Avas Codlin and AA'hich Avas .Short, and is called on in the ffannerf;’ Union and elsoAvhere to Avhistle Iho tune given him by the men who regarded him once as a post, but avlio find it more expedient now to profess another view.— “ManaAvafu Times.”

A characteristic and delightful story of his .Majesty’s generosity was related recently at Yarmouth hy Alderman ('. 8. Orde. There was an old couple, Mr and Mrs Koikes, whom ho .knew personally, residing upon rhi' Royal estate at Dorningham, vrho had for a long/ time hoop tenants of the late King, and had since' iioou tenants of King (leorgo. His Majesty called upon tlicm some time ago, in a friendly unceremonious way, and chatted with them. On leaving, the King lit a cigar, ami offered one to Mr Koikes, who thanked his Majesty most heartily, adding that he did not. often got a chance to smoke (Mgars, as his income did not permit him. The King laughed and bade The old couple farewell, but a day or two later a letter came to Mr Koikes, saying that, as be bad occupied his bouse on the .Royal cst.ito fnr so many, ’.ears, it would be a great, pleasure to Ids Majesty, to,give him ■ the house rent free for the rest of his life. The King ended' his letter by . expressing, the nope rhiif this liitle relief 1 t'A his bieonuv weak! "eltahlo hull fid afford ~m.l eirjtgf a rimer a; long ar lie Tided. 1

It has boon decided Iliac, the' next ' Hospital ball -at Stratford v. ill bo hold on Coronation night, Juno 22nd. A general meeting of siiootists and fishermen will ho held in the Borough Council Chambers to-morrow evening at 7.30. If was decided at the special meet- , ing of the School Committoo on Tuesday to recommend the Education Board to consider the advisability of heating the school by hot water radiators. The chairman of the Education Board and the Board’s architect, will be in Stratford to-morrow, and will confer with the local School Committee as to plans for re-building. Today the committee drew np a rough plan of what they require. A member of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society states that in one . district where only about two licenses were taken out last year, about seventy people took part in the shooting. ‘‘There are about fifty men shooting tiis year,” he added, “and I do not b'olievo that a single license has bden issued.” At the special meeting of the" School Committee on Tuesday the following resolution was passed:—“That it is the unanimous desire of this committee that the school he rebuilt in brick or concrete as spedily as possible.” It was also decided to make application to the Department for a grant of £lO towards replacing child- . ren’s books destroyed by fire. The British Imperial Oil Company is entering the New Zealand oil trade in competition with the Standard Oil /Trust. An , initial shipment of 100,000 cases of kerosene for four principil ports of the Dominion arrives at Auckland by the steamer John Hardie about May 28th. There is said to be no intention at present of cutting prices, as it is anticipated that sympathy for the British product will ensure business. The Wanganui Gun Club was favoured with fine weather for the shoot for' the £IOO Handicap on Tuesday. There were over thirty entries, including a number of well-known shots from various parts of the Dominion. Much interest was taken in the shooting, which was very good, and resulted in Messrs. A*. Coe, F. Jones, and Harrison killing their fourteen birds and dividing the stake. The shoct-off for a leg-ln for the Ballistite Cup resulted in Coe scoring a win. Harrison is a member of the Stratford Gun Club. In connection with the charges made for admission and medical attendance at public hospitals, the Southland Charitable Aid Board has recently discussed the question whether it could compel patients to pay. The matter arose from the case of a settler who had applied for admittance fo a country hospital, and been refused by the doctor because be was in a position to obtain private advice and medical attention. It. was pointed out that Dr Valintine had informed the Board that a millionaire could compel the Board to admit him in the event of an operation being required. The opinion was expressed that the hospital was only for indigent cases, but it was decided that owiing to the uncertainty of the position legal advice be obtained. Something like a new “Jungle” sensation has been created in New \ York by, .the revelations that Jiave been made of the unspeakable conditions in many of the city bakeries. The disclosures are the outcome of visits of inspection made by special investigators employed by the City Commissioners. The great majority of bakehouses are located in cellars or basements, many of which were originally, nothing more than places in which rubbish was stored. Not. only is .the ventilation utterly inadequate, but what little there is, is obtained mainly from windows that open on to back yards of the most filthy description. In half the total number of bakeries visited, the investigators found that flour and other materials were stored without* any regard to cleanliness. The decision of the Governiment to send an expert to England to watch over the handling and sale of New Zealand produce there will give general satisfaction to all engaged in the industry (says the Carterton “News”). Butter and * cheese are sent from New Zealand under Government supervision, most carefully tested and graded. Cheese seems to reach the market in the quality and colour that suits the English buyers, for it always brings top prices in the market.* (Something, however, seems to happen to butter, for no matter how nigh its quality is when it leaves Now Zealand, it does not fetch as good a price as Danish. A matter of a shilling or so in a hundredweight would not worry the exporters, because it is known that the Danish committees have first-class methods of marketing, and a name for quality which is worth something extra; but a difference of from Cs to 12s in the hundredweight, which generally rules between New Zealand and Danish butter, leaves something to be found out, and it is expected the export who is to be sent Home will discover the difference.