LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 94, 10 June 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

One old-age pension was granted by the S.M. (Air. Kenriek) yesterday. The delicate question of the length | of hockey girls’ skirts has been oxer-j rising the Danpevirke hockey anthori-( ties. The rule that the skirt shall lie j eight inches from the ground was not strictly enforced last year. This year, j how ever, the referees are to enforce ' the rule, and players wearing skirls longer than the regulation length will be ordered oil' the field. Someone sng-i gested that the distance should be altered to nine inches, but in (he end was decided that the didienltvof gang-I mg Ihe height of the skirt from the ground be left to the referees.

'!'!:o Executive Committee of Lie j A. ar.d I*. Assoc intion will inert mi the showgi minds next Tluusday a) tori’oon. A mooting; of tlio Toko branch of the Farmers’ Union will ho hold in the Toko He. 11 on Monday evening next, at S o’clock. A mooting of ladies willing to assist. with the Hospital Ball and Saturday collections will he held in the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday afternoon at 5) o’clock. At a meeting in Patea on Thursday evening it was decided to form a branch of the C.E.M.S. The aims of the society were sot out at length by Mr. 10. I' 1 . Hemingway, late of Stratford. The Taranaki Winter Show closes to-day. Quito a number of Stratford residents went up yesterday in spite of the wet weather, and a large contingent left this morning to attend the function at New Plymouth. Whilst Mr K. Webster, Now Plymouth, was unpacking Island oranges on Friday night ho found amongst them a centipede fully eight inches long. The reptile lias since been preserved in spirits. The Hon. J. A. Millar has telegraphed to Mr H. Okey, M.P.: “I propose to arrive in New Plymouth hy the mail train on Monday evening next, remaining til! Tuesday, and leaving again hy Wednesday morning’s train. I shall he glad to see you and deal with any business yon may desire to bring before mo.” Dairying is being enthusiastically taken up at Coro. Co-operative factories are to ho erected at M‘Nah ar.d Waikaia. Abundant support is promised—between HOO and 100 cows at M'Nab and over 250 at Waikaia. The capital of the companies will run into large amounts, the farmers taking up tho proposals whole-heartedly. Prior to leaving New Plymouth for Sydney, Mr W. P. Crawford was presented" hy tlie staff of the “Taranaki Herald,” upon which he has been for about eight years, with a travelling rug. The presentation was made by the editor, who expressed rne rcgivU of the whole staff at Mr Ora,v.ford's departure and their best wishes for his future success.

The head of one of the largest manufacturing businesses in Christchurch stated on Thursday to a “Lyttelton Times,” reporter that the present season is the dullest, as far as business is concerned, he has known for fifteen years. “People seem to have plenty of money,” ho said, “but they do not spend it. There is a feeling of uncertainty in the air, but why it should exist I do not know. Goodness knows there is no real cause for it. I suppose that it will soon pass away and leave us as wo were.”

“When I spoke of ‘graven images,”’ said Mr. G. \V. Russell, M.P., speak* ing at Christchurch the other evening, “I did nob think anyone would take my remarks seriously. The members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board should know that it is a way ! have of saying funny thihgs, but f should like to say that whenA was speaking to a member of the Board to-day he referred-to another member, and said, ‘lf lie had only, blown Ins nose once during the three years it would have boon something.’ ” Rabbiting has proved a particularly lucrative occupation during the past few months in portions of South Canterbury contiguous to the Waitaki River. The “Oamant Mail” states that within five weeks one company of three men earned £59 each on a small run. A pound a day has been by no means difficult, so that it is hardly wonderful that farm labourers in the vicinity have forsaken the plough and too seed I drill to hunt the elusive rabbit. Two factors have been responsible,!™'' the big money to ha'made, the high price of skins and the plentitude of victims.

'i lie “Lyttelton Times” states that the dairying industry throughout the Tcmnka district is practically finished for the season, except in the Clandehoyo Settlement, where the factory is still working three days a week. Until tile quantity and ' quality of milk being supplied are highly satisfactory, and the settlers are to be congratulated on the success attained in practically a new dairying district. The enterprising settlers of this locality, who recently formed themselves into a co-operative companv. intend to develop the individual herdtesting system somewhat extensively next season.

( -As wc stated some time ago, the Government has decided to appoint an official in London, whoso duty it will bo to inspect the handling of New Zealand dairy produce in England, to keep the producers in touch with the requirements of the market, and to investigate complaints regarding qualify. Mr. W. 10. (iwillim is now selected to proceed to London. He is at present chief produce grader at Wellington, and has' had English, Australian, and Canadian experience. Air. (Iwillim entered the Now Zealand Service in 1907.

An individual who was charged with cutting clippings from a paper in the Public Library did' not appear when the case was called on in the Wanganui S.M. Court the other day, but wrote regretting his action, which ho excused on the ground that ho was ignorant of its illegality. His Worship, Mr. Kerr, read the letter, and said that for a man to say lie was unaware of its being wrong to cut library papers was one of the most barefaced pieces of impudence bo had come across" A lino of £2. with solicitor’s fee Cl Is. and costs 2s, was imposed. Mr. C. AV. Currie appeared for the library directors, and asked that an example be made of the case, as so much of this sort of tiling went on undetected.

11l :i private letter to a Wellington corrosnondcnt Mr, W. A. Woodgcr, ■one of tlio New Zealand Festival of Empire representatives, speaks in enthusiastic strain of Ids experiences in England. What impresses him more than anything else, ho states, is the thronging London traffic and the wonderful way hr which it is controlled by the famous London policeman. With a friend. Air. Woodger witnessed the English Association Cup final between .Bradford City and Newcastle United, at the Crystal Palace. The New Zealander was not particularly impressed. The play was not so stirring, lie declares, “as a good old Rng--liv game.” Between 70,000 and 80,000 viewed the match.