LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 63, 28 October 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have received telegraphic advice from Mr J. 15. Hine, M.P., that a hundred pounds lias been placed on ti'.e Supplementary Estimates for expenditure on the road to the Stratford Mountain house, and a like amount for the Dawson’s Falls road. Is a police cell a public place ? Most people will argue that it is not, that, incleed, it is too private for their liking! But Constable Wade astonished the Court habitues on Wednesday by showing that it is, says the Eltham “Argus.” He stated that while iu Taihape he locked up a man and later was constrained to bring him before the Court on a charge of obscene language during the term of his confinement, when the S.M., Mr Thomson, recorded a conviction. There was a broad smile on the face of the Bench, which, needless to say, proved infectious. “Of course,” said Mr Kenrick, “it is a place for the’ public!” “I must admit,” replied Mr Crump (counsel for the defence) as he failed to hide a smile, “it is a place where the public resort to!” The new drama at Drury Lane will provide some remarkable wonders of sage realism. As iu “The Whip,’’racehorses are to he on the stage, and they will come straight down the boards towards the audience. There will be an Indian State Ball, with the scene laid at the Delhi durbar. The ball will introduce the celebrated Peacock Throne. Another scene will l)e the Mall at Delhi. An Indian polo match, and a reproduction of the great Calcutta sweep, will furnish other features, to which a Loudon audience is unaccustomed. The most sensational scene of all will he an earthquake—a volcanic eruption, as realistic as the Crystal Palace fireworks. Mr. Arthur Collins has never attempted anything on the scale of this coming drama (writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne “Age”.

It is rumoured (a cable the Sydney “Sun” says) that Lord Kitchener who succeeded the late Sir Eldon Gorst (British Consid-Geuoral, Egypt), will shortly ho openly made Viceroy, which means that Britain intends to annex Egypt. This action it is thought, has l)con hastened by the 'i’nrkish-Italian turmoil. It is considered that Moslem power as instanced by the young Egyptian Party, has grown too strong during the last tiiree years the Nationalist movement having spread to an alarming extent under Sir Eldon Gorst. One of the Loudon dailies declares that Lord Kitchener refused the post unless a change of power were made within a certain time. In the event of annexation military bases would be established at Alexandria and Cairo, and the Soudan and Egypt would become a united North African State.

Professor Mills is announced to speak in the Town Hall, Stratford, on Thursday, November 2nd. .Particulars appear in another column. The Rev. Father Treacy arrived back in Stratford by last night’s mail train, after having spent a fortnight at Te Aroha for the benefit of ids health. The Rev. W. A. Butler, Vicar of Holy Trinity parish, returned to Stratford by last night’s mail train after attending the sitting of tiie Anglican Synod in Auckland. The manager of the N Z.L. and ALA. Co. received a cablegram night intiminating that the daectois in London have decided to pay the stall' a bonus of 5 per cent on salaries, which decision should he appreciated by the various staffs. Dairymen are reminded that entrie* for the butter-fat and milk competition at the A. and P. show close at ■3 p.m. on Wednesday next. It is desirable that entries should be made as early as possible in order to give the Association ample time in winch to make arrangements for the accomodation of the cows.

A cow, belonging to Mr English, of Upwey, near Weymouth, England, was destroyed owing to her swallowing a small eel. The animal previously was healthy and robust. Then she sickened, wasted away, and was eventually shot. A post mortem examination was held, and it was discovered that a small freshwater eel had become wedged in the cow’s windpipe. The eel measured 22in in length, and was firmly lodged in its position. It is supposed that the cow must have swallowed the fish when drinking from a brook. Messrs. J. Masters and Son have recently had a unique experience. About twelve years ago a. man who was living in Stratford ran up an account totalling about £6, but he left the town without paying and without leaving any address, and a year afterwards the amount was written off as a bad debt. Just the other day, however ,the firm received a letter enclosing the amount from the man, who stated that since leaving Stratford he had - been uniformly “hard up,” and that the preseni was the first occasion on which he had been in a position to pay. It is pleasing to ho able to record the case of a man who takes such a conscientious .view of his just debts.

A local resident noticed an abnormally developed red radish among others in his garden last autumn says the Masterton “Times, ■’ and acting upon the suggestion it'afforded he applied manures and under the stimulus it became a monster. He allowed it to stand in the ground all the winter, protecting it somewhat with surrounding manure, apd it maintained a leafly top throughout. His idea was a monster red radish for the world, and so ho rejoiced to see it throw out a good number of flower-knotted branches, which were three feet high —when the late storm came on and levelled it with the ground. The body on being measured was over sixteen inches in girth, and its length from crown to tip of roots was two feet. The grower, having had this radish under his eye with others around it from its earliest leaf, makes no mistake about what he tells.

The following is from Wednesday’s Taihape “Times” :—There was a large gathering of settlers at Ohura on Tuesday morning, when the'Settlers’ Co-operative Saleyards were opened by Mr. Jennings M. P. Every district was represented, and there were buyeip, pvesejit from . Wellington, Wanganui, Taranaki, and Auckland. Over 1,500 head of cattle, besides a large number, of sheep, were scheduled for sale. The prices realised were good, and competition was keen. There were over 500 present at the sale, and Mr. Jennings in his remarks, spoke of the rapid advancement of Ohura and its future prospects. During the past three months "two banking institutions have built premises and are doing good business, and over thirty buildings are to be erected during the coming summer. A banquet to celebrate the opening of the saleyards was held in the evening.

The work of levelling the sites for the fortifications of the Panama Canal began on August Sth. Congress has appropriated 3,000,000 dollars (£600,000) out of the 12,000,000 dollars which is estimated to he necessary to carry out the project. It has been decided to entrust the work to the Canal Commission and the large force of men employed by it, Colonel Goethals, chief engineer of the canal, being authorised to assume charge of all the operations, under instructions from General Wood, Chief of Staff of the Army and President of the Canal Defence Board. While the plans are not quite complete, it is expected that the canal itself and the fortifications will he finished at the same date— January Ist. 1915. Six sites have keen selected for the fortifications. Emir of these are upon islands at the Pacific entrance to the canal, and the other two are on the points opposite Christohal and Colon. The question of the number and calibre' of the guns to be mounted is still under consideration. but nothing less than 12in calibre will be used (for,the mortars), while llin., and possibly, 16in, guns will constitute the rest of the armament. According to the “Sun”, the plan tentatively adopted calls for at least twenty-four 12in mortars, placed in six batteries at each entrance, and for two batteries of 14in disappearing guns or one battery of 16in guns at each of the six sites.