LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 68, 3 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr.. Athol Meredith has been elected unopposed to represent the Conn-, ty of \V iiangainoniona on tiio Strutford District Hospital Hoard. Mr F. Bird, Registrar of Electors, woe- iiad been on a tour of tno back country since Saturday, arrived back in town yesterday, after having ridden ICO miles through very rough country, and visited thirty polling places. A curious incident has taken place near Paris. A lire having Inukon out in a wood, a public-soirite In citizen seized a bugle and blew it fondly to attract the villagers and bring them to the place to help to extinguish the Haines. The first to arrive (a Paris correspondent writes) was the “garde champetre” (tiie policeman of country districts), who fell upon the bugleblower, and requested him to stop his music instantly. The mayor had giv-

en orders that no private persons should blow bugles on the public highways, and as the mayor and’■•ls assistant were both, as it happened, absent from the place at the moment, the garde felt it his duty to i revent the rules from being !Token at ail

costs. So the fire was left to blaze uninterruptedly until a largo natch of the forest had been destroyed. A novel wager was decided at V/o----donga (Victoria) last week. Dir

George Parclon, who has a reputation as a pedestrian, backed himself for £2O to pull a vehicle containing a man weighing not less than 12 stone from Wodonga to Wangaratta, a distance of 45 miles, in less than lo hours. He set out on his journey, strapped to the shafts of a spider, at 10 minutes past 5 a.m., Mr J. C. Carkeek being seated in the vehicle. Pardon pulled the spider to Springhurst in D.V hours, so that he had hours to cover the remainder of the journey, a distance of J-l miles. Pardon says he regarded the wager as practically won at this stage, but lie was met by a couple of hundred boys from Wangaratta, who hung on to the vehicle and interfered with his progress. Re was 31 minutes late in reaching the Wangaratta post office, and accordingly lost the wager.

Tho sensational announcement was made that two Frenchmen were going to try to fly round the world in an aeroplane, hut the news, unfortunately, states the Paris correspondent of tho “Daily Telegraph,” was just slightly exaggerated. Two Frenchmen have been found, M. Mamet the former pilot of Bleriot aeroplanes, and M. Rene Milion. They are thinking of going, not flying, round tho world. They will fly only when they can. As M. Mamet explains, they will fly through France, thence along the coast of Spain, cross the Straits, and follow tho coast-lino of Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli, and got, if possible, by easy stages to Egypt. Thence, if flying is too dangerous,'they will take a steamer to India. They will flv across India, if possible, and will take the steamer afterwards to Australia. After this they will .visit New Zealand and South America, fly over tho Pampas, and take the steamer back to Europe. They will, in a word, cover as much of the tour round tho world as is practicable by flying. Tiie rest they will cover by the ordinary means of locomotion.

According to the “Times,” in April, 1909, “ft may he that the three men of first rank in the public fife

of Canada to-day are Wilfrid Laurier, Mr Borden (Conservative Lqayler). and Air Bourassa.” The English jour-

iii’.l goes on to soy:—“Mr Bourassa is a man of irreproachable public and private character. lie is studious.

hut not austere, serious, but affable and agreeable in his personal relations

with bis iellows

Ho has the '• rai

ing 'if ;i u-erj ’inan, tin- e impmci t ■■(' a scholar, and the sobriety of a statesman. There are those who say that

he was the most

attractive speaker

in the House of Commons (Ottawa), and he is as effective on the platform as he is in Parliament. It is certain that he is disinterested. He is susceptible neither to bribery nor to flattery. He has contempt for petty partisan disputes and all political knavery. And if he so willed lie could have been in the Federal Cabinet years ago.” It would ho difficult to add anything to such praise. Whether ue agree or not with his polit’cs, v, must admit that a n.a.. will -cell ideals an 1 bearing is an honour to the Empire to which wo all belong.

But Henri Bourassa is not antiBritish. He fears and dislikes the United States, not England. Ho is Canadian first, and after that of all connections he prefers the English one. He wrote some articles for the “Empire Review” in 1902, and these few sentences fairly comprehend his attitude towards Imperialism:—“The blood connection and the pride in Imperial power and glory having no claim upon him (the FrenchCanaclian), what sentiment can lie be expected to entertain for New Zealand or Australia, South Africa or India, for countries and populations entirely foreign to him, with which he has no relations, intellectual or political, and much less commercial intercourse than he lias‘with the United States, France, Germany or Belgium? By the Motherland lie feels that lie has done his duty; lay the Empire

he does not feel that he has any duty to perform. Ho is prepared to sacrifice his racial principles for Canadian unity, and ho thinks tlmf the Anglo-Canadian should be prepared to study the problems of Imperialism from a purely Canadian standpoint.”

When Henri Bourassa retired from the Dominion Parliament, and decided In cultivate the provincial politics of Quebec, in tlie atmosphere which gave Cartier, Lauricr, Laugevin, and Merorcier to tlio Dominion, he did it with the limelight full upon him. Gouin. the ally of Lauricr, was Premier of Quebec, and their was practically no opposition. His seat in .Montreal had only once been contested. Bourassa chose this contest. He id! on the electors like a whirlwind. No halls could hold Ids audiences. He addressed 10,000 at a time, and processions followed his carriage through the streets. Gouin went down beforo his onset, and he; had scored “one” against Sir Wilfrid Lauricr. Prom that date ho worked for his election of 1011. He started a paper called “Devoir” to spread j»i«

principles; he lectured, and organised and wrote against the Government But it is only within the past Pm

months that lie has allied himself with Mr Borden and tlio Conservatives. Looking at Borden’s career, there

cannot ho much in common between I hem, and if Sir “Wilfrid Lauricr retires it is not improbable I bat Bourassa will find himself in his rightful camp. Cor, as one of his opponents pul it during his contest witn G.ouiti.

“lie is no Conservative.” He is a man of great eloquence and ability, who deliberately seeks to evoke Ibe spirits of race and religion. Monarchic

in principle, aristocratic in preference, r-i irinolniipt severely tlio lender whom lie still admires, lie is n Radical in theory, willi the manners of a seirnour.

The Xo-Licensc Committee mooting called for to-night has been postponed on account of Mr. 0. It Hine’s meeting to-night in the Town Hall. The rehearsal for tho Wesley Sunday -school anniversary will take place at 7 p.m. sharp to-night, not 7.H0, as previously arranged, and the full choir ant! orchestra arc asked to be present. Albert Zurehor was fined I.os, with costs 7s, at the Magistrate’s Court tin’s morning for having driven a gig without lights in Broadway on the t veiling of October 22nd. Ihe A. and P. Association has received a donation of throe guineas from the N.Z. L. and M. A. Co. as a special prize for the best pen of fat (nobs. P. Hess, employed by Messrs. Mas-tci-.s and Son, met witii a nasty accident last night. While jumping a fence he tripped and fell heavily. He was removed to his home in an unconscious condition, but was reported to be slightly better this morning. A rumour gained currency last night chat it was finally decided to hold tlm general election on .November 29, end the executive committee of the A. and P. Association decided to hold a meeting this evening to consider the matter; but as no pronouncement has vot been made about the election, the mooting will not bo held. At ilie mooting of the executive committee of the A. and P. Associatmu last night there were present: Messrs. Dingle, Healy, Kirkwood, Hohbs, Porritt, and Malone. It was decided to ask Mr. Fulton, Government Dairy Instructor, to act as steward for tiie milk and butter-fat competition. A number of routine matcos were attended to. MI - Bourassa, who is yet only fortythree years of age, has great possibilities at his feet. Ho lias never been tried as an administrator, and of his success or otherwise in that sphere no doubt a few months will toll. But if he can earn half the praise as a statesman that he lias received as a speaker, and as a man of honour, Canada will have a worthy successor of Macdonald and Laurier.

Messrs. X. H. Cleland and E. 13

Ilobcrton (Tahora Biding) and M. I. Jury (I'ohokura Ruling) nave been returned as members of the Whangamomont County Council. Messrs. W. BaCO!1 i - ■ Davis, and W. A. McCutclian are standing for two seats in Central Riding, and Messrs. A. Coyne, J. Biggins, J. M. Jones, and A. Meredith for three seats in the Strathmore Biding. A poll will therefore be taken on V, eduesday, November Bth.

Luring October, Inglewood well maintained its reputation as a damp/ spot, the rainfall registered totalling 3.66 inches, as against 6.3 inches in Stratford, and 4.6 inches in Eltliam. -dain fell on seventeen days and was continuous from the 9th to the 19 th. 1 no heaviest falls were 2.51 in. on the 2Gth, 1.43 in. on the 12th, and .93in. on the loth, which accounted for more than half of the total fall. Of the falls on other days only four were over half an inch.

The most valuable tree in the world is said to be the algaroba tree whoso habitat is in Hawaii. It flourishes on all kinds of soil, hut host in volcanic soil near creators of extinct volcanoes. I'he tree hears a bean, which is relished by cattle, pigs and horses. The timber is good for fuel, and the flowers furnish a source of pure honey. In Hawaii the algaroba tree has proved its efficacy in converting former barren wastes into productive soil, f p in tlis north of Auckland, where the climate is almost. tropical, these t'rc.es ‘'should do well, and there is in that locality a boundless scope for their manifold utilities.

“I think it is time the farmers in tin's district held a conference to enquire into the cause of the straggling lambing,” remarked a Poverty Bay settlor. He stated that he had conferred with several Hawke’s Bay farmers, who said they were considering the matter. , The matter had not been definitely ascertained, but it was probable that the cause for the straggling lambing was the effect of facial eczema upon the systems of the sheep. Ho was certain it was not the result of too much dry weather, as had been suggested. Now was an opportune time, he thought to get the sheepfarmers together. “The farmers in the south tell me we are only beginning,” ho added “and that the trouble will become worse unless something is clone.”

When the case Police v. Edward

Smith (a charge of supplying liquor to a prohibited person) was called on

at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Mr. MalonCj who appeared for defendant, asked for an adjournment until next Court day. He said defendant had only been served with his .luminous at half-past live on Thursday evening, thus giving counsel no time to arrange the case. Counsel said be did not blame the police in the natter, but thought the circumstances justified him in asking for an idjou moment. Sergeant McNeeley

said the summons had been issued on Monday, but since then defendant had been keeping out of the way of the nolice, and could not be served until bast night. The adjournment was granted.

Two other events drove him quite out of the Laurier camp. The new provinces of Saskatchewan and Algeria (called after Father Albert Larombe, the missionary) were about to receive constitutions, and Bourissa became'the political representative of the Catholic education claims, which he wished to have inserted in :ho Constitutions. In this controversy he raised himself to the leading position in the House, and his power, •■aid the “Times,” seemed to increase .iith his isolation. Ho obtained much more favourable terms than his party Tad received Manitoba. The other irovocative of his dcnuniciation was Ur Chamberlain's preferential trade •■chcme. He found himself here in the amo boat with Goldwin Smith. On me occasion when the Governor-Gem oral, Lord Minto made some mild roTrence to Imperial bonds of trade, Bourassa threatened him with deportation.

Mr Bourassa was Canadian Secretary to the Alaskan Boundary Commission under Lord Herrschcll in 1898, but next the year tlio first rift between him and Laurier began to appear. When in October, 1899, the Premier decided to send a contingent o South Africa, Bourassa, with two >1 his provincial colleagues, Monet ind Angers, bitterly opposed him. So .'arnest were they that the Premier irritated for a moment, and then wont ou. Bourassa and i'arto. Minister of Works, left the French districts, and sought to arouse the Eng-lish-speaking provinces against the lovei nment, lint 1 l.nuicr exerted all ■is strength and dominated the Op- ' wit ion. The fiery young “Nationalist” resigned his seat, was triumpbii'liy returned, and tHen carried the war into tlio Dominion Parliament. C cording to the “Times”:—“ln these b '.■Missions he rose to a high level of Parliamentary oratory; he went to the roots of the issue, and in power •f presentaiion and logical handling of his material, his speeches were able and noteworthy performances.”

None of the thirteen eiv«l actions sot clown to he dealt v'lth at this morning’s sitting of the .-lagistratc’s Court came into Court, all bring settled or “not served.”

Whilst at Sydney this trip the Moeraki was fitted with wireless instruments. Mr. H. V. Thompson, a New Zealander (brother to Mr. .1. H. Thompson, of Stratford), is in charge of the machine. On the run across the Moeraki “spoke” Sydney, the I liniaroa, and the Moana. The “Taranaki Daily Nows” says: “Mr T. Mackenzie, the ‘predatory’ Minister who has dared to seek the suffrage of the Egmont electors, is, in his specialty—a thorough business knowledge and love of agriculture—absolutely' invaluable to Now Zealand and to Parliament. The defeat of Mr Mackenzie at the elections, and his necessary retirement from the Ministry, would be a sad blow to agriculture.”

Experientia docet. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Mr. Spence appeared on behalf of a man who was charged with failing to send a child to school, and stated that the boy in question had stayed array from school for two days as a result of having cut one of his legs on barb wire, “which,” said Mr. Spence, “I can assure your Worship is a very painful thing.’

In the Magistrate’s Court this morning a young woman of otherwise excellent character was clunged with having forged and uttered a cnequc for £ti. The circumstances of the case are peculiar, accused haying apparently acted criminally without fully realising what she was doing. Tho sum of £5 was at mice forwarded to tho police by accused, and it was owing to this act that detection became easy. Accused, who was represented by Mr. W. D. Anderson, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence.

Tbo following fines - were inflicted at the' Magistrate’s Court this morning on parents who had failed to send their children to school:—W. C. Clements, ss, costs 10s 9d; 11. Clark, ss, costs 9s 6d; G. '1 reweek, 5s costs 10s 9d; A. Boyd, os, costs 9s Gel; Charles Moss, 2s, no costs; Walter Bevins, 5s on each of two informations, costs 19s; H. Jones, 2s, costs 7s; Charles Kuscoe, ss, costs 7s; Av. Briscoe, ss, on each of four informations, costs £1 10s 6d; 15. Walsh, 5s on each of eight informations, costs' 9s Gd.

At the Magistrate’s Court this morning the S.M. (Mr, Kourick), in dealing with cases of failing to pend children to school, said people did not seem now to value the education of their children. When they had had to pay fees for their education they took pains to scrape the fees together and also saw that the children went to school; but now, when the education was free, parents were apathetic. If any parents came before him a second time for failing to send children to school ho would have to increase the fines, as he regarded the matter as a verv serious one.

The reasons given by parents for not sending their children to school are many and various, and at times they are also quite candid. One such reason came out at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, evidence being given that the parent had replied by letter to the schoolmaster that Lis boy could not attend, as he was “wanted at home.” Other reasons given in Court were that a Imy thought one of the teachers at the school had a “set on him,” and he would not go to school because ho did not want to pass and to get into the class taught by the teacher in ques* tion; that about'overy six we,eks a,boy was ill for a week ; that a hoy and a girl were too delicate to walk a mile and d half to school.

The Magistrate' (Mr. Kenrick) had something to say to a number of defendants at the Court this morning regarding children who were palpably backward in their schooling. The matter first came up in connection with two children aged ten and eleven and a half who wore said to be in the first and second standards respectively. The S.M. said it was sad to sec such old children in such low standards, and it was very plain that this condition of affairs was brought about by continued bad attendance. He pointed out that after children reached fourteen years of age the State had no power to compel them to bo sent to school; and in some of the cases ho had dealt with that morning lie was afraid there was a possibility of the children growing up unable + o read nr write, and a man so handicapped had very little change of success in this world.

A Douglas correspondent writes: — “Recently the people of Douglas were treated to an excellent entertainment. The proprietors of a picture show very generously took the trouble to come and show before us. Doubtless the worthy and philanthropic purpose which prompted them accounted for the full house. It had been widely advertised that the proceeds, after expenses. were to he donated toward.the school funds. Every family hurried through the inevitable milking, and was well represented at the shove. From the point of view of an entertainment, everything was splendid. But, sad to say, the school fund is not greatly altered. A charge of admission of Is 6d was made, but the working expenses being so heavy, only 10s was handed over to the committee for use of hall. We are thankful for the show, hut some of us realise that the hotter way is to give the nioney and do without the entertainment.”