LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 73, 9 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In accordance with a rider by the jury, Mr. C. I). Sole has written to the Governor requesting him to bring under the notice of the Royal Humane Society the action of young Dodd in endeavouring to save the child Thelma Edwards, who was drowned in Victoria Park on Monday.

This is how rats are caught in Japan, as related by a recent English traveller. He states that he was much disturbed during the night by hordes of rats, which had been driven in doors by the cold, and therefore consulted a native hunter, who promised relief. t The rat-catcher brought a number of sheets of paper, smeared with birdlime, and distributed them about the room after nightfall.' In tiio morning there were no less than seventeen bundles of paper on the floor, each containing a living rat, their squeaks and contortions being, as may Go imagined, very absurd.

Mr. J. I). Healy is to be heartily congratulated upon his great win at the Hawcra Show yesterday. For Jersey heifer calved since July Ist, 1910—against a field of seventeen, including the winner at the recent Palmerston Show—Mr. Healy's Lady Oaklands (Campanile Sultan—Topsy II.) carried off first honours. In the class for Jersey heifer calved since July Ist, 1009,‘ Mr. Healy’s Bridal Bouquet (Uncle Sam—Bouquet) came second in a field of six, and there were not a few on the ground who held the opinion that the Stratfordowned heifer should have led. Both animals were bred by Mr. Healy.

Notwithstanding the abnormal increase in the demand for butter in every country in Europe, not to speak of the immense consumption in the United Kingdom, the manufacture of substitutes has far out-grown the supply of the genuine article. For instance, one margarine factory will make more margarine each week than the output of throe or four Now Zealand butter factories. Very probably within another decade or two it will be found impossible to keep pace with the ever-growing demand. There does not seem much prospect of the retail price of butter receding under existing conditions. In Connecticut some of the old laws framed by Puritans have been enforced within recent years. Not long ago a

prominent manufacturer was summoned for kissing his wife in a tramcar. The complainant was an elderly spinster who was travelling in the car at the time the offence was committed, and deposed that the affectionate husband not only kissed bis wife, but kept bis arm round her waist* during the whole of the journey. She pleaded that as this conduct occurred on a Sunday it was punishable under a 17th century statute. The Judge concurred, and imposed a fine of five dollars and costs.

The monthly meeting of the Domain Board will he held to-morrow afternoon.

Elections for scats on the Stratford County Council were held yesterday, but final returns will not be available before to-morrow.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister lor Agriculture, and Liberal candidate for tnc Egmont seat, was an interested spectator at the Hawera Show yesterday.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr. C. D. Sole, J.P., a first-offending drunkard was convicted and discharged, and J. C. McCarthy, a second offender for drunkenness, was fined £3.

The equinoctial gales left us after a reign of terror just a brief period since; but judging from the weather being experienced to-day they have returned in full force. Heavy gales of wind, with thunder, lightning, ana driving rain have been with us since early morning, and at tMie of writing there was little hope of a change.

At Holy Trinity Church on Tuesday, Mr. VV. Payton, of Messrs. Wilson and Drake’s staff, was married to Miss Barron, recently from England, the Rev. W. A. Butler performing the ceremony. Prior to his marriage Mr. Payton was presented by the members of the Fire Brigade with a set of carvers, by the station hands with an enlarged photograph of themselves, and by “the Devil’s own” with a silver cruet.

On Tuesday evening the members of the C.E.M.S. entertained their lady friends at a social at the Parish Hali, about a hundred and fifty being present. Quartettes were rendered by the Holy 'Trinity male quartette party, and solos by. members of the choir. Games and competitions were held, the latter being won by Miss A. Johnson and Mr. Lander. The entertainment was wound up with a short dance, finishing at half-past eleven. Notwithstanding the fact that the gentlemen were supposed to be entertaining the ladies, the latter were called upon fairly frequently to lend aid in the way of accompaniments, etc.

Dynamite caps are very dangerous playthings, as a young man named Morton, who resides on Taupo Quay, Wanganui, learnt on Friday last to his sorrow. Norton, who had beeri employed in a quarry, brought horiie with , him a bit of fuse, and after tea Ke was playing with it and lit it. Another boarder at the same place produced a dynamite cap. and Norton, in the belief that the fuse had burned out, attached it to the cap. Others present pointed out to him the danger of his action, but he took no notice of them, with the result that the cap exploded in Norton’s hand. He was conveyed to the Hospital, and upon examination next morning it was found that two fingers and the thumb on one of bis hands were injured, and necessitated the removal of the tops of the injured members. The young man is progressing satisfactorily; , Madame . Curie, whose , prime and that of,her deceased husband will be for. ever, associated with the discovery of radium is still .deeply interested in, further, experiments in connection/ therewith. A Paris correspondent says the foundations have been laid, at great depth for a “radium palace,”; in which all her. laboratories . will ,be installed and where she will carry on the researches which have never, boen suspended since the lamented deatji of her husband. From particulars available it is ascertained ■ that the, building will be lined throughtout with a thick layer of lead, which scientists „ affirm is impenetrable to . raradinm lays. It can be;! imagined what a huge weight the “radium palace” will be with thick layers of lead on walls, ceilings and floor, wherefore the necessity for the. massive foundations being excavated to .such/ a great depth. The building will; stand appropriately in the Rue Pierre, Curie, in Southern Paris, adjacent tq; the pavilion of the Oceanographical Institute, founded by the Prince of, Monaco. The architect affirms that: the outward decoration of the radium, palace will completely deceive the eye,, the heaviest building in proportion to its size in the world being made;,to appear, one of the lightest by various decorative devices contrived by. the architect. ! , j .f *