LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 80, 16 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr Joseph McCluggage left for New Plymouth to-day to attend the New Plymouth Harbour Board meeting. The Gazette contains notice of the coming into force of additional rules affecting the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court, made under the provisions of the Judicature Act, IDUB. The new rules touch the procedure regarding absconding debtors, committal under the Imprisonment lor Debt Limitation Act, 1908, applications for interrogatories and discovery, and the setting down of actions for trial. Ethelbert Hoeyman (says the “New York World”) has discovered a scheme by which ho not only has beautified his lawn at Bloomfield, Now Jersey, but has made mosquito traps so effective that his home has been rid of the pests. Hoeyman buried three barrels in the lawn. In each barrel he put one foot of earth and planted lilies. Then the barrels were filled with water. While the lilies were growing, goldfish were dropped in. female mosquitoes came from all directions to lay their eggs among the lilies. As fast as a mosquito arrived the goldfish gobbled her up. Screens have not been necessary in the Hoeyman home this summer. The school strikers in Great Britain have their emulators in Melbourne, says the “Argus l .” At a meeting of the Victorian Hardware Assistants’ Independent Union the chairman (Mr. J. H. Thomas) told of two boys who bashfully approached one of the heads of a city firm of ironmongers last month and asked for a job. To the question: “What can you dot” the ■.spokesman replied: “ \Ve only left school yesterday.” “What remuneration do you expect?” “Well, 15s a week,” was the answer. They wore actually taken on at this wage, and at the end of the week struck for £l. They are still out on strike. At a meeting of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union last week some striking figures ewre given, in one year (1909) there wore exported from one State of South America the plumes ofj 1,500,000 birds; from another, at a more recent date, 2,469,930 bird skins were exported. Over one million pairs of aigrette feathers passed through one port. From one port in New Guinea 12,000 skills were exported recently by two Chinese traders. In 1910 a boat was captured by a United States revenue cutter with 300,000 bird-skins on board; an in another place (mother arrest resulted in the confiscation of 259,000 pairs of albatross wings. It was stated that in the past two years in one district alone of New South Wales , 3000 lyre birds had been shot for the I sake of their tails. 1

The heavy winds of the last few days have levelled many fences and done considerable damage to gardens in Stratford. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr J. Black, J.P., a first-offending drunkard was convicted and discharged, being ordered Co pay i)s for cab hire. Miss Davidson, of Wellington, who has been on a visit to her sister, Mrs \V. I). Anderson, of Stratford, left for the south by this morning’s express. B. E. Baughan’s “Uncanny Country” is the latest of the artistic gift hooks so popular now-a-days. Our copy comes from the publishers, Messrs Whitcomho and Tombs, Christchurch. At a Band of Hope gathering at Mangatainoka, Forty Mile Bush, the other evening, presentations were made to Miss Smeaton, who, with her parents, is leaving the district for New Plymouth. Long continued cold and wet weather have thrown the season hack for millinery and ladies’ spring' wear, but drapers are looking forward to a rush lor pretty things if the pleasant change of to-day continues. It has been announced in the “London Gazette” that the King has approved of the retention of the title o! “honourable” by Mr George Fowlds, uho has served for more than three years as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand. Mi J. Merton, who lias been connected until the Hew Plymouth telegraph office for the past five years was 011 Tuesday the recipient of an entree dish and silver cruet, the occasion being his transfer to Napier and his recent marriage. A party of motorists from Stratford had considerable difficulty in negotiating a had stretch of road on the y.'ay to Opnnake the other evening, hut after some exciting if rather muddy experiences the car pulled ™™ u g h aiKl reached its destination Tim “Waihi Telegraph” saysthere is not much danger of an epidemic in New Zealand, hut if one did occur the demand for lymph wonkl. bo so meat that it could not he supplied, and the anti-vaccinators would probably he among the first to rush to get vaccinated.

A contemporary states that Mr W I). Anderson ,of Stratford, lias “intimated his intention” of offering his services as a candidate for a seat on tlie Taranaki Education Board. This is hardly correct. Air Anderson has been approached and requested to stand, but lias not yet definitely decided to do so. i lie Bayly Memorial Scholarship sports will be held on the New Plymouth Recreation Sports Ground on Saturday. The preliminary' events will be started at 11.30 a.m., the finals being decided in the afternoon. r i iie Rugby Union is making a small charge for admission to cover expenses. Ihe Town Hall has been engaged-,by tlie Fire Brigade from January Ist to January ,6th, the intention being to hold a children’s carnival. The carnival will be under the direction of Professor Cardston,, who has, had much experience in such matters, a carnival held recently at Nelson by him realising a net profit of , £350. The Professor will arrive in Stratford about the end of the month to make final arrangements. Two hundred children will take part in what is described as “a dancing tour of the world.” A floral fete will bo held in conjunction with the carnival. Stratford friends will be sorry to learn that, according to a Te Kuiti correspondent, Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., had a rather unpleasant experience on Friday while journeying to Tiroa from Mangapeelu. Mr Jennings, with a companion, was riding along the tramline, and in consequence of tlie very high, wind, accompanied by hail, did not hear the approach of an engine and timber trucks until within 10 or 12 yards of them. Mr Jennings put his horse at the bank and got clear of the line, but the animal occame terrified and played up. Mr Jennings managed to dismount, but received a nasty kick on the thigh from the animal and also sustained severe bruises, as well hs getting his knee badly crushed against a log. The driver of the engine rendered all the assistance possible, and the party was able to proceed on the journey.

A somewhat unusual application has been submitted to the State authorities by a resident of King Island, says the Melbourne “Argus.” It is a request for permission to collect seaweed on the shores of the island, with the object of treating it by some special process, and then sending it out as a commercial .commodity for use in packing produce, particularly in cool stores. At the request of' the Lands Department, which controls the foreshore of the island, the Chief Engineer for Ports and Harbours (Mr. i\l‘Lcan) recently investigated the request, and, as a result, he has supplied the Department with a report recommending the issue of a license as desired. He points out that the removal of the seaweed will be appreciated by the fishermen of the locality, as they are often troubled by the quantities which drift about in their fishing grounds. A correspondent of the Hawcra “Star” writes as follows;—Sunday, the 12th November was the forty-third anniversary of the attack and defence of the once famous Wereroa Redoubt. The attack was made by Te Toko ware and his warriors on their victorious march from Te Ngutu-o-te-manu to Wcstmere on 12th November, 1868, and the Redoubt was garrisoned by, a portion of the first-class Militia, or, as they were then called, the Wanganui Boys. The lighting lasted about five hours, and the “Boys” had the satisfaction of driving the Maoris off, this being the only chock To Tokoware sustained on his march down the coast. Arrangements are being made for those of the “Boys” who can lie gathered together in Wanganui on Friday next, the day after the Show, to motor out to .the site of the Redoubt, have luncheon and fight their battles over again. On account of the lapse of time no doubt the party will be a small one, the majority having passed in their arms long ago. A very pleasant evening was spent on Tuesday last at Arawa House, the new boarding establishment owned by Mrs Greig, when about thirty guests assembled, in response to the invitation of the residents of the establishment, for a house warming. Music, dancing, cards and parlour games were the amusements of the evening. The house, which is beautifully furnished, proved to be in every way suitable for the occasion, the large diningroom making a splendid dancing hall. Among those present were: Mesdames Greig, F. Dixon, and F. Edwards (chaperones) ; Misses J. Wilson, Sullivan (2), Hart, Reid. Walsh, Bennett, McKenzie. Sole (2), Petrie, Jones, O. Butcher; Messrs 1). Cameron, Schofield, Fearou, Henderson, Goss, Douglas, Raboue, Kerby, Lewis, Ellison, '’wards. Evans, Anderson, Dixon and others. The singing of “Auld Lang brought the evening to a close shortly after midnight.

Mr. Lanrenson, who was injured in a trap accident a few days ago, is very much bettor, but not yet a ole to resume duty at the Post Office. Dr. T. L. Paget returned to Stratfoyd from Auckland this morning. Mrs. Paget remains in the northern city for a time. Mr. Arnold Wilson, son of Mr. P. Wilson, is now in the Stratford Hospital, with a rather bad attack of appendicitis, and his condition is causing his friends some anxiety. Mr. Frank, Mackay returned to Stratford from Auckland this morning where he lias been staying on account of-Mr. J. 11. Mackay’s illness. The latter is, wo are very glad to learn, making as good progress towards recovery as could bo expected after his recent operation. The annual meeting of the Stratford County Council to elect a chairman will be held at the County Office, Stratford, on Wednesday, 22nd November, at noon. The usual monthly meeting of the Council will bo hold at the County Office on the same day at 11 a.in. Business: General, and to confirm a special order constituting ti'e Makuri Valley drainage district. Cr. Thomson is to move: “That amounts as follows lie voted from the South Hiding Special Fund: Lower Bird Road £IOO, Sou'th Climie Road £SO, South Skinner Read £50.” THE PREMIER’S VISIT. Mr. C. D. Solo, Chairman of the Stratford District High School Committee, has received a message from Sir Joseph Ward stating definitely that he will bo glad to lay the foundation -stone of the school on the afternoon of Monday, November 27th. He will arrive from Hawora at 3.15 p.m., and will go on to Inglewood at 6.41 p.m.