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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 85, 23 November 1911, Page 6

A biff batch of correspondence will be found on page eight of this issue. Official notice of polling day and the booths in the Stratford electorate, is published in our columns by Mr Frank Bird to-day. A well-known architect estimates that it costs 33 per cent, more to build a cottage to-day than it did six years ago. The increased cost of labour accounts for 25 per cent.

A Taranaki firm of land agents has found it necessary to announce that they wish clients to understand that no exchanges will be negotiated when the properties ai'Oj inflated in value.

Messrs Hallenstein Bros, are about erecting a three storey building in Wanganui. The structure will bo of brick, faced with Oamaru stone, and will be one of the finest business promises in Wanganui. There seems to be plenty of scope for women in the Waikato. For years an elderly lady, a spinster, has been a member of the Road BoaVd at Cambridge, a widow was recently made a poundkeeper, and a few days ago a Mrs Sarah Ann McCann was elected a trustee of the South Hautapu Drainage Board.

Owners and trainers are reminded that nominations for all events at the Taranaki Jockey Club’s popular Christmas meeting, close with the secretary on' Friday next, November 24th, at 9 p.m. Mr E. P. Webster, the secretary of the club, notifies this fact in an announcement elsewhere.

At Monday’s meeting of the Land Board a letter was received from the Under-Secretary for Lands suggesting that the Board should decide, when opening land for selection, what sections should be hallotted for amongst (a) ordinary landless applicants; (!>) married landless applicants with families; (c) landless applicants unsuccessful at former ballots.—Resolved that the suggestion be adopted and that the matter be left in the hands of tho Commissioner to arrange with regard to blocks about to be opened.

In dealing with arithmetic in a recent address in Christchurch the practical problems of education, Mr E. Watkins, principal of the Training College, pointed out that frequent complaints were made by shop-keepers that the boys who went into their employ could not even give change, and ho pointed out that this was owing to the fact that the shopkeeper gave his change on the plan known as complementary addition, which is asked for by the present New Zealand syllabus, but which cannot be worked in schools without the provision of boxes of imitation coins and smaller classes than at present.

A very, pleasing instance of sympathyin a time of distress is related in the West Coast Times. A farmer who cued at Cronadun lately had left Iris family a wife and young children, in i educed circumstances, while the farm, owing to his illness, had fallen back in condition. The other morning however, a double furrow plough, with horses, carts, and seeds and men with disc ploughs and harrows, all appeared on the farm,and were worked by neighbouring farmers or their men, who had come to lend a helping hand. Labourers from the township also came to freely give their labours and all that day men and horses worked like Trojans for the sake of the “widder and childer,” and made a wonderful improvement, in the : look of the farm. Needless to; say the chivalrous and kindly assistance of farmer and labourer; was much appreciated. ■ We boast ourselves a cleanly people and are apt to scorn the foreigner who who does not daily perform the ritual of the tub. Yet, the “British Medical Journal” points out, it is not so long ago since we had the reputation of being an exceptionally dirty* people. In' the year 1800 there was not a single private house in London provided with a bathroom. A witness stated before the Health Commission, about the middle of last century, that the only , two occasions on which f.one of the* labouring classes was washed all over was immediately after birth, and after, death. . Even' at the present day says the journal, “a French workman would be ashamed to wear the clothes in which the British labourer goes to his daily work. There is nothing that tramps who apply to the workhouse think a more brutal tyranny than the enforced, bath.”

Of the many surprises afforded by the recent political “landslide” in Canada., none was more astonishing than the defeat of the Minister of Militia and Designate-High Commissioner (Sir Frederick Borden) by a raw youth. Mr A. W. Forster, who downed Sir Frederick for Flings, a Nova Scotian constituency, which hv.d returned the latter no less than ten times, is still an undergraduate of King’s College, and is probably the first undergraduate to sit in the House of Commons. During the campaign the Minister of Militia was wont to refer sarcastically to “my very young friend,” who has by now learned the mistake of holding an opponent too cheaply. In the maritime provinces they take their politics very seriously. .Hence, it has been no surprise to the Nova Scotians to find a raw college student, quite unversed in politics, drubbing a veritable political giant. Rose growers may be interested to know what were the blooms which proved most successful at the recent Crystal Palace Show. According to the London “Times” the gold medal was won with a bloom of the brilliant red Gloire do Chedahe Guinoseau. Frau Karl Droschki was, however, a much greater favourite, being staged in eight of the eleven boards of twelve Idooms of one hybrid perpetual or hybrid tea, and carrying off all three prizes. Among tea roses Hainan Cochet and White Hainan Cochet were almost equally prominent. The class for new roses was won with the lemon yellow Alexander Hill Gray, and second with Souvenir of Portland, Oregon. For decorative purposes no rose was so popular as the apricot-yellow Lady Hillingdon. In the trade classes the variety Caroline Testout apE eared in every exhibit, and C. J. Grannie, Hugh Dickson, and the Lyon Rose were omitted from only one or two.

At the Native Lands Court at Kaiapoi Judge M. Gilfedder had occasion to speak plainly in respect of an application for the consent of the Court to grant power to a Maori to sell some of his land whore there was but a slender estate left for his maintenance. He pointed out the Legislature intended that no native should dispossess himself of land unless ha would be in an independent position after the partition in his estate had taken place. All the applications, too, were in the direction of 'the Maoris selling lands to Europeans ; it was never the case that the Maoris ware Eurchasing lands from the Europeans, n the case before him it had been represented that the native, with the proceeds of the sale which the Court was asked to sanction, would probably buy some adjacent land, and if that took place he (the Judge) might consider it reasonable to permit the sale asked for. The Court was not to be made a means whereby, for the sake of obtaining cash at the present time, the natives might become impoverished in the future by parting with their lands.

Next week all shops in Stratford will close at 1 p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday on account of the Stratford Show.

Mr. F. W. 11. Brodow, of Douglas, was particularly successful with ids Lincoln sheep exhibits at New Plymouth Show, taking four prizes, a first, two seconds, and a third.

A movable school is to be crock'd at Whangamomona, and Mr. C. J. .Mackenzie, Resident Engineer for the Public Works Department, is inviting tenders for the work. Mr. G. A. Merchant informed the County Council yesterday that ho had (resigned his seats on the Hospital Board, tho National Park Board, and tiie executive of tho Counties Association. No action was taken in regard to tl ic two last-named seats.

The County Council -yesterday appointed Gr. Smith to fill the vacancy on the Hospital Board caused by tho resignation of Mr. Merchant, and Cr. Rogers was recommended to the Governor for appointment to fill the vacancy on tho Board caused by insufficiency of members nominated.

During a discussion on Hospital matters at tho County mooting yesterday Cr Thomson said lie would like to see the Government approached with a view to making Hospital Boards responsible for the collection of rates, thus freeing other local bodies. Cr. Mar fell: I’m quite with you there.

Mr. Edward Jackson’s redoubtable “Barney”- again added to his honours list at New Plymouth yesterday, securing first prize for pony ridden by boy or girl and first prize for harness pony under fourteen hands. Mr. J. R. McDonald and Mrs. C. J. C. Craddock, both of Stratford, were also prize-takers in the light horse classes. At yesterday’s meeting of the Education Board, Mr. W. C. Cargill forwarded Ins resignation as a member of the Board, owing to his departure from tho district. The resignation was accepted with regret, and ’luesday, .January 2, was fixed as the date for the election to fill tho vacancy' caused by the resignation. The following tenders were accepted at yesterday’s meeting of the County Council:—Formation portion of Mangaoapa Road, Messrs. Hennobery and O’Connor; formation of portion of Mount Humphries Road, drain cleaning and deepening at Douglas, Messrs. Needham Bros.; dog ( collars, Mr. H. Wilson.

The total number of names appearig on the Stratford electoral roll, including the main roll and two supplementary rolls, is 7173. Of these, however, 617 have been struck off the main roll since it was printed, they having been transferred to other electorates. Sixty-eight absent voters’ permits have been issued.

The Taranaki “Herald” states that Mr. Mark Hopson, Inglewood, lost a very valuable Jersey bull during the electrical disturbance on Friday last. The electric' fluid struck a tree about twenty-four feet from the ground and ripped the bark off, and also killed the bull, which was only a few feet away. The bull was not tied up, but was running about the paddock a few minutes before the occurrence took place. The number of dogs sent to the New Plymouth Show from ■ Stratford should have rejoiced the heart of “Laye,rack.” Mr. T. Kirkwood took quite, a ,lot of prizes for pointers and setters, other Stratford prize-takers being:—B. Bowler (greyhounds), Mrs. H. J. Dunha m and J. Patterson (retrievers), A. Cuthbertson (collies), F. Kleeman (bull-dog) and Miss D. Cuthbertson (variety class).

The Waitara Mounted Rifles are at present practicing hard for the purpose of getting into form, as they intend to send a team to compete in the military events at the Strafford A. and P. Show—individual tent-peg-ging and jumping by fours. It behoves the Stratford Mounted Rifles to practice also 5 so that their northern friends do not have a runaway victory. , Entries will lie taken at the post and prizes are provided. This evening at St. Andrews’ Hall, the young women’s annual social takes place, commencing at 8 o’clock. A first-class programme has been arranged, including piano- solos, violin solos, vocal items, recitations and a dialogue “Wanted a Servant,” in which seven take part. Given a fine evening a largo audience is anticipated. A sociiil was hold last night under the auspices of the Druids’ Lodge for the purpose of winding up their dancing season. About thirty couples were present. The social was for both plain and fancy dress, but the only fancy dresses were the following: —Mrs Richardson, Spanish dancer; Miss Croots, Japanese girl; Miss Flanuagan, rubies and opals; Mrs Worsley, Folly. An excellent supper was provided by the ladies, and dancing was kept up till an early hour tins morning. Mrs Bianchi provided the music for the dancing; extras being played by Messrs W. Ryan, A. Richardson, G. Albertson, and F. Sheehan.