LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 90, 29 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On Monday evening the Building Society held a ballot tor a loan of £3OO, Mr W. J. Bray being the lucky shareholder.

Ninety-three boxes filled with petitions for universal suffrage were presented at the opening of the Hutch States General at the Hague. A cheese which weighs 12,3611hs and cost £I2OO lias been made at Aopleton, Wisconsin, for exhibition at tho National Hairy Show at Chicago. The cheese was made from 72 tons of milk.

r J ho Mormons are nl>ont to make a st,u t in connection with their agricultuarl college in Hawke’s Bay. They have purchased 130 acres and have an option over another 130 acres.

1 he annual meeting of the Retailors’ Association was called for last nigh:, Inrfc owing to the sparse attendance of members it was decided to adjourn the meeting until next Monday, when it is hoped that there will be a good attendance of retailers, as the question of what day shall be observed as the weekly half-holiday is to be discussed. Dr. J. Macdonald Brown addressing tne British Pharmaceu tkfal Society said that there still existed among English people an almost childhhc belief in mysterious remedies, a? was shown by the fact that John Bui! spent two millions yearly in patent medicines. The pharmacist’s ideal life was in _ these days much beset with comnierical difficulty under-selling i uu ’ unfair competition, engendered by drug-stores, general stores, and the idvo, apart from honest and honourable opposition. The managers of the Central London School district decided to abolish the mixed system of education which has been in practice in their schools. It w a.s explained that the conclusion come to was the hoys required a different kind of education from the girls and different treatment. The system had been expected to infuse a spirit, of emulation into the children It had not done so. It had indeed, it was stated, had the contrary effect. It made the girls disheartened and indifferent, and hampered the progress of girls and boys alike.

Ihe effect of the hobble. skirt on the manufacture of dress materials led to an amusing discussion at the annual meeting of the Leigh Mills Company at Coventry. Mr Fridlander, one of the directors, declared that the returns of all dress manufacturin'.! firms had been 'considerably “hobbled” vy tli© ladies, and added that, while, no one would accuse the fair sex of meanness, they had shown great parsimony in the construction and contraction of their skirts, and while, perhaps, displaying the beauty of anatomical form, had done much to impede profits and their own movements. (Laughter.) A London manager of the company told the meeting that 42 per cent less material was needed in making a hobble skirt as compared with an ordinary skirt, whereupon Mr Walter Bowkett, as a poor married man. asked how it was that their wives’ dressmakers’ hills continued to go up? The reply was that there were the costumiers and dressmakers to deni with : perhaps they got more payment for the work they did. One of the most extraordinary religions hoaxes ever recorded, even in India, has just occurred in the northern part of Calcutta. A pool of stagnant water, formed from the accumulation of sewage from roadside drains suddenly began, according to local inhabitants, to emit a sweet perfume, which had a lovely lemon flavour. Many people came, smelt,-and wore conquered, and the rumour spread that the pool was holy, and that a new godd'ess would soon rise from its waters to redeem the world. The pool became a place of pilgrimage. Diseased people bathed in it and drank of it, and those of uneasy conscience washed away their sins in it. The water was carried away in jugs, phials and bottles, and a brisk trade sprang up under the aegis of an astute young Bengali in selling the holy water in all parts of the city at as much as (is a phial. News of the holy perfume came to the cars of Messrs Bose and Co., scent manufacturers, who took a professional interest in the matter and sent a connoisseur to investigate. His nose "ini'mediately provided him with a clue to the mysterious disappearance of several cases of essential oils belonging to Messrs Bose. The police examined the tank, and found that several broken bottles of the oils had been thrown into it. This was the explanation of the holy smell. The young Bengali and a carter suspected of having stolen the oils suddenly vanished, hut were found and arrested later. It is odd, says the “Hospital,” that people will neglect to sec that their bedrooms are absolutely dark

and quiet at night. Cold feet will keep people awake, and they have often learnt the value of hot-water Potties. In habit cases it may help to advise a change of bedroom or even of house for a time. The evening meal is an important matter, but no general rule can be laid down, as one person will he awake because his stomach is empty and another because it is otherwise. The late dinner of the full-blooded, over-nourished man needs curtailing, while the thin, dyspeptic nervous woman requires more nourishment. For them some easily digested milk food the last tiling at right is useful. Tea and coffee are best avoided, especially in the latter part of the day. On theoretical grounds alcohol is best abstained from, but in people over fifty it is

seldom wise to change a habit which may have become second nature. The popular fancy for a “nightcap” has its obvious objections. Attention must be paid to the proper ventilation of the patient’s bedroom, and he should be urged to spend as many hours as possible out of doors each day. Extra pillows will help the heart cases, and this device may be of some service to others as well.

The Stratford Racing Club is to further improve its grounds by painting tiie iron and wood fences. Tenders for tho work arc invited.

A young ostrich becomes a foot taller every month of its existence up to eight months, when it is practically full-grown.

A singular Egyptian inkstand, now in a Berlin museum, has a lower compartment for holding reed pens, and an upper one with two holes—one for rod and one for black ink. It is of wood, probably dating from about 1500 B.C.

Colonel Birkenshaw, commander of the North Island province of the Salvation Army, is under orders for transfer to headquarters, Melbourne, consequent upon tiie severance of New Zealand from Australia in army administration, and the appointment of a territorial commander for the Homi iion. Ho takes Ids farewell on January 14th.

Sir Joseph Ward, when speaking at Inglewood, mentioned that the capital value of Taranaki during his term as Prime Minister had increased by £4,958,000, the area under cultivation being 114,000 acres; horses and cattle (including 9000 more dairy cows) by 85,000; sheep by 72,000, the total population by 8170, butter exports by £22,4ll,cheese by £497,014 and frozen meat by £44,752 in value, while liie actual expenditure on road works in the province had been £2,160,000. An ex-pupil of the Stratfrod School, who is now a University student, will deliver a no-license address in Broadway on Saturday night next at 8 o’clock. He will also speak on Sunday night at 8.15 o’clock. There will be a great uo-licciise rally in the Town Hall, when Mr. Taylor and others will give addresses. Tho Wellington papers speak well of Mr. Taylor, and old school mates will probably be glad to once more renew his acquaintance.

Following is the latest report of the Utility Poultry Club’s competition:— Pullets: Misses Bradley (31) 972, T. Kennedy (34) 958, A. It. Browne (27) 912, G. H. Robinson (32) 914, Herefcaunga Poultry Co. (31) 911, W. Nixon (30) 903, Heretaunga Poultry Co. (32) 901. A. R. Browne (28) 892, A. liscli (32) 887, W. Alpine (34) 865, ! . Frothoy " (25) 854, Bangiu.ru Egg Ranch (30) 816, J. W. Green (37) 842. Ducks: Heretaunga Poultry Co. (34) 995, W. Knight (40) 977, A. ,R. Browne (28) 927, P.’ J. Kelly (34) 880. There has arrived in Liverpool a boy tramp who could easily give points to Oliver Twist or David Copporfisld as a long distance walker. His name is George Wilson, and ho is but fifteen years old, yet he has twice tramped through Lancashire and Yorkshire, from the latter place to London, and then back again to Liverpool. During the last seven weeks ho has tramped 600 miles for the double purpose of seeing the Coronation of King George and the Invesliture of the Prince of Wales.

The distinction of being the first woman of purely British nationality to fly belongs to Miss Gertrude Bacon, daughter of the famous aeronaut who was really one of the pioneers of ballooning. Miss Bacon went up with Mr Sommer in a Farman biplane durthe Rheims aviation meeting of 1909, and in her hook, “How Men Ply,” which has recently been published, she provides a fascinating narrative of the sensations of flying. ■ ; She quotes the unfortunate Mr Rolls as saying that his “first impressions of flying was like trying to drive a motor car which was skidding in all directions at once.”

In addition to the large number of immigrants who will reach Now Zealand by the Corinthic to-morrow, there are nearly 400 more coming by the Tongariro, which is due to arrive a wee Mater, says the “N.Z. Times.” The Tongariro is bringing 375 peopffi in the third class, practically all of whom are assisted passengers travelling at reduced rates. Of this number 93 are children and 29 are wives coming out with children to rejoin their husbands. The remaining adults are all either farming people or domestics, these being the only classes of immigrant assisted by the Government. It is not often that a liner comes to New Zealand with so large a number of assisted passengers cn board.

Apparently there is no prospect of the five-masted German sailing ship Preusssn being salved in two parts, as was suggested some time ago. It will he remembered that some months ago this, the largest square-rigged sailing vessel the world has over seen, ran ashore near Dover, after sustaining damage through collision with the cross-channel railway steamer Brighton. The vessel’s masts are still standing, and the work of dismantling her aloft has begun. The broken hull of tiie Preusseii is embedded some twelve feet in the chalk, and at Dover the idea of her being hauled afloat in two sections is ridiculed. It is understood that a contract has been made for the removal of the wreck. Her plating, masts, spars, and fittings will bo removed, and then her underwater section will probably he blasted away and flattened down, so that it will not he a danger to navigation. The Wanganui river steamer Proprietary, whose advertisement appears in tliis issue, call attention to their increased service from Taurnarunui. From December loth, boats will leave that point daily, Monday and Sundays excepted. Hitherto the timetable has been Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Wednesday and Friday departures have now been added, leaving at 9 a.m. and proceeding as far as the houseboat, the through steamer picking up passengers the following day at 11 a.m. These trips are being run to suit the convenience of those who wish to take this fine trip in easy stages, and avoid the early morning rising after the previous long day’s journey from Taupo to Taurnarunui, or the late arriving expresses at Taumarunui from north and south. The Wednesday and Friday boats from Taurnarunui should certainly bo popular.

The following extraordinary golf storv is printed by the “Field,” which vouches for its accuracy: A distinguished member of the King’s staff was playing recently on the links at Balmoral. At a critical moment in his match he apparently failed to loft his ball so much as he may have intended in making an approach stroke. ® His ball was seen to strike a cow, w hich moved slowly away Without giving any other indication that she had undergone any unusual experience. When the player came to the spot vacated by the cow r his ball was not to be found. Not unnaturally he turned towards the cow with an air which may he presumed to have mingled question with apology. The cow deprecatingly shook her head, as if to declare with deep regret that she could offer no suggestion as to the player’s difficulties or the errant missile. This movement, however, dislodged the ball from her right ear.

Pumps! Pumps! Pumps!—Gould’s f,ift and Lift and Force, from 14s each; also, rams, from -15 s each. A large assortment of pipe and fittings .dways in stock.—lWoMillan and Fred;ic: Broadway. Stratford.*

Twenty-one civil coses (two defended), three judgment summonses, and eight informations for breaking bylaws, will be dealt with at the sitting of the Magistrate’s Court on Friday. For the vacancy on the Education Board of the TarAnaki District Mr Robert Masters, of Stratford, has been nominated by the school committees at Hniakama, Ratapiko, Toko Road, Makahu, Matau, Tututawa, Stratford, Bird Road, Pnniwhakau, Midhirst, Mahoe and Huiroa. Mr Masters’ candidature is evidently very popular.