LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 93, 2 December 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Oddfellows hold another euchre party in the Foresters’ Hall on Monday evening next, commencing at 8 o’clock.

Wo have received an advance schedule for the third Show under the auspices of the Dannevirke A. and P. Association, which is to be held on February 14th.

A Chatham Island correspondent writes:—“There died recently at the Chatham Islands an old native woman, named Haena, over 90 years of age. She came from New Zealand w!ien quite a girl, and witnessed some of the slaughter of the unfortunate Morions. She was quite energetic up till the time of her death.”

An unexpected find was made by some workmen while engaged digging a drain on land adjoining Father Patterson’s residence at Lake Takapuna, Auckland, in the shape of an old cannon ball, which had evidenly lain hidden there for many years. There was nothing to indicate as to how tiiis relic of New 'Zealand’s pioneer days came to find a resting place at -the spot indicated.

The ladies of a number of the centres in the South Island are to be congratulated on coming into line with other centres in the matter of removing their hats at a public entertainment. On a recent evening at a children’s social at Stirling it was observed that the vast majority of the ladies were kind enough to do this. In this way they displayed a gracious consideration for those who were sitting behind them, and who wished to see as well as to hear.

“I never thought you would be one to go in for show,” remarked the Mayor of Gisborne to one of the City Fathers, as the latter took his place on the box seat of the landau in the Labour Day procession, sporting a top hat. His Worship wore a modest bowler, and quietly insinuated that the said City Father wished to be taken for the Mayor. The explanation was that the offending Councillor wished to occupy the box-scat, and considered the fulness of things would bo destroyed if ho was not tiled similarly to the jehu.

A pleasing little function was celebrated at Mr. R. 1). Lowers’ drapery establishment yesterday, when a formal presentation of a tea service, with Japanese tray, and embroidered tray cloth, was made to Miss Porter, who severs her connection with the firm on account of her approaching marriage to Mr. T. Jones, of Stratford. In making the presentation, Mr. 11. I). Lowers expressed great regret at Miss Porter’s departure. She had been with the firm for over four years, and had given every satisfaction. He x wished her every success and happiness in the new sphere of life upon which she was entering. Miss Porter suitably resounded.

Some of the King Country townships have made astonishing progress. The population of Taumarunui at present is about 1200. At the last census it was 1128, or more than double what it was in 1900, when there were only some 500 souls in the town. The public school statistics also testify to the rapid growth of settlement. At the beginning of 1909 there were only about 80 children on the roll; a year later the.number had crept up to 180 ; now it stands at 210. Three years ago the Maori scholars were in the majority, but now they number only about one-quarter of the whole. A movement is now on foot to have the school constituted a District High School.

Summer is due to arrive, or is, perhaps, overdue. If one can depend on signs, summer is with us, for this morning Constable Mackintosh appeared in his pith helmet.

.Mr F. Bird, the returning officer for the Stratford electorate, leaves for Wnaugamomona to-day on his final trip, concluding the arrangements for me polling booths and deputy returning officers for the coming election.

The executive committee of the Stratford A. and P. Association wishes to thank all tiiose who voluntarily or otherwise worked so hard to make the Snow.such a decided success. We are asked to mention that first prize for best pair of ponies under x2 hands went to Mrs It. T. 13. Mellow’s pretty pair of Shetlands. By error the owner's name was given wrongly.

The weather at the Mountain has continued execrable during the past few weeks, and, as can easily be imagined, there have been no visitors; but tiie track, according to Mr. Christensen, is “passable,” and no doubt there will be a good number of visitors on the first fine day.

A new German lineiAof 6000 tons, to sail between Hamburg and West Africa, is fitted with anti-rolling tanks, and the owners have shown their confidence in the efficacy of the apparatus by providing the diningsaloon with ordinary dining-room chairs, but not fastened to the floor in any way, though their feet are shod with rubber, with the object of preventing slipping. Mr. G. V. Tate, of Waitara, writing to a friend in Stratford, refers to the great success of the Stratford Show, and in his letter goes on to say: “As soon as Stratford gets the railway through, no doubt you will have a lot of stock from the Waikato. . . I look forward to Stratford some day being the leading Show of the North Island.”

To enable a prompt settlement of accounts, and a balance to be struck the Stratford A. and P. Association request that all accounts due and owing by the Association, in connection with the late Show, be rendered at once to the secretary, Mr. E. Jackson. Where accounts are not directly authorised by the secretary himself, it will be necessary to have same certified to by the member of the executive who gave the authority. What is claimed to be something of a record was put up by the carriage stallion Silver Spec, at the Show, he and las son, Silver King, getting first prize in the tandem class. It is claimed that it is rare to see father and son so figuring. Silver King also got first prize for best carriage stallion, and Silver Huon was third in the three-year-old class, having a close contest with the two Wanganui horses which filled the first two places.

At one of his Auckland lectures Dr. Kumm made an interesting remark in regard to the Maoris, holding that “they will become in the end a rivulet flowing into the Anglo-Saxon race.” The remark is the more interesting because of the contention of added vigour by the process of racial intermixture, although not the admixture of a white race with a coloured race'. It is the constant infusion of new blood that gives the American nation its remarkable verve and “snap,” and there are innumerable.’instances in New Zealand of the inter-marriages of the people of opposite types the product of which is of higher physical and mental excellence than either parent. Mr W. D. Anderson has definitely decided to contest the vacancy on the Taranqki,Education Board, caused by the resignation of Mr W. C. Cargill, and in our issue of to-day addresses the committeemen of the East Ward. Mr Anderson is a well-known barrister and solicitor, practising in this district, and was educated in the Ponsonby public school. From there, with a junior scholarship, he went to ■the Auckland Grammar School, where he studied for three years. He matriculated and kept terms at Auckland University ,and also passed two civil service examinations. These qualifications certainly fit him to take a reasonable view of educational affairs, and his candidature will no doubt receive a great deal of support. Mr Anderson has resided in Stratord for the List nine years, and is well known to a great many of our readers. An obstreperous passenger was the cause of some half-dozen tram-cars being held up on an Auckland tram route. He insisted he had given a conductor a sovereign in paying for his fare, and received only 3d in change. The conductor said the change given was correct, as the passenger had given him a shilling when asking for a return ticket (9d). To settle the matter ho stopped the car opposite the police station and invoked the aid of a constable. The passenger still insisted that he had given the conductor i sovereign, and, further, that he had lost another half sovereign in the car. Sergeant Rogers carefully searched the conductor’s bag in his office, in the presence of both the men interested, but found no gold coin. A halfsovereign was found in the car, and tiie passenger was allowed to take it. In the meantime a number of cars were held up.

A meeting of the Stratford A. and P. Association 'was held last evening, when there were present:—Messrs R. Dingle (in the chair), R. Masters, W. P. Kirkwood, D._ J. Malone, F. Dobson and R. McK. Morison. A protest from Messrs Tichbon Bros, re Mr Lyford’s bull, Admiral De-Kol, being awarded first prize in class 118, for pedigree Holstein bull, from July Ist, 1910, was considered. On the motion of Mr Dingle, seconded by Mr W. P. Kirkwood, it was decided “That Messrs Tichbon Bros, having lodged a protest against Mr Lyford’s bull being awarded first prize in class 118, on the grounds that the bull is not eligible for the Herd Book ; that Mr Lyford bo written to asking him to furnish written proof that his bull was eligible.” The matter of the points prizes in the cattle classes was left in the hands of the secretary and Mr W. P, Kirkwood.