LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, 30 December 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Monday next, being New Year’s Day, the “Stratford Evening Post” will not be published.

in the course of a case hoard by Mr. R. S. Florancc, S.M., at Blenheim last week, one of the witnesses, a shearer, was asked why he took up work on a Marlborough station under an assumed name. Ho replied that when ho arrived in Blenheim he was prepared to give his proper name, but was told by some fellow-workers that it was not the practice among shearers from other parts to work under their own name. The reason of this custom did not transpire.

A message to the Melbourne “Ar- , gus” from Tallangatta states that a i few days ago Mrs J. Jenkins undress- J ed a child in the kitchen at her home, Lolling her to run oil' to bed. The little one pleaded for a light, but the mother replied that there was no need, as tlie bed-clothes were turned down. The child persisted in her request, and finally Mrs Jenkins accompanied her to the bedroom with a lighted candle, to find a large black snake coiled up on the pillow. The other night the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society received correspondence in respect to the action ofa private individual whose observat-* ions bad led to the conviction of a Maori for trout poaching. It was stated that the man’s action had made him so unpopular that lie would have to leave the district. Ho was a labourer, and be feared that the fact of his having given information to the police would make it difficult for him to obtain work. It was decided to award him £2, one half the amount the culprit was lined. A custom that is being more widely followed by provision retailers nowadays is to have the shop windows so constructed that the lower half of the frame may bo temporarily removed independently of the upper portion. The advantage of this is apparent. Upon market days or busy evenings the assistant is enabled to stand outside the shop and there serve the customers from the window. The effect of this has been to avoid the overcrowding of the shop and to, facilitate service. There is_ thei advantage ; of being ahlfe to gratify the desire qf a customer for any particular . article displayed in the> window without having to dismantle halt the window.:

Our roads, says the Matiere correspondent of’the ‘‘Taranaki Herald,” are now in a worse state than ever before at this time of the ‘year; in fact, two waggons were abandoned for the night, hogged side by side about a quarter of a mile on the railway side of Matiere township, blocking all traffic, and, as one waggoner put, it, taking a lease of the road. ' The road between here and Ongarnc is indestrihahle. Waggons are being daily bogged and broken, and no stronger indictment could ho found against the Liberal Government than the state of this arterial road supplying the whole requirements of over two thousand souls, At one particularly bad bole some wag has written an epitaph on a well-known teamster thnsly: “Sacred to the memory of John , who was drowned while fishing in this pond,” followed by other particulars and a date.

Certain officials at the Auckland railway station, says the “Star,” are looking for divers frolicsome spirits, and are promising dire trouble if a meeting takes place. Christmas is always a busy period for the railway servants, and is just the time when the pranks of the practical joker arc least likely to be appreciated. All day long on Thursday tired officials were turning away angry callers. One after another trooped in. “A parcel for me? So-and-So is my name. You rang up to say there was a parcel of poultry for me from the country. Trying weather like this, I can quite understand that you are glad to get such perishable frieght off your hands. Very good of you to ring up.” In such manner innumerable people introduced themselves to the officials in charge of the railway goods sheds on the Breakwater Road, only to be informed that some wag had been at work. Finally the railway people got so tired of it that where they suspected the errand of a caller they rapped .out, “No, there’s no Christinas poultry for you,” before the hoaxed citizen had time to embark upon inquiry. A railway .official informed a “Star” representative that they bad had over 800 such inquiries in two days, and tbev were tired of it. Jesse and Warren Buffum, known is “Harvads scientific tramps,” have reached Denver, on their long tramp from Boston to San Francisco, says the New York correspondent of a London journal. The physical director of Harvard Dr. Sargent, is anxious to tost the relative value _ of meateating and vegetarianism in sustaining man under physical strain ,and ihc Buffum brothers wore selected because, physiologically considered, they are ranked about even. Both must walk all the way, both sleep in the open air, and neither take alcohol. .Jesse is twenty-five and Warren twenty-three, and both are exceptionally healthy young men. To-day American vegetarians arc rejoicing because, with the third long tramp over, Warren, who lives ebielly on vegetables, is in much the better condition. .Jesse is not bad, but is quite inferior to bis brother. The meateaters, however, are tailing heart because it is predicted that Jesse, on beef, mutton and chicken, will “knock the stuffing nut of bis rival as regards endurance.” Warren candidly admits that bo finds bis vegetarian cl;et distasteful, and when the day’s tramp is over lie simply yearns for a juicy beefsteak or a tender chop. He regards himself as a martyr to science,

:uid says his only consolation consists in boiled C<r(r,S ami milk, which Dr. Sargent allows. The llulfum brothers isk for a double room when they arrive at hotels, but always sleep in woollen hags covered with water-proof in the roof. Tn this wav they have weathered several blizzards in Kauris ;nd Colorado, but so far have rot suffered from exposure.

Christmas poultry seems to have sold at a high price at Timaru. Last week at auction a line of 21 prime fat turkeys brought -12 s (id per pair, IS pairs of fat ducks 8s 9d per pair, 17 pairs geese 10s 6;l per pair, and 32 pairs fat cockerels 7s 9d a pair. The death is reported from Inglewood of Mrs. Spindle, widow of Mr. 0. C. Spurdle, whose death took place only about three months ago, and who was one of tiic earliest settlers of Taranaki, having come out in the Timandra in 1812. The liver of an ox killed recently at the Wellington abattoirs weighed loOlhs. The liver was infested with echinococcus cysts—the so-called “hydatids.” The current number of the Agricultural Department’s journal contains a photograph of a normal ox liver (weighing about 121 b) alongside which is the lingo affected liver. A quaint paragraph appeared in | the will of Mrs .Julio Hall of Brighton (England). At the reading of the will it was found that she had bequeathed £IOO to her coachman, provided ho was in her service at her death, and “If I do not die through or from the clfccts of a carriage accident when he is the driver.”

At a certain time in the year there is a weird natural phenomenon which takes place in Egypt. The sun goes down and darkness comes very suddenly, continuing for a space of twenty minutes or half an hour. Then with equal suddenness there is a change, the hills and sands take on a marked paleness, and in another moment everything begins to brighten, and it appears as if the sun is about to rise out of the west.

Why does a soldier when saluting a superior raise his hand to his head covering? The beginning dates back to the time of the Borgias, if nob to an earlier period. In those days assassination was in vogue, and in order that an inferior might not have a superior at advantage, the inferior was compelled, when coming into his superior’s presence, to raise his right hand, palm to the front, to show that no dagger was concealed there. From this old-time custom our hand salute inis come down.

Tiie anxiety whicli retailers and managers of shops experience with regard to keeping the Saturday’s takings safe over the Sunday is once again brought forward through a suggestion by the chairman of the Newcastle Grocers’ Association. His idea is new. It is that in a convenient centre in each district a hank should he open from eight to nine o’clock each Saturday night so that the money may he placed in safe custody till the Monday, when it could be passed over to the accounts of the various depositors in their, respective hanks through the ordinary clearing house system. The risks attaching to the present absence of facilities are emphasised almost every week by reports of the robbing of shopkeepers of their week-end takings. The objection to keeping hanking establishments in general' open till late on Saturday evenings is that of increased expense, and the keeping of a staff of clerks in attendance. The new suggestion offers one way in which the, wishes of shopkeepers might he met, at .any yate to some extent.

A humorous incident in connection with the Raglan election is recorded ’ by the “Waikato.Times.” It appears that the hall at Tuakaii, through some mismanagement, was hired to tyifo of the candidates for use on the same night. Roth candidates put in an appearance and both laid claim to the building. An argument and a consultation resulted in the two appearing on the platform together, when Mr Bollard explained the position to the audience, at the same time offering to occupy the-chair while his opponent‘addressed the meeting, provid- i ed Mr Bell returned the compliment. To this the latter willingly agreed,-" and on Mr Bell resuming' his seat after delivering his views, Mr Bollard, as chairman, called for questions, which, he was sure, Mr Bell would be pleased to answer. When the ; question list was exhausted Mr Bollard made his speech, the vacated chair being taken by Mr Bell. Alternately the candidates occupied find reoccupied the platform, and the meeting broke up in good humour after a vote of thanks had been accorded each candidate by acclamation and tactfully not by a show of hands. Whether the hiring fee of the hall was paid in duplicate, or shared by the opponents, is not stated.

Shoe manufacturers are much exercised in their minds at the moment as to the probable fashion in footwear for next spring. Experience has proved the existence of a big public for such fancy footgear as was prominent all last summer. Encouraged by the phenomenally fine weather, wearers showed a readiness to adopt novelties which had previously never, been offered them. That even under such climatic conditions shoes with coloured fabric uppers should “catch on” so generally was a matter of surprise to many. It seems to support the assertion that it is the seller and not the buyer who sets the fashion. The National Association of Shoe Manufacturers in America, realising that the undue multiplication of styles needed checking, agreed to limit the varieties offered to distributors. This has tended to

restrict the vagaries of some shoo designers and American shoe styles have lieeii of a more sensible and •ober character. But this is a direciion in which the British manufacturers could easily go too far, for by unduly restricting varieties injury would ho done to the whole trade.

While the Wright brothers were making their remarkable gliding •xperiments a few weeks ago the dcatli was reported from California of one of the most famous pioneers of gliding flight, who had built a whole series of aeroplanes, in which he anticipated almost every modern improvement, and made flights long years before ever the Wright brothers had even turned their alt?ntion to aviation. The late Profsssor John J. Montgomery built three glide is in

the years 1884 and 1885 in California on which he made flights up to 600 ft in length. Subsequently his experiments were interrunted for some years

■lit were resumed in 1905. On April ’;) of that year there took place one of he most remarkable performances to >e recorded oven in the momentous listorv of aerial navigation. .Mont-

;nniery sent up a parachute jumper ained Maloney in bis glider attached

to hot-air balloon, with instructions to cut himself loose from the balloon when he had reached a height of 1000 ft., and glade down to earth; Maloney, however, exceeded his instructions, did not release himself until he had ascended to 3000 ft., and then glided down safely and in full control of his machine returning to land after covering eight miles in twenty minutes. There is no doubt that Montgomery in fleet anticipated the Wrights’ fam-

ous “warping” device, although the legal validity of the patent remains undecided for the time being. He was unquestionably one of the ablest men who have ever set their hand to tho development of the science of aviation.

Mr A. W. Gilchrist, late of Canterbury, has taken up ins residence in Stratford, and has opened up in business as a land and estate agent in York Chambers, Broadway. A monster seaside picnic is to he held at the New Plymouth Breakwater on New Year’s .Day, under _thc direction of the New Plymouth seaside Improvement Committee, with the idea of giving country people a day on the beach. Senior Sergeant Haddrell, accompanied by Mrs. Haddrell and Ins daughter, returned to New i lymouth last night, after a trip to Pngland, says the “News.” As the sergeant’s leave expires on Decern oei 31 he will resume his duties on January 1. Tlie movements of Senior Sergeant Dart, who has been relieving in New Plymouth, are not yet known, but he is expected to be here tor at least another week. Nominations for the vacancy on the Whangamomona County Conned closed at noon yesterday, the only nominations being Messrs. J. Diggins and J. M. Jones. It will be iemerabered that the vacancy was caused through the resignation m Mi • Jones after he had been declared duly elected by the Magistrate, when Mr. Diggins’ election was. declared invalid. The election will be held on January 4th. Here arc some of the humours 01 an election where female, suffrage exists. At one Wellington booth an old lady flatly refused to go into the recess unless she was assured that nobody else was there. At another, a young woman of considerable apparent intelligence, said that sue hac. to vote for her two sisters also, one of whom was in Christchurch no" > and the other in Auckland. When it was explained to her that this, could not be, she was exceedingly indignant. It would almost seem as il some divines would have made cic/ei detectives. Dr. Blair Bishop, of the Falkland Islands, is extraordinarily astute and on the alert, which many too' late discover who would have taken advantage of his goodness; -Unco on board a great liner, two ladies came to him telling him in great distress that they had been disccyeied with paraffin, for heating thentea, in their cabin, and that they were threatened with a £SO fine each. That evening the bishop saw the travelling purser on deck, and asked for a light.- The purser produced a box of wax vestas. r lhis was enough for the bishop—and too much for the purser. The ladies were not fined.

A collision between a cyclist and a pedestrian in Devon Street this morning caused some amusement for those who witnessed it (says Thursday’s New Plymouth “Herald.”) The cyclist, a telegraph boy—was biking along steadily in the pouring rain, and when near the Criterion Hotel, a young man carrying an umbrella in front of him stepped off the footpath, closely followed by a cattle dog. Ihe collision resulted immediately, andror a few seconds there was a general mix-up of humanity, machinery, umbrella’and dog.' The latter was qu.chest'out of : the scrum, and then a gust of ‘wind ’caught the open Umbrella:, which set out up the 1 street. _ The cyclist, and. the, pedestrian sat -in the mnc(-+-and Iqoked at, each; other, hapr, parentlv realised that, they, were hurt,” exchanged .smiles, after winch they‘‘jp/ched themselves up,” and the telegraph hov proceeded on his way, whilst his friend in distress gave chase after the umbrella, which was duly recovered. At the breaking-up of the New Plymouth Central Scuool tile oilier day, a boy named Jack Skelley was awarded a prize for nine years’ unbroken attendance., There are ,special circumstances in connection, witn the case., which, make the performance probablyi unique in the history, of: the Dominion. These . circumstances are set forth by. a correspondent pi the “Newsy” wno states; “The boy commenced. school the second week in October, 1902, .at College Street, Palmerston North, gaining first-class certificate for 1906-QT-ob. In the month of July, 1906, the, family left for Wellington on a Saturday. The Monday following he started school again at Clyde Quay, where he obtained a first-class certificate for 1906-07. Again the family left for New Plymouth during the Xmas holidays, and he started at the Central School immediately upon* resuming, and again obtained a first-class certificate for 1908. In the month of July, 1909, the family again left, this time for Auckland, leaving on a Friday night, and obtaining the boyT admittance into the Beresford Sheet School on the following Monday morning. During the Christmas holidays of the year the family again returned to New Plymouth. His full attendance was proved, and the first-class certificate awarded by Mr. Dempsey, of the Central School, where he lias continued up to the end of this year, thus completing nine years of school 'attendance witnout loss of_ time — quite a unique record, I think, and worthy of being made known.”