LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 8 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Chatting about tho weather with a press .representative, Mr. W. Tompsitt, .who has lived in the Otaki district, for considerably over thirty years; stated that a very,; similar spring to the present was experienced in Otaki in 1880. i .He states that in that year rain - and wind were experieubed nearly, "very day for months, but after the New Year—New Year’s Day of 1881 broke gloriously fine—exceedingly hot weather followed for months; indeed, there was not a ; drop of '■ raiir till tho. 18th of March, the drought being disastrous. Mr. Tompsitt expresses the opinion that there is every probability of a very dry autumn, after the exceptionally broken weather of the., past few months.- u tr fine! »bi to'l abuof

There are some things fpr the disappearance of which nobody can account. It is difficult to say what becomes of all the pennies. They are not sent back to the - Mint to be remade as arc gold and silver coins. New ones are constantly being manufactured and put into circulation, blit the old ones still remain in use. Then, who can account for the millions and millions of pins which are made and sold? What becomes of them ? The number of needles manufactured, again, is a puzzle to the mind which tries to discover the use and end of things. Light as to tT.e purpose of some hundreds of millions comes from China, to a single province of which Great Britain sends over 300,000,000 needles a year. It seems that the Chinese decorate the roofs of their houses with an elaborate plaster design. The crows sivoop down upon this plaster while it is moist, and peek it away. To prevent this the Chinese stick needles, point upwards, into the plaster, so preventing the destructive birds fl'orn alighting. Recently there was a great celebration at Oriel College, Oxford, when some new buildings were opened wli’ch had been built out of funds left by Mr. Cecil Rhodes to his old college. Mr. Rhodes went to Oxford rather late in life, and before very long the affairs in South Africa, in which he already had interests, obliged him to take frequent absences from the college, but he never wavered in Ids determination to complete his University course. From time to time lie returned to Oxford to keep residence for a tepm or more, and from time to time to pass an examination in the school. Even when he was away for long intervals he found time to read up his books, and it is reported that while riding over the veldt ho had the Thirty-nine Articles before him on the saddle bow. It took him more than seven years to complete his necessary residence and to pass all his schools, and lie took both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree on the same day.

lii his charming hook, “Some Pages of My Life,” just issued, the new Janon of Westminster, long time known and loved as the Bishop of Ripon, makes an interesting contribution to knowledge on a much controverted question. It is generally believed (writes Sir Henry Lucy in the Sydney “Morning Herald”) that Queen Victoria had an unqualified admiration for Disraeli, who made her Empress of India, she in turn creating him Karl of Heaconsfiold. The legend receives support from the circumstance that when “Dizzy” died the Queen sent a funeral wreath of primroses to ho laid upon his coffin, the offering hearing the inscription, “His favourite flower.” Upon the authority of “Dizzy’s” faithful secretary, Lord Rowton, I some years ago showed that this was a misapprehension. In Queen Victoria’s mind the personal pronoun referred to the Prince Consort. The ex-Bishop of Ripon, who was admitted f o the intimate acquaintance of Queen Victoria, tells how one evening at Osborne conversation turned upon the power of Lord Beaconsfield as disclos'd in his novels. “Yes,” said the Queen, reflectively, “he was an a hie nan. with a fine imagination. Yes. great, hut not so great as the present ''rime Minister.” The Premier dr the lav was the late Marquis of Salisbury, than whom it would he impos'd hie to conceive one further removed >y nature, circumstance, and characer from Disraeli,

Denis Brew, labourer, of Eltham, has filed a declaration of insolvency. The death is announced at Hawera of Airs. William mickle, sister to airs. Moir and Miss Coffey of Stratford. The Stratford swimming baths are closed for repairs at tiie present time, nut will be refilled and ready for everyone on Friday next. Mr. and Airs. W. G. Malone, who have been spending a short holiday at Lake Kotorua and the Hot Lakes, returned to Stratford on Saturday evening. A Press Association telegram from New Plymouth records the death yesterday of Mr Henry Hooker, aged 78, who arrived in Sew Plymouth in .18 H. ' It is the tendency of the world to flatten out all individuality ; to drive people about in herds following a bellvet nor known as fashion.—Canon Xcwbolt. ' A skeleton discovered during quarrying operations by the Bain Stone Firms, Ltd., has been pronounced by an archaeologist to be that of a woman who Jived at least 4000 years ago. The skeleton was found in a grave lined with slabs of stone, and is in good state of preservation. The time-honoured six-shooter in the American army will become obsolete next August, giving way to the march of improvement as embodied in the ten-shot automatic pistol. The weapon nas finally demonstrated its great superiority over the old-fashioned revolver, and lias already been extensively adopted in the regular army. In a discussion on housing at Cardiff, at a conference of South Wales ...lurches, and public authorities, held under the auspices of the National I Council cf Public Morals, it was stated that at Dowlais, Glamorgan, a father, mother, five children, and a lodger and its wife were found living in tw r o rooms. We are, specially requested to direct die attention of all parents, guardians, stepmothers, stepfathers, artistic manipulators of tne feminine bovine, and everyone within a radius of fifty miles of Stratford to the fact that the annul! Seaside Picnic will take place on Lhursday, February Ist. It is affirmed that' it will be bigger, brighter, and more enjoyable than ever. Four .urge dressing tents will bo erected, nicl the Chairman and members of the School Committee will look after everybody so that all may have a real good time. The Federal Sugar Commission is likely to be the costliest enquiry yet .undertaken by tne Commonwealth 'says the “Age”). The members are receiving substantial sums in fees and ■.alaiiss. In the form of a return, a statement of , the allowances to members was laid before the Commonwealth House of Representatives on December 20. Mr. Tudor said the prescient was receiving a salary at the ate of £BOOO a year, with travelling xpenses of £3 3s a clay while absent from his place of domicile. Members -vere getting j£3 3s a clay and 25s travelling expenses, and the secretary to die Commission his usual salary of 310,0 a year .and travelling expenses f 15s a'day,,when absent from ,Vicjcria,,and 12,3 a day when in [Victoria, [n addition, 4he, president was allowed v private secretary 1 ,at £250 a } year,, with f2s 6d a .day travelling expenses,; ip cl; all train, steamer, and cab .fares incurred in connection with tlic .business of the were, bqingj paid by the Government. /• . ,