LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 37, 26 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. T. A. Lonergan, who has been on a visit to the north, has returned to Stratford.

Before the gathering at the Foresters’ Hall dispersed last night, it was announced that a hundred and ten members had been enrolled for the new Scottish Society. Mr. E. H. Fergusson, who was at one time schoolmaster at Umutaoroa, near Dannevirke, is now in Canada studying at the Ontario Agricultural College, in the course of a letter to Inspector Hill, Napier, he states that he is taking a special course in chemistry, physics, bacteriology, botany, entomology, field and animal husbandry. Ho is covering the work of the B.S.A, degree, but although the professors gave a high opinion of his ability, they insist that a student must complete his three years’ term. On returning to New Zealand Mr. I’ergusson hopes to find an opening for the special knowledge gained. He has been asked by the Minister of Education to deliver a lecture upon “Education in New Zealand” to the Canadian teachers. Ho has a good word for New Zealand methods. Referring to the college where ho is studying, lie says: “The B.S.A. graduates whom 1 have met could not hope to pass our matriculation examination in English, arithmetic, and mathematics.”

A plucky rescue from drowning took place on Thursday'last in the Mataura Hirer (says the “Ensign”). It appeal’s that a young man named William Stark, who is in the employ of the New Zealand Express Company, was driving across the traffic bridge lrom East Gore, when lie noticed a child floating in the water. Stark set out as fast as he could drive across the bridge, and ran down the river fully (50yds and into the water. In the meantime the child was nearing the railway bridge, and Stark, who by this time was up to his waist in water, just grabbed it as it was getting into the current near midstream. ” The child was partially unconscious, and .Mr. .Stark immediately set to work at artificial respiration, after which he conveyed the youngster, a boy of about six years of age. to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bishop, of Oldham Street. Air. Stark’s presence of mind and promptitude undoubtedly saved the child’s life.

It is stated that if Mr. Massey assumes the responsibilities of the Premiership lie will appoint Mr. H. p. (Jell to'the leadership of the Legislative Council.

We regret to report that Mr. W. Armstrong, Commissioner of Crown Lands, had a severe paralytic stroke on Tuesday evening, and his condition this morning had not improved, says the “Taranaki Herald.” His .illness will probably necessitate his absenting himself from the office for some considerable time.

A committee of the Wellington Hospital Board reported “that having perused and considered the reports ot the medical superintendent and matron upon the working of the oignt hours’ system, this committee, from its experience, endorses the conclusions arrived at by those officers, and is of the opinion that a rearrangements of nurses’ hours, without strict adherence to eight hours per day, and without materially increasing the actual hours of duty, will bo in the interests of both nurses and patients.” A sign of the times that are coming with tiic establishment of a successful oil industry. Messrs. Herman ami Wcger arc setting up in business in Napier as drilling contractors and manufacturers of drilling plant, Both of, them have had wide experience on European and American oilfields. They have drilled in Galicia, Canada, and* the United States, and both have won good reputations for their work in the oilfields of California. Mr. Wegcr, a member of the firm, is spending a few days in New Plymouth. Some two years ago a number of chamois were imported to New Zealand and liberated on the Southern Alps. ' Except on one occasion, a few months after their liberation, nothing was afterwards seen of the animals. A Wellington resident, who has just returned from a tour in the southern mountain district, states, however, that one member of the herd was recently soon by a guide on the flat near Mount Cook. The qhamois was seen alone, and it is doubtful whether it is the sole survivor or merely a wanderer from the flock.

A burglar who entered the premises of a resident of Lithgow (N.S.W.) early one morning last week had a pretty lively time. The gentleman was sleeping alone in the house, and heard the intruder making an entrance. He waited with a rifle, with which he covered the burglar when the latter made his appearance, and ordered him to throw_ up his hands. When the man complied he was hit under the chin with the rifle and knocked down. Finally the householder obtained a revolver and marched his prisoner into the street. But as tho captor was clad only in his shirt, and he could not find a policeman, he hit the burglar with tiie revolver and then allowed him to run away. 1

In view of the doubt which at ( one time prevailed as to whether the s.s. Delphic would come to the Bluff with her record cargo for that port of 3400 tons, the “Bluff Press” interviewed ■Captain English, master of the vessel' who brought her safely in. Captain English said he was pleased to find that everything ‘he had heard 'about the unsafely of the port was more or less i exaggerated.,/fie said ,he found birthing difficult in. the .approach of the Bluff harboinv and it was in ...no way difficult of navigation,, perhaps, that at times in these latitudes one might expect boisterous weather. He described the soundings, which ho had personally made, and suggested detail improvement by, which the Bluff harbour, being so handily situated, could be made one of the finest harbours in New Zealand.

An amusing instance of cross purposes occurred:The other ( day! (saysi the Wellington “Dominion”). It was ,made possible in the first place by the fact that the offices of Thomas Cook aud Sbns, the tourist agents, are situated in the same building as the office of the 1 District Registrar. A lady called at tho office of Cook and Sons and informed the clerk that she wished to register a birth. “Certainly, madam,” replied the clerk, “First or second?” “First,” replied the- lady, ‘ after a pause, and with a look of astonishment which tho ejerk found it imposishle to account for. The problem, however, was quickly solved. “What steamer?” asked the clerk, returning to the business in hand. “It’s not a steamer, it’s a baby,” said the fair caller. Then somebody told the mystified lady that the Registrar’s office was round the corner.

t 'J'lie god wit's llight from Siberia to New Zealand and back again has long been regarded as one of the greatest marvels of migration but its actual occurence had, we thought, been accepted by all scientists. It seems, however, that an ornithological society in Germany has doubts on the subject and to settle them, it lately asked the German consul in Auckland to “attach numbered rings to the legs of some godwits so that if any of the ringed birds were caught in Siberia there would be incontrovertibile proof of their marvellous migration.” Godwits are not exactly as common in the city of Auckland as domestic fowls, and Mr. Seegncr appears to have pointed out these facts to the Society. It was then suggested that he should have some of the birds caught while nesting. The idea, as the New Zealand Herald remarks, was a good one, except that there is as yet no evidence that the birds nest here at all, and plenty that they go to Siberia for that very purpose. The consul therefore replied that the Society had better do the “ringing” of the godwits itself promising that ho would look after any marked birds that were shot in New Zealand. The German ornithologists, who seem to have a good deal to learn about thcTbabits of the godwits, are understood to be still considering this suggestion. Hut if any godwits with rings on their legs are shot out here next season, the shooters will oblige Mr. Seegner if they will send him the rings. Judgment creditors, debtors, and summonses were the subject of a few remarks by Mr. W. G. K. Konrick, S.M., this morning at the Magistrate’s Court. He remarked that, it often happened that a creditor obtaining judgment against a wages man for a large amount, took further proceedings a judgment summons within a very short time, so that it was ordinarily impossible for him to have earned sufficient in the meantime to satisfy the debt. In these cases the judgment creditor had to swear an affidavit that he had reasonable grounds to believe that the debtor had sufficient money to pay the debt. He held that these affidavits should not be made a matter of form; the creditor should ascertain that the debtor could pay the debt before swearing such an affidavit. He instanced the case recently where a wages man had been brought up before him who had been ill in hospital and unable to work, being consequently unable to pay unless he received money from some source other than from wages. Such a thing would be obviated by the creditor making sufficient enquiry.

Interesting Whangamomona news will Ite found on the outside pages of nils issue. Mrs. Sullivan, late of Petone, takes over control of the Commercial Hotel on February Ist. A meeting of the executive committee of the Sfratford A. and P. Association will be held in the Association’s rooms, Broadway, this evening at 8 o’clock. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s next steamer to load at the Waitara Roadstead will be the longariro, about February 3rd, 1912. Mr. J. Pickett, a former Postmaster of Stratford, has been promoted to the post of Chief Postmaster of Thames. He will take up his duties in tho beginning of April. A Press Association message from Waiiii states that at its meeting last night the Borough Council decided to observe Saturday "as tho weekly halfholiday. “1 understand, your Worsh. p, that the defendant has just been, or is just about to bo married, so lie’s quite able to pay this”—Mr. Thomson _at tho Magistrate’s Court this morning in a judgment summons case. It is said that 36 agricultural and pastoral associations have agreed to the proposal to approach the Government to set aside a portion of the, racing tax, and allow agricultural and pastoral societies to distribute it for the encouragement of horse-breed fug. A Press Association message from Whangarei states that preliminary operations in connection with the northern wireless station at Awanui will commence next week. It is expected that the work will bo in full swing within three weeks’ time, and will last about twelve months before the preparations will be made to receive messages, and the 400 ft tower is completed. Judgment by default was entered in tho following civil cases at the Magistrate’s Court this morning:—James O’Connell (Mr. Thomson) v. C. Geary, claim for £2 2s Bd, and costs £1 3s; William Donald (Mr. W. G. Malone) v. Percy Bedingfield, claim £2 10s 6d, and costs 17s;, H. F. Petersen (Mr. Stanford) v. 1). O’Shute, claim £l3 • 16s, and costs £1 18s 6d; Hallenstein Bros (Mr. Fookes) v. A. C. Wilmslinrst, claim 15s, and costs 12s. Mr. Stanford came across a very unwilling witness this morning at the Magistrate’s Court, who attempted to excuse himself on the ground that counsel was “trying to' bamboozle” him. He could not stand the cross- 1 examination as to the expenses incurred in bringing his wife and family from Christchurch to Stratford, and Anally asked with fervour: “Are you a married man?” Mr. Stanford: “You’re getting impertinent now!” Here is a singular illustration of the- principle of, cause and effect. The gradual substitution of motor power for horse traction in England has led to a serious decrease in the growth of oats and a corresponding increase, in the area under wheat. The next oat harvest will be the' smallest ever known in England. It is only in the north of England, - where much por- . ridge is eaten, that oats, are still bey, p mg grown on a large scale. The consumers now are chiefly well-bred horses and hunters and French 1 and ;i ‘ German farmers, rwho igenerally come : trt 1 England for good pat seed. ~- , ori Another .from the ranks pf the-fast., disappearing band of pioneer settlers passed away at the New Plymouth Hospital on Wednesday, in the person of Mr. Sam Adam, iwho for nearly for- i "ty years was a resident of Hawera, says the “News.” Deceased was a native of Glasgow, and early ‘in life enlisted in the 42nd Highlanders, but was afterwards hought.'out by his fath- : il ■er.w Later he came .to Australia )and; , then to New Zealand, going first to the. East Coast, where he served in , ■the colonial forces under Colonel Whit- 1 • more; in tho chase of Te Kooti; He also served in the Titokowaru war on , this coast. . ~, j Pipes and pipers were much in evidence yesterday evening. Mr. A. McLeod (Eltham) played a selection of airs on tho County Hotel balcony, and : later on, in company with Messrs. J. Wade (Stratford) and Matlieson (Eltham) marched (with music) to the Foresters’ Hall. Others who attended the- gathering in Highland costume were Pino-Major Adams (Inglewood), and Messrs. Sangster, Ferguson ('Stratford'), and Bonnor (Inglewood). Visiting Scotsmen (in “mufti”) were present in large numbers from all parts of Taranaki. During the evening Mr. Wade danced a seanntrens, and, being encored, a Highland fling. The following business on judgment summonses was done at the Magistrate's Court this morning:—Trank Rhodes (Mr. Stanford) v. T. H. Sims, debt of £l2 8s 3d. There was no appearance of the debtor, and no excuse orfered. The debtor was ordered to pay the full amount forthwith, in default three weeks’ imprisonment in the Wellington prison. Tom Schofield (Mr. Tnomson) v. John M. Dodunski, claim £2 net. No appearance of debtor, who was ordered" to pay tho amount forthwith, in default one week’s imprisonment. Craddock Hardware Company (Mr. Stanford) v. Arthur Bound, debt of £8 16s, ordered to pay 5s weekly until the debt was paid. A judgment summons case at the Magistrate’s Court this morning presented some unusual features. Debtor was a local man and an undischarged bankrupt. He had gone down to 'Cliristcnnrch, and had started business as a coachbuilder and blacksmith. Also, he had omitted to mention to a firm there from whom he had obtained credit the facts of his financial position. When Mr Stanford took him in hand and endeavoured to extract something regarding his earnings, he met with equivocations by the score. First debtor stated that his earnings to support a wife and three children were £1 a week. Counsel went into detail, and within half an hour extracted on debtor’s own showing the fact that he had received £24, irrespective of cost of materials, since December 4th last. The Magistrate (Mr. W. G. Kenrick) commented very strongly on,the manner in which men come to the Court and disclosed, or failed to disclose, the statements of their receipts and expenditure.