LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 30, 30 January 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the euchre party held last night under the auspices of thd Oddfellows' Lodge, the ladies’ prize was won by Sister Moroney, and the gentlemen’s by Bro. Lawson, Sister Lawson and Bro Balding securing the booby prizes. A dainty supper was supplied by Mrs. Brooking.

As contracts were about to be dealt with by the Buller County Council last week an “urgent” telegram was received from a tenderer, reducing ids offer for a certain job by £lO. When the tenders wore opened it was found that his original tender was the lowest “The tenderer will kick himself,” remarked the chairman.

A person who was recently called into Court for the purpose of proving the correctness of a surgeon’s bill, was asked whether the doctor did not make several visits after the patient was out of danger. “No,” replied the witness, “I considered the patient in danger as long as the doctor continued his visits.” i

In certain parts (if the world, while hundreds of miles from land, vessels often encounter what the sailors call “dry fogs.” While sailing through these fogs, which are usually of such density as to make navigation quite dangerous, the ship’s deck, sails, and rigging become covered with a brickcoloured dust, which falls in such a way that it is known as “dry mist.” The quantity is sometimes sufficient to cover the deck to a depth of several inches, providing several hours’ work for the men in shovelling it overboard. Instructions have been issued by the Post and Telegraph Department to the owners of the fifteen wireless aerial installations in Christchurch and

vicinity, to dismantle them forthwith, or otherwise they will render themselves liable to. a penalty not exceeding £SOO. It is understood that the Department has taken those steps owing to a wireless message sent from Wellington to a steamer in the vicinity of the coast of New Zealand having been tapped by one of those private installations in Christchurch.

The longevity of artists is almost proverbial, and the case' ixf Thomas Robert Macquoid, who, at the age ol 92, is still painting, is remarkable, but not unparalleled, T. S. Cooper, R.A., exhibited at the Royal Academy for several years after passing his ninetieth birthday; John Massey Wright, a water-colour artist, born in 1773, was fully occupied and in active work up to the time of his death at the age of 93. Most notable, However, was Titian, who, born in 1477, lived just one year short of a century, and continued, to paint pictures until the very last.'

The Federal Treasury has received an application from West Australia for the redemption of £IU3 worth of notes whiqh ha,d been almost wholly destroyed by lire. The remains and ashes are now. undergoing careful investigation, and ,if .there is reasonable evidence as to the denomination of the notes, The Government will pay such requests to the Treasury, for the redemption of mutilated notes is not infrequent. Not long since a countryman who had placed notes in ius boots for safety,

and worn them out in tramping'the 1 city streets, received £3 10s in gold for the tattered fragments’which with diligence he was able to extract.

“I am prepared to give £SO to any Auckland charity if. you can prove that,” said a witness at the ’Magistrate’s Court in Auckland.on Thursday last, to Mr. Singer, who was cross-ex-amining him. The Magistrate, with a smile, said: “Now, Mr. Singer, you have a chance to make £SO for a charity. Perhaps the Orphans’ Home could do with it.” Mr. Singer remarked that it would be as well to have an agreement drawn up, but the Magistrate said ho was afraid it would come under the heading of a betting transaction.

Personal property is frequently left behind by absent-minded patrons of the picture theatres (says the “Auckland Herald”). Amongst a collection of articles now in the possession of the manager of the Queen’s Theatre are umbrellas, walking-sticks, gold pins, brooches, a baby’s bonnet, and .an upper set of false teeth. Whether the humorous items of the programme proved too much for the risible faculties of the owner of the teeth, and he lost them whilst indulging in hilar-, ions laughter, or whether they were lost by a somnolent member of the audience, is not known.

It is amusing, says the “Auckland Star,” to note how eager people are to pile up the expenses in civil cases at the S.M. Court, when the question of costs is under consideration. -An instance occurred this morning where the.witness wanted Is 3d per hour allowed for eight hours, although the witnesses’ attendance was disposed ■with before 11 a.m. Mr. C. C. Kettle put the witness under a searching cross-examination, and finally allowed him 2s Gd, reminding him that lie could resume his work for the rest of the day.

We have all heard of the fattening properties of sugar; and Dr. Woods Hutchinson tells that one of the greatest values of sugar is the rapidity with which it can he absorbed and burned in the bodily engine. The careful and exhaustive researches of Lee, Mosso, Harley and Schumburg showed that there was no food which would restore working-power to fatigued muscles of both men and animals as quickly anti effectively as pure sugar. Indeed, it was suggested by Professor Lee that tired business men, carried beyond their regular lunch hour, would find a few lumps of .pure sugar one of the Lost of temporary restoratives and “pick-me-ups,” far superior to alcohol.

It is not such an uncommon thing for a man of unbridled appetite to “see snakes,” but when oneTs awakened in the middle of the night by the action of a giant lizard crawling “painful and slow” over the bedclothes, it is enough to cause silver threads among the gold. Such was the experience of the purser of the Mocraki on the trip across- from Sydney. One night whilst peacefully rWloep be was awakened by something creeping slowly over him. In an agony of apprehension he thought of snakes, and vaguely wondered how they could have found their way on board ship at Sydney. Determined to know the worst and meet his fate like a Britisher, he suddenly switched on the light, and there, softly crawling over his rig, was a harmless iguana, 'commonly known in Australian parlance of the way-back as a “gohanna.” It wa-one of the family which the "Rev. D. 0. Bates brought across from Sydney for the "Wellington Zoo.

In South Canterbury the harvest is coming on very slowly. Usually at this date much iias been cut, but so far only a few fields are, in stook in this neighbourhood. The Fire Brigade desire -to thank Messrs Wackrow and Skinner for a donation of one guinea towards their funds, in connection with the inconvenience caused to the Brigade over a recent false alarm.

The prize schedule for the show to ho hold- by the Horticultural Society iu the Town Hall on February 22nd and 23rd has now been printed, and those interested can obtain copies from the secretary, Mr W. S; Cato. Altogether, 2.33 classes are included in the schedule. At the Magistrate’s Court, Timarii, yesterday, an up country publican was fined £5 for keeping a bar open after 10 p.m., and two men found in the bar were lined 40s each. The magistrate wished the fine could he made heavier in their case, as the men, for refusing to leave the bar, had got the publican into trouble. 'J'he price paid for pea-picking in Nelson is Is per half-sack, and the average picker picks from live to eight half-sacks per day. In exceptional cases tliis has been far exceeded. During this season one youth is reported to have picked fifteen half-sacks in one day, and a girl is reported to have picked thirteen half-sacks on each of two successive days.

There must have been something in the remarks made by the Mayor at “'i'he Nich wi’ Burns,” when lie said that from a business point of view Stratford had -few equals among the inland towns of the Dominion. A few months ago a well-known local firm purchased three small shops. Not long after they were offered £9OO on their bargain. But the firm came to the conclusion that if they were worth this price, they were worth holding, and refused to sell.

A plaintiff in the Magistrate’s Court in Auckland asked for an adjournment of her case to enable her to get a solicitor. She seemed to regard it as a matter of much difficulty. C T don’t know any solicitors,” she said. “Oh,” said Mr Kettle, S.M., “if that’s all the trouble, I can give you a list of them ; they’re plentiful enough _in Auckland, goodness knows. 1 think there’s about 175 of them, and there are two sitting at the table now, either of whom will, no doubt, take up your case.”

An important new departure has been resolved upon by the Victoria College Council, it being decided definitely to establish lectureships in commerce in Wellington. There is to be a lectureship in accountancy subjects, and one in such legal subjects as are required of candidates for the Bachelor of Commerce degree. The Council received a report from the subcommittee appointed to interview the applicants for lectureships, and made the following appointments j'ach tenable for the'. year 1912: Lecturer m commercial subjects, Mr. J. S. Barton, at a salary of £250 per annum; lecturer in legal subjects.. IMr. ,W. F. Ward, at a salary of £IOO per annum. A special train will leave ;Te Wera on Thursday morning, next, the day of; the seaside picnic. Children,; residing east of Stratford obtaining picnic [excursion tickets, will bo abjej.fo join the second special at Sfratford., They will have to pay the ordinary fare between Te Wera and other stations to Stratford. : The train -they chn travel by leaves Stratford'at 9 v a;m., returning to catch the Te Wera train from New Plymouth at 5.15 b.m. We call attention to the question pf children’s tickets. No more adult tickets'can be issued other than children’s; The pupils attending the Catholic schools may obtain their tickets now; also, all parents are requested to obtain their children’s tickets on' Wednesday morning, so that the committee ; can see if any more will be required, as all provision will need to he made to see that none are shut out at the last moment.. . i,[ ’ if

The revenue of the Wellington city electric lighting department for the month of December last showed an increase of £353 and the working expenses an increase of £39 compared with the corresponding month of last year. A gain of 134 consumers was made during the month, making a total of G3SI connections, an increase of 1231 connections during the last twelve months. A comparison of the revenue and expenditure for the nine months ended December 31st, 1911, with that of the previous year, showed that the revfenue had increased by £3812 and the working expenses by £927. After allowing for estimated capital charges there is a credit balance of £8223, as against £5925 last year, a net increase of £22p4. From this balance appropriations covering part cost of the removal and re-erec-tion of boilers in the lighting station amounting to £1824 will be made, Ic&.ving a net credit to revenue account of £6399.

On Tuesday last the University Senate unanimously reappointed Sir Robert Stout, Chancellor for the ensuing year; and Sir Charles Bowen Vice-Chancellor. “I thank you very much for the honour you have done me,” said Sir Robert Stout. “I know that perhaps many things I do or say may not be approved by all the members of the Senate. I have, however, my own opinions, and I am in the habit of speaking on education and other matters without reference to what other people may think. J don’t think any member of the Senate would say lie does not know where I am on education matters. I recognise I am not more infallible than any other member of the Senate, and I may bo mistaken, as they may be. But T think it is my right to express the opinions I hold, and not to cloak them to please anyone. My attitude has been, and I hope it will continue to ho, to do what is the best for education in the Dominion.” (Applause.) A skim milk or whey steriliser has just been patented by Mr. E. Fergusson, of the Westholm Creamery, Waverlcy, says the Patea. “Press.” The device is simple. It consists of two cylinders, one within the other, and the heating chamber. The milk first enters the inner cylinder from the bottom, and by gravity is driven up and into a pipe by which it is carried into the pasteuriser proper—another small cylinder—in which it is heated by steam to the requisite temperature. From the pasteuriser it is carried into the larger cylinder 4ftn which the first is placed, from which it flows into the holding tank. The reason for carrying the heated liquid into outer cylinder is to warm the cold milk as it enters, tlms ass : sting in the heating of the milk, thereby economising steam. The device, to a layman, appears to be quite feasible, and provided it comes up to expectations. should play no unimportant nart in the dairy industry, especially f pasteurising is made compulsory, the advantages of the invention are briefly; Simplicity, cheapness of construction combined with conservation of space. AVe cpngrntid'»te the investor, ami hope that Ins ingenuity a ill be liberally rewarded.

. Sir Joseph Ward and party left Napier early this morning by motor for Wellington.—Press Association.

The special court under the Licensing Act to hear the petition against the declared result of the Horouta native licensing poll will sit at Port Awanui (Poverty Bay), on February 7, the presiding Magistrates being Messrs. Barton (Gisborne), Dyer (.Rotorua), and McCarthy (Napier).

The Wanganui Garrison Band, which Avon the championship at the Christchurch contest, arrived home last night and received a warm welcome from several thousand citizens. Speeches were made by the Mayor and the member for the district .

The University Senate yesterday adopted the motion moved by the Rev. A. Cameron, that mathematics be not compulsory for the B.A. degree. It was decided that marks for German in the junior scholarship examination be lowered to 850. Sir Maurice O’Rorke withdrew his motion in reference to granting divinity degrees. At the Magistrate’s Court, Palmerston, yesterday, William Thomas Bowater, bankrupt, was committed foxtrial at the Supreme Court on a charge of obtaining stock by making a false statement of his position tb Abrahams and Williams, Ltd. The amount involved was £596 15s 6d.

A movement is being set on foot by the Palmerston Fire Brigade to arrange for a guax-antee for the New Zealand Fire Brigade Demonstration to be held in Palmerston in 1913. A public meeting was held last night, .wihen good support was accorded to the scheme, and the superintendent and secretary were appointed a committee to endeavour to arrange for a guarantee. At the University Senate sitting in Wellington yesterday, the music committee x-ecommended that the Senate renew its recommendation to the Government to gx-aixt a sum of money to assist in the immediate establishment of’ a conservatox-ium of music at Auckland, and that the Senate secure a report from an expert or experts on the scheme proposed by the Auckland University College for a couservatorium of music. The report was adopted.

|i There was an unusal case in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, the managing director of the Nutncia Milk Company being fined £1 for having made use of a copy of an analytical certificate, issued under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, as an advertisement. The prosecution stated that samples of milk had been analysed, on two occasions, and, as they were found .to bo below the standard, warnings were issued to defendant. He kept this quiet, but when the analyst’s report on a subsequent occasion was favourable he published the report as an advertisement.

Twenty-five applications were received by the Gisborne Harbour Board for the position of engineer and secretary combined at a salary of £7OO par annum. These were considered yesterday, when the number was reduced to three. It was then decided to ask Mr J. A. McDonald, M.1.C.E., of Adelaide, to interview the board. Mr McDonald has had extensive experience in South Australia, Johannes- ' butg, !and as a student in England and America. 1 The v Harbour Board deeid- , ed*t6 remove over 6000 cubic yards of rock 1 from the 'river channel at) 'a cost ‘•of £4131'" ' ■! ' : ■" ■ " iOf.fi,. - v-i! . : i. i ' ! . i . i

ir A. Press Association telegram from ■it Podding states that again a new departure is being made by the Wanganui Education Board in the temporary, appointment of Miss Rangi Drum- , raondj.iof Aorangi, as temporary assistant at a new school at Cameron’s. Line, to be called Te Arakura School. Miss Drummond is only sixteen years of age. She was dux of the Turakina Maori , College, and had teaching ex- , perience ,there. There are over twenty Maori pupils at the new school-

On--Saturday night a local youth rode his horse down Broadway at a hand gallop. Constable Macintosh, holding that the speed was not compatible with public safety, stepped in to the middle of the street, and signalled the rider to stop. The horse, however, was not pulled up, and the constable certainly did not move. What exactly happened no one knows, unless the youth can explain when he appears in due course at the Magistrate’s Court. The most comprehensive view of the incident is expressed in the words of an eye-witness, who remarked this morning, ‘I never thought Mac would attend another Burns dinner!”

At the Police Court at Hawera on Monday last, before Mr. W. G. K. Kenrick, S.M., Laura Attrill, of Eltham, proceeded against William Brown of Stratford, for the maintenance of an illegitimate child of which complainant was the mother and defendant ivas alleged to be the father. The heai'ing occupied nearly all day. Mr. Gow, of Eltham, represented complainant, and Mr. Spence, of Stratford, was for the defendant. Complainant, her mother, Dr. McDiarmid, and a nurse were examined, and the two former were cross-examined at considerable length. Mr. Spence, without calling any evidence, moved to have the case dismissed. In view of the contradictory evidence, counsel submitted, that'the Court could not make, an order. His Worship upheld counsel’s contention, and dismissed the case.

“The Englishmen can play cricket,” remarks an enthusiastic colonial, and there is a good deal in that. Warner’s team looks very like taking Home the ashes, and as matters stand now they deserve, to, for there is merit in their work. Worth and merit mean much to the possessors, and that is really why Crescent Blend Tea finds so much favour with the public.