LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 42, 14 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

H.M.S. Pioneer arrived at Timani yesterday morning. She stays for about a fortnight.

Mr. Newton Ring has received the following cable 'from his Sydney agents re hides:—Eighth higher.” ‘ 1 ■ ~ After the Opposition ; caucus’ in Wellington last 1 night Mr. Massey told ia press representative there was nothing' to feipbrt. • m ; ‘

In view of the races at New Plymouth to-day, the morning trair .from the south was of more than ordinary length, and was well filled when' it reached Stratford, where a

fair number of passengers were pick cd up. \

The Federal Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce) lias .delivered judgment of the vexed question of kilts for tho Highland regiments. “My ruling some time back,” he said, “was that kilts may be worn, but the Department cannot supply them. We have a characteristic uniform which is very suitable for tho Australian forces. As military service is to be universal and compulsory there is no need for fancy uniforms to attract volunteers.” / Decision was arrived at by the Court sitting at Port Awanjii on Thursday, to consider the petition praying that the recent Maori licensing poll in flic Horouta Maori d:strict, when tho voting was against the supplying of liquor to natives, should be declared invalid. The decision was that there was no statutory authority for setting up the court, and therefore the petition had failed The court also decided that, assuming that it had such 'authority, it had no power to enquire into the Horouta Maori Council district a district within the meaning of section -1G of the Licensing Act. 'The court also decided against the petitioners on one or two other points. “When I left my editorial chair in Oaniaru to go up to Wellington to take my seat in Parliament,” said Sir W. J. Stewart at a social gathering in his honour, “there was only oho mile of metalled road in the whole of North Otago. This was the piece from Oamaru to Mr. Matthew Holmes’s gate.’ Ho stated that he then got tho North Otago Public Works Bill passed, empowering the borrowing of £70,000 for necessary local works. (trowing reminiscent, Sir William said he Imped he had been more than a roads and bridges man. Some people would tell them that lie had boon known as “the terrible man with a Biili” Indeed, one Minister of tho Crown had dubbed liim tho ornithorhynchns, meaning “a beast with a biil.” There was a poem written about it; and he replied in another giving in return as good as was sent.

Tlio' Wanganui Harbour Board meeting came to an abrupt and unprecedented iennination on Eriiuy evening remarks a Wanganui exchange. At live minutes to ten, after a couple of lengthy debates, someone moved and someone seeon led that members should he allowed to smoke. Then someone moved and someone seconded that the hoard adjourn for ten minutes for “smoke oh” In the excitement a motion was carried—some thought the first and some the second. There was, however, an exit, only live, including the chairman remaining. The latter became somewhat indignant at having to wait while other men went out to get a drink, and as a protest he left the meeting. When the rest of the members, returned the meeting decided to adjourn for a week.

A hazardous ocean cruise from Auckland to Cuvier Island has just been 'made by Mr. C. It. Law, a young Englishman who recently came to Auckland from the Malay States. .Mr. Law was in a twelve foot canvas canoe, with no other provisions than a small tin of biscuits, and voyaged the 150 miles from Devonport in about three days during which he had nothing to drink. His original objective was Kawau Island, about .*’.o miles up the Hauraki Gulf. Ho passed Kawau without knowing it, and the wind blew him off to sea, driving the frail canoe by good fortune down to Cuvier Island about 2d miles east of Cape Colville. Mr. Law returned by the Monowai, which the k diH'Puse-kceper signalled for him,

At the Christchurch Presbytery vesterday, the llev. Wood stated that iiie General Assembly had appointed a special committee on “Romanism and .Ritualism,” and had made the UnristcJiurch k rcsbj I cry the' cominitti e, Ho had a number of letters to ivad, but it would take considerable time, and he suggested that the Presbytery should se't up a sub-committee to consider the Assembly’s deliverance and correspondence on the subject, the sub-committee to consist of too 1L vs. Miller, lleid, Craig, Howes, and Wood, and an elder from each charge, The llev. J. Pringle seconded the motion, and it was carried i nalnimcnsly.

A quarrel, which ended In fisticuffs, was finally adjusted in the Huntly Court last week when the male defendant (a Waaha Native) was fined £o, with £1 2s (id costs.' The naming of a child (Says the New Zealand Herald) was the reason of a d. sprite, the father wishing to call the child by tlio Maori equivalent for “Trick.” As such cognomen was already bestowed on a mongrel canine well-known in the pa, the mother naturally objected. In the linguistic argument the latter came out victorious. The discomfiture of the former was so keenly lilt that ho immediately started in to enforce his opinions by blows, with the result that he appeared before the magistrate as stated. For the benefit of historians of the d’stant future the newly formed Modern Historic Records Association which has just held its first meeting in New York, intends to preserve phonographic, moving-picture, and other records of our time in cylinders encased in concrete. Each record will be placed in a glass cylinder,, and ■Lli's, when sealed, will bo enclosed in a thick terra-cotta pipe and then buried in concrete. - A record, said to be the only one in existence, of the voice of Mr. Thomas Edison, telling cf the progress of electrical science, was exhibited at the society’s first meeting and then taken away to be preserved. The society proposes to have the records stored in a building, which its enthusiastic members snv will be “as enduring as the Pyramids.”

The Princess Royal’s adventure at sea recalls the unpleasant experiences of Princess Cecil'a, daughter of Eric IV. of Sweden, says a writer in the “Pall Mall Gazette.” This strongminded princess stipulated that any cue aspiring to her hand should undertake to take her to England within a year from the wedding day, for the great desire of her life was to see Queen Elizabeth. The Marquis of Balden accepted the condition, and ‘n 156-1 they started on the voyage, an account of which has lieen published in the Transactions of the Royal History. They crossed from Stockholm to Finland in a storm, in which the pilot lost heart to the extent of pointing out the rock on which they were going to he shipwrecked. Thence they proceeded to Calais by Way of Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Flanders. The Channel passage was so stormy that the ’princess “waxed wonderful sick, both in body and in mind,” ( and they had to turn back twice to Rover. The party did jiofc reach London until September, 1565, after ten months’ travelling. "

A glowing tribute to the many vir-“ tucs of his Wife is expressed in the ' 'will of Mr. Herbert Harris, of. ; 405; •CoventryV Road Biriiiingham, engmebr and commission agent, who died • on Julv 28 last, leaving estate'of-the-gross value of £5481. He bequeathed his household, and personal effects and considerable stores “to my most -virtuous, faithful and ikarly beloved wife,” and in making an additional bequest of £2OOO to her he said that this was “not as a recompense of her

ivlinite merit towards me, or for tho incomparable love, zeal, and hearty affection ever slew unto me, or for these her so' fare' , and ’ riianj' virtues of charity,' modesty, fidelity ■; wisdom, patience, and a mind replete with all piety and goodness, which deserveth to be honoured, loved aind esteemed above all the transitory wealth and treasure of this world, and therefore by no price of earthly richness can by me be valued recompensed or requited—to her, therefore, my most virtuous, faithful, and ent rely-lovcd wife, not, as I say a recompense but as a true token and testimony of my unspeakable love, ’affection, estimation, and reverence, long since fixed and 'Settled in my heart, and soul towards her.”

The dust nuisance on the run by nil to Rotorua is at present just about as bad as it can be. The Hon. J. A. Millar Minister for Railways, was amongst , the passengers arriving from tiie thermal district on Thursday. Asked by a. Star representative whether it would not be possible to cope with the nuisance by some scientific means the Minister replied that the only way would be to use oil to lay the* dust. If oil could be secured in quantities both large and cheap, it would no doubt prove an effective remedy. He had approached the Taranaki Petroleum Syndicate and made them an offer, but up to the present it had been impossible to come to terms. The department was not going to pay -Id per gallon, and there should really be no need to do n.o. The department did not require the more important qualities, such as benzine, for the purpose they had in view. Until a process eyas inti od need by which Taranaki oil could be so treated, it would be impossible to do anything to cope with the dust nuisance on the Rotorua lino. In American crude oil was sold for use in tins way at 2 cents the gallon, and the price in New Zealand would have to be very much reduced before its use as a dust-laying agency became general.

Mr. Coleman Phillips, a Wairarapa ■humourist, writes to a Wellington paper as follows:—“Sir—l notice that tenders are to be called for the erection of a new stamp office in brick in Sydney Street. Would it noit be well to wait until Parliament decides upon my petition re the removal of the Capital to the More a Plain, Wairarapa ! J In moving in this matter, some years ago, it was not my intention to injure Wellington in any way; neither would Wellington he injured. For if the public records are in danger Wellington would bo benefited by their being placet! in safety. The records are now in danger from three sources—(l) Eire; (2) hostile attack from the sea ; (3) seismic disturbance. As to the first, the Parliament Buildings were lately burnt, and a fire occurred also at the stamp office, endangering the Government Buildings. At any moment the latter buildings may go (being a wooden structure) and the records would be loslb. As to the second: The range of gun attack is now twenty miles, and at any moment a hostile cruiser may shell the place. (Palmerston is not beyond the range of naval attack.) As to the third; Wellington is just as liable, to heavy loss from seismic disturbance

as San Francisco, Valparaiso, or Kingston, each of which towns has been lately visited. This loss does not

arise from direct earthquake shock so much as the tidal disturbance and fire wrecking the buildings following the shock. The Moron Plain ''practically free from buildings of any k’ml, and admirably suited for the Capital site.”

Mrs.' J. Rutherford, who recently underwent an intricate operation, has made a wonderful recovery, and her medical adviser hopes soon to he ahJo to pronounce her on the high road to convalescence. The following is the Court List lor Friday’s sitting >of the at c s Court:—29 civil cases, _ 2 judgment summonses, 10 informations tor fading to register dogs, 1 for cattle van dering, arid 2 breaches of boiough bylaws. Three widows’ pension applications will be heard. The Rev. Father Treacy, accompanied by Miss Harding, returned fast night from an extended usit to 'Te Aron a, whither the rev. father had . gone for the benefit ot his nealt i, U which has been much improved, i »ther Eccletou, who has been relieving in the parish during Father .- reat TT absence, returned to Wellington t-. s morning. - The Horticultural Society hav .ng drooped its Rose Show in Dbcember owing to its clashing with tlie non numerous A. and P. Snows about tnnt time of the year, the handsome s lvei rose bowl is^included in.the autumn schedule. The bowl was presented In Thos Horton, Esq., Pafuatua some years ago, and has changed hands several times, Mrs. Merchant, being the present holder. At the Druids’ Conference at Marion last night an alteration in Buie 88 in connection with the scale oi; members’ subscriptions, was carried in accordance with the executive s proposals. The principle consolidating ■ the sick funds of various branches was affirmed, but will not come into operation till June 1, 1913. hvo important subjects were held over tor the next biennial meeting at Marion in February next. The South Canterbury agricultural instructor having accepted an Australian appointment, the Education Hoard, yesterday discussed the question of making another appointment, and finally decided to ask too. inspector to confer with the have shown an interest in agricultural work with a view of obtaining information as to the best methods of giving agricultural instruction. Messrs. Wake and Wright, banisters and solicitors, have to-day moved into their new offices, centrally situated in Broadway. The new premises of the firm are up to date in every respect, the rooms being well ventilated and attractively decorated and furnished. In addition to the largo front offices, there are three commof dious rooms occupied by the principals of the firm, and the managing clerk. The work of renovating the entire building arid making the necessary extensions has been faithfully dene, and the firm are to be congratulated on erecting premises of such a modern and handsome-type. Mr J. L. Kelly, who has been interesting himself in the question of Lionel Terry’s release, has received a reply from" the Pnnr.er statjng tnal, after the most careful consideration, it has been decided that the prayer of the petition cannot be granted. It is understood that the Government are acting upon Ibe reports of responsible officers v\ nose opinion is_ adverse to Terry’s release. t Mr Kelly expresses diaappointnicnt with the result, especially as no reasons, are given, matters stand the agitation is.likely te be .ienewe.l.---.press Association. ~,|, t v,; , u