LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 66, 13 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. Newton King has received the Following cable from his Sydney agents. re hides Lights weaker. A mounted .<parade >of the right half of the I) Squadron ,of the Mounted Rifles will ibs held to-merrow at 11 o’clock. The Hon. Oliver Samuel has been appointed honorary corresponding secretary at New Plymouth, by the Council of the Royal Colonial Institute. Mr. John Leyden was yesterday advised by the Taranaki representative of the Public Trustee that his tender had been accepted for the late Mr. H. S. Priestley’s stock. Those interested in religious and moral problems may be interested to hear that Miss Christie will be in Stratford towards the end of. the month, and will he giving some of her successful lectures on theosophy. Owing to the death ; of Mr, J.<R. Maokay .it has been, decided do Indefinitely postpone thp s>yitnming carnival to have, been hek], to-morrow, It is hoped .that,-the programme .arranged .will he gone through .at some future date. The marriage took place to-day, at Omata, of Mr. iF. M. Marlow, of the Magistrate’s .Court, Stratford,ml to Miss E. Mace, late .of the Ackland Road School. . The Rev. W. A. Butler was the officiating clergyman. For Friday’s sitting of the Magistrate's Court one affiliation .case,none application for a prohibition order,’ throe informations for trespass on the railways,, forty-four civil cases .(three defended), three judgment summonses, .and two informations for supplying liquor to .Maoris off licensed premises, arc set down for hearing. The Christchurch. City has recommended the following remit for consideration at the next Municipal Conference:—“That section 80 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, and section 70 of the Rating Act, 1908, he amended to empower local authorities to add 10 per cent, to all rates when first demanded, with a view to allowing a discount on all rates paid within three months after due date and a discount of 5 per cent, on all rates paid between three and six months after due date.”

A peculiar caso was heard at Waipawa, Hawke’s Bay, a few days ago, when the licensee of a country hotel was charged with permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises, one of (he persons arrested for being drunk being the licensee himself. The Magistrate reserved his decision. The police stated that the licensee had been arrested, and convicted for drunkenness, and his brother, who was also intoxicated, was fined for interfering with the constable in the execution of his duty. A marked tribute to the effect of improved surroundings is furnished by the assistant medical officer of health to the. Coventry (England) Education Authority. A number of children were sent to farm houses in country disti'icts for a stay averaging from three to four weeks. Not only was there an increase both in size and weight, but there was also in many cases a marked increase of mental activity, those who had previously been dull, listless, and apathetic, being now bright and alert. In cases where bronchitis was apparent all symptoms had disappeared when the child returned from its rural surroundings.

Mr. M. J. Bloomfield, general manager for Australasia of the London I'hitertabuuents Syndicate, was in Stratford yesterday making arrangements for the appearance in the Town Hall, on March 21st, of Mr. -loseph Blascheek, a society entertainer of considerable note. The syndicate has just recently commenced operations in Australasia, Mr. Blaschcck tying their first artist, but it is designed to exploit the quarter thoroughly, and as time goes on operaficus will be extended, it being anticipated that three shows per annum will eventually bo sent on tour. Mr. Bloomfield, at an early date, will establish a headquarters in Sydney or Melbourne, from which he will control the syndicate’s ventures. An inquest was held yesterday, ,bef re Mr. T. Bradley, acting-coroner. Duelling the death of John Clement Speck, son of Mr. 11. J. Speck, ißohokura, who died suddenly ou Monday morning. Dr. Steven, ,who made the post-mortem examination, stated that death was due to peritonitis, and a verd’et in accordance with the /medical evidence was returned. Deceased, vho was only 17 years of age. was mu ployed as fireman on the Public Works’ locomotive, where he was a meat favourite with the men. Until Saturday he wa.s in normal health, and his sudden death comes as a great shock to his relatives, to ,whom the sympathy of a large circle oF friends will be extended. The funeral fakes place to-day at the Jvopuatama Cemetery.

A To Kowh.ai settler (says the To Puke “Times”) is the owner of a sow which he claims has put up a record in the porcine line. She was originally a miserable little Berkshire castaway, and was reared by hand; but she has handsomely rewarded her owner for the attention bestowed upon her. The sow is only three years old; but she has already produced five litters of 12, 12, 12, 14, and 17 pigs, or a total of 67, which have all been sold as weaners at an average of los each. If any breeder can beat this he is at liberty to challenge Te Kowhai for the pigskin belt. A reminder is given that entrie's for the East Hoad Sheep Dog Trial Club clc-scs with the secretary, Mr. K. A. Snnnncrhays, on March 22nd, at 9 p in. The trials will he held at le Wera on the 29th and 30th. This is the fourth annual meeting of the duh. and it is to he hoped that the o-encral mihlic will accord them oven more support than they have done m the past. As our contributor,. “Laverock,” pointed out in his last effort, there’s a lot in a well-trained dog, and visitors to the trials should prove this for them'selves by watching the efforts of a few of the champions. A good outing is (promised, and in the evening a smoke concert is to bo held. Tii his annual report, the General Manager of the State Fire Insurance Office, Mr. C. E. >C. Ephieson, says: “During the year an inspector has been appointed, whose duty it is, amongst' other things, to personally inspect all properties :on which this office has issued policies of insurance. The \tork already .accomplished by ‘this officer has shown very clearly the necessity for tho -appointment in order to safeguard tho interests of the office. In comparison with other countries, this Dominion does not hold an enviable position in connection with its fire-loss ratio. There are many natural features which contribute to a. high loss ratio, hut it (seems to me that one of tho worst contributing agencies is over-insurance. If some means -could he found .whereby over-insurance could he prevented or greatly minimised, a great saving in national wealth would in my opinion result. That a means can Hie found to greatly reduce the evil there is little doubt, hut it requires the honest co-operation of all fire underwriters to put any such means successfully into operation.”