LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 79, 30 March 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-morrow is the seventy-second anniversary of the province of Taranaki. Mr. E. Kelleher, of Toko, is handicappev for the snorts events at the Stratford A. and P. Association’s gymkhana on Easter Monday.

Mr; J. Stanton, Postmaster at Stratford, has returned from his holiday leave, and resumed duty again, Mr. J. Laurenson, chief clerk, being now on furlough. Why lias Whangamomona not got a, doctor? A prominent resident claims that the district could guarantee £4OO a year. Yet when accidents occur the sufferer lias to he taken forty miles before assistance can bo got. Mr. Massey was told by a workman out at Whangamomona that ho was looking fit, and that he should take to the “banjo” for a spell. The term was new to most of the visitors, as well as Mr. Massey, but as a matter of fact, a “banjo” on the works is nothing more than a long-handled shovel.

There is one point in which the camp town of Whangamomona and its environs quite eclipses the town of Stratford. Almost every tent has a neat number inscribed thereon, possibly because on a dark night bloodshed might arise when a man mistook his residence.

Mr. A. Cameron, of Stratford, received word on Thursday of the death rf his father-in-law, Mr. Win. Douglas, of Gisborne, who passed away at a private hospital in Auckland. The late Mr. Douglas, who was a hale and hearty man of about 50 years of age, was knocked down by a cyclist who, it V. stated, was riding on the footpath. His injuries were such that paralysis set in,'.and ho was taken to Auckland to obtain specialist advice, but succumbed as stated. Mr. Cameron gives us the facts as a warning to persons not to recklessly endanger life and limb by cycling bn the footpaths. An accident of rather a peculiar nature happened to Mr Massey and his party at Tvohnratahi yesterday. The members were driving in three Cortiaiids, driven by Messrs Cbxhead, Hill, and Cl eland. ' One of the vehicles stopped, and the one behind was unable to pull up; with the result that the horses 'came up against the rear of the Vehicles, one of Them putting its hoof through the spokes;-. t Tlid result canvwell ibe imagined,- and for a few minutes nothing could be seen but kicking horses. After some difficult work and exciting moments, the wheel was got off the buggy, and the horse extricated, none the worse for its •

During the trip of the party of Reform Party members and some of their adherents to the Whangamomona district the visitors drove past the Kohuratahi post office. It is-quitAA decent little office, on.one side of an ordinary 'house, but- at the 1 gate- is a box, shaped like 1 a diminutive ! sentrybox, with “post office” Written thereon. The driver asked if anybody had a letter to nost, and Mr. Massey suggested they take the post office along with them. Mr. Okey, however, proved to be the wit of the party. ** He asked, amid some laughter, whether Mr. Hine' had secured that post office for Kohuratahi. A Moari leads the world in th cart of letter-writing. A business man sends the following to a Main Trunk exchange from a native whom he has been trying in vain to persuade him into paying a trifle of £2, It begins; — To Brown ; Have received your letter yesterday.' But, sir, I haven’t any money at present, and will never forget that £2 I owe you, will pay sometimes coming. Of course I have been spending my money for my trip to Rotorua for two weeks. I just come back last week, so good-bye to you all. May God bless us all in this world and to be happy with him for over in the next. Give my love to your Mrs, mother and all.—Yours faithfully, Kariotalii. P.S.—Try to get some, money if I can. j.

A brother peer having remarked that he remembered being christened, Lord Melbourne said lie did not think much of that, as he remembered being born. That claim, recorded by the late Lord Granville, is outdone by the affidavit which astonished Judge Parry in the London courts last month. It purported to prove not only the birth of the man who made it, but the marriage of his parents and the birth of his father. At one of these events he was certainly present but it is the event in the lives of all of us concerning which no court will accept us as eye-witnesses. No doubt if it is only necessary to prove that he was born some time, every man is his own living evidence. Yet there is on record a Government department which, admitting proof that a pensioner was alive in January in the current year, insisted that he had not proved his existence in January of the year before.

Sir John Kirk, the English philanthropist, who visited Australia recently, paints a glowing picture of the progress which is being made hy the Commonwealth. “I was amazed,” he says, “at the evidence of prosperity and vigorous growth visible on every hand. Although experiments are being made in legislation which would frighten the average Englishman, the people of Australia arc thriving under them. One sees on every side evidences of comfort, not to say luxury. It is very cheering to be able to walk the street without meeting sad faces, and to find the people frankly admitting that they are prosperous. It is a great contrast to the Mother Country. Australian statesmen seem to fully appreciate the importance of a proper school training for the young to the future of the Commonwealth. The best teachers are employed and the 'most modern methods and appliances utilised. In the country towns the makeshift shanties of the early days are giving way to sciciitilieally-huilt institutions, which are being erected regardless of erst. The only thing Australia needs right now,” concludes Sir John, “is mere people to develop her marvellous resources.”

At the, Magistrate’s Court yesterday. a juvenile offender was severely admonished for cruelty ill-treating a horse. The. Stratford Operatic Society will not hold/,a practice of “Pinafore” on Monday; evening. The next practice will ho ; on Monday, April Bth, at 7.30 o’clock. Mr NeVrton King will sell the privilege of 4 i! publican’s booth for the Stratford A. and P. Association’s forthcoming gymkhana, on Wednesday, April 3rd. Excellent progress is being made with the/ work of erecting the Stratford Electrical Supply Company’s new plant, .a.pd it is expected to be nil in place i;h ( a month from date. An oxtrhordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Stratford Farmers’ Co-operation Association, Ltd., will be held motile Town Hall, Stratford, on Tuesday,:'2nd April, at 11 o’clock. John McClelland was charged, before Mr C. I). Sole, J.P., this mornnig, at the Magistrate's Court, with being drunk. ol There was a previous' convection against the prisoner. He was fined 5s. d The Reform Party group which took part in/the recent “rally” was finally dispersed this morning. Messrs. Guthriej Xdwnian, and Pearce returned to their Ironies yesterday, and this morn-ing-Miv Massey left for Auckland, and Messrs.' : ()key" and Wilson proceed northward. The S'tratfcrd Electrical Supply Company strongly advise intending users of electric motors to place their orders for motors as the Company’s day load is expected to he rady about the second week in May. It is officially notified /that orders for motors placed with tag Company will bo cabled and supplied, ,at cost price, plus a email charge tg cover the expenses of order.

■ V MrC/’D. Sole has decided’ not to accept’ 1 domination for the Mayoralty. Mr Sole hyishes to thank those gentlemen v.hh'have offered to nominate him, hut he hits decided to take this course after a ; very careful consideration of his position. As is well known, Mr Sole occupies the position of manager of the Stratford branch of Messrs Bellringer',Bros., Ltd., this firm having bus megs 1 , relations with the Borough. Mr Sole'does not consider it advisable for liiiii ’to occupy the position for which lie has been proposed. Mr Sole has declined to accept nomination as a 'borough conn cillor. M:ss“Cliristie gave a very interesting Tliqdsophical address on Thursday eveuingiast at the Foi’esters’ Hall, the subject, being “How Prayer is Angist of the lady’s address wits that thought was a natural force,, ahfl that therefore prayer was answdrc.d, by thought acting upon the object .desired. Miss Christie illustrated her theory by several interesting anecdotes. The lecturer then went on to state that sound was a force, and exemplified it by crooning two weird Hindoo Ahants used by high-caste Hindoos to p'roduce a state of mind conducive 1 to 1 ' meditation and prayer, and the otlWi- having a contrary effect. Any one interested in these matters should attend a'Tuture meeting of Miss Christie’s, wlicre they will, no doubt, obtain , full An formation on these matters. ! ’ f 1- > l'H • : '•? i " n 1