LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8, 7 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Last evening at a special meeting, the Borough Council accepted the invitation of the Stratford Electrical Supply Company to attend the opening of the new works on the evening of May 16th. Alfred C rawford was yesterday charged before Mr. C. D. Sole, J.P.. with being helplessly drunk at Whangamomona. He was remanded to the New Plymouth Gaol for seven days for medical treatment. A well-known Stratford resident paid a visit to Morrinsyille, a town some hundred miles from Auckland, the other day. He remarked to a member of our staff this morning that it seem-ed quite J ike Stratford, when he saw in one day lie spent there Mr. Steve Fahey, Mr. Roberts, lata of "eckett and Roberts, and Mr. Annstrong, now; editor of the "Morriusv :11c; "Sar." The passengers of a .Wellington tram car were recently thrown into chaos and confusion by the sudden application of the emergency brakes. The passengers were all shot down to one end of the car, and the women were nervous and hysterical. The ins:gniiieaut cause was a small pug-dog that had apparently chosen a speedy means of suicide in front of .the car. While passengers, motorman, guard and the usual enquiring crowd were looking for its mangled remains, the pug calmly and deliberately strolled out at the other end of the car. There is a prospect of an indignation meeting being Held at Hokitika, asking for a thorough investigation into the accounts of the local Borough Council, showing how the travelling expenses and allowances to the secretary, chairman, and members are made up. Among the official "tags" to the last balance-sheet wero such items as £25 for chairman proceeding to Wellington; I'M for i,ire of double bugo;y for chairman and others: £25 5s for chairman visiting South Westland and installing "a medical officer; £213 17s 6d travelling expenses drawn by the, secretary. One member said lie considered a number of tags (the fust including a number of detailed items, to which 'xcepti.i.n was tal: u ). reflected the greatest scandal in the history of public bodies in Hokitika. II apnearod to hiai that the secretary had drawn £ll3, and the chairman £67; a total of £IBO.

Mr. .T. I). Healy, architect for the isolated ward, informed the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, at to-day's meeting, that the ward would be finished in about a month's time, and would be fit for occupation about two weeks later. The dates for the sittings of the Opunake Railway Commission have been altered, and the first sitting of the Comui'ssion will take place at Hawera on Tuesday, May 14th, Stratford will be reached on May 20th, the sitting being held in the*Borough Council Chambers at 10 a.m. At Bernard's picture's last evening there was qalte a number of Boy Scouts. Madame Bernard having kindly invited them to witness review of English Sccuts by His Majesty the King. The Rev. Butler, on behalf of tlie boys, thanked Madame Bernard lor her kindness, and expressed himself as delighted with the performance. On Wednesday 22nd. the benefit in aid of the Convent funds takes place. . Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, InspectorGeneral of Hospitals and Charitable Aid, forwarding statistics for the year to the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, states that the population of the Stratford district as at March 81st, 1912, is 9,745, and the capital value of rateable property in the district, as at the same date, is £2,857,812. Mr. C. D. Sole has received a letter h'um tne itoyal Humane Society asking uiuL tne certificate awarded to tho iau JJocia lor bravery, in connection i.iui me drowning oi tne child Edwards some months ago, should, lie presented to mm on tne occasion of the nearest puolur gathering; and it has oeeu deemed piiat tne Mayor shall maice tne presentation at Mr. Laurenson's meeting to-morrow evening.