LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 23, 20 September 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Woodville farmer, in docking his Jambs, found that 352 ewes had..yielded the excellent psrcantage of 118. It' is stated that during the past month motor-cars to the value of £20,000 have been introduced to the Mas'terton district. The Government have decided that Dominion Day (the 26th insU shall not bo observed as a public holiday this year.' The Marquis Baispoli has purchased the Villa do San Martino, on the island of Elba, which was occupied by Napoleon in 1814-15. The Marquis paid £12,000 for the historic dwelling.

As showing the value of farming "i the Wairarapa, it may be mentioned that an owner of a farm of 180 acres, not many miles from Masterton, netted over £BOO last year.

The Executive Committee of the A. and P. Association meet this evening to further discuss matters in connection with the forthcoming Show 'lhe General Committee meet at the Show Grounds to-morrow.

There is a movement on foot amongst Mr. D. L. A. Astbury's supporters to make him a presentation of a purse of sovereigns as a recognition of the plucky manner in which he contested the recent election. Freda Pickett, aged six years, re-' ceritly swam across Dover Bay from the Princess of Wales pier to the Promenade pier, a distance of half a mile, in 12min. She was taught by Miss Jarvis, a sister of the English champion swimmer.

"You are a very clover man, no doubt," said a lawyer to a police con's table giving evidence in a "hogging" ca.se at the Invercargill Police Court the other morning. "Thanks," retorted the burly enforcer of the Licensing Act, "and I'd say the same about you, only I am on my oath."

Telegrams of congratulation to Mr. 0. A. Wilkinson on his success have poured in from the moment his return was announced (reports the "Argus"). Not only have these come from all parts of the Dominion,'but even as far distant as Sydney and London. A Barmaids' Registration Bill has been introduced by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives. It is designed to remedy a flaw in the existing Licensing Act, and to make it perfectly clear that only registered barmaids may be employed in private bars. The New Zealand Farriers and Blacksmiths' Association is asking for legislation providing for the registration of farriers, and the issue of certificates of competency to those who pass a theoretical and practical examination regarding the shoeing of horses, and also to those avlio have practised the calling for three years. Hauraki Plains lands, reclaimed through the Government's draining of the Piako Swamp, are already being turned over at big profit. The Thames "Star" states that a settler took up some land at Pipiroa some time ago at £S 10s per acre and recently disposed of it at the rate of £2l 10s per acre. It was no stranger to the district lacking local knowledge who purchased the land. It was no haphazard speculation made by a man who did not know the value of land. It was purchased by a practical farmer who has had two years' experience on the land adjoining, and he considers that lie has made a satisfactory bargain at the price he has paid.

It is nineteen years ago yesterday since the Women's Franchise Act was passed in New Zealand. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, J. It. Haggie, who did .not appear, was lined -10 s and 7s costs, in default seven days' imprisonment, for a breach of a prohibition order. For cycling on the footpath, 11. E. Maunder, for whom Mr. Wright appeared, was fined os and 7s costs, at the local Court this morning. There is evidently a boom in Martini just now, for it is reported that Houses m that town are scarce, and although many have been built, they do not soem to have satisfied the dema n.d. In many cases owners have had otters for their houses even while the piles are being put in. , ?? e £ n Pitting any more money on fights?" queried Mr. W. G. K. Kennek, o.M.j of a judgment debtor, at tne Lourt this morning. "You know " ™V t j mi ? d J , ! s rshi P> ".vou lost £lO on the Jeffries-Johnson match." "Yes tints true, your Worship," replied the debtor, sadly, "but I'vJ never* had St™" 1 ' 6 raoney since t 0 put on Russia is to celebrate this year the centenary of the campaign of 1812. It Uas been discovered, as the result of special investigations (says an exchange) that 25 soldiers wno particl 82 11" ™, ilt . campaign are still living, the oldest being 126 and the youngest Jl7. 1 laces of honour at t'he celebraSSI i ? tO J JG "■"■toed to these remarkable veterans.

At the Magistrate's Court this mornmg, before Mr. W. G K Ken-' nek, S.M., judgment by default was entered for plaintiff in the case Me-,"" CiuggagG Bros. (Mr. Duff} v . g. Mor- ' risoii, claim £4B 4s Id, and costs'£27 i.4s oci In the judgment summons 1 ' rase, H. Ludors (Mr. .Wright) v. Jos. K sky > ff was ordered to pay E9.' 12ft fid forthwith, in default seven days imprisonment in the New Ply- n mouth prison. ■ It is freely stated that a local resident and ex-business man has fallen; ■"' heir to a fortune in England, the amount mentioned being in the neighbourhood of £60,000. The lucky legatee will shortly leave on a trip to the Old Country. Apropos of the same individual, it is interesting to learn that going to_Melbourne as a, young man he bought a section for a "fiver" ■' chat is now reported to be worth £iooo afoot. Nonchalantly, he wants to know what he is going to do with it! A meeting'was held last night at Tlawera of the Taranaki Caledonian Pipe Band to consider the proposals' of amalgamation put forward'by the faranaki Provincial Scottish Society. ' Mr. James Grant was in the chair; ; ; and Messrs. A<. Henderson and D. But- : chart represented tho Society. • 'The '•''■ proposals were accepted by the- Band/ and Mr. Alec Henderson was appoint-' ,ed secretary to arrange 1 the details >■< . with regard to the incorporation of'the •' two societies. This news' will he ac- -P cepted with gratification by all imem- ; ■«* bers and, well-wishers of the. two 'or-/ ganisations, as the union will-undkmbt-f. edly be to their mutual, benefit.:; :!,,..'> Iu! • There was •a ' buoyancy 'in ■ the ■' step l: and. a' t gleam of satisfaction in ""t'he " : eyes of the milk suppliers df-the' Apa- ! rimla Dairy .Factory as' they perambu- f kited tilae* streets of Priyerton hist Sat- • urday, says a i southern'journal. 'This' 1 ' factory was one .'of the' few 'in Sdutflfc ■ laud that took a gamble on last season's output and consigned the whole of the cheese instead of selling straight out to agents; As -a result, of their enterprise the suppliers had- the-sat- ,; ■ idr'action of pocketingJabonUs-of some* thing like £llOO over and above tho . money received during the season. Hence the buoyancy and the gleam af* oresaid. ~;' '. .'.,. n ~,, ~,,,. ~ ; ;...., ~;•.<■■■

' Yesterday afternoon Mr. W.-H. EL--:---, Young, auctioneer,, of Stratford;'while I driving his motor-car on> the Gordon: >' lload, near Toko, had the misfortune" to meet with an accident which' might,•'" have resulted much-more seriously.'The steering gear of ,the car. unexpect-r ely went wrong, and the car skidding,,; collided with a tree stuinp, Mr,, Young' being pitched with considerable force, •• through the wind; landing on the bank some distance away?. \Vitht:. the exception q£ several severe; cubs about the face, he escaped injury. Dr. Paget was communicated with and went out about six o'clock. He found it necessary to put in a couple of stitches in the patient's upper fip before_ bringing him back to tawn.; The car is rather badly damaged, the front axle being twisted. ' ~,,.,..

A whale lies on the Castlocliff beach (Wanganui). It is not a new one (says the "Chronicle"), but it is a whale, nevertheless, and a very good specimon, too.* Its length is about 60ft., and its flippers are about 15ft. long. As it lies on the beach near the breakwater, high and dry before low water, the mass reaches' to a height of nearly 6ft., with a breadth of l-oifcl to 20ft. It is upwards of a score of years since the last leviathan of the deep was cast up on the Soutli Spit; That ono was .some 20ft longer than yesterday's arrival. It was also in a good state of preservation, and was duly "tried out." The present one has evidently been dead for some time. Part of the lower jaw seems to have been knocked off, but otherwise, as far as can be seen, the carcase'does nnt show any evidence of having received such injuries a_s would have caused death. A whale is somewhat of a novelty in these parts, and will, no doubt, attract much attention.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of Arthur E. R. Collins, formerly a farmer on the Koru lload, and lately the owner of a motor-car" plying for hire at Inglewood, was ■ held at the Deputy-Official Assignee's office, New Plymouth, on Wednesday afternoon. The D.O.A. (Mr. Medley) traced the business transactions of the bankrupt from April of this year till the date of filing. On tho former date he was quite solvent, but unfortunately he had bought a motor-car, paying nothing down and mortgaging the car lind his farm. Eventually, as things did not prove so prosperous, as expected, bankrupt had agreed to sell his farm for £1200._ The D.O.A. pointed out that Collins was practically an illiterate man, and said he did not know what he was signing when lie agreed to the sale of his farm. It was a most unfortunate position for the bankrupt,, and the speaker VI confident creditors would be full. The statement of assets and liabilities showed unsecured creditors to the amount of £7O 19s lid, and secured creditors £B3O. The value of securities was £1824, leaving a surplus :>n property of £994. His~ assets comprised 10 cattle £lO, 50 shares Omata Dairy Company (35 •>;iid lip) £4O, five shares in the Petroleum Company £5, equity in property 6991, and two sections at Port Motu--oa valued at £l5O. This left an ap-, oaront surplus of £1167. As the D.O.A. pointed out (states the Tara--rilei "Herald") there could be no susnicion of illegal or underhand work, •nid creditors sympathised with bankrupt in his position. After some discussion it was resolved that the estate be 'oft in the D.O.A.'s hands. A further ■nsblntion recommending the uncondii..„,„l discharge of bankrupt was also carried.