LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 90, 11 December 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An extract from a letter sent by : Territorial to the military authorities “Please excuse me from to-morrow parade, as I wish to attend a cricke match. Wishing the parade every sue cess, I am, etc.”

The Soutli Wales Daily News relates that the Rev. W. E. Winks, a Baptist minister, officiated at a deal and dumb wedding at Cardiff b\ means of the linger language, anu afterwards a lady who had witnessed the ceremony, said to him: “\ ery met quiet wedding, sir, but did you notice an impediment in tlie bridegroom speech?” “No,” tlie minister said. “Oh yes,” the lady replied, “the top of one of his lingers was missing.”

A letter received by a Levin resident from South Africa warns people from going at present to Soutli Africa. Jobs are difficult to obtain in the cities and towns, and a good deai of friction still prevails between_ the Dutch and English. Judging from South'African journals, it is evident that dismissals of British officers ana workmen from Government undertakintrs is answerable lor a good deal of the ill-feeling to which the writei refers.

As the 55-storey YVoolworth building in New York approaches its completion new figures are becoming available to show how it will beat the record in skyscrapers, ft is now reported that the building will contain 5500 ft. of telephone cable, with 400 miles ol copper wire. This will connect wifi, a distributing frame that has a capacity of 400 lines. The cost of providing the telephone equipment for this one building will exceed £I3OO.

According to the New York Sun the American Department of Public Work; has notified the Singer Manufacturing Co. that the Liberty street site ol its great building projects 15in. beyoiKl the building line fixed by the civic authorities. The company has been ordered to “pare” the building throughout the height of thirteen stories, which project beyond the line, and the Department has intimated that if its order is not complied with the city will take the work n hand.

A wedding under somewhat unusual conditions took place at the Westport Post Office on Monday afternoon (says the local News). The contracting parties were both old Westport residents. , The lady, who had welsh ipped-rather freely at the shrine ol Bacchus, was the enforced guest ol the State, pending advice as to her removal to Pakatoa. Mr Hopkins, the solicitor, acting in a new capacity, arrived on behalf of a client with an or fer of marriage, and it was accepted, and the S.M., on being approaheed on the matter, consented to a brief adjournment being made to the Registrar’s office, where the marriage was duly celebrated, the bride then returning to her State “residence.’ D is understood, adds the News, that the State will remove the barrier that at present separates the happy couple.

An old man named Peter Glynn, who has been located at Lome harm for some time, on Tuesday morning wandered away from the farm, says the Southland Times. So far as can lie learned it seems that the old man reached Mr YV. D. Hunt’s farm at YVest Plains, and, being tired, entered a hut and Jit a fire in it to warm himself. He evidently fell asleep, and about nine o’clock in the evening tw of Mr Hunt’s men, named Marshal and Blackburn, noticed the hut to be on fire. They hurried to the scene, and arrived in time to save the ok, man’s life. After he had been removed from the hut he resumed his wanderings, the men not noticing hi: departure as they were busily engaged dealing with the fire. Glynn was again located about 5 o’clock on YY ednesday morning, and it was found that he had been slightly burned about the face and neck. Constable Tonkinson took charge of him. and had him returned to Lome Farm.

A strange fact was brought out in the course of the examination at Invercargill on. Thursday of the bankrupt at a meeting of creditors in the estate of A. G. Drummond, tramway motorman (says the Southland Times). The bankrupt in the course of his statement said .that he had been severely handicapped by illness, and Mr Hagg'.tt, who appeared for him, explained that an accident to his daughter had been the cause of heavy expense. The child was, ho said, attending one of the public schools in Dunedin, and it was stated that she had been struck across the back of the hand with a ruler. The blow had caused some disease of the bone,_ and one of the lingers had had to lie amputated. There was, he understood, a danger of the disease spreading to the arm, and if this happened the consequences would be most serous. A Dunedin solicitor was proceeding on behalf of the bankrupt to claim compensation, but no definite information regarding the claim was yet to hand.

An ex-Rcefton miner had a narrow escape at the North Lyell disaster. He had been asked to change sliifts with a mate and had agreed, and his mate who took his shitt was among those in the mine.

A doctor, plaintiff in a case of Spilshy (Lincolnshire) County Court, sa d he had sent seventy-nine bottles ol medicine to a woman patient in six mouths. His - Honor: “And is she still alive?” The answer was lost in tlie laughter of the court. A witness at the trato’s Chart became so interested in the evidence he was giving that ijfr addressed the Bench in a confidential tone as “My dear friend,” which evoked smiles all round. The Star adds that Mr Kettle, S.M., proved himself a “friend” by getting the case ultimately settled out of court.

At a meeting of the rangitiras representing New Plymouth, Crenui and \Vaitara, Jield in Waitara on Saturday (says the Mail), it was decided to asK the Hon. Ur. Poinare, M.P., to fix the elate for his North Taranaki meeting to be held at Waitara soon after the South Taranaki meeting. The latter takes place at Okaiawa about the middle of this month. ‘

There is no foundation (says a Wellington exchange) for the statement that Mr W. B. Hudson, of the Insurance Department, is likely to succeed Mr Campbell as Commissioner of Taxes. That position, in conjunction with the other offices held by Mr Peter Heyes, was, it is understood, offered to Mr Hudson at the time of Mr Heye’s resignation three years ago, but Mr Hudson preferred to remain in the Insurance Department. Regarding the removal of the Railway Department’s permanent way depot and offices to Stratford, the Hawera Star says the reason for the change is that it is considered that Stratford will be more central for directing the work. The change will mean that Hawera will lose two of its citizens in the persons of Messrs F. Noye (inspector) and T. Trask, who will take up their residence in Stratford. While he has been a resident of Hawera, Mr Trask has been prominent in railway affairs, and also in a good many public matters. Mr Noye has by his kindly nature won numerous friends. A Manaia gardener informed the Manaia Witness that the most destructive of all tlie feathered pirates is the dainty and sweet singing but mischievously vicious lark. unlike the thrush and the blackbird, which gorge themselves on choice garden fruits, the lark doesn’t eat; he destroys and wastes merely in a spirit of pure cusscdncss. As the paper’s informant said, lie stands perkily on the edge of a row of recently planted peas or beans or other seeds, digs his beak into the soil and slings the germinating seed over his shoulder. He puts in a lot of hard graft at this kind of work and knocks dff only when he is tired or hungry or wants a drink or a change of occupation or something.

“I want to answer the question in my own way,” said a witness who was being closely i cross-examined in the Compensation Court at Auckland. “No,” said counsel, “answer “yes or no. The question is capable of such an answer.” The witness protested vigorously, and Mr Justice Cooper interposed. “I should always advise a witness,” he observed, “not to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a question. He is liable to get into serious trouble if he does. You need not answer in that way if you do not need to,” he informed the witness. “The question is dipable of such an answer, your Honor,” said counsel again, hut the witness was allowed to frame his answer as he thought fit. The superintendent of the Waihi Gold-mining Co. reports that for the period ending November 23rd the mill ran 39-1 days, crushing 15,219 tons of ore, of an assay value of £2 8s 6d per ton (equivalent to £30,670). The actual bullion from this crushing, however, is not available, value having been absorbed by the cyanide plant, where it remains for future recovery. It should be explained that when the battery is running regularly, a certain percentage of bullion is always absorbed in the cyanide plant, zinc boxes, etc. During the stoppage caused by the strike, a complete clean-up of all sources where bullion was iso absorbed was made, resulting in the recovery of bullion valued at £51,743. This bullion has now been shipped, and is, of course, additional to the outputs already reported up to the middle of May last, when the strike began. Including this £51,743, the total amount won from the mine to date is £10,038,700. Recently a foreman in one of the principal railway workshops (says the N.Z. Railway Officers’ Advocate), when crossing the yard to where some men were busily engaged unloading a quantity of very heavy sheet iron, picked up a portion of a human finger;, nearly an inch in length. On mentioning the fact to the gang one of the workmen looked at his hand and exclaimed: “By Jove, it’s mine. I felt a bit of a pinch a while ago, but I didn’t know my finger was off ” The square edges of two plates of the iron coming together had squeezed off tn point of the man’s finger, at the same time closing the stump so that no blood escaped. It seems scarcely credible that such a thing could happen w thout the unfortunate individual becoming immediately aware of it, but we are assured that the facts are exactly as stated, and that the accident happened fully half-an-hour prior to the foreman making his discovery. Referring to the death of a child in a camp on the North Auckland railway construction works, a correspondent sends the Star the following statement ; “As a juryman at the inquest on the body of the 8-year-old hoy who died at one of the camps at Maugaturoto on the Ist instant, 1 woulo like to draw attention to the exact state of affairs. A more pitiful case I have never seen. A calico tent full of holes, and open to all weathers, was where the little one passed away. When the jury went to view the body heavy rain was falling. Consequently the earth floor was wet, and rain was dripping through the tent in no small quantity. The saturated flaps of the tent were blowing within half an inch of The boy’s head, and the sight of the pJsce generally was one that will be in rhy mind for some time to come. 'The place, on the whole, was hardly fit for cattle, let alone human beings, and more especially a sick child. The jury was led by a witness to believe that this camp was a model compared with some, and I know from nersonal experience that this is trulv the case. There is urgent need on the part of the Public Works Department to take some stern step and inquire into the state of things. As to the sanitary conditions—-well, to say the least, they are really deplorable, and unless something is done immediately I am afraid to state what the consequences might be, more especially as the hot weather is coming on.”

Two Guineas for four lines of petry! Read Tonking’s Linseed Emulsion intimation every Saturday amongst news items. V

The’ freehold of the Royal Mail stables has been purchased by Mr Newton King, and will be utilised by him in his rapidly-growing business. A first offending “drunk”’ was convicted and discharged this morning.Mr Cr. N. Curtis, J.F., was on the .Bench. The Court list for Friday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court includes 2i civil cases, one defended, one judgment summons, one information tor riding a bicycle on the footpath, and the information for alleged forgery, for which a further remand will probablyii'e asked. A -Heal dog fancier, and ex-cham-t pion road racer, lias been overwhelmed to-day with postcards in celebration his birthday. His friends, wno have gone to great trouble to have the cards posted from all parts of the country, are enjoying the joke. On Sunday afternoon next the Stratford Band will play m the Hospital Grounds. The Hospital buildings and grounds, including the new building for infectious diseases (as yet unused) will be open for inspection, and a collection will be made towards the Hospital funds. It is hoped there will be, a big attendance, and a liberal response. The Auckland ‘Observer’s’ very welcome Christmas Armaul is to hand, and well maintains its always high standard of humour and originality. Wiiile looking largely on the lighter side of life, the ‘Observer’s’ outspoken frankness in “the cause that needs assistance” has made it a widely-read and inlluential journal throughout New Zealand. May its success long continue!

While in Chrischureh a few days ago Mr N. F. Dunlop was conducted over the grounds at the Mental Hospital by Dr. Gow, and shown the Shorthorn herd the doctor is building up. The records of every cow are carefully kept, and for the 12 months 60 cows averaged 39jlb of milk per day, with an average test of 4.2. Di Gow is thinking of exhibiting nexi year at some .of the northern shows, including Stratford. Many curious things crop up during the hearing of court cases. In the Waimate libel case in tlie Supreme Court the discussions varied from Napoleon’s pulse to workers’ unions, anu bottled exhibits from the human body. It was stated that the normal pulse in a human being is 70, but tliair Napoleon’s pulse wus 40. To this it was replied that Napoleon was an epileptic. His Honor asked if it were not a fact that men of genius never were normal.

The ladies belonging to the Presbyterian Church have lately been hard at work preparing for a Christmas 'Tree and sale of produce which is to be held in the Foresters’ Hall to-mor-row afternoon and evening. Father Christmas will be present, so bring the children along. Refreshments will be procurable for the usual charge of sixpence. A first-class programme has been arranged, and it is hoped the public will give the entertainment their hearty support. At Wanganui’s public meeting oi the Overseas Club Miss Wrench said the people of Great Britain were mpking forward to hearing Hr Truby King lecture. She said the work he was doing in New Zealand was beginning to be known in England, and it was a revelation to them to learn that oUb babies are being saved here yearly. She also mentioned that it was a t rench doctor who was first impressed by the terribly infant mortality in 1' ranee. H© set to work, and for ten years in his district not a single baby died from complaints which could have been prevented. Miss Wrench, who is a trained kindergarten teacher, told a Wanganui audience of a pretty ceremony she had witnessed at a kindergarten school in Auckland (says the Herald). On certain days it was the custom or tnih school to salute the flag. The best behaved child of the week brings tm flag from its resting place, it is held in the centre of-the room by the smallest child, the others form a ring round it and say: “My heart, my hand, and my head are my country s, then salute the flag, bringing the pretty little ceremony to a close by singing tm National Anthem. Miss Wrench added that it was considered a great privilege to hold the flag. In the regulations framed to administer the Land Agents Act of last session, which operates from January 1, it is provided that applicants for a license to carry on this business shall furnish a fidelity bond of £ooo anc testimonials of character. The bond will be. liable to forfeiture if the lam. agent fails to duly and punctually apply all moneys received by him in respect of any sale of land in the manner required by section B,of the Act, or if the land agent shall fail to j>aj any moneys received immediately attei the receipt thereof into a trust account.

An enjoyable function in connection with the Broadway Sunday School was held last night, the main attraction being the presenting to the children Ot the prizes won during the year. In performing this pleasant duty, Mr J. B. Hine, M.P., congratulated the teachers on the results achieved, and the children on the efforts made, in the course of a short address Mr Him epoke of Joshua to the children, taking as his text; “Be strong and ol good courage,” The Rev. B. Metsor presided and a splendid musical programme was gone through, including solos by Misses Evelyn Moon, Evelyn Cartwright, recitations by Misses Doreen Barak and Alice Kenny and Master Albert Bound, and a duct by Miss Keitha and Master Reg Martin, and by Misses Keitha Martin and Eva Cartwright. An address was also given by the Superintendent, Mr E. G. Foster.

An incident that might have resulted seriously to the driver and fireman of one of the locomotives drawing the Rangiora friendly societies’ excursion train to Cass, 72 miles from Christchurch, occurred on. Thursday at one of the sharpest inclines in a tunnel. When the train was about two-thirds of the way through it stopped, and then commenced to run back out of the tunnel, and on reaching the open air the driver and fireman of the second engine were found lying on the footplate in a state of. collapse from the effects of the smoke and sulphur fumes. They recovered speedily in the open! and were aide before long to re-| sume their duties, but they felt the effects of the mishap for some time.! It was found that a hand brake on; one of the carriages had been screwed hard on, and was red-hot with the friction. This had caused the stoppage. The occurrence upset some of the excursionists, who were under the imnression that some of the carriages had broken away and were beyond control.