LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 16, 17 January 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

James East, for riding a bicycle on the footpath, was at the Court to day lined 10s and 7s costs, and Roland Miller, for driving without lights, was mulcted in 10s and 7s costs. Mi W. G. Kenrick, S.M., was on the Bench.

A final reminder is given that nominations for the Taranaki Jockey Club’s autumn meeting close to-night (Friday) at 0 p.m. This year owners have been liberally catered for. the sum of £1950 being allotted foi the two days’ racing.

The interest of the license in section 4, block VII., Mahoe, containing 463 acres to be sold by the order oi the mortgagee to be offered by Mr Newton King at his mart yesterday morning, has been postponed until The 30th instant.

News received per letter from one of the Stratford toy scouts, on “trek,” states that the hoys are all well and having “a fine time.” They are at present located near the Mold Saddle, fifty-five odd miles away, and have erected a good hut.

“People who break the law are given preference over civil litigants,” said Mr Robert Spence this morning at the Magistrate’s Court, in making a suggestion that the Court-list should be altered so as not to unnecessarily detain solicitors in the Court. Mr W. Cf. Kenrick agreed in future to allow undefended civil cases to have preference of criminal and all other Court work.

What sort of a “sport” is the man who will shoot pheasants out of season, birds so tame that they would feed with the fowls in his backyard ‘i The President of the Acclimatisation Society (Mr W. P. Kirkwood)-stated last night that a farmer had informed him that birds just liberated had been slaughtered in the manner mentioned above. Mr Kirkwood pressed for the man’s name, but this was refused. “It’s no use,” he added, “they won’t inform against theii neighbours, and this sort of thing has to go on unchecked.

When the case Overbye v. Diamond was called at the Court this morning, Mr Percy Thomson, for the plaintiff, asked that the case be struck out The plaintiff, who is now engaged ir a Wanganui picture orchestra, had arranged for a man to take his place, but, through sickness, the substitute was not available, and Overbye could not, without losing his position, attend the Court this day. Defendant had refused to consent to an adjournment, so that counsel’s only course was to have the case struck out. The plaintiff claimed £3 6s Bd, wages alleged to be due through wrongful dismissal.

“Permit me to express my appreciation of the very kind and considerate treatment I received at the hands of yourself and other officials of your Association during my recent visit,” writes a well-known southern Ayrshire breeder to the secretary of the Stratford A. and P. Association (Mr B. Fearon). In signifying his intention of ‘coming again,” the Ayrshire man added, “Your treatment makes it hard for a man to refuse to come to a future show.” This letter is hut one of many the secretary has recently receiver of a similar nature, and all express appreciation and thanks, and what is better, promise larger entries next time

An amusing little incident happened at Newtown (Sydney) last month when Governor Chelmsford was addressing a croud of children at one of the picture shows which had been arranged for their delectation on account of the day" proving unfavourable for outdoor festivities. He had attended one picture show, and while at the second told his audience? that when he was leaving the first one he was held up by two or three small girls who asked him if he would give them something. “I wonder,” he -said to the youthful audience, “if you can guess what that something was?” A boy’s voice (without the slightest hesitation's answered, “A kiss!” “Oh, no.” replied his Fxcellency when the laughter had subsided, “it was not a kiss. They asked me for a holiday,” and the children applauded with all their little might. They knew what was in store for them next day.

The Boy Scouts of Eltham, Taranaki, have presented a Lnion Jack to the Eltham (Kent) lads, who are to send another in exchange.

The Master ton Dairy Company manufactured 39,9001 b of butter during last month, this being an increase ot 80001 b on the corresponding month of the previous year.

“The most impertinent youth I have ever struck,” is how Sergeant Mc.Xcely described Percy Law charged at the Court to-day with leaving a horse and trap unattended or not properly secured. A fine of 20s a*hd is costs was entered.

A Wairarapa correspondent states that the boro at the Mangaone oilwells is now down to a depth of between 900 feet and 1000 feet. The percussion drill is being used, the rotary having been placed temporarily out of repair. Gas has been emitted at several stages in the operations.

“Half-past nine is an extremely early hour,” remarked Mr Cecil Wright at the Magistrate’s Court today, when it was suggested that the civil Court should open at 10 o’clock and the criminal at 9.30. The suggestion emanated from Mr Robert Spence, but was not favourably 'received by Mr Kenrick, S.M.

It is stated in Masterton that rabbit poisoning will be commenced on stations on the East Coast during the present month. The past season has been favourable to the increase of rabbits, and it is intended to make a vigorous campaign against them during the next month or two.

A baby was born in a motor-car in Auckland one day last week (says the Herald). The mother had just arrived by steamer, and was being driven, in the early morning, to a nursing home, accompanied by her husband. When the nursing home was reached there was an extra passenger in the car—a baby boy.

John G. O’Donnell, a legal inmate of the Burnham Industrial School, but licensed out from the school, was at Stratford to-day convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, in a charge of stealing from Raymond Smith, £2 8s 9d in money. Accused, who flas smartly {■.nested by Constable McGowan, will be sent back to Burnham.

“I thought cows were going to make the country, but now, it seems, they are going to upset The whole ol the law Courts.”—Comment by Mr W. G. Kenrick, S.M., at tlie Court this morning, on a case where “her majesty the cow” was a principal factor.

At its meeting this week the Masterton County Council, in reply to a letter from the Minister for Internal Affairs, decided that the proposal of the Patea County Council for the collection of rates on native lands should be recommended to the Government. The Council refused to endorse a proposal by the Whakatane County Council that provision should be made for taking the cost of supervision from Government grants.

A vicar’ singular plight was revealed at Northampton Police Court, when the Rev. E. Roberts appealed to the Magistrates to grant him the use of one of four pairs of trousers stolen from St. Katherines’ Vicarage. Then Mayor said that Mr Roberts could have two pairs if he would undertake not to dispose of them, as they were required as evidence.

Reference was made in our columns recently to the largest hay-stack in the world, at Corcoran, Tulare County, which contained 1600 tons of baled alfalfa, and, with a height of more than 40ft, covers 10,000 square feet of ground. This is a bit big for Taranaki, though there are some de-cent-sized stacks dotted about our countryside, the largest in the neighbourhood of Stratford having just been built on Mr J. ’Petrie’s property, Opunake road.

At a meeting of the Rilway Union held in New Plymouth this week, at which there was an attendance of 'about thirty members, says the Herald, it was decided to protest against the unfair rider added by the jury at the inquest on the motor accident at the Normanby crossing on New Year’s Day. The meeting considered that the wording of the rider conveyed the idea that the, driver of the train did not blow his whistle, whereas the evidence conclusively proved that the whistle was sounded twice. A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to the Minister of Railways.

Two Territorial cases were heard at the Stratford Court to-day. Charles Henry Bennett, charged with failing to render personal service, was fined 2Us and 7s costs, in default seven days’ military confinement. It was stated that the youth had a weak heart and was under the treatment of a New Plymouth doctor, Mr W. G. Kenrick, S.M., commenting on the youth not having so informed his officers of this fact. John Kelly, a senior cadet, was given the benefit of the doubt on a similar charge, it being not proved whether defendant had received parade notices. He was fined 5s only, in default seven days in military custody.

A novelty in the way of entertainment in these parts is on the tapis in connection with'the Stratford Primitive Methodist Church. This is a “cobweb” social, something quite airart from the usual run of church socials, and the evening should prove more than usually interesting. Just what a “cobweb” social is must be left to the fortunate purchasers of the unique serviettes, which entitle them to partake in the event of the evening, to discover. There will, surely, be a great run upon these pretty me- . mentoes of the gathering, and as the number has been limited, early application for one should he made to the Rev. Mr Met son and his committee. An excellent programme of solos, recitations, musical items, etc., has also been prepared for the social, which will be held on Tuesday, 28th instant, in the Schoolroom, Broadway.

Seventy-three years ago January 17th, the penny postage system was introduced into Great Britain. The result more than exceeded the most sanguine expectations of its instigator, Sir Rowland Hill. It was some considerable time before letters could be sent out of England for a penny, but now the red penny stamp will convey a letter to the most distant British colony or dominion. Universal penny postage was adopted in New Zealand on January Ist, 1901. In Howland Mill’s original scheme, the affixing of a stamp was no material point, in fact he only suggested it as an afterthought. But it was soon realised that, if letters were prepaid by the affixing of a stamp, much trouble would be avoided in collecting the postage from the recipient of a letter.