LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 22, 24 January 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day’s “Post”: Pago 2, Whangamomona County Council and Cordelia Street Bridge " Discussion ; page Sporting, and “That Mossy Taste”'; page 8, Loan Proposals, and Whangamoinona Notes.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the Whangamomona County Council, Councillor Jury, owing to his departure from the district, tendered his resignation as a member, which was accepted with regret. The Clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to fill the vacancy.

For driving a team of bullocks across the footpath in Fenton Street, Herbert Curtis, at the Stratford Court, this morning, before Mr Kenrick, S.M., was fined IDs and 7s costs. Enc Robson, for whom Mr Cyril H. Croker appeared, was fined os, without costs, for riding a motor bicycle at night without lights. Barry Sheehan, for riding a bicycle on the footpath, was mulcted in 10s and 7s costs.

The chairman of the Whangamomoua County Council stated at Wednesday’s meeting of the Council that a number of horses were running in the Council’s office yard, and the animals had no right to be there. Several suggestions to remedy the matter came from various councillors, ant} one of these led Cr Coyne to remark: “Let them stand on their dignity, and we will stand on ours.”

It may not be generally known that an Act lias been passed by the General Assembly permitting, under certain circumstances, the registration of the birth of any child born in New Zealand before May 7th, 1912. The operation of the Act referred to only extends until November 7th, 1913, and any person desirous of taking advantage of same should apply to the Registrar-General before November 7th, 1913. A fee of 5s is payable for each registration.

Few people outside those who have travelled over the railway to Wbuiigamomona, and probably not all of these, know that the nature of tin formation of the line has necessitated as many as seven oridges being built well within a length of only two miles. The sites of the structures are almost within cooeo of the rising centre of Whangamomona. Good pi ogress is now being made with the construe lion, and, so far, three have been com pleted, and the line laid up to the fourth bridge. There are stul lout bridges to be completed before tin train can reach Whangamomona.

The Rev. D. C. Bates, Government Meteorologist, would no doubt be thoroughly pleased to hear the flattering remarks passed at times with respect to the accuracy of his weather reports. While a number of gentlemen were discussing farming in all its branches in one of the outlying districts this week, one prominent member of the party remarked, “Well, he is very correct; in fact, the other day I looked at his report, and took notice that rain was predicted. I immediately told the boy to knock off cutting oats and straighten up the piece and knock off and wait for a more favourable report. This lie did, and then the rain fell.”

At the Magistrate’s Court thu morning before Mr Keurick, S.M., judgment by default was entered in the following civil cases-H. Crawford (Mr Macallister) v. Hugh Hanson, claim £3 8s 9d and costs 16s; Louis Revcll v. Derby Bros., claim £2O 9s 6d and costs £1 8s; Wickham Bios (Mr Cecil Duff) v. 11. Fisher, claim £2 12s 3d and costs 16s; H. W. Silk. (Mr T. C. Fookes) v. W. F. Dowman, claim £3 Os 7d and costs 10s; Bright and Backhouse (Mr T. C. Fookes) v. F. Calgher, claim £2O 13s and costs £2 11s. In the judgment summons case, Bellringer Bros. (Mr T. C. Fookes) v. William Cleaver, claim £2 18s lid there was no appearance of debtor,* who was ordered to pay the amount of the claim forthwith, in default 7 days.

Owing to the sweating necessary in fcllmongery, sheep pelts are often spoilt for trade purposes, and consequently much deteriorated in value, so that a machine designed to shear sheep skins should meet a long Mr want. A demonstration of die woiking of an invention of this nature was held at Sydney last week. The invention has provisional protection throughout the world. The model exhibited was about 2ft wide and con-j tained a large number of combs with a corresponding number of cutters,] all cutting in unison, under which were two rollers, on which the sheepskins, were spread and drawn through as the wool was shorn. It was demonstrated that the wool can be removed from] the skin as desired. There is a great demand in Canada and Russia for closely cropped sheepskins for clothing purposes, *

“The Council ato always barking about noxious weeds. 1 think the Council should look at their own back yard,’' said Cr. Robcrton at Wednesday’s Council meeting at Whangamomona. The chairman: “It has already been attended to.”

Speaking to a Wairarapa Ago reporter, a farmer who possesses a knowledge of the district stated that, if the freezing works were closed for the season, the Joss to the small farmers in the Masterton and Wairarapa j districts would be nearly £50,000. w

The Stratford Acclimatisation Society decided at a brief meeting last evening that they would not make any efforts to secure a short open season this year, a close season being favoured. by the majority.

The chairman of the Whangamomona County Council on Wednesday received the following telegram from the clerk, Mr A. Coleman, in connection with the proposed drainage : “The drainage loan for the township was refused on the ground that the road works were more urgent.”

A correspondent complains that in some parts 6f the Borough of Stratford blackberry is being allowed to llourish unheeded, despite the fact that it has been declared a noxious weed lur some years past. Propertyowners would do well to ascertain that they are not at fault in this matter.

' It has now been arranged that special trains for the School Excursion will leave Stratford at 8.10 a.in. and D o a.m., leaving New Plymouth ou i • e return journey at 4.20 pm. and 0 p.rn., and picking • > passengers at the To Heuui Beach platform.

“ft is strange,” remarked Mr Kenrick, S.M., at the Stratford Court today, “that in nearly every Territorial case, the defence is raised that notices have not been received, and yet, while the notices have always been sent out, none of them are returned to the Department.”

Mr W. P. Kirkwood forwards a further sum of £1 17s (including 12s Mr Rutherford’s list), being balance of tickets sold on account of the E. Smith Benefit Fund. It is proposed that all lists close after to-morrow, January 25th, so that those who have not subscribed and desire to do so will kindly remit at once.

“It’s only in its infancy, and is liable to go off with chicken pox or something else, and I think it would be against the dignity of the Whanga County Council not to sent two delegates. Let us stick to our guns!” Thus remarked Cr Bacon, when the question of sending delegates to the conference of the Backblocks Local Bodies Association at Ohura came before the Whangamomona County Council meeting on Wednesday.

As intimated in our columns a few days ago, shareholders of the Stratford Farmers’ Co-operative Dairy Co. will have an opportunity of discussing the advisability or otherwise. of going into the manufacture of cheese or casein. The meeting will he held in the Borough Council Chambers on ’Tuesday, February 11th, at 11 a.mi, and Mr Pedersen, Government Dairy Expert, who visited Denmark to investigate the casein industry, will be present.

A Beautifying Society has been formed in Hawera, with the following office bearers:, President, Mr C. Goodson.; .yiqqjpresidpnts, X)r. Thomson, Messrs E. Dixon, and W. A. Parkinson; secretary, Mr T. Barmby; executive committee, Messrs C. Walker, T. H.. Gillman, Garnett, E. Barton, Suisted, J. C. Smith, and E. B. Bates. It is proposed to convene a ladies’ meeting to form a committee to Avork with the society, reports the Star.

Several Territorials were dealt with by Mr Kenrick, S.M., at the local Magistrate’s Court to-day. Bernard Diamond, a senior cadet, who had moved to Inglewood without giving notice to the Department, and had at Inglewood attended four out of thirteen drills, was mulcted in a fine of 30s with costs 75., in default seven days’ military custody. W. S. Birdsall, who expressed a difficulty in attending parades owing to his being an employee in a cheese factory, was fined £2 and 7s costs; S. Outhbertson, for a similar offence, was fined 10s and 7s costs.

A case was brought against a local carrier at the Court to-day, the charge being that he did drive an unregistered vehicle for hire. When the borough inspector asked leave to withdraw the action, Mr Kenrick, S.M., was not disposed to allow this to be done, pointing out that some reasons must be given him why he should consent to such an action. It might be, he said, a case of favouring one particular carrier. The case was accordingly adjourned, the borough inspector having no information on the matter beyond his instructions to “withdraw.”

There was a happy gathering at the show grounds yesterday afternoon, when the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Sunday School scholars held their first combined picnic. Races and sports of the orthodox nature were held, and the al fresco parties of such a perfect picnic day proved most enjoyable. Indeed, the spirit of goodwill mid unionism that was abroad for the day evinced a happy augury for the time, not now far distant, when the people of both _ churches will live together in a religious sense.

When a youth is earning the small sum of seven shillings odd per week, it is rather a difficult matter for the Magistrate to make the fine compatible with the seriousness of the offence and the means of the defendant. Mr Kenrick, S.M., dealt with a case in point this morning at the Stratford Court, a defaulting Territorial being one of the parties in the action. In fining the boy 30s with 7s costs, his Worship said that the burden of the fine would probably fall on the lad’s parents, and perhaps rightly so, since parents should exert their control in making their sons attend drills.

Land that was “tapu” figured largely in a prosecution under the Noxious Weeds Act heard at the Stratford Court to-day, when W. H. H. Young was charged by the Inspector that he did fail to clear certain land on the Douglas road, and bounded by the Waitara river, of gorse and foxglove. In pleading guilty, Mr Young said he had been warned by natives that the land was tabooed, but had only just received a communication from the Department that such was not the case. His manager had been distinctly told by the natives not to touch the land. Mr Kenrick, S.M., remarked that the Maoris were very fond of “bluffing” people like_ this. It was a habit they had of saying land was “tapu” and then going and squatting on it. He recorded a fine of 10s and 7s costs on each of the two charges.

The shops in Stratford will be closed all day on Thursday next, the 30th instant, being the occasion of the Stratford School annual holiday. sympathy with those leiiitoiials put the Defence Department to trouble by leaving the district, and then not ‘notifying their officers of the change in address, . , 1 * ritorials come lief ore Magistrates for failing to attend parades, Mi Kenuck considered that the Bench should be notified of these sins of omission and a ouijryntial increase made in the fine.'* /' The Education Board’s method of appointing a teacher has a large flavour of comic opera about it (says the Manaia Witness). It is just another version of Jedburgh justice. In the ancient city of Jedburg it was the custom to hang a man first and then findh ira guilty. Following this delightful method of procedure, the Board appoints a teacher and then asks the Committee what it thinks about it!

Mr Frank Jenkins, of Eltham, captured on Wednesday with a spear one of the largest eels ever caught in the district. The Eltham Argus states that he secured it in the stream just behind the Eltham dairy factory on Mountain road. It weighed 291 b. Its abdominal proportions would have done credit to an alderman, and set onlookers speculating as to what was the luscious food that created such a magnificent rotundity. Mr EjGI s iuternal arrangement will be duly investigated, and it is predicted that many a good-sized trout has found a living sepulchre inside of the creature that fell a victim to the prowess of Mr Jenkins’ spear.

An inquest was held yesterday at the Skinner road, before Mr C. D. Sole, acting coroner, touching the death of the lad Murtagh. and a verdict of “accidental drowning” was returned. The acting-coroner will place under the notice of the authorities the plucky action of Walter Buchanan, who, although not one of the party, and a poor swimmer, made a determined effort to save the little boy’s life. Mr Sole congratulated the young men on the manner in which they had acted. There had been no lack of pluck on their part, but unfortunately they had not set to work in the right manner. He was of the opinion that had older and more experienced men been present the fatality would have been averted. The evidence was on the lines already reported in our columns.

A report was circulated in Eltham on Wednesday afternoon that Constable Wade was missing (states the Star’s correspondent). The constable left on police duty early on Tuesday morning for Moreroa by motor cycle, and intended returning the same day. No tidings were heard of him at a late hour yesterday afternoon although the telephone had been frequently used trying to find his whereabouts; the only information available was that he was seen to pass Mr Sproul’s place on horseback about nine o’clock on Tuesday morning, having left his motor cycle when lie got to the rough country. When it became known that the constable was missing arrangements w r ere soon put in hand for a search party to go out to Moreroa. Four motor cars were volunteered and a number of willing hands were soon forthcoming. At about half-past nine o’clock last night, just when the arrangements for the search party were completed, Mrs Wade had a telephone message from Mr Sproul’s house, that the constable had been found at Mr Welsh’s house, eight mile's further on, Mr Sproul and some other settlers having returned from there, whither they had gone in search of the constable. It appears from what could be gathered by telephone that Constable Wade had, about midday on Tuesday, lost his way in the bush on Mr Welsh’s property, and only found his way back to the house late on Wednesday afternoon.