LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 44, 20 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Napier reports a sharp double shock of earthquake at 1.50 this morning.

Inglewood is disporting, 'itself at Ngaire to-day, a big Friendly Societies’ special train having taken a few hundred pleasure-seekers to the little township.

The meeting of creditors in re the bankrupt estate of Derby Bros., sawmillers, is reported on page 3. Stratford. County Council appears on the same page. Racing news on page 2.

Eltham must be a “deserted village” to-day. Seven hundred and thirty holiday-makers left the place this morning for the annual picnic held this year at Waitara.

A Press Association telegram states] that 10,302 acres Jn the Shernden estate, Hawke’s Bay, will be placed on the market next week for selection. Applicants must appear personally before the Land Board at Napier on the 25th inst.

The sum of £2OOO is outstanding in rates due to the Stratford County Council. All rates outstanding after March 31st will be sued for without further notice. /

The monthly, cheques distributed by northern dairy factories are:—Moa Co-operative Dairy Company, £5119; Mangorei, £3720; Maketawa, £1,573; Lepperton, £1023; Tariki, £939; Kaimata, £856; Tarata, £537. The Inglewood Record is the compiler of these interesting figures.

A very large gathering of Maoris is being held this week in Raglan, when a number of ceremonial rites in connection with the “coronation” of the new “King” Te Rata, who succeeded to his father’s title, are to be observed. It was expected that over a thousand would be present.

A Melbourne cablegram states that a married woman was fined £lO and £8 8s costs for obtaining a maternity bonus by a false statement, and forging the name of the nurse who was alleged to have attended the confinement. It is the first case of the kind in (Australia.

The Stratford Druids have a committee at work for the purpose of arranging the lodge socials to be held during the coming season. A notification will be made shortly. It is understood the socials will be on the invitation principle, and the dates will be fixed a fortnight or so ahead as the dancing season proceeds.

After carefully considering the claims of sites at Stanley road, near Midhirst, and at Huiroa, Professor Speight and Mr Fedcrowicz have advised the Consolidated Oilfields of New Zealand (the company of which Mr Nicholls was the promoter), to put down their first bore at the Huiroa site. In both places favourable indications of oil were found.

The Caledonian sports at Napier yesterdaj* were held under most favorable conditions, and there was a record attendance. The principal events resulted ;—l2oyds and 220yds flat, Mexted; 440yds, C. Hartshorn ; halfmile, C. Boyd; mile, V. Carroll; mile bicycle, A. Robinson; two-mile bicycle, P. Griffen; wrestling, Thompson, Hansen, and Caescrley; dancing, McKechcnit and T. McKenzie; pipe music, McCartney.—P.A.

A settler in the Aotea district (states the Kawhia Settler) reports the ravages made by a small moth on the well-known bush shrub, commonly called “the lawyer”—so named, possibly, from the relentless character of its clutches. The bush-clearing is its favourite habitat, and considerable losses of woolly lambs and overgrown sheep are placed to its account, so that anything to destroy the pest will bo welcomed. Observation showed long fronds of the plant quite dead, with others in a moribund condition, while the shrub generally revealed signs of sickness and decay. A specimen of the moth is to be forwarded to the Agricultural Department for identification.

The Midhirst Gun Club conducted a very successful “shoot” yesterday, when there were twenty-four entries received for a £ls sixteen bird competition. Whittle, of New Plymouth, annexed the £lO prize with a record of fourteen birds, Marsh and Woolven ticing for second place with twelve birds, the latter winning in the shootoff. A six-bird sweepstake was won by Murray Fowler with a possible. Secretary Seabright is to be congratulated on the excellence of the arrangements, and the general success of the meeting. Mr W. J. Hamblyn carried out his duties of handicapper with satisfaction to all concerned. Women as a rule are the most consistent tea drinkers, and the multiplication of tea rooms and tea kiosks throughout the Dominion affords striking evidence of the increasing popularity of tea. The women of New Zealand may be classed as connoisseurs, as they show a decided preference for Crescent Tea, which is rich and strong and of delicious flavour. Sold by all orrocers at 2s, Is lOd, and Is Sd per lb. »

A reminder is given of the concert to be held this evening at the Manse, Regan Street West, in aid of the Church funds. An excellent pro- - gramme of vocal and instrumental ! music, etc., has been arranged. The - lawn will he illuminated for the occa--1 sion. Should the weather prove un- : favourable the concert will take place > in the Forester’s Hall.

“King” O’Malley, Federal Minister of Home Affairs, in receiving a deputation of unemployed in Melbourne, denounced the State Immigration policy, and said (according to a gram to-day) that it ought to be stopped because the labor market was overcrowded. He characterised the policy as “political cannibalism.” The tennis match between Stratford B .and St. Andrew’s has been cancelled, the former club being unable to raise a team. Several of the New Plymouth team, which plays Stratford A. to-day, arrived in town by the mail train. This fixture has usually suffered through inclement weather, but on this occasion the fates seem to have been more gracious. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Stratford Druids Bro. E. I). Evans, who represented the local branch at the Grand Lodge meeting at Marton last week, gave a comprehensive report of the proceedings. Several important amendments have been made |to the Society’s rules, wjiich, it is J considered, will improve the working j of the Order, and at the same time j increase the privileges of membership.