LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 48, 25 February 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Australian statisticians arc waiting for the five millionth Australian. He is expected, to arrive about the beginning of next year. At the end of last year the population of the Commonwealth was then not much above 4,850,000.

A recent P.A. message in connection with the Girls’ College to be‘established under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church at Havelock North stated that the site was presented by Mr H. M. Campbell, M.P. This is not correct. The donor was Mr H. B. Campbell, of Breadalbane, Havelock North, a brother of Mr J. B. Campbell, stationmaster at Stratford.

The Eltham Argus says: A certain land transaction at Stratford has created a large amount of local interest, and if the facts are as stated will bo more than merely local. It is stated that the Government has purchased for £I2OO a section which, with improvements, stands on the books of the Stratford Borough Council at a valuation of £3OO. The lucky vendor who is being paid four times the price of the Government valuation of the land is said to be a whole-hearted supporter of the Massey Government and was at one time a member of the House.”

One of the most interesting of modern scientific experiments was started the other day at the College of Physicians, New York, when a lot of young women were hired at a dollar a day to blow their breath into bottles. When a representative of the laboratories went to the Municipal Lodging House to get recruits, he explained that the women were wanted in connection with experiments in sick-room ventilation. They were to breathe into bottles imbedded in refrigerators. The .Auckland Star correspondent states that the condensed vapour is to be analysed in an effort to learn how to improve atmospheric conditions of hospitals.

The Socialist Mayor of Puteaux, a commune jus outside Paris, as enjoined that, “in consideration of the fact that the increasing augumentation (sic) of licensed houses is o>.e of the most important factors in the development of alcoholism, it is forbidden in the Commune of Puteaux to open new bars within 400 yards, three feet two and a half inches of ary edifice consecrated to the cult whatsoever—such as cemeteries, workhouses, schools, churches, and colleges. r i be prescribed distance will he calculated as the crow flies from any of the four walls of the building in question.”

The good folk of Puteaux are grumbling (says the Telegraph’s Paris correspondent) at the thought of a dry and thirsty commune, in which it is possible to fine oneself stranded four hundred yards, three feet, two and a half inches from the nearest drink.

The Japanese have a profound respect for their dead. An instance of this reverence was given in a letter which the president of the Marine Board of South Australia (Mr Arthur Searcy) has received from Admiral S. Tochinai, who is in command of the Japanese squadron now visiting t'e Commonwealth. The Admiral, who was a lieutenant on a Japanese man-o -war that visited South Australia in 183/, wrote: “Under kind advice of Captain J. H. I). Davidson, 1 venture t) approach you to ask your kindness and sympathy in taking the trouble of placing a wreath before the grave of the late I.J.N. Cadet Y. Kawakami, who lies in the cemetery at Port Adelaide. Mr Kawakami was my oke-s and shipmate in H.T.J.M.S. Binjo, which called at Port Adelaide in May, of 1887. He died in the Indian Ocean and his body was taken to Port Adelaide, and there buried. Subsequently the grave was visited by a number of our squadron in 1903, and since 1 suppose there have been no Japanese visitors. 1 was very anxious to go to Tort Adelaide this time, but press of business precluded me from arrang-j ing to travel so far, and this brings the matter of asking your favour in assisting me in placing a wreath, for which expense please find money order, value one guinea. Sly squadron sails immediately for Hobart, and thence to Sydney,-where 1 will expect to hear from you.” Admiral Tochinai’s request lias been complied with by Mr Searcy. The neatest little Shopping Bag is the Japanese Dorothy, Is 6d; Is 9d, 2s. Charles E. James, Broadway, x

Mr Newton King’s Stratford house has just 'completed the fulfilment of an order for 1000 Jersey and Holstein weanors, which was placed with them a few days ago by a prominent Palmerston North and Waikato breeder, and this morning the last lot of forty trucks which were required to transport this big consignment of young cattle was dispatched. Taken all round, the youngsters are a very fine lot, and a credit to the stockgrowing capabilities of Wf;s district.

What is the duty of a citizen who einspects another of breaking the law? This question was emphatically ans-

wered by Mr Justice Edwards, at the Supreme Court in Auckland on Tuesday. A witness in an indecent

assault case was being cross-examined by the prisoner. “What made you tell the constable about me? Why didn’t you speak to me yourself?” asked the prisoner. “Because I thought it was my duty to tell the police,” said the witness. “And the witness was perfectly right,” commented his Honor. “Ho suspected you of doing wrong, and lie told a policeman about it. That was absolutely the right course to adopt.”

Colonel Bates, auditor-general for the Salvation Army, is leaving London on February 23rd, on route to Australia and New Zealand, y He will make Melbourne bis first halting place prior to coming to Wellington. Matters affecting the final adjustment of the finances as hitherto obtaining between New Zealand and Australia will occupy the auditor-general’s time.. Colonel Hammond, who left London for Australia and New Zealand on January 3rd, has arrived in Melbourne. He will make a special inspection of the varied and numerous social institutions throughout the Commonwealth, and then come on to the dominion and discharge a similar duty.

One afternoon recently a demonstration was given in a stable yard in Tuam street, Christchurch, of a new flyrkiller, the discovery of a local resident. A Lyttelton Times reporter who was present was shown a large heap of manure in which it is known that Hies lay their eggs. One half of the heap was covered with sacking, and when this was removed the heap was seen to be a mass of grubs and small flies. It was literally alive. The other half of the heap had been treated with a liquid exterminator 24 hours previously, and millions'of dead grubs and flies were to be seen. A stall of the stable which had also been treated was practically clear of flies, but there were little heaps of dead flies on the floor. it was stated that the flies were really attracted by the liquid. It is the intention of those interested to make the stable clear of flies as a demonstration of the efficacy of their invention.

Exactly what position a woman in England holds to-day is rather difficult to determine, according to Miss Margaret Hodge, a suffragette, who is now on a visit .to New Zealand with a view to gaining knowledge advantageous to tho cause in England, In Auckland the other evening, she said that one Magistrate had decided that women were not “persons.” Another, in forbidding them entrance to a law court, had held that women were not “the public.” Mr Asquith, in refusing to accept deputations and petitions, affirms that they are not “subjects to the King.”- A clergyman recently called the suffragettes “objectionable bipeds,” remarked the speaker, amid laughter. “And until we can obtain other terms, I suppose the women of England must be content to remain ‘bipeds’ for some time to come!”

The Star says: A letter received in Auckland states that a very large sum, estimated to mount to over five millions sterling, has been lost to producers of oranges and lemons, and also shippers and railway companies, through a disastrous frost in Southern California, which lasted ofr four nights, in the early part of last month. The yield of lemons from that part of the world this season will be practically nil, and that of oranges will probably be 50 per cent below normal. But' for the unprecedented frost referred to, this season’s citrus crop in Southern California was anticipated to prove the largest on record, probably in value considerably in excess of ten millions sterling. It must nob be thought that; no steps were taken to combat the frosty visitation. Every device known to science was adopted, but all in vain, owing to the exceptionally low temperature, 1 which was a record for the last thirty years.

That enterprising firm of land agents, Messrs C. and E. Jackson, often offer the public great snips and rare bargains. Yesterday they offered a rare chance in the form of a nice little cottage home in town. The property was all right, the price was all right, and the chance was evidently such a rare one that it completely staggered a portion of our mechanical staff, and by some mischance a reference to the early bird and the worm and the cottage, as well as to the suffragettes, got so hopelessly mixed that the only plain fact deduct lie was that Messrs Jackson Bros, had something good to sell. To-day, however, the matter is made * plain, that he who runs may read. Over forty members and friends of the tSratford Oddfellows’ Lodge wore engaged in a euchre tournament in the Forresters’ Hall last evening. The ladies’ prize was won by Sister Moroney, who generously donated the prize for future competition. Mrs McLean, Miss Henry, and Sister Lawson tied for second place, but in the plat-off the first named was successful. Bro. H. Voylo beat Bro. Davis in the play-off for the gentleman’s prize. An excellent supper was provided by Mrs Brooking, and , afterwards a dance w r as held, Mr A. Richardson supplying the music, and Mrs Bianchi playing the extras.