LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 55, 6 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

‘(Does an innocent bigamy constitute adultery?” was the question put to counsel by Mr Justice Denniston in a. divorce case in the Christchurch Supreme Court on Thursday. His Honor said the jury had found the re- 1 spondent “Not guilty” of bigamy, but, of course, the jury’s finding did not bind him in a divorce case.

Saturday was established as the statutory half-holiday at Waverley last week, and a majority of the shopkeepers'are said to express themselves sat isfied that the change will prove a good one.

The contractor, Mr J. Martin, now has the addition to the New Zealand ■Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.’s store in Regan street well in hand. He has received the heavy timber from the Main Trunk, nd is getting along rapidly with the structure. The additions were rendered necessary owing to the large increase in the company’s business, especially in the wooi and hide department.

It is not always a few grains of rici that betray the newly-married. “There is a honeymoon couple,” remarked i. railway platform habitue last night, and instantly all eyes were focussed 1 on a pair sitting in the corner of one of the carriages of the south bound train. It didn’t need a Sherlock Holmes to pick them, either, for the reason that the bridegroom was wearing a bow tie, very new and very white.

As showing what a fine art cargo broaching has come to, a Palmerston North business man told a Manawatv. Standard reporter of the circumstance! by which he had been victimised by these thieves. He happened to indent a supply of copper vases and kettles. The goods duly arrived at the port, the shipment comprising 14 cases in all. As regards broached goods, the custom is, if the case should show indications of having been tampered with, immediately to return it to the agents in New Zealand, thus refusing to take delivery. In this case the cases were bound with hoop iron and everything appeared intact. But on opening the case the shopman got a rude awakening, for he found his shipment gone, with the exception of one article . Closer investigation revealed that the nails had been skilfully prized out, and the hoop iron pulled over the end. A 9in. plank had been gently forced. Inside the case the articles had been packed in a carbboard box 20in. by 9in., and the waterproof covering was folded from the centre to the side of the case. The broacher after raising the plank had evidently cut the covering, and gradually removed the contents. Finger stains of a dirty oily appearance were all over the inside boards and paper. The fact that out of sixteen cases in the consignment—l 4 containing ironmongery and two fancy goods—the latter only were broached, gives rise to the impression that those responsible were people who had knowledge of the contents of the case.

“Wireless stations in Australasia send no newspaper news to the ships that are at sea,” an officer on the oversea liner Waimana, which arrived at Dunedin on Saturday from London via Capetown and Sydney, told a newspaper reporter who was inquiring where and whence this outward-bound steamer (which is fitted with wireless) first heard of the Antarctic tragedy. The officer said the news' was received when the vessel was within a certain distance of Melbourne, and it was when he was asked whether a wireless station at the port mentioned had despatched the sad news seaward that the officer explained how land stations in the southern latitudes do not supply ships at sea with the news of the day. A vessel about *IOO miles distant informed the people on the Waimana of the South Pole tragedy. The officer said that wireless stations supply news to ships in northern latitudes. Up quoted the case of the Poldliu wireless station in Cornwall, England, from which every night at 10 o’clock the day’s news is sent into the ether seawards, and every ship within a very wide radius that “hath ears to hear” in the shape of wireless equipment learns amid the veiled solitudes of the distant seas what are the world-wide happenings in the busy haunts of men. Perhaps the news was being despatched to the American press, hut, if it were, neither the English senders nor the American receivers would be any the worse for shaving their news with the men of the sea.

A favourite mode of suicide among the African tribes who dwell near Lako Nyassa is to wade into the lake and calmly wait for a crocodile to eat them up. Asked why lie was having a party his house, the host replied in a ntage whisper: “Don’t mention it, but I is the tenth anniversary of my wife’s- 1 dotn birthday.”

The largest bush fire seen for some time in the immediate vicinity of To Awamutu was witnessed on Saturday and Sunday nights when bush at Hairim was burned, says the Waipa I’ost.

It is reported that the earthquake at Westport surprised a man in his bath. He did not remain to get even his clothes, but lied outside, and it Avas some time before he could be persuaded to enter the house again.

A Mangaweka resident who had been unsuccessful in twenty-three draws for Government sections, struck it luckily through his wife, who put in for the 24th draw, and was successful in drawing No. 24 section.

A Swedish doctor claims to have covered a process of changing milk into a line floAver that afterwards, through solution in a sufficient quantity of Avater, may again be transformed into true milk, Avith all its alimentary qualities.

A half-caste known as Jack Fox died at Whakatano from the effects of eating wild honey. The condition of two other natives, who had also partaken of the honey, caused considerable anxiety, but under medical treatment they pulled through.

A Church Army collecting box which is displayed in a village post office in Kent was found the other day to bo heavy' with coppers contributed by an old woman living in the almshouse opposite. She put in a penny as a thankoffering every time she cam ■! to draw her old age pension.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. P Kirkwood stated that he was no ■ this morning at. the New Plymout ratepayers polling so heavily in favour of their £90,000 loan, the reason being, of course, that the action

the northern residents must influence local ratepayers in their treatment of the Stratford loan proposals. Mr Kirkwood) expressed his satisfaction more sanguine as to the success of the street improvement loan, the water and drainage proposals having had a good chance from the first of being carried. “Apathy,'” added Mr Kirkwood,” is the only thing we will have to fight against.”

Cheap lines in horses on 1 Saturday; weary looking animals cordd be led home for a few bob; unbroken ponies went cheap. Why not open up a continental trade in horseflesh, seeing the opportunity has been offered, asks the Opunake Times. At the present time old bulls are bringing a price in the sale yards equal to prime beef. It is said the bull beef is shipped as boneless meat to Glasgow, and many “cockigs” here speculate as to this particular export to Glasgow. Perhaps it is taking the place of porridge in the Highlands, being the next best sustenation for blowing the bagpipes or dancing the Highland Fling. If likewise old horses can find a ready market on the continent as a side line to saur kraut or compote de frogJStt would be a paying prospect, a good outlet for weary, worn and sad horses. Indeed, it would be a delightful haven to “go dowm” as sausage paloney.

The recent earthquake in Westport must have been rather alarming while it lasted. A private letter received in Blenheim from a lady resident of Westport contains the following extract : “Every few minutes there are earthquakes, and I feel so ill since Saturday that I can hardly walk about. I don’t know where they are coming from; it seems to be from sea. They come just like a thunderbolt, and the house and ground shake terribly. We will never forget the one on Saturday. Everyone collapsed. Women and children screamed with fright, and some i could not stand up. People were afraid to go to bed for two nights, as the ‘shakes’ occurred every few minutes, and chimneys were flying ‘all roads.’ The new post office is badly shaken, and the school is not safe for the children to be in. Animals were terrified. Fowls ran for shelter, and horses bolted. Additional services were held in tho churches, and people were to be seen praying in the streets.” ' . . Y

Tho district visit of officers of tho Taranaki District to the Eltham Oddfellows’ Lodge took place last evening, the visiting officers being Bro. P.G.M. Snowdon, D.P.G.M. Bro. Mountford, and Corresponding Secretary Bro. Bellringer, while representatives from the Druids, Foresters, Hibernians, Snowflake, and Orange Lodges were also present, including a party of twelve from Stratford. At tho Lodge meeting, N.G. Bro. Roxburgh presided, and after the official business had been disposed of, an adjournment was made to Reilly’s tea rooms, where about fifty or sixty ladies and gentlemen sat down to a tasty supper, followed by a soeial. P.G. Bro. Amoore carried outvie duties of Chairman with consummate skill and tact. Songs were rendered by Rev. Dent, and Messrs Coomhridge, Walters and Andrews, and recitation by Messrs. Coffey, and Parrott. A long list was gone through, enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” The district officers pay their visit to the Loyal Stratford Lodge on Monday next, when they will he entertained in a similar manner. A number of Eltham brethren have signified their intention of being present.

The Waverley correspondent of the Patea Press writes:—The general concensus of opinion seems to bo that the Saturday half-holiday was a mistake. Most of the business people complain of a shortage of takings on the Saturday, which has not been made up by either Friday’s or Monday’s receipts.

The president of the Stratford Acclimatisation Society (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) has received a telegram from the authorities in reply to yesterday’s wire, stating that if the

society applies for an open season lu.der section 26 of the Animals Pro- ' tection Act, the request will be granted. Otherwise, the season will remain closed as usual.

Lord Roberts, presiding at a lecture on regimental bands at Queen PI nil, by Lieutenant J. Mackenzie Rogan, bandmaster of the Coldstream Guards, said he had seen men weary, worn out with fatigue, hot ,and covered with dust, brighten up the moment the drum was tapped. Music had the greatest effect on men, and he would deeply regret any measure on the score of economy by which the bands would be taken from the regiments.

The non-existence of a caretakei at the Stratford Mountain House is likely to seriously interfere with the construction of the telephone line to our hostelry. Mr Lye, assistantengineer of the Telegraphic Department, was in town yesterday, and stated that the line would be proceeded with as far as the creamery on the Pembroke Road, but would not be taken to the Mountain House until a caretaker was established there.

By overwhelming majorities the polls taken at New Plymouth yesterday in connection with the proposals to expend £55,000 for tramways and £42,000 for street improvements and water extensions were carried. The figures were: Tramways, 985 in favour, 187 against; street and water, 961 in favour, and 202 against.

Mr J. B. Hino, M.P., has received the following message from the Hon. Mr ' Fraser, Minister for Public Works:—“ln further reply to your representation, arrangements have been made to send another locomotive to run the goods service to Whanghmomona whilst the present engine is undergoing repairs.”

r After a hearing lasting seventy-one days, the arbitration between the National Telephone Company and the Postmaster-General arising out of the transfer of the telephone system to the State, has concluded (says the Johannesburg Post). The proceedings began in June last. _ The original amount claimed by the company was nearly £21,000,000,. probably the largest claim ever heard in the law courts. There have been intermediate agreements between the parties during the hearing covering several millions, leaving the amount still in dispute about £8,000,000 for plant, etc., upon which the €01114; will make an award. Naturally, a matter demanding such a prolonged investigation has produced abnormal statistics. The official shorthand writers’ notes have been transcribed and printed in quarto volumes, which exceed 5000 pages. The costs of the arbitration, as closely as can be estimated, accumulated during the hearing at the rate of £3OO an hour, which gives a total of £106,500. The inventory of the company’s property, the preparation of which occupied 800 skilled men for 18 months, cost £250,000. Printing and taking of shorthand notes cost £3OOO. This raises the total to approximately £359,500.