LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Interesting articles appear on our outside pages to-day. “Spring Cleaning” particularly affects licensed victuallers, and was a subject dealt with at the meeting of the licensing committee. It will be found on page 2. “Alleged Watering Milk”, on page 3, refers to a libel case heard at the New Plymouth Supreme Court.

On Thursday next the Tariki Horticultural Society will hold its tenth annual show. Good support is generally extended to this fixture by Stratford people, who are reminded that entries close on Monday next, March 10th. The ordinary meeting of the Stratford Borough Council will be held on Monday evening; business to be dealt with is embodied in the official “general.” An unusual mishap occurred to a farmer this morning, the tyre of one of the wheels of his milk cart parting company with the vehicle. Two other suppliers came to his assistance, and between them the milk safely reached the factory.

The Stratford Licensing Committee met yesterday, when Mr Kenrick, S.M., presided over a full attendance of members. In the case of the Tajik! Hotel, a permanent transfer from James O’Connell (Mr Stanford) to 'Andrew Robinson was granted, and a similar course was taken with the application of Annie Abbott (Mr Rutherford), executrix in the estate of the late William Abbott, being permanent transfer to herself.

Many people think it is an easy matter to discover if water has been added to milk. The evidence of Dr. McLaurin, the Government Analyst, in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth on Thursday showed that this is not the case (states the Herald). The only trustworthy method, he declared, depended on the fact that pure cow’s milk froze at a slightly lower temperature than milk with water added. Thus pure water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and pure cow’s milk at about 31 degrees.' If, then, a sample of suspected milk is found to freeze at a temperature between 31 and 32 degrees, it is a proof that water has been added. Needless to say, it takes a skilled chemist with proper apparatus to carry out this test.

Says the Tapanui Courier : Talking to a 50-year resident lately, the subject of grass burning came up. “Yes,” he said, “Vincent Pyke warned them when they .started to fire the tussock that they would ruin the country, and they did. Crass! Why, you couldn’t find horses in the tussocks that grew up the Mannherikia-Dunstan flat—that is, if they were lying down. You had to sing out to make them raise their heads. Even on the Knobby tops you would get wet above the waist in the tussocks on a dewy morning, and those tussocks held the moisture, hence the big water supplies we used to have. Oh, yes! the men who burned the tussocks did incalculable harm to Central Otago,” and that must be the verdict of everyone who remembers the grassy days o’ auld king syne.

The characteristics of Ceylon Tea are robustness, flavour and strength, the liquor being very palatable, and having a fine silky texture. Crescent Tea combines, in a happy degree, these characteristics. The blending is carried out by an expert, with the result that no characteristic is pronounced enough to weary the palate. Sold by all storekeepers at 2s, Is lOd, and Is Sd per lb. K

The well-known horse, Zanzibar, secured two firsts and a championship at the Cambridge Show. The first award for loaf of homemade white bread at the Stratford Horticultural Society’s Show was gainod by Mrs W. H. Rutledge, of Mid- ' hirst, not Mrs Partridge, as stated yesterday. A unique link uniting the workers , of the world came to light to-day inf* the Stratford Evening Post office, when a roll of printing paper was being got ready for the press. This was a piece of cheese from the Dominion of Canada, the address being “Laurentide Paper Co., Grandmere, P.Q., Canada.” “I guess,” said one of the hoys, “that there paperman ’ill be a goldarned long time finishin that lunch—eh—wat J”

“Progress,” that excellent publication devoted to the interests of industry, architecture, science, engineering, inventions, and the home, this month features “Beautiful Taranaki.” The illustrations are of decided merit, notably several photographs by Mr ” Frank Messenger, of New Plymouth. The beauty spots of the province are faithfully depicted, while the reading matter is comprehensive and interesting.

The points prizes for the Stratford Horticultural Society’s annual show, which concluded yesterday are :—Pot plants, Mrs Reader ; cut flowers, F. Arden, 1, P. Thomson 2; novice dahlia, Mrs Lawrence; sweet pea cup, G. T. James ; decorative, Mrs Reader 1, Mrs Arden 2; children’s points prize, Ellen Mori son; fruit, Mrs Kirkpatrick; farm produce, G. H. Boyles 1, F. Copestake 2; vegetables and pota- * toes, G. H. Boyles; cookery, Mrs , James 1, and Mrs Middleton 2. Tragedy and a noble deed are wrapped up in a miniature flag which has been presented to the Christchurch Museum (says the Christchurch Press). It is a New Zealand ensign with the Union Jack and the Southern Cross, and it measures only two inches by three. Despite its size, it will prove a source of interest for many a year to come. Briefly, it has been to thjM South. Pole, and a dead man kept his promise. When Dr. Wilson, of aCptain Scott’s ill-fated Polar party, left Lyttelton some two years ago for the Antarctic regions, Miss Anne W.

Hardy, of Rakaia, placed in his hands a miniature flag of New Zealand, i with' the request that if Hr. Wilson formed one of the Polar party he would take the little flag with him. This Dr. Wilson did, and the flag was found on his dead body when discovered. t It was brought back by the relief party, and returned to Miss Hardy by Mrs, Wilson, the dead explorer’s wife, and by Miss Hardy presented to the museum. Right through yesterday there were very fair attendances at the Stratford Horticultural Society’s annual show} and visitors were - very well pleased with the excellent display made. In our issue of yesterday we inadvertently stated that in the eighteen cactus dahlias class Mr F. Davis was second and Mrs Petrie first. The positions should have, been reversed. The dahlias, by the way, were perhaps the finest collection ever shown here, and it is gratifying to note that the novice classes were filled with such exceptionally well grown blooms. This was especially the case with Mrs Lawrence’s exhibit, which carried off premier honours. Horticulturalists expressed admiration for a remarkably well-grown collection of Salpiglossis grown by Mrs A. J. Walters, of Opunake Road. In both the afternoon and the evening, Mr Rogers’ orchestra dispensed an enjoyable musical programme, and afternoon tea and supper were provided during the day by the ladies’ committee.

The Waitara Mail records an adventure of a local resident. Master Leslie Sampson (eldest son of Mr W. Sampson) was the victim of an 1 unpleasant experience on Thursday night. He was proceeding to his home along Queen street, and, when almost opposite the power-house he was grabbed from behind. A hand was placed over his mouth, and his assailant then carried him into the centre of the road, where ho gently sat on him still keeping his hand on his mouth. “Les.” carried the usual office-boy’s bunch of keys, and these iseemed to be the object of the assault, but the lad was not going to “die” without a struggle, and he clung tenaciously to the keyring. After a bit of a mix-up, during which his key-chain broke, “Les” managed to find his voice and he call#3 lustily for help. The ruffian realising that the game was not worth the candle, immediately released his “prey” and fled, leaving the boy with a few marks on the face, but otherwise unhurt. When Mr Sampson was informed he made a good search for the man, but without avail. Constable La Pouple happened to be away at Ureuui at the time, or the miscreant would probably have had to answer for his act to-day.

“See that man over there,” said the man in a tramcar, pointing to a wan faced fellow traveller, young yet bent almost double. “Well, I was like that only a year ago—bent Rheumatism and racked with Sciatica. Now look at me—l’ve not a trace of the old trouble. I’m quite hale and hearty—thanks to RHEUMO. I tried scores of things before RHEU* MO, hut they did me no good. 'lt over yon get Rheumatism, Lumbago, RHEUMO will cure yd|(. Thousands testify to the wondemil qualities of RHEUMO. It removes the cause of the trouble; drives the uric acid from the system, and brings relief and cure.” Of all chemists and stores, 2s 6d and 4s 6d. 49 Quite new and nice is the Japanese Dorothy Bag, Is 6d, Is 9d, 2s. Charles E. James, Broadway. I