LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4, 9 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An assembly dance will be held in the Town Hall, Xgaere, to-night.

On the application of Mr Cecil Wright, Mr Kenrick, S.M., this morning granted a land agent’s license to Henry Alexander Wunsch, resident at Midhirst.

That the Puniwhakau district is first-class country is evident from the fact that Messrs W. G. Malone and H. B. Worthington have just received return for their first dfaft of 301 fat wethers, which netted £302 18s sxl.

An old woman, over sixty years of age, stepped into the fitness box of the Stratford Court this morning, and gave evidence in support of her claim against several of her sons for maintenance. Mr Kenrick, S.M., commented on the fast that plaintiff should have ten sons alive, and yet should have to take legal proceedings to keep herself from starvation.

Mr Harold Street, a well-known farmer, was seriously injured while hunting yesterday (states a Press Association message from New Plymouth). Ho had his skull fractured ■and sustained other injuries, and is now lying in the hospital, his condition being serious.

Five Ford cars imported by Mr L. Curtis for Stratford clients arrived here yesterday, and another one is expected shortly. This type of car is becoming very popular and seems to be well suited to the requirements of the district.

During the present year five comets are expected to make their reappearance. Holmes’ comet, which was last seen in 1892, will be the first to become visible. Next month the Encke visitor will be seen. Others, announced are Finlay’s, De Yico-E. Swift’s, and WeStphal’s.) The last named has not been seen for nearly sixty years, and is of unusual size.

At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr Kbhtick; ■ S.M., judgment by default was entered in the following cases:—J. Masters and Son (Mr T. C. Fookes) v. A. W. Birss, claim £3 4s 7d and costs 10s; Adaip Findlay (Mr Cecil Wright) v. John William Heal, claim £l3 14s 3d, and costs £l 17s od.

The local bowling season is closed for the season, and it is intended to institute a big working bee to effect improvements. It is hoped that members will combine enthusiastically, and get the work through in quick time. Those'who can start right in are requested to inform Mr G. Smart, who will arrange .for a • commencement.

For creating a disturbance in a railway carriage,. Andrew Cameron was at thb Stratford Court this morning fined £1 and costs, and on a further charge of breaking a window, was merely convicted. Sergeant McNeely stated that accused had at first fought in self defence, but had continued the fight unnecessarily. His Worship remarked that he would have made no line had he been satisfied that accused had contented himself with purely defensive tactics.

Elizabeth Clara Fitzsimons was the complainant in a maintenance case heard at the Stratford Court this morning, when orders were made against live of her sons as follows: Edward, Theodore, and Hugh Fitzsimons were each ordered to pay two shillings per week,. Joseph Fitzsimons four shillings, and Michael Henry Fitzsimons five shillings. A case against another of the complainant’s ten sons was adjourned, the summons not having been served. A singular letter has been received by a gentleman who holds an official position (says the Auckland Star.) It is from a mother, and addressed to her eon “under polite care” of the recipient. The letter furnishes a new idea of how to break bad news. The mother writes enclosing an extract from a letter which stated that her son “is at rest at present in the West End Cemetery, Phillipeburg.” The mother’s letter to her son states: “Whether this is true or not I cannot tell. I am writing this letter at a venture.” Inquiries made enabled the gentleman to satisfy the mother that her son is dead.

A charge of an unusual nature was preferred against the wife*of a local shopkeeper in the Stratford Court this morning, it being alleged against S. H. Moon that she did sell an air gnu to a youth under age. Defendant did not remember selling the gun, but would not swear that she had not done so. The evidence of the boy, however, was so emphatic that Mr Kenrick, S.M., inflicted a fine of 10s and costs. His Worship took into consideration the fact that defendant had sold the gnu in the business rush of Christmas Eve, and said she bad done quite right in not admitting the offence, since she bad no recollection of committing it. He also recommended that these guns'should only he sold by two persons in a shop. His Worship remarked that the seriousness of the offence of selling such weapons to boys should be impressed upon the salesmen or saleswomen in all establishments.

The townships “out East” still bear an unenviable reputation, though the advent of the railway lias wrought great changes. “What sort of a character has this man,” said Mr Kenrick, S.M., at the Court this morning, in a case where accused had put up a light in a railway carriage on the Toko line. “He’s had a few lights,” replied Sergeant McNoely. “I don’t wonder out there!” was Mr Kenrick’s comment.

The pea-rifle and the B.S.A. airgun were the subjects of condemnation by Mr Kenrick, S.M., at the Stratford Court to-day. Except in the matter of practice on miniature ranges, His Worship could not see that those weapons served any useful purpose, while, on the other hand, they were extreihcly dangerous weapons when in the hands of irresponsibles. He thought that the time had come when drastic legislation was required to put a stop to the indiscriminate use of such firearms.