LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 13, 21 May 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Cabinet met in Wellington yesterday, and passed accounts amounting to CIO,OOO to defray the cost of re-grassing Crown lands and assisting the Crown tenants who suffered by the fires in the North Island some months ago.—P.A.

The Stratford School will break up for the winter holidays on Friday next, May 23rd, re-assembling on June 2, the day before King’s birthday. The autumn holidays will bo from August 22 to September 1, and the summer holidays from December 19 to February 2, 1914.

Respite the inclemency of the weather on Monday night, about 20 members of the Stratford Operatic Society attended at the Parish Hall, when a very successful rehearsal was held.- This shows the deep interest the members take in their work, and augurs well for the coming production. An effort is being made to arrange for two practices weekly.

It is not very often. that legal authorities of over a century ago are quoted at the Supreme Court, but an instance in point occurred at the Auckland criminal session. During the hearing of a case in which a man was charged with a serious offence, Mr J. R. Heed, K.C., appearing for the prisoner, quoted a learned judge whose name has long since been only a memory. Mr Reed submitted that the views propounded by the learned judge in question were equally as applicable to-day as they were a hundred years ago- “Ho was no doubt a learned judge,” remarked his Honor (Mr Justice Cooper),, with a smile, “but we must remember that he believed in guilty witches, and sentenced them to death.” “That may be, your Honor,” responded Mr Reed, “but that was a very popular heresy in those days.”

It can hardly have escaped notice, says a writer of astronomical notes, that about last full moon period we had an unusually large amount of moonlight. A few days after the time of full moon the moon shone all night, and then remained visible in the western sky for a considerable part of the forenoon. The climax came on April 25th, when the moon rose at 7.53 p.m. on the following day having thus been above our horizon for IGhrs. 39min. out of the twentyfour hours. The reason for this is that the moon on that day was farther south than she has been at any time during the ‘last eighteen years. On May 9th she was nearly as far north, and we had the opposite extreme, namely, that she remained above our horizon for only Bhrs 20 mins, out of the twenty-four hours.

! The visiting committee of the Stratj lord School Committee are emphatic I in urging that the heating arrange- | moots of the school be improved imI mediately. At last night’s meeting of j the committee they reported that the ! stove pipe in the infant room is not j high enough, causing the stove to ! smoke. They urged that this matter |ho attended to at once. Other imI provements advocated were the covering of the school windows with rods to repel the attack of the invading football, and the asphalting or flooring of court yard attached to the infant department. It was decided to attend to the first two matters immedi-ately,-while an estimate be got for the third. The heavy rain on Monday was also found to have discovered a weak spot in the school roof, with the result that one of the lavatories became very damp on the walls and floor. It was also resolved that this matter also lie attended to at the I first opportunity. Stratford was yesterday accorded the privilege of witnessing, not a bull in a china shop, but a cow in a draper’s shop, when at about a quarter past live a specimen wandered into R. I). Lowers’ “Economic” on 1 a torn- of inspection. The errant one had ducked away from a herd, and was being chased up the street by the irate owner, when the instinct, of her sex probably induced her to turn to a draper’s shop to seek refuge among 'those tilings so dear to the feminine mind. She rushed in the doorway full tilt, and continued down the passage between the counters without disturbing any of the articles on display. Finally, her passage was barred by a. mirror, before which she paused to contemplate her reflection, and on which she bestowed an affeciinnate lick. At this evidence of her docile nature, the staff became reassured, and with the aid of the owner, succeeded in turning her round in a space about three feet wide without. overturning any of the many articles piled about, and tlien she was shown to tlio door.

Am amusing incident happened at the Kimbolton Police Court recently (says the Palmerston Standard). The Magistrate (Mr Boynton) was informed by a defendant that one of his employees (a cook) refused to take a half-holiday when it was offered to her, a i'd asked the S.M. what was the best thing to do with her. The S.M. replied: “Well, I think the best thing you can do with her is to put her in a glass case. She deserves to bo taken round for exhibition.”

Delicious cocoa, coffee, or chocolate, put up with the finest condensed milk by the famous house of Nestles, Ltd., is something that every household wants. Exactly how to prepare these refreshing beverages is now being demonstrated at Messrs J. Masters and Son’s, Broadway establishment, by Miss .Edmonds, who is specially delegated by the Nestles people to visit leading grocery stores in various centres to explain these important points. Despite inclement weather many people witnessed the process and sampled the beverages both yesterday and to-dav.

An extraordinary case of substitution was revealed in the Perth Police Court recently, when a Chinese, Kee King, was prosecuted for being unlawfully on the premises of a gaming bouse. The Magistrate, Mr Roe, said that the defendant's, solicitor had complained to him that when the rank and file of the gamblers appeared defendant hired a substitute to appear-for him. The substitute had been duly fined,' and paid the fine. That being so, he could not fine Hing again. Defendant’s solicitor explained that Kee Hing had attended the Court the previous day, but was taken ill, and engaged a substitute. Mr Roe said that he knew of his own knowledge that a Chinese could get a substitute to be decapitated provided be paid, enough money to bis wife and family.

It is claimed that the luck of the inebriate in avoiding accidents whilst “under the influence” is phenomenal, and an evidence of it was provided at Epsom the other evening. An Onehunga car stopped at the Royal Oak to let down a man who had been over-imbibing. The motorman watched him disembark in safety, and then started off again. As the tram got under way, the man fell against the side .of the car, and rolled right underneath. Fortunately the motorman heard the thud of the man’s fall, and pulled up with commendable promptitude. On dismounting, motorman and passengers rushed to the man’s assistance, to find that had another foot or two been covered the rear wheels must have passed over the prostrate body. As it was, the man escaped without injury.

A correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle has a brilliant idea. He considers that instead of travellers paying for the cost of transporting them there should he a railway tax of £1 5s per head for single men per annum, £1 per head for married men, 15s per head for women, 10s per head for youths aged 15 to 21, ss. per head for girls aged 15 to 21, children under 15 years of age free' if accompanied by parents or guardians. This would do away with the necessity for tickets, and, the writer asserts, provide sufficient revenue to make the lines pay.

When tire proposed visit of the battleship H.M.S. New Zealand on June 17 was being discussed at the meeting of the Stratford School Committee last evening, members receives! the matter in a rather pessimistic light. Weather conditions were not regarded as promising and the general opinion was that the day would have to he exceedingly calm to allow the children—pr any others—to go ■ on hoard. The battleship would have to anchor a good distance out, and the usual ground swell would make tendering a difficult, if not dangerous job. In view of this fact and also of Captain Halsey’s determination not to land any men unless the weather was extremely fine, the children’s chance of doing more than seeing the ship from the shore or being taken round in a steamer, were regarded as practically nil. Mr S. Clark, in referring to another matter, bearing on the same subject, stated that the Association football match authorities had received no communication for some time regarding the proposed match between Taranaki and the crew of the H.M.S. New Zealand, and were ignorant as to whether the- original intention was to be carried out. It was decided to call a special meeting a few days prior to the visit, to make special arrangements.

A rather startling “trade secret” is revealed by the writer of an article in The Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly. It seems that a motion picture may have one meaning in Britain and quite another in France, owing to the simple alteration of the title and the descriptive wording. The writer describes the production of a “risky” film in Italy and its adaption to British taste. “It was the old tale with three leading characters—the young wife, the old but devoted hubby, and the- good-looking heart-break-er,” ho writes. “In the story as presented the latter triumphed. Mr Censor would have had no hesitation in rejecting the film. But how changed % the aspect of the story became when the synopsis had been rewritten for its presentation in Britain with exactly the same setting. Nos. 1 and 2 became father and daughter, and No. 3 the adorer who could not obtain father’s consent.” Bennie who frequent picture entertainments will realise that this trick would not he difficult in the case of some of the continental dramatic pictures, which sellorn have a. really Healthy tone, even ivhen they are free of directly offonuivo suggestions,

z The well-known jumping horse, Haiere, owned by Mr Patterson, of Eaponga, fell and broke bis neck while at the game on Monday last.

On Friday next the annual prizegiving ceremony will take place at the Tuna School. Mr Robert Masters has kindly consented to perform the ceremony.

The sub-committee of the Stratford School Committee met after last night’s. meeting, and decided to repair the infant school courtyard witji- * t making application to the Board

A miraculous escape from being dashed to death happened to a manager at one of the Kaitangata coalmines a few days ago. He fell down the mipe shaft a distance of 550 feet. Fortunately, while falling, he grasped ho bell rope wih both hands and this served to keep him in a perpendicular position. He landed in a muddyspot, and was thus saved from fatal injuries, although his leg was broken •in two places and his hands were jagged to the bone by the rope as he slid down in his rapid descent.

Arrangements for' the Midhirst settiers picnic and sports to be held on the factory grounds, Midhirst, tomorrow, are well in hand, and there is every promise of an enjoyable day’s outing. Entries for several events have already closed, and they show that competition is going to be exceptionally keen. The committee have arranged that hot water, tea, milk, J and sugar will be supplied free. As a wind-mp, a dance will be held in the Town Hall in the evening. The first of a series of debates will be lie id .at tne liigmont Club this even--1 iug. As no . subject has been chosen yet, to-night’s debate will be an impromptu one, and occasion will, be taken to formulate a programme for tiled remainder of the series. These debates promise to be a very popular item in the Club’s attractions, a number of members having joined solely for the purpose of attending.

A choir social in connection with the Stratford Anglican Church was held in the Parish Hall last night, there being a fair attendance in spite of the inclement weather conditions. An enjoyable evening was spent by those present. During the social, a song was given by Miss Gladys Black, who was loudly applauded for her effort. Dancing was indulged in, Mr E. H. Kivell being M.O. Mr Bichardson, presided at the piano, Mrs Maunsell and Miss King playing the ex tras. A progressive euchre party was under the supervision of Miss King, the prizes being won by Mrs Prentis (first), and Master E. Black (booby). The social concluded a: twelve o’clock. .

An extraordinary spectacle was presented on the Wiliiamstown railway line on a recent Saturday at midday, when one of the trains was brought to a standstill through exhaustion of its coal supply. The incident caused serious dislocation of the traffic, involving, as it did, the missing of connecting trains, and was the cause of wonderment to a large and jeering crowd. The train was on its way from Wiliiamstown to Melbourne, and the stoppage took place at Footscray Junction. When, the train, with a loud gasp, came to a standstill, and remained motionless for some minutes, it was at first thought that something serious - had happened to the machinery. The signalman in charge of the nearest box waved and whistled; porters on the station ran along to find out the cause of the blockage: a crowd of people estimated at 1600 strong, gathered round; but when it became known that the cause of the whole trouble was the failure of the engine’s coal supply there was considerable laughter, “I thought our railways were the best managed in the world,” remarked one spectator, as he drew a graphic word picture of the plight passengers would have been in ,had they been held up similarly in some of the remote part, while the embarrassed engine crew were tendered various suggestions of the “got out and push” variety. But there was nothing for it hut to await the arrival of a dewn Wiliiamstown train, from which a share of its coal was shovelled into the hunker jpf the heldup. engine. With a few minutes fuither delay steam was got up, and the engine, once more in a condition oi usefulness, proceeded on its way, a shrill whistle being its farewell to those who had waxed so sarcastic at its helplessness.

The smile that lights the maiden’s eye, /j. The blush that dyes her cheek, The softness of her ruby lip In nature’s accents speak. But deadly cough kills smile or blush, It’s weapon keen nod sure; So bring the bright smile back again With Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.