LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 71, 29 July 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A shareholder caused sonic amusement at the Midhirjst dairy meeting yesterday by moving that no proxy forms for votes be allowed to be used unless accompanied, by a. medical certificate. , '

What is an interesting sidelight on events connected with the llennie murder at Papakaio in 1906 (states a Press Association wiie from" Oamnru) is tlie 1 finding by Mr Tomlinson of llennie's gold watch while ploughing on his property. It was known at the time that llennie had a gold watch and this, and a bicycle were the only articles missed. It will be remembered that some time after the murder, bathers in the Waitaki, neai Tomlinson's farm, recovered the bicycle, and although too far rusted to admit of certain identification, little (doubt was expressed that it was llennie's. Now after many years fuller evidence comes to light by the discovery of the watch, bearing the inscription, "Presented to J. Rennie, etc." With the watch was a revolver and 35 cartridges.

A "joint and several," which to very many is a fearsome thing—one man at the Stratford Dairy Co. meeting yesterday characterised it as "an abominable thing"—has no terrors for Mr A. Morton, chairman of the ftiglevrood Co-op. Dairy Co. He has signed them often and lies never "fallen in," so he told the meeting. "Perhaps," he said modestly, "it Was a matter of good luck, or" (and this with the dicker of a smile) "it was good management." As a tie (Mr Morton did not say of affection) between the shareholders and management, there was nothing stronger than a bank guarantee!

An accident of a somewhat serious nature, for at least one person, occurred at Tarata, on Friday evening, which must be put down primarily to the übiquitous motor car (reports the Tn.gleAvond Record). As Mrs E. Death wis driving home with three oilier ladies and some children in her trap the horse suddenly shied badly at a passing motor ear, and off

the road overturned the trap, with the result that one of the ladies, Mrs Drummond, had her jaw broken, and Mrs Death suffered an injury to her hack. The rest came out of the upset with only a heavy shake and r bruise or two. Mrs Death's accident, though painful, is not considered critical. Yesterday afternoon it was learned that Mrs Drummond was progressing satisfactorily.

"You don't know anything about it. It is a ridiculous idea of yours." —Sample of some of the repartee the chairman of the Stratford Dairy Co. quite cheerfully took on the point of the moment yesterday.

A very satisfactory state of affairs in the working of the Inglewood Co-op. ■ Bacon Factory was ■ disclosed by its chairman, Mr A. Morton, at the meeting of the Stratford Dairy Co. yesterday afternoon. Out of 4400 pigs dealt with only 39, or less than one per cent., were condemned. A Government

inspector was present at the slaughtering, so the statement is thoroughly reliable.

"What should prove a highly interesting game of football is to be played on the local showgrounds on Thursday afternoon, when A. and B. Taranaki teams will try conclusions. On paper the teams appear evenly matched, and a close contest should result.

The annual meeting of the Stratford Dairy Co. was most amusing at times, and ,some w'se and some, otherwise interjections punctuated the gathering with laughter. Here is one. Speaker: "I supply 20001bs of milk a day; then how much do 1 "' Interjection: "Calculate it up."' Speaker: "That's right; but shut up!"

Another successful euchre party under the auspices of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows was held in the Foresters' Hall last night, the ladies' prizes going to Misses L. Sole and D. Bowler, and the gentlemen's to Messrs E. Hassett and T. Lawson. An excellent supper was provided by Mrs Brooking.

"A happy family, indeed!". This was how Mr A. Morton, president of the National Dairy Association, and mi interested participator in ye&terday's meeting of the Stratford Dairy Co., summed up the position. "You hare reason to be so," lie added, "for you have had a good season, and _ the directors have done their best for ?J you. The small attendance is also, no doubt, another proof why you are so."

There was a large gathering of New Plymouth residents' at the oil-wells at' Moturoa yesterday to witness the formal opening of the recently-erected refinery, which has been erected at a cost of about £35,000. Mr C. Carter, chairman of the company pressided, and speeches were given by Messrs H. J. H. Okey, M.P., C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., G. W. Browne (Mayor of New Plymouth), and J. £. D. Henry (technical adviser to the ' company). After the speech-making Mr Okey performed the opening ceremony by turning on the oil 'from % filling machine into the tins, after which the public thoroughly inspected" the interesting plant.

, lb the discussion on' the' question m\ of : appointing a dairy ■•instructor 1 'for' h the district, to work Under : the' aus-'' pices of the Education Board and th« dairy companies, a speaker at the Stratford Dairy Company's meeting yesterday afternoon would have none of it. "In these days," he said, "we hftve the Agricultural Journal, which gives the information to the public. It is unnecessary to add an instrctor. ,|j | We all take the Journal." Anjnterr ¥ jeotor: "Yes, but the boys won't?read; m it." Another of a more practical turn of mind: "That doesn't matter; ■ they 'a go and milk the cows !"• ....'.

"Keep the cradle full" was the significant expression by a past popular politician who had a wonderful way with him in dealing with the people. Advice such as that is peculiarly human atfd not soon forgotten. Among tho believers in the cult is a dairy factory manager nigh unto Stratford, and verily he has reaped part of his reward. Among the expenses of the past year appearing in the balance-sheet of the- Stratford Dairy Co. yesterday was, according to the chairman, a sum for additions to the family residence due to the exigencies of Nature. "We should encourage the birthrate," was Mr Dingle's explanation of the item of expenditure, and the shareholders present smiled approvingly. t

The homely pig took up a good deal of the afternoon meeting of the Stratford Dairy Co. yesterday, and rooted from Her Majesty the Cow some of the honor of the day's proceedings. Just why all the pigs in this district arc not forwarded to a company that pays a farthing to a halfpenny more than its competitors was forcibly told by one who appeared to fancy himself as a first-class judge as well as a curer of pigs. His reason ran somewhat thus: "At home I have over a ton of bacon which I can sell at Is 2d per lb., but you give me in the flesh only 4J to sd. There is the difficulty," he shouted, amidst laughter. Then, with his fist, thumping the table right under the chairman's eye, he continued: "I will make the chairman of the dariy company a present of a ham of 401 b weight. And make no mistake!" . Renewing the ▼ attack later, the same speaker said to the chairman: "After you have eaten that ham, you will tell Mr that the Co-op. never knew how to cure a ham in the same way as this one was cured." (Laughter). "And when you tell him that," he concluded, "he will want to take shares in the Harris Factory!" That was the climax, and shortly after the meeting came to an end.

Last night Mr R. Jackson, who is in charge of the Electrical Supply Go's. Diesel plant, had one of his little *. fingers badly crushed while attending to a pump.

On Thursday a team from the Whakatika Club (New Plymouth) will play a friendly match with the Stratford girls' hockey team.

Is it a sign of the times? "I used to fear an inspector at one time," said a farmer at the Stratford Dairy Co's. "meeting yesterday afternoon, "but now I like to see one."

The Stratford Loan and Deposit Company, Limited, has advanced its rates of interest on fixed / deposits by one per cent, The rates, for the present, therefore, are: 6 per cent, for 12 months, 5 per cent, for 6 months, 4 per cent at call. < i

The Kissick brothers have intimated to the secretary of the Rugby Union (Mr P. Skoglund) that they will be tumble to play in any further football matches this season. They were picked for Thursday's match and will be much missed in that and in the interprovincial fixtures.

Preparations are well forward for the Fire Brigade social to be held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, and the committee are confident that the function, so far as they are concerned, will leave nothing to be desired.

Eltham will shortly possess a third motor garage (states the local paper). Mr C. A. Wilkinson is having one erected on his property, opposite the Argus office, which will be occupied on completion by Mr Blake, of Hawera. Mr F. Amoore, who has been entrusted with the work of erection, hopes to make a start on it about the end of this week, and he will then also commence the two-storied block at the corner of Bridge and High streets.

For a wonder, the Borough Inspector does not bulk at all largely in the list of cases set idoWfl for hearing at the Court on Friday, the only cases anting from breaches of the by-laws being two informations for driving without lights and one for allowing three cows to wander. The civil cases total twenty-one, five being defended. Three Territorial charges will be heard—two for failing to attend camp and one for failing to attend drill. A charge of using obscene language will also be heard.

Speaking in London last month, the Hon. T. Mackenzie recalled an impression of his first visit to Britain . twenty-four years ago. "I wandered about this city feeling most distressed,*' he said. "There was no one to talk to, and, instead .of staying a month or six weeks, I resolved to depart at once. On the morning of my departure another .visitor happened to breakfast at the, same table, and I was able to correct, ,for, him the time of a train which the waiter had wrongly given. 'Well,' he exclaimed, 'thanks to the Almighty that in this town I have heard the voice .of one human being that wiU address himself tome.' I told that I had endeavoured to speak to some people at the din-ner-table myself, and had received an Arctic breath from'one-end, and M Antarctic breath- from the other. '* Anctarctic breath from the other.'' Mr Mackenzie added that he went straight to America and in Washington the right hand of friendship was extended to him, and he was treated with the utmost kindness.

Mr A. H. Hesse, curator of the Wanganui Museum, paid Waverley a visit on'Wednesday last. In conversation with a Patea Press representative, Mr Hesse stated that the Wanganui Museum authorities were greatly interested in the recent find of Maori curios at the beach and were

desirous of prospecting the find. Apart * from this, he was anxious to thoro- " uglily prospect the district in the interests of his institution as he believed that some valuable curios yet awaited the man who was sufficiently energetic to look for them. Arrangements will no doubt he made to enable a representative of the Museum Officials to visit the locality among the sandhills in which these relics of the past occur.