LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 74, 1 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A public hall was opened at Tat in the Ohura district, an July 18.

According to the Ohura Advocate, Mr Lari vin, Government Surveyor, has lately discovered a good seam of metal near the Mangaroa-Okau Road.

As a result of 'a deputation that waited on the Premier at the time oi his visit to Ohura, an officer of the Telegraph Department last week inspected the route of the proposed telephone line between Tatu and Tahora, which, if erected, will connect Ohura with Stratford and greatly facilitate and increase the business transacted between these two centres.

The Stratford factory and cream eries at Skinner Road, Toko, Gordoi Road, and Toko Road will commend the season on Monday.

A locally-owned cab, commencing the journey to Eltham yesterday with a. number of footballers, met with a mishap in lower Broadway. The horses attached to the vehicle took fright at a traction engine and shied into a telegraph post, which bore evidence of the collision, but the »cab came off second best, the pole being smashed and the splash board damaged. Perhaps it was well that the telegraph post was where it was, otherwise the turn-out would certainly have gone over into the hollow on the Broadway side of the railway bridge.

In connection with their social last night the Fire Brigade desire to express thanks to Mrs liianchi for the donation of lbs, and to Mrs Brooking for the free use of crockery, tablecloths, etc., and for a donation of 10s.

A proposal to raise a loan cf £IO,OOO for the erection of a Municipal Opera House will lie submitted to the ratepayers of Hawera. The Mayor, at a meeting on Wednesday evening, pointed out that the proposal did not originate in the Council, hut was being put before ratepayers at the request of

those who desired it. Hawera, by the way, is also submitting a proposal to raise a loan of £30,000 for street improvements.

Tlie necessity for having sittings of the Supreme Court in Hawera was brought under the notice of the Ha-w-ora Borough Council at a special meeting on Wednesday evening. The Mayor (Mr A. W. Gillies) moved the following resolution: “That the Hawera Borough Council urge the Gov-

ernment to hold sittings of the Supreme Court at Hawera when required, especial attention being drawn to tlie fact that the Magistrate in Hawera lias only a limited jurisdiction and that great expense and trouble is caused to the people of this town and district by having to attend sessions held at Xew Plymouth.”

Special attention is being given bv the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to the work amongst the young. They have appointed a suitable young man to take charge o'f this work. Their choice fell on Mr Fraser Barton, a student ol Knox College, Dunedin, a, man of singular gifts and piety. Mr Barton is visiting Stratford this week, and will preach in the St. Andrew’s Chuicm on Sabbath morning and eveniug, and conduct a young jieojile’s meeting in the St. Andrew’s hall in the afternoon.

I started smoking 70 years ago come next November, so I should know something about tobacco,” an old sea captain said to a Dunedin Star shipping reporter the other day, when the merits and demerits of various brands of tobacco were discussd. The date mentioned would be the seventieth anniversary of the captain’s first going to sea as an apprentice. Part of a sea apprentice’s duty in those days was to light the mate’s pipe when that officer wished to seek happiness in smoke at night time. In the case in question the mate’s pipe liad to he relighted as often as six times in one watch, and it was in carrying out that duty the apprentice learned to love the soothing influence of the narcotic herb. During the 70 years , which have elapsed , since then this veteran mariner has never, been 24 hours without tobacco. .‘‘Tobacco was tobacco in days gone by,” he concluded, “but now its mostly brands.”

Evidence that Spring is on the way accumulates. The Tahora correspondent of the Taranaki Herald says: “Winter is gradually passing away, but occasionally a frost or a cold rainstorm reminds us that grim winter still claims sovereignty over the month of July. . Grass was very short here a few weeks ago, but the warm rains of late caused the lulls to present’’ a much greener aspect.” But the Waver ley Tribune advises caution. It says: “Spring has arrived!” Such isthe burden of numerous remarks heard here to-day. Steady!

r ihose who attended the local Fire Brigade’s social held in the Town Hall last evening spent a very pleasant and enjoyable time. The floor was in excellent condition, and the music, supplied by Mrs Bianchi’s orchestra, left nothing to be wished for. The attendance was very poor, and although the weather was not of the best a far larger gathering was anticipated. The chief attraction of the evening was the waltzing competition, the judging of which was left in the hands of five of the onlookers, whose decision went in favor of Mr A. Richardson and Miss Croots.

A t a football match, or any other match for that matter, everyone recognises that it is impossible for all of the spectators to see all of the game all- of the time. Anyhow, if they could, they wouldn’t, as it very often happens that there is something of infinitely more interest nearer at hand. Like doesn’t always beget like, and good humored barrack does not always find the humorous responsive touch that prompted it. To be blunt, some one loses his temper, and the units in the crowd crowd round, and the air becomes electrified with words, and the football match might just as well be played in the dark for all that is seen of it. And here the question arises—‘“Why should any old, or young, spectator be allowed to call the line umpire a great big liar or something even worse than an ordinary one?” No matter if the offender is, in the vernacular,, “half swanked,” that often only adds' to the offence. A case happened at Eltham yesterday afternoon at Taumata Park during the progress of the junior championship contest and only the good nature and good sense of the official in question saved serious trouble. But the principle was wrong, law and order, were flouted, and for the future’s sake an example should have been made of the case. • There is far too much “language” on the touch line at most Football matches.

Tho Midhirst Cel operative Dairy Company notifies that its creameries at Boaconsfield Road, Pembroke Roan, Salisbury Road, Waipuku, Waingongoro, York Road, and Tariki Road will ro-open on August sth.

0K lino of 10s with 12s costs was this morning imposed on Alfred Strong, charged with driving a gig through Broadway on the night of July 9th with only ono F. Gooch was lined 5s with costs <s to. allowing three cows to wander in Cordelia Street.

During the vaccination of the permilitary forces at Victoria Melbourne, on the 19th inst.. n non-commissioned officer fainted at the sight of blood. The warrior ha. a reputation for pluck, and as a gaol warder collated a notorious criminal who attacked him whilst attempting to escape. But the eight of blood sent him to the floor. A similar incident is stated to have happened to a territorial in Feilding tho other evening.

Judgment by default was given in the following cases at tho Court this morning:—W. H. H. Voting and Co. v. J. D. Valentine, £3 2s 9d, costs 10s; A. Ferguson v. W. H. Hawkins, £1 7s 3d, costs 13s; R. D. D. Lowers v. H. E.Hight, £7 8s Id, costs £1 8s 6d; Wm. Harris v. Mark Cronin, £1 8s Id, costs Bs.

"“''-There is stated to be a good deal of sickness following on vaccination in tho district, particularly among the children. In some cases parents are jiaving an anxious time, especially tv he re the whole crowd from baby up to the eldest of half ji dozen “got the needle” at the same time. No arrangements appear to have been made by the health authorities to attend to patients whether the lymph “takes” or not.

Tho trouble between the Hawera A. and P. Asociation and tho 'League football management has been satis faetorily settled. The Association has agreed to tho match with Nev.South Wales being played on their ground, and admit that they did not at first correctly understand the position. The Taranaki League team (practically tho same as visited Auckland recently) will play a return match with Wanganui, at Wanganui on Saturday.

Charles Moorehouso was charged at Court this morning with having used obscene language in the main street of Whangamomona township on July 23rd. Constable Scanned gave

evidence that at 9 a.m. accused ask- » ed a deaf old man if ho knew where one of the overseers was. The deaf man’s natural voice was very rough, and his questioner got an impression from his reply that ho was out of temper. Accused also became aware

that the man questioned was deaf and in advising him to he more civil lie was guilty of the obscene language which was the reason of the charge. Accused, who did not appear, was fined £3, with costs 7s, in default fourteen days’ imprisonmen L . with hard labor.