LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 96, 27 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Dunedin business man received the following letter from a Taieri farmer; Dear Sir, - —Please send me your catterlog of Bladbery and Douglass motor bikes, P.S.—You needn’t send it I have change my mind.

What might be called the “height of impudence” recently occurred at Beatson’s Park - (says the Hawke’s Bay Herald) when some individual, evidently believing that property belonging to the borough belonged - to anyone in ho borough, demonstrated his belief by cutting down a fine'bluegum tree and it home for firewood .

A bale of paper received at the Levin Chronicle Office tin's month has a message , in indelible ink inscribed on its wrapping—for some loving heart. It reads: “J. Branch, of Plainstow, England, would bo pleased to hear of a young woman with a small farm that wants a loving husband. If she has a family of young children they would not be a bar to her marriage with the above young man—providing «)ie lias some money.”

In the course of a speech at Masterton, Mr W. A, Bcddoe, Canadian Commissioner, stated that Canada had derived its name in a peculiar way. When Christopher Columbus discovered America ho saw a great expanse of snow ;tnd ice, and across the map he drew up he wrote the Spanish words “ca na da,” which meant “there is nothing here.” The country was therefore called Canada, but Columbus was wide of the mark when he said there was nothing there.

Mr Alexander Walker, of Waverley, a well-known settler, died at Waverley yesterday, aged 77.

The Kaimata mystery still remains unsolved. The police arc actively searching, hut so far no official notice has been received of any success.

At the meeting of the Fire Brigade last night the captain, lieinenam,

secretary and treasurer wore appointed a committee to arrange for the annual hall. Secretary Drake and Lieut. Wilson were presented with trophies won in the recent competitions. Messrs J. A. Thomson, E. Hancock, and H. Voyle were elected members of the Brigade.

Special train arrangements have been made by the railway departmentfor the N.S.W match at New Plymouth on Saturday. A special passenger train will leave Hawera at 11.30 a.m.,- Stratford 12.41, arriving New Plymouth at 2.30 p.m. in ample time for the kick-off at 3 o’clock. The return train will leave New Plymouth at 5.32, and the Pohokura train will lie delayed until 7,50 p.m. Excursion tickets available for the day only will he issued.

Mr Michel was entertained last night by his supporters at the byelection, says a Greymouth telegram. Three halls were engaged. There was a very large attendance at the Opera House, where there was a presenilation of a purse and speeches, at the drill-shed at a social and dance, and, at the Druids’ Hall, where there was a card tournament and supper. Mr Michel, in Ins speech, declared that it required only 475 extra votes next election to secure both Westland and Grey seats for the Government.