LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 86, 11 December 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council will lie held at the County olhce on Wednesday next. "How do you pronounce your "name:"" asked Mr Treadwell of a witness with au uncommon surname at the Supreme Court in Wanganui on Saturday. "H depends whether it is North German or South German,'' interposed his Honor, Sir Robert Stout, who is known as a very capable linguist. "I am Welsh, your Honour, and we come from Wales," was- the rejoinder of the witness, that drew broad smiles from the Qc.cupains of the court.

There are still afloat at least a dozen sailing vessels which have weathered storms of a' century. The record is. or rather was, held by the Italian vessel' Anita. She v.ias built in Genoa in V5lB, and made her last voyage in 1902, from Teneriffe to Naples. She was thus more than 350 years old. She has now been broken up. Steamships seldom last more than 40 years, Of those built between 1815 and 1835, there' is not a single one afloat. The life .of the modern steel ship is much shorter than that of her wooden predecessor.

At the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in St. Paul's Church, Christchureh, yesterday (states a Press Association message), the convenor of the Statistics Committee stated that there are 39,957 Communicant members, an increase of 1491 for the year. A noteworthy feature is that 2351 members were received by examination. A gross total revenue of almost £150,000 was reported. The sum of £15,933 had been contributed during the year for home and foreign missions, social service, etc. There are 1213 churches and preaching-places in the Dominion.

I Headers will not be sorry to learn tha ■ .Miss Hogg has been compelled to withdraw her resignation and to continue her work in the Stratford School. It appears that Miss Hogg had not made herself thoroughly acquainted with the intricate provisions of the Superannu- [ ation Act, under which she was about . to retire, and had given only the usual month's notice of her intention to resign. At least three months' notice | was necessary to have her claim con- ! sidered this year. Under the circum- . stances. Miss Hogg has decided to i resume her duties, and the school will ibe the gainer thereby. It's an ill wind

; that blows nobody good. I States the Opunakc Times: Mr »eo. j Woolford, ni' Te Kiri, has ;i nice paten ! of prairie grass, which, in some places, ! is over eight feet in height. He «peaks of the grass as a rapid grower and after the first feed off lias twice cut it down and fed off again H:s experience is that the hest results arc obtained liyi cutting the grass and feeding it to the stock. They cat it ravenously and if allowed to continually feed oil' it the stock will eat the heart out of it.j When allowed to seed r .ho head.-: mature similar to the oat family. M,"Woolford expressed a v:>ry favorable opinion of the prairie grass as a winter fodder. I

A London cablegram states that the Court of Appeal has decided that women will not be entitled to be admitted as solicitors. Local coal merchants report a state approaching famine in the town. The strike is saitl to be responsible for this unusual disturbance in domestic and commercial circles. The annual concert in connection with the Midhirst School is to be held to-morrow evening. An excellent programme has been arranged, and Mr \V. Mountford. the chairman of the school committee, promises a pleasant evening for all who attend. An explosion at Huntly yesterday morning alarmed the neighbourhood.At first it was believed (states a Press Association telegram) that an attempt had been made to blow up the Huntly Coal Company's boardinghouse with gelignite, but it was found that detonators only had been used. The

damage was not serious

According to the "Electrical Review" of September 5, an important extension is about to be. carried out at the Municipal Central electricity station ar Bremen, orders having just been placed for two 3000 h.p. Diesel engines and alternators. The engines, which will he supplied by Messrs Sub/.er Bros., of Wintorthur, will be of the six cylinder two-cycle type, designed to work with tar oil.

An interesting function took place last evening at the Freemasons' Lodge, Stratford, No. 75, when R.W. Pro. T. C. Fookes, P.P.G.M. of the Stratford Lodge was presented with a handsome -set of regalia in recognP tion of his services as Provincial (.'rand Master. R. W. vßro. R. W. Sargent, P.G.M. (of Hawera), made the presentation in the presence of a large number of visiting brethren, testifying to the high, esteen in which R.W. Bro. Fookes is held by the various Lodges in Taranaki. R.W. Bro. Fookes suitably replied, .thanking all for the handsome gift, which he heartily appreciated. Among the visiting brethren were R.W. Bro. R. W. Ewing. of Xgamotu Lodge. New Plymouth and R.W. Bro. F. G. Kimbell and J. Quinn, of Lodge Hawera.

In the euchre match "between the Railway and. Stratford teams, to be held at Elder's tea rooms to-morrow evening, commencing at S o'clock sharp, the following will represent Stratford:—C. Kely ,J. Harston, G. Kelly, H. Trotter. McGregor, J. W. Jones, R. Handley, E. Thomas, W. Yardley, J. Sharrock, L. Sharrock, C. Gollod. C. I). Sole, W. Collins, J. Donald, C. L. Grant, T. L). Sullivan, H. Kii-ell, 1). McAllum,'o. Tocker, T. Lawson, and T. Colson. The Railway members are:—T. Trask . (captain). G. Murray, H. Johnson, F.,H. YYarrender, D. Xolan,-.8.. .Douglas, C. Johnson, E. Hassett, H. Butler, D. Fiudlay, C. Whittington, A. Kerr, E. Jenkenson, C. Brown, S. Thorne, H. Campbell, R. McLean, J. Cameron, G. Harris, G. W. Taylor, C. Stewart, X. Anderson.