LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A notice in bankruptcy regarding Nathan Godfrey, storekeeper, Stratford, appears in another column.

While repairing a temple the Chinese cover up the eyes of the idols, in order that the deities may not ho offended a tthe sight of the disorder.

At the examination hold recently in Wellington hy the Inspector of Machinery, 219 candidates sat for various classes of engineers’ certificates, and 170 passed.

The telescope, so far from being, as is generally averred, the outcome of the famous experiments of Galileo, was known at least 300 years before his time; while the microscope certainly dates from the early part of the ninth century, although greatly improved in the sixteenth hv Jansen and others.

j Puller A. and P. Association wrote !to the Mamnvatu Association asking if .they knew where a machine could he ■ procured to test the pull of a horse. All - 1?. Stephens said a farmer who asked for such a machine was no farmer at all. Cardinal llampolla’s death reduces the numbers of the Sacred College to fifty-six, so it is expected that steps will soon he taken to fill some of the vacancies. The prelates chosen will find their new dignity an expensive one, for even in the case of Italians the cost of admission to the Sacred College is rarely less than £2OOO. Part of this goes in fees, ranging from ten lire bestowed on every chorister of the Sistine Chapel to £l2B for the Papal Master of the Ceremonies. Moreover, j for three days after his investiture a Cardinal is expected to hold receptions for the entertainment of practically anyone who cares to pay a visit of, congratulation. The induction to the. titnhu; church in Rome, which is assigned to every Cardinal, costs foreign prelates about £4OO more than those horn in Italy.

A reminder is given of the meeting of Liberals to he held in the Foresters’ Hall this evening. . The general committee in charge of the Fire Brigade Fete met last night, when tiie reports presented showed that everything was going on well. A poll of ratepayers in the Pa tea harbor district yesterday carried by 357 votes to 198 a proposal to borrow £86,000 for harbor improvements, reports the Press Association. The Defence Department has announced that for next year there will he only four New Zealand cadetships to compete for at the Royal Military College of Australia, states a Wellington P.A. telegram. The Guardian states: Sir James Carrol did not enjoy much of a rest while visiting Wairoa. His footsteps were dogged from daylight till dark by natives, most of them after military pensions. They gave him little enough time to cat or sleep, but to all “Timi Kara” was urbanity itself. In the course of his reply to the toast, “Our Parliament,” at the reception to the Minister of Public j Works at Kawliia, Mr J. A. ‘Young | (Waikato'i stated, according to the I “Settler.” that “the matter of the

purchase of dairy cows was only one instance of Mr Massey’s humanitarian methods.” , Interest in municipal matters at present points to the Mayoralty for the forthcoming term, and it,is understood that Mr Jonas Masters lias been approached to contest the election in April next. While thoroughly appreciating the honor sought to be conferred upon him, Mr Masters states that he has not yet come to a decision. The police at Auckland have been informed of the arrest in Brisbane of a man named Beloe, who is alleged to have cashed cheques at Auckland totalling £-300 on his own banking account, which, it is stated, only amounted to £5. He is further charged ■ says the Press Association) with having sold a motor car on which he had paid a small deposit on the hire system. The second annual show of the Marton A. and P. Association yesterday was a great success (states the Press Association). There was a large attendance and the stock was particularly good, horses being a prominent feature in the competitions, which were keenly contested! The Governor was accorded a civic reception and entertained at luncheon on the showgrounds. His Excellency expressed himself a,s highly delighted with the 'prosperous and’fertile Rangitikci district and with the splendid exhibits at.the show.

Everything has been arranged for the swimming carnival to be held in the school bath next Tuesday evening, and there is every indication that swimmers and spectators alike will be well catered foj>. Of late the public have not seen much good swimming in Stratford, hut it is safe to say that at Tuesday’s carnival there trill he seen as good swimming as can be seen anywhere in Taranaki. Visitors are expected drum New Plymouth, Inglewood ,ahfl Hawera, and there,should be a good contest in the polo match which is on the programme. Races are provided for ladies and hoys, and,i generally, spectators -may look forward to a pleasant evening’s sport.

Quite a chapter of accidents recently bth'cl a Stoneburn resident (says the Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times). In the first instance he injured Jus hand, and it was necessary to drive to Palmerston for medical treatment, his wile and chid accompanyng hm. When near Palmerston, at the railway crossing on the Dunbauk road, his horse took fright at an approaching motor cycle, and his wife, while holding on to the vehicle, 1 in some way hurt her hand, and presently fainted. In the meantime, the driver’s attention was taken up with the frightened animal, and he was unaware of his wife’s injury. While still unconscious Mrs Coopef, the child on her knee, fell from the vehicle and dislocated her arm. The child had a marvellous escape from serious injury, for the wheel passed over the cap which if still had

on its head. On arrival at the doctor’s residence the horse was tied up to the picket fence while the patients were being attended to, and, again taking fright, pulled down several yards of the fence.

Stratford is outdone! As witness i thereof is the following paragraph | from the Kaimiro correspondent of i the “laranaki Herald”: A warning aas received here from the Kaimate district yesterday, about n probable i visit ot three alleged tax-gatherers that have done business in the Kaimaio ' district during last week. Their n.ode of operation is simple and effective. 1 hey call at a farm during milking time, one of them makes inquiries about a lost horse, and when found that the family is engaged in the shed ' a signal is given, a member of the firm enters the farm-house and collects all the cash-jewellery or ether traceable stuff has no attraction for t them—any sum from a few sh dings out of a girl’s purse to a fair slice of a milk cheque is gathered in, while the other members do outpost duty, these daring thieves are supposed to be well mounted, and those that nave seen them describe their appearance as J “smart young fellows.” Should they H attempt to lay Kaimiro under contribution it is hoped that these ;costers will meet their Waterloo here.

The Premier (Hon. Mr Massey) received a deputation at Rotorua (states a Press Association message to-day), urging the construction of the railway connection between Rotorua and Paengaroa to link up the East Coast line with the present system.- Mr Massey said lie could make no definite statement until he had personally inspected the district, and he indicated that the line should be constructed by private enterprise.

Herr Slapoffski, the well-known musician, in an interview in Christchurch, said (according to a Press Association wire this afternoon) that

Australia and New Zealand were like other English communities the prey of musical humbugs and charlatans. The best means of,combating them, he considered, was the establishment of municipal or national conservatories, and the best means of cultivating tho public taste was by municipal military bands. * Bands were easier organised than orchestras, and were more attractive to the public.