LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 45, 15 June 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to notice having to he given, the special meeting of the Borough Council called for Wednesday has been postponed till'Monday evening next. . Workmen were to-day employed on Victoria Bridge slaying the approaches —a fact which is giving certain Southerners food for much chuckle! The Manaia Gun Club held their £.lO shoot at Manaia on Wednesday afternoon, and the meeting turned out the most successful one ever held there. A large number of spectators present witnessed the competition, which was contested by foity. competitors from all parts oi the Northj Island. The shooting in some cases was extremely good. The following aie the results Mr A. Lineham Ist prize, £35. with 19 out of 20 birds; Mr G. G. McKenzie, 2nd. £lO, with 18 out of 20 birds; Mr W. Brown and Mr Power tied for third place and decided to divide third and fourth money.

A Maori motor car driver at Wanganui was fined £lO this morning for driving over a railway line in front of a train which was approaching, states the Press Association. It is stated that while Macmahon’s circus was travelling between Lyell and Murchison, in the Westland district, a week ago, one of the vehicles, with two girls aboard, went over the siding and rolled down some 300 ft. into (he Buller River bed. When rescued, one of the girls was unconscious. During the Farmers’ Union social (states the Opunake Times), and just after the dancers were seated, a hare footed young lady attired in nightdress, entered the dance room. There was a hush in sound whilst the young lady, who was in a trance, went through her movements, and departed. The Wairoa Chamber of Commerce has received a telegram from the Hon. Mr. Fisher, stating that the Government has decided to purchase the bush at Waikaremoana for £6OOO. This (states the Press Association) means the acquiring of the bush to the skyline for scenic purposes. The County Council passed a resolution calling on the Government to proceed vigorously with the East Coast railway and make a start at Wairoa, working north and south.

M Fred Pirani, Reform candidate for Wanganui, met with a sferious accident this morning while motorcycling through to Wanganui to address a Reform League meeting. Mr Pirani met a mob of sheep near Bonny Glen, four mile s from Marton, and had passed through them safely when a sheep doubled back and struck the cycle which canted away on the rider’s right leg causing a compound fracture between the knee and ankle. Mr Pirani was brought on to Marion.—P.A.

Within the next six months or so it is probable that New Zealand will have an opportunity of observing the powers of the gift aeroplane Britannia, /which is at present locked up in a shed at the Defence Stores, Wellington. In answer to an inquiry made on this subject, the Commandant of the Forces, General Godley, stated that two officers were being trained at Home, and when one of them, Lieutenant W. G. Burn, returned to the Dominion towards the end«of f lav year, he would probably take the machine outand use it.

The New Plymouth Winter Show closed on Saturday, the attendance being very large. The total door takings amounted to £317,. the first day realising £27, the second £9O, the third £BO, and the fourth (Saturday) £l2O. Last year the total takings for the same days were £3BO. This year, however, the Society gave members special privileges in ith© way of entrance and it is estimated by the executive- that the attendances this year were ahead of that of 1913. The nugget and quilt raffles will probably produce a profit of £l2O to £135. The actual profits of the Show will not be known until the balance-sheet is made up, but the indications are that it will disclose a position quite as good as last year’s.

The mail train was well filled this morning. Among the complement of her passengers were quite a number of the fraternity of the ancient order of showman, who had folded up their tents after New Plymouth’s annual winter evhibition, and were proceeding to Palmerston. A good number of the other passengers were taking time by the forelock and getting to Palmerston early, so as to make sure of accommodation. Apropos of this matter, it is stated thtat a Stratford resident, who had asked a friend to secure accommodation for him as he was not going to the Show until Tuesday morning, received a reply to the effect that he would have to sleep on a barrel and put his head in the bung! Later information, however, was more reassuring, and stated that though there was not room in any of the hotels, private accommodation had been obtained.

The Opunake, Times says:—A mild sensation was created on Tuesday evening by a person who came into town, and, in broad daylight, proceeded to help himself to overcoats that were hanging from a verandah in front of Mr Burton’s drapery shop. The owner canfe on the scene in time to see his goods carried off. A chase ensued, the policeman being in hot pursuit. The pursuer discarded the overcoat and took off down Allison street and then made across country. Some workmen shouted out “go it,” and they were called on to join in, which they did. The runaway cleared the gorse fence with the chasers gaining on him. The constable did not see a fencing wire—• it stopped the man is blue. The runaway got into difficult country and was fast tiring, ultimately throwing up the sponge to the workmen. After the arrest ho was brought before the Justices, charged with theft, convicted, and discharged. The man is married with a family, and the lapse was very unfortunate under the circumstances.