LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 72, 16 July 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Notification is given in another column that a second dividend is payable at the office of Mr A. Coleman f D.0.A.), Stratford, in respect of the estate of William Hyde, of Eltham.

A Times—Sydney Sun cable from London states that tire licensed performance of ‘‘The Ghost” at the Haymarket Theatre still appals, hut owing to the advance of public opinion it no longer shocks the senses.

The Premier laid on tlio table of tlio House of Representatives yesterday afternoon the annual sheep returns, showing an increase in the flocks of the Dominion by 403,599, a decrease for the North Island of 175,311, and an increase in the Soutii Island ui 578,909.

Teams representing Stratford and Denbigh Road will meet at the Denbigh Road school to-morrow night. The Denbigh Road team is as follows F. Mills, G. Mills, J. Mills, A. Askew, F. Askew, J. Kelly, F. Pederson, H. Backstop, W. Walker, L. Lyford; G. Prince, G. Anderson, W. Neil son, A. Meads, C. Frost, G. Kilpin, G. Ferguson,

A report is current in Wanganui that Mrs O’Keefe, of Mangaweka, lias inherited a fortune from an uncle named O’Sullivan, an American, who died worth 200,000,000 dollars. There and fiev families to participate in the wind-fall. Two daughters of Mrs O’Keefe are at present living in Marton.

A sign of the times. New Plymouth is to be improved by the erection, on Mr M. Jones’ property in Devon street central, of a large and up-to-date theatre on modern lines. A syndicate, which has for its object the erection of such a building at an estimated cost of from £27,000 to £30,000, has been formed in Auckland. This addition will greatly improve the capital town of the province, and the enterprise of the promoters is worthy of commendation.

Yesterday’s “New Zealand Times’ says: At the request of Mr J. B. Richards, president of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, the Minister for Public Works yesterday promised to confer with the Tourist Department regarding the metalling of the western portion of the Pembroke Road. It was explained that this road was of great importance to the 'borough of Stratford, ' and a mountain club that was formed last year had 253 members. It provided the shortest route to Mount Egmont, being only 81 miles, and the cost involved was £SOO.

A grand church parade of the Stratford L.0.L., together with the Eltham and Haw era lodges was held at Eltham on Sunday last. No. 76, Stratford, was well represented, Eltham No. 20 came out in force, and Hawera No. 41 sent a large contingent by motor lorry. Officers of the District Grand Lodge also joined in the parade, as also did some members of the Stratford Ladies’ Lodge. The massed Lodges, headed by the Eltham Town Band, marched to and from the church. The Rev. Bro. Reader conducted the service and preached an eloquent serin out suitable to the occasion. Considering the inclement state of the weather, the functioin was a great success. The other two lodges in the district, Wanganui and New Plymouth, were prevented from attending on account of the distance. After the service, Eltham No. 20, provided the visitors and friends with welcome refreshments.

A letter was read at yesterday’s meeting of the County Council from the Town Clerk of Stratford forwarding the following resolution passed at the Borough Council’s last meeting: “That the County Council he earnestly asked to defer taking any further steps for the erection of a tollgate at Waipuku until after the County Conference to be held in Wellington.”—Cr. Thomson said the Borough residents were living on the fat of the land, while the County ratepayers were “paying for a shadow and the shadow had now vanished.” The County had to devise some means of keeping its roads in order. He thought the Borough was interfering too far. They had interfered regarding electric light and had now interfered again. Unless there was special legislation the County would have to erect toll-gates.—Cr. Smith moved that the letter be received. 'File Council had gone too far to draw back.—The motion was carried.

Commissioner Cullen, of the police force, in his annual report, nas a paragraph referring to the strike. Ho states that the lawless element among the strikers in Wellington took advantage of the position to cause riots in various parts of the city. During the Taranaki street riot a non-commissioned officer of the permanent defence force was struck on the head with an it on holt thrown hy a rioter, and was so -.eriouslv injured that he is still unfit to resume duty. A mounted constable who was trying to prevent the Royal i Tiger Hotel, in Taranaki Street, from! being wrecked was also hit on the head with a missile, and he had not yet boon able to resume duty. Another constable was so seriously hurt in the riot which occurred in fornt of Messrs Whitcomb© and Tombs’s shop, in Lamhton quay, that he had to he taken to the hospital. He was pleased to saA , however, that this constable was now "bin to carry out his duties as usual. Other members of the force .and special constables received minor injuries, hut none sufficiently to keep them an ay from duty for more than * few day#.

The Christchurch correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says: Francis George Bradley, wearing a Y.C., who j appeared the other day in a. London ! Court charged with drunkenness, is not a New Zealander, as the cable agent said. He has been in New Zealand, and appeared in the court at Christchurch last December, when he was charged with drunkenness and ■ obscene language. He was then in i possession of the V.C., which' he had earned in a South African Regiment. He gave his age as 42, and his birthplace as Ireland.