LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 16, 5 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postage rates on all matter foi

Samoa are now the same as the Brit

isli possessions

At the Court this morning a firstoffending drunkard was fined £l. Air C. I). Sole J.P., was on the bench.

At a meeting of tho committee of the Horticultural Society held last night it was decided to hold the spring show on September 17 as previously arranged. The proceeds will be donated to the War Fund and the charge for admission will he one shilling for members and public alike.

An unfortunate accident hefel the infant son of Mr W. Kronk, who is in charge of the Public Works stores at Kohuratahi. It appears that the little fellow, who is only 18 months old, was playing with his sister while she was chopping kindling wood, and lie picked up the pieces. It is supposed that he must have attempted to get the piece she was chopping, with the result that he lost the tops of two fingers. As it happened, it was tho left hand that Suffered.

There was apparently a deliberate attempt to wreck the Waikumete (Auckland) train on Wednesday morning. Two half plugs of gelignite were found on the line at a level classing on the main road near the Waikumete station. The plugs were removed before the train' passed. They were not fitted with detonators. ■ The person who placed them on the rails was evidently ignorant of the properties of explosives. Possibly the charges would have failed to explode on contact with the train. In any case they could have done little damage except to,the under gear of the engine and a few yards et track.—P.A. • :> .■ * - : ■

. At the Magistrate’s Court, Patea, on* Thursday, .bjsfqyo, jMj.*. Jienrickp S.M., Poi Awarua was charged, that he dill protend, to possess (Supernatural powers, in vl ie ,oPdisease' ‘and did, thereby finijsleajd quo Et-eiia Ashford.’, HptectjyQ-Serjgqaxi't Siddells, of Wanganui v prosecuted,, aiu,l_ |MK (P'Dra lyppeayed for the,, defence. Tile : evidence for the prosecution was that of Maori witnesses who had been treated by the defendant. These testified that defendant frequently asserted that ho was possessed, of the, Holy Ghost. ■ One alleged mode of treatment was to pour hot tea or. the head of the patient. In another case', whore a‘ patient was said to Wpossesscd of the power or “inakiitu,” the alleged mode of treatment was to .punch him on the nose and make him imbibe the blood that resulted from the blow. The case,, for the’defence will be thkemi olt'- feeniext, Court day.

Our readers will hardly need to he reminded of the Taranuki-Wellington football match which is to take place at Stratford on Thursday next. The sports-loving community .is eagerly looking forward, to what- promises- to, he a most exciting contest. The Taranaki team will he extended to its utmost ability, and supporters of the team are quite confident that it will rise fco the occasion. Experience has shown that the Taranaki lads always make a better showing when the odds are apparently against'them. Apart from the interest attaching to the contest itself the reputation of Stratford

and district as a “gate” producing centre is at stake, and we trust that our townspeople and country residents will show their appreciation of the efforts of the local members of the Rugby Enion to secure this important match for Stratford by attending the 'showgrounds on Thursday next. Those people who arc of opinion that owing to the seriousness of the present crisis in Europe, sports should not be indulged in. may now disabuse their minds of that idea, as the King has decided that racing should continue at Home, and that his horses will fulfill their engagements. Special train ar-l rangements, with excursion fares, have been secured, and we predict there will be a record crowd on the showgrounds on Thursday next.