LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 292, 8 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Makai has arrived at San Francisco, states a London cablegram.

In the case in the Hamilton Supreme Court against Stuart Dixon, president of the Huntly Miners Union, charged with misappropriating Union funds, the Grand Jury, after long deliberation, decided that theie was no case for trial.—P.A.

Wrestling circles will be interested to hear that, according to a London cablegram, Henri Hamlin, welter champion, of Belgium, has contracted for five matches in Australia. He sails on December 19th.

The Stratford Mountain House is now fully prepared for the Christmas holiday traffic, and already quite a number of visitors have booked for the holidays. The manager is in a better position to cater for visitors this season than last, and every convenience is guaranteed to all who make this house a place of call. The detached cottage accommodation has been enlarged, and the main house also has had new additions since last season. Tent parties can find splendid sites for their tents. Being so near to the town, and the roads being in first-class order, the house should put up a fresh record this sea-

Writing to his mother at Ilford (England), Private A. L. Bale, A.S.C. Headquarters, No. 2 Base, British Expeditionary Force, a brother of 1 iivate Bale, of the New Zealand Garrison. in Samoa, says:—“We are plod-' ding along victoriously, and England has not yet fallen, by long chalks. There is one thing I have noticed, and that is there are thousands of spectators at football matches on Saturdays all over England (I saw this in an English paper last week), and there are also thousands of the same countrymen being blown to pieces every day over here. And thousands more men are required at the front. It would be much better if those spectator's saw some of these casualties here, and perhaps they would fully realise the situation then. Anybody can wave a flag and cheer the troops, but that does not keep the enemy back. We will want every man Jack before this war is over”.

“I went down to the Registrar’s office, and when I got there he said the lists were closed, and he would not accept my £lO and my nomination. He said I was three minutes late.” Such was the explanation made b.v Mr W. T. Storey, late Labour candidate for Parnell, to a street group at the junction of Khyber Pass and Karangahapo Road, Auckland, when questioned as to why he withdrew. Ho declared he had had no intention of withdrawing. Inquiry from Mr H. R Massey, the Registrar, elicited . the fact that Mr Storey, between 10 and H o’clock in the morning, calle dat the Registrar’s office, and said he might be a few minutes late with his nomination. Mr Massey warned Mr Storey that if he were late it would not lie possible for him to accept tin nomination. To ensure that there should be no mistake in time, Mr Massey telephoned the Chief Postmaster at five minutes to twelve o’clock, and obtained the correct time. Mr Storey arrived three minutes late.

A citizen of the United States, Mr R. B. Beals, now a resident of Christchurch, was interviewed by a Press representatiye regaixiing the attitude of President Wilson. Public opinion in the United States, ho said in the course of a lengthy statement, was naturally divided, in view of the racial composition of the population. The great bulk of educated opinion was overwhelmingly on tire side of the Allies, but it was useless to deny that there was a pro-German section fed upon the “yellow press,” which was now reported to have been purchased by German money. While granting tire cleavage of opinion, I have nc doubt in my own mind,” summed ip Mr Beals, “that right through the whole country the sentiment of the people is very largely in favor of the Allies. I have this view not only but also from correspondence with friends in all parts of the country.” “Then your chief points, Mr Beals,” concluded the interviewer, “are that the sentiment of the people of tin United States is overwhelmingly with the Allies; that the Government is strictly neutral, and that the President is honestly doing his best to hold that strict line of neutrality between all parties; and, finally, that while some trade may be done legitimately enough with Germany. infinitely more is being done with the Allies, and that in this fashion they are reaping de cided benefits from the United States?” “Yes, that sums it up,” agreed, Mr Beals.

Dr. W. H. Fitchett has issued a shilling book entitled “The First Three Months of the War,” which tells the connected story of the conflict from the early days of August. Weather forecast.—Southerly moderate to strong winds. Weather probably cold and changeable, with passing showers. The night will probably be very cold. The barometer has a rising tendency.—Bates, Wellington. Mr AY. Lovett, proprietor of the Club Hotel, in order to settle the hall difficulty, offers, by advertisement in this issue, to give the use of the hotel balcony to either candidate to-morrow evening. The first applicant will he granted the use of the balcony.

The Midhirst School Committee hold their annual concert and dance on Thursday, December 17th. Each year this very popular function takes place, and the object is to raise funds for prizes for the children. This year, though the function is being held, by the unanimous vote of the young people, it has been decided to forego the prize money, and hand the amount to the Belgian Relief Fund. It is pleasing to find the spirit of self-sacrifice on the part of the children for the suffering ones in the country of our brave Ally.

On Saturday, December 19th, a chop, ping contest for £SO a-side will take place in Victoria Park, between Messrs J. E. Shewry, of Whangamom ona, and W. Pech, of Australia. Conditions are: Best two out of three chops in 12in, 15in, and 18in blocks, and as both men are top-notch axemen, an interesting contest should result. The time is fixed at 2.30 p.m., so as to allow the farming community ample time to witness the event. Particulars of the principals ami thenrecords will appear later. A percentage of the net proceeds wn' lie devoted to the Belgian Relief Fund.