LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 301, 18 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

John Morrow, charged at Stratford tins morning with being drunk, was fined 10s and costs, this being the second offence within six months.

The steamer Turakina yesterday took the largest shipment of cheese ever despatched from, New Zealand, comprising 30,000 crates, valued at about £130,000.

In the course of a speech after the declaration of the poll in Nelson on Thursday night, Mr H. Atmore said that there were one or two irregularities that would have to be inquired into, and might alter the position.

A letter from one of the troopers on board the Arawa makes mention of a wrestling match between Troopers Hine-and Robertson for, a purse of £lO. Robertson was the winner, gaining two falls out of three, but lie was “sport” enough to divide the purse with his antagonist.

Mr Kirkpatrick, 8.A., who takes the iron-work class at the local High School, wished to recognise the splendid work done by three boys in his class during the year, especially as this was not presentation year. Mr Ty rer,in Mr Kirkpatrick’s absence this morning, said the work of the lads—■ Elgar, Connell and Wickstead —was right out on its own. Mr Skoglund made the presentations of sets of drawing instruments, which were heartily applauded.

The Foresters’ Hall was a busy hive of human bees last evening. A large number of gentlemen and ladies met to erect stalls and decorate the Hall for the Cgjce and Apron Fair this afternoon and evening. A Christmas tree stands in the centre of the Hall laden with just the thinks that children like. Mr Santa Claus proposes to be present in the evening. There is every indication that the Fail’ will be largely patronised.

At the Magistrate’s Court, Stratford, today, before Mr Kendrick, S.M., Oliver Roberts was charged with being on licensed premises at Toko on Sunday, 6th December. Ac. cused pleaded guilty, and gave as his reason for being on the premises that he had been asked into the hotel as the result of a conversation about some work with a man named Dixon. He had only been in the hotel for five minutes when the Sergeant came in. Accused said he had a wife and seven children. The Magistrate pointed out that it was a serious offence, but after hearing evidence he decided to let accused off with a fine ■of ss.

I am thankful to read that all is well on the “Stykow-Zgierz-Szadek-Zdunskovola line,” though, for ray part, I don’t see how any mortal could possibly get over it,” (writes “Ariel” in the Dunedin Star). I think that line might be safely left to take care of itself. The Kphraimites. of old would not let anyone go over the ford unless he pronounced “Shibboleth.” If you could only insist on that line being pronounced before it was crossed you might go into winter quarters. An American scribe says that the Russians have won several pronounced victories, if one could only pronounce them; and another scribe, commenting on the euphony of Przemysl, Irkutsk, and Chwgzvdt, points out the almost equal beauty of many American names, such as Cutyhunk, Schenectady, Waxahahchie, and Canajahorie. But I’ll back the Irish to nlake a stand on the Ball in skelligs-M acgi 11 icucldy ’ s ReeksOwentaraglin line. Still more defensible is the Pwllheli-Bittws-y-coed-Llandilofwar-Llannvst line in Wales. If the enemy got over these barriers we shall still entrench ourselves behind the Ngaruawahia-Whakateraparirari-Waika remoana-Waihahauraunga-Xga-timania poto-Ngutuotemanu-Pahikaka-riki line, and bid them all come. Talk about the lines of Torres Vedras!

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.’s Stratford branch to-day received the following cable advice from London: “Sheepskins, crossbreds, Id lower.” Judgment by default was given at Stratford this morning in the case Brocklebank Bros. (Mr P. Thomson) v. Walter Brown, claim £3 9s, and costs OS. The exports of New Zealand products during the week ended December 15 were valued as follows:—Butter £71,103, cheese £41,512, frozen lamb £5669, frozen mutton £66,426, frozen beef, etc. £37,790, grain and pulse £5972, hides and skins kauri gum £11,339, flax and tow £154, tallow £1663, timber £1157, wool £270,804. Lyttelton Times after dealing with the faults of the present system which can render such a political position as the .present possible, says: “.In the meantime, as the war makes domestic amity desirable, the public will no doubt be glad to have Mr Massey’s statement that he does not propose to dill the new Parliament together until the usual time. It is solely because of the war that we welcome this decision—solely because the political situation is pregnant with possibilities of changes and more changes at a time when they are unsuitable to the Dominion’s duty to the Mother Country and the Empire.”

At the meeting of the National Park Board held yesterday, there were present Messrs G. F. Bullard (Commissioner of Crown Lands, chairman), R. McK. Morison, R. Dingle, W. Willcocks, W. A. Coll is and R. Rogers. With regard to an enquiry as to Whether permission for the felling, of timber on the road round the mountain, the Board decided as they were not the controlling body, consent to this would have to be obtained from any road board; at the same time they would raise no objection to the bush being felled. As to the repairs to the track between the Stratford House and the north house over the Manganui Gorge,' the matter was left to the Stratford Committee to deal with. As to the grant of £2OO made to the National Park Board, it was decided that if the grant be forthcoming this year, it be allocated as follows: North Committee (New Plymouth), South Committee (pawson’s Falls), and East Committee £6O each, and £2O to the West Committee (Rahotu). the latter committee to receive the amount on the understanding that the Board contribute an equal sum for improving the track to the West House on the outside of the Reserve. A resolution of sympathy was unanimously passed with the secretary (Mr Stocker) in his illness, and the hope was expressed that he would shortly be restored to health.