LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 67, 14 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

•'Ross's Monthly," a publication edited by Mr I?. S. Ross, of Mel-| bourne, formerly editor of "The Maoriland Worker." lias been added to the list of journals which are pro- r , hibited by the Government from being imported into New Zealand. This evening in the Coronation Hall, Toko, a farewell social'and dance will lie given in honor of Private E. Burgham, who is home on final leave. The large-hearted patriotism of Toko people is a sufficient guarantee that there will be a representative and enjoyable gathering.

Weather forecast.— The indications arc for southerly wing's moderate to strong. Expect changeable and showery weather. The barometer has a rising tendency.—Bates, Wellington. The school experimental plot in Broadway South was sown with lucerne yesterday. The importance of this is not apparent on the surface, and it may be pointed 'out that- as every farmer in Taranaki is interested in, and should lie desirous of, acquiring all the knowledge possible concerning this valuable fodder plant, the fact that the work is being carried out by the boys under , expert teachers and that the plot'is .accessible, cannot be too widely known. As Inspector Hcndrey remarked in the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Monday 'states the Times) "a publican's life is notfag happy one," that is judging from the! Statement of a licensee in the course of his evidence yesterday. "What with looking for drunkenness on my premises," said the publican, "watching for ■..■.antishouting, endeavouring to remember the faces of prohibited people, quelling small disturbances, and keeping my eye on women of ill-fame, 1 am kept more than busy." i

People have been asking each other this week what America will do with the German residents in tiie United States when America really comes, to war with GermanyP The question has been often asked. The best answer was given many months ago by a good American. The problem was put to him in this way: "There are more than four million Germans in America. What will you do with them in the event of waY between America and Germany?" "Well," replied the American, "I guess there are moi;e than four -million lamp-posts in the United States."

A committee of members of the Taranaki Education Board comprising Messrs R. Masters (chairman) H. Trimble, and E. Dixon, paid a visit of inspection to the Stratford District High School yesterday for the purpose of making a report on the course; of instructions to teachers to he followed at the fortnight's training, a't Easter. The course will probably consist 6f nature study and elementary agriculture. The members were accompanied by Messrs, Brown, Sergei, and Johnson, AgricuUur'aTlnstructors, and the Committee will report in due course.

At Cbristchurch on Friday last, aj young man named James Birch, pleaded guilty to a charge of damaging a newspaper, valued at Id, at the Public. Library. Chief-Detective Herbert said that the accused had , been found by the caretaker cutting out of a paper the acceptances for the Forbury trots, whether to discourage racing generally or to assist him in his betting transactions was not clear. The mutilation of papers was a very common thing, and it was very annoying to people to go to a file and find the very thing they were looking for cut out". The offence was difficult to detect, and he asked that an example should be made of the accused. A fine of £1 and costs was imposed, with one witness's expenses. ■

The undesirables who are making their unwelcome presence felt m Palmeraton at present appear to have a weakness for holding up motors and taking motor rides-(says the "Standard")- Another hold-up is reported to have taken place during one night last week, the victim in tills case being Mr R. Cronin, a driver in the employ bf Mr C. W. Blackbourn, of Main street west. Mr Cronin drove his car back to the garage in Main street west after his night's work, and on reaching the right-of-way leading to the garage found a benzine case placed in the way. On getting out' to remove it he promptly found himself looking into a revolver- held by a masked man. The man ordered Cronin back to the car and told him to drive out to Awapuni, which he did. On arrival there the man possessed himself of the small sum the driver had in his pocket ami disappeared, leaving the driver to make his way back home. It is reported that two young ladies wore held up by two men while walking along one of the quiet streets of the borough on Saturday evening. They displayed commendable bravery, 'their assailants being successfully fought oil, not, however, before the young ladies had sustained some severe bruises in the struggle which ensued.