LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 21, 18 August 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A meeting of tin* genera! committee of the -Stratford .v. ..ml I'. As cciati m | was l.e;t! this afternoon. The question | of Lie moment was whether liquor ? booths shoiml or should not be allow- 'j ed o:i me showground. .Mr Lm.iel; moved his motion tnat the re-omiioii recommending the executive to abolish the liquor booth he rescinded, and this was defeated by 1-1 to 10*.

The Wellington “Post's” ‘Auckland correspondent telegraphs that preliminary . negotiations have been- entered into between Air Alien .Bellland .Messrs Walsh Pros, and Dexter, proprietors of tin* dying school at Koliimarania. lor an aeroplane expedition to toe far north next dan-nary. It is proposed to call and give demonsiralioiis at the principal cit.es. The object of the expedition win he t;i give further publicity to the north, .id to demonstrate to the inhabitants th■ : practical possibility of an aerial ser vice after the war. Application is he mg made to the Government for permission to carry the first aerial mail to ihe places mentioned, and to issue special stamps. j “Fancy a sehonlbboy sitting d:wn ;to tackle a subject like that,” said a [member of the Auckland Chamber of ICo.amerce on Friday 'states the “Star”), when the subject of the essay for the annual Chamhohr of Commerce prize was announced. “'hliere is not a m-ii,” he con Pure 1. “v. ho can deal at all satisfactorily with this subject.” The chairman promptly said that it was a topical theme, “amh probably,” ho naively suggested, “the schoolboys will do well with it, as they can deal with it with fresh minds.” The Chamber agreed to approve the recommended subject. Tt was “The Commercial Policy of the Allies after the War.”

At the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, before Mr A. Crookc»', S.M., John Barrett," oTPuilgarehu, and Allan Montagu Sims, of To Kiri, were charged with having on June 27, between Rahotu and ()punako, committed an offence against the Racing Act, 1909, by holding a 'trotting race between Rahotn and Opunake. Counsel for the defence said that a question had arisen between the two men as to the trotting merits of their respective horses; it was agreed to test them in a race from Rahotu to Opunake, and the race did take place, but there was no rponey on it. Counsel submitted that the Act under which the information was laid did no apply, and was never intended by the Legislature to apply to such a case,. His Worship said that as both defendants had pleaded guilty they must he convicted. The case was a trifle more complicated than had been indicated by counsel, because thptrotters had' been accompanied by motor cars and a number of people had congregated to watch the resujjt.; , However, he thought the case, would he met by a conviction ami merely an order to pay costs—Barrett 4s 6d and’ Sims 12s.