LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 74, 25 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A special meeting of the Stratford Municipal Band will be held in the bandroom at 8 o’clock this (Monday) evening. Returned Soldiers are invited to attend a meeting to be held at the Defence Office to-morrow (Tuesday) evening to consider the question 01 holding a social re-union. ‘‘Lavish living in times of peace leaves us a surplus from which by economising we may relieve those stricken by war famine.”—National Econoipy Campaign. An extraordinary general meeting of members of the Stratford Farmers’ Co-op. Association will be held in the Town Hall to-morrow (Tuesday) at 11 a.m., when resolutions re increase of capital and amended articles of association will be considered.

At the Central Summons Court, Sydney, recently, a woman was fined £SO, with £3 9s costs, or six months’ gaol, on an information alleging that without the authority of a license granted by the Minister on recommendation of the Board of Health, she used a house in Kensington, as a hospital.

An Australian paper reports that two deaths occurred in Broken Hill Hospital on the 14th Inst, from “X,” the new disease. One victim was George Box (54). a miner, who had been in Broken Hill 30 years. Box became ill on Sunday, and died last night. Doctors, hospital authorities, and others are doing all possible to assist in locating the disease.

An unpleasant feature of the second day’s racing of the February meeting of the Goulburn (N.S.W.) "Racing Club was the persistent attentions of the weevils blown over from the wheat stackings by the westerly wind. They proved as vicious as mosquitoes, and great discomfort was caused to patrons of the races. Tim, insects fastened on to rha

About £3O was netted at the 1 trio tic Mart and tea rooms on Satur- ! day, Bird Hoad ladies being in 'j charge. The Stratford School picnic and ' sports on the A. and P. grounds ou | Thursday, should draw a large crowd providing the weather keeps favori able. | After March 31st every person, apparently over 16 years of age, who may wish to leave Australia, will hav© to he in possession of a passpbrt. This | is the effect of an amended Regnla- , tion under the War Precautions Act made on February 7th. , ■ I Mr Sturrock, Hawera Borough Engineer, who has been engaged aa consulting engineer to the Stratford Borough Council, is at present inspecting Broadway with a view to advising the Council on the re-construc-tion proposals.

The motor “scooter” has become noticeable in Wellington. This .is an advanced edition of the ordinary push scooter, with a little motor in

front, two pneumatic wheels, set close to the ground, one .behind the other. There is a vertical standard control with two handles, and two rubber-carpeted steps for the driver, who stands erect.

The Gift Stock Auction on Saturday realised £2OBO, including a building section at £25. There are two sections still unsold. The actual net result after paying for stock, which was bought with cash received, and the collection of further donations promised but not yet paid, will not be known till some weeks have elapsed, but the committee’s anticipation of reaching the £2OOO mark is certain to he realised. A balance-sheet will he published when matters have been settled.

“While on a visit to Germany and Austria in 1910, Professor Truehldod said he was much struck by the military preparation then in progress evidently for the great war now in progress. It was the common practice even then for the women, old men and boys to take in the harvest, whilst the husbands and sons were drilling. In Munich the women were employed in the most menial occupations, and on many occasions the speaker, was awakened in the early morning by the tramp of troops training for the coming war. '

A New'Zealand private soldier, recently arrived at an Australian town in a transport, en route for the front and as he had left a wife and children behind he was naturally anxious to send a letter to them. Unfortunately for him, no shore leave was granted, but with a couple of mates, he determined to step ashore and post his letters. Snatching a favorable moment the trio evaded the guard and got ashore and after posting their letters and having a look around came on board but were unlucky enough to be “spotted,” A court martial was the result and the. private was the first to be tried and pleaded guilty, explaining the circumstances of the case. Before being sentenced he claimed the right to de-

fend his comrades - which the court had no option but to graht. So brilliant was the defence put up that the men were acquitted and afterwards the Court decided to acquit the pleader. It then transpired that he w T as one of the ablest of the Dominion’s lawyers worth something in the neighbourhood of £60,000. .And be was a private.

Should Mr Holman, Premier .of New South Wales, remain in office for another seven months—as there: is every reason to assume that he will (states the Sydney Daily Telegraph)— he will establish a record for the State for a continuous Premiership. The present record stands to the credit of Sir George Reid, who held office continuously for five years and one month, from August, 1894, to September, 1894. Sir Henry Parkes holds the record in the aggregate. H© was Premier on five different occasions for periods ranging from 'about five months to four years, and his total was only three months short of twelve years. Mr Holman’s continuuous record to date is 55 months, or about six months short of that of Sir George Reid. He has had . a most tempestuous career, but has weathered it in a way which few other men could. Mr Holman has had several opportunities of finding a comfortable berth, but he seems to prefer the strife of politics. It is characteristic of him that he never leaves his friends in a difficulty. Mr Holman is always at his best when he is “up against it.” Many of his friends would wish that he would endeavor not be “up against it” so often.