LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 46, 19 September 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Between seventy and eighty tickets to Hawera wore issued at the Stratford railway station this morning.

It has been decided that half the proceeds of the ball to be held in the Town Hall on Thursday next under: the auspices of the Stratford Returned Soldiers' Association shall be donated to the Borough Copper Trail.

The monthly parcel-packing of soldiers trench comforts by the Stratford Ladies' Patriotic Committee will take place on Monday evening next and on Tuesday afternoon, instead of on the Tuesday and, Wednesday as usually arranged.

The masquerade plain and fancy dress ball to be held in the Town Hall this evening in aid of the Borough Copper Trail, is the centre of much interest, and promises to he largely attended. There should be a large array of fancy costumes.

Speaking at K-»t'ori on Monday night, the Minister of Defence stated that, although some drafts of the Class D men (three children) might •have to enter camp, he hoped that it would not he necessary for any of them to leave New Zealand. The necessity for continuing the reinforcement of the New Zealand Division existed at present, and he felt sure the public woultl not wish any failure in that respect.

Climatic conditions during the last few days have been the reverse of pleasant. The heavy rain of Monday was continue! on the following day. Yesterday there was a drop in the temperature, cold rains being experienced and about 7 o'clock there was a light fall of snow. Bleak weathei conditions prevail to-day. The coin ■snap will have a very detrimental effect on the stock, which already are generally in a low condition owing to the hard winter which has been experienced,

A Sydney cablegram to-day states that women 'bus conductors have appeared in Sydney, three having been licensed. Influenza in a severe form is prevalent throughout the Commonwealth (states a- Sydney cablegram to-day). The public service and private firms are handicapped by the large numbers of absentee victims.

Weather forecast—The indications are for decreasing southerly moderate to strong winds prevailing. Weather probably cool and changeable. The night will probably be very cold with frosts inland. Barometer little move' ent.

The possibilities of the Mangatainoka""district in the growing of lucerne are reveaWl by the experience >f a set'ier who is now cutting a fine crop. Two acres were laid down in Jnnunrv last, and fed off in Joly. There is now a second sturdy growth, the plants being a foot high. . ; "

Mr Perry Robinson, The Times correspondent, te>ographed on the 2nd hist: An Australian corporal who participated in the taking of Mount St. QuVntin won the Victoria Cross in the following manner:— Overhearing the staff discussing how best to deal with a knotty post, he seized a single bomb, and exclaiming "I'll deal -withit,'" crept out to the post, knocked down the sentry, and compelled an officer and 13 inmates to surrender under the threat of the bomb.

According to the Inspector of Stock for this district, who should be in aposition to know, the prevailing conin connection with live I stock is far more serious than is generally believed. From a dairying

standpoint, the position is most a«ufco and the mortality among dairy oowe during the last month has been very severe. Evidence in support of this fact is readily attainable from the number of dead hides submitted at recent auction sales.' Generally speaking, farmers have provided for their cowa.as usual, but basing such provision oil a normal season, unhappily tha conditions have been the reverse, and those farmers who did not exceed the usual quota of feed have had th? most bitter experience; on the other, hand, {"those that were endowed with more perspicacity and provided an extra, amount of feed, have come out on top. Throughout this district the milk, supply ds considerably below normal, and generally speaking dairyvcows are low in condition. The principal cause of mortality has been from the effects of calving, vitality of the animal being low at such a thne and the absence of strengtlieh'ing 'food has led to disastrous results.