Local and General.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 93, 24 August 1923, Page 4

Local and General.

A visitor travelling around HarailClub members, and others interested, will be held at the Club pavilion on Friday next at 2.30 p.m.

It is expected that the Hawera Operatic Society will present the comic opera “The Gieslm" in Strata ford, at an early date.

For the next few weeks the Plunket Society will display flowers for sale every Saturday at Messrs. Weston Bros’ premises in Broadway. Mrs Riera will be in charge of the sales, and will be glad to receive orders and answer all enquiries.

All collections In the Methodist circuit on Sunday will be devoted to Home Missions, The Rev. T. G. Brooke, will speak at various centres next week, and collections at these sendees will be devoted to Home and Maori Missions.

Lavender Fair and Sale of Work concluded last night at the Salvation Army Hall, when, despite the unfavourable weather, there was & fair attendance. At the close the surplus goods and edibles were auctioned. The financial result of the “Fair” is regarded as encouraging.

Following incidents in which people in Paris drew the color line, Princes Georges and Marc Trevalon, sons of the former King of Dahomey have begun proceedings for assault against the proprietor of | a night dancing hall in Montmartre. They were violently ejected because their presence was resented by rich American tourists, who objected to consort with coloured men. Prince Georges is a doctor of letters and a barrister in the Appeal Ourt. Prince Marc is a doctor of medicine. Both fought as volunteers in the French Army in the war and were wounded ana decorated.

The local canvassers for the Smart Road Freezing works report having done good business during the last few days. The option closes on Monday next and although about 1500 new preference shares have been placed, it is necessary to sell another 500 to make the Stratford and Eltham districts up to about 2000. Those who intend booking—and there are a good many who are interested in the works starting who have promised to assist but have not booked up their quota—will assist 'by completing their share forms and sending them in to the lion, secretary, Mr W, A. Hewitt, and also Mr M. McDonald.

“He ran into a constable and ■knocked him over,” explained Sen-ior-sergeant Mathew to the Hamilton Court, when Leslie Tisch was charged with riding his bicycle without a light in Hamilton East on a recent evening. “Why,” asked Mr Young, S M., “did you run into the constable?” “I didn’t know he was a constable,” explained defendant amidst laughter. His Worship: “You mean that if you’d known he was a constable you wouldn’t have run into him?” Defendant: “Yes.”— (Laughter.) * Defendant eventually explained that he would have got off his machine had he known that it was a policeman who was trying to obstruct him. As it was (says the Waikato Times), they both crashed in the road together. Defendant was fined 15/- and costs.

Conspicuous for a beautiful furcoat was the occupant who sat in solitary state in a dress circle seat at His Majesty’s Theatre, Dunedin, op Saturday night, lending ear to Jean Gerardy’s memorable playing

of an old Hebrew chant —a model of absorbed appreciation (states the

Times), The sympathy of the audience was not upon the side of the usher who at the close of the item, literally bundled the listener out of the auditorium to the accompaniment of a protest no louder than the finest pianissimo of the artist’s 'cello. No whisper of scandal has been raised, but who shall say that a eat has no soul for music?

Strong comment was made at the Hospital Board (reports a Wellington telegram to-day) on the number of deserted families it had to provide for. Cases were quoted where the husband would do nothing, despite the orders made against him, and it was said there were at least twenty-four of th:m. In one instance, the man went away, and the police wanted £3O to bring him back. It was also stated that £20,000 in unpaid fees were written off last year, and the amount would be more like £30,000 this year, though an attempt would be made to recover some of the money. Smart Bros, for electric light advertising flashing Solar Lamps. For Electric wiring, repairs, etc. ring up No. 30 and at night No 156, VVfKd*’ Great Peppermint Cure. bw rVnrrh* «nd nmrer fail* Sanderson and Judd for plumbing drain-laying electric work, etc. All kinds of electric fittings stocked. Good work, prompt attention. Telephone 222 x

A meeting of the Avon Croquet ton last week noticed about 100 houses in course of erection. There was no building going on in the country

A cold journey was experienced by passengers on the south-bound Main Trank expess on Wednesiay morning. It was stated that, in the vicinity of Ohakune, there was a foot of snow on the ground.

The Government steamer Tutanekal, In investigating the reported slip at East Cape, which has since been denied, will reach Auckland on Monday, ''reports the Press Association.

The boys’ cycling road race to

Midhirst and back, organised by Messrs. Lightband and Wann, took place yesterday afternoon. Nine competitors entered, the names and handicaps being H. Crofts (2*min), Sullivan and Board (1J), Vickers and Penberthy (1), Wakeman, Kil-

patrick, and Porter, scratch. Vickers

▼on easily, followed by Sullivan and Penberthy. A large number of spectators watched the race with Interest.

iftfty plugs of gelignite and 100 detonators were discovered beneath the Whakatane fire brigade station by the borough inspector, Mr A. L. Donaldson, while hunting for rats. He Is congratulating himself that his interference with the gelignite did not cause it to explode. Last week the Whakatane Borough Council Chambers were broken into and . the safe wrecked by gelignite. An escaped prisoner from Mount Eden Gaol. Frank Ballar, has since be n arrested in connection with the occurrence. i j For buying, tickets ‘in Tatfersal’s sweeps," an illegal lottery prohibited In New Zealand by the Gaming Act, a native named Ripine, of Okaiawa, was brought before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., at Hawera on Thursday and fined 5/- and costs 12/-. Constable P. Mullan said he arrested Ripine for drunkenness and found In his possession three tickets on “Tatt’s” and some money orders. The Magistrate: How did you knot! they were , tickets in Tattersall’s? Have you seen such tickets before? Constable;Mullan: Yes, years ago before they were prohibited. The accused did not appear and was not represented by counsel.

The Otago Daily Times reports: There is every prospect of a plentiful and unchecked water supply for the Waipori power-house for the next year. The show on the Lammerlaws is plentiful and blown with cold winds toto* deep drifts. The recent sunny days and keen frosty nights have alternately melted and then frozen the surface until the drifts are packed hard like ice, and the thaw will be slow and gradual. The Deepstream catchment (from which the corporation races carry the water to the Waipdri River) is practically well packed with drifted snow, and it will be January and possibly February before the water supply from this' source diminishes. The conditions this year are reminiscent of $3 years ago, when for tl?ree years in succession, each winter’s snow fell on the unraelted remains of the last year’s snowwreaths.

Tbs knowledge that tne Gaming bui was coming on for us second

reaurug on Vveuuoouay mght atUaoi.cu a rarge attendance ..10 the gaudy, bWaruakerß\ being weuropveocnteii (say a the Wbiiingion Covie»i*ouueut 'of the UaUiaiu Art, us) it\wa<* x’aiuoumi in the uuerxmou that would L>e an ari-nrght sitting ana this proven to be correct. Ine noase sat till 6.-w0 this morning, wut'U progress was' reported. Tiiere was a go on deal ot opposition to Ure bill because it" contains provisions granting Hi new totaiisator permits, many members bemg strongly of opinion Uiat tuere should be a more euuuaoie. distribution of existing permits before any fresh ones are issued. There is some talk about ths bill commg on again and some compromise being arrived at, but that Is highly improbable. Tiie general opinion is that'lbe bill is as dead as Julius Caesar.'

In the presence ot a large number of prison officials and criminal investigators a drug known as scopolamine was administered recently to three inmates of San Quentin (Jaol, Colifornia. The contention of the doctor conducting the experiment was that sqppolamine rendered its subjects incapable of mental inhibition so that it became Impossible for them to tell a lie while under its Influence. Aftet the drug was administered, it is reported, John F. Farrar, who was convicted of murdering a Chinese at Sacramento, California, disclosed that the fatal shot was fired by another man; Eugene O’Leary, who was sentenced on a theft charge, furnished the authorities with information as to his identity, while a third prisoner, a negro named Johnson, confessed Ms guilt and admitted several o'her crimes. The experiments are not held to be conclusive by New York criminologists, who declare that scopolamine results in a condition resembling hypnotism. While loosening the tongues of those to whom It, is administered it renders them peculiarly susceptible to suggestion*.

The wheat crops are already showing above the ground in some parts of the Oamaru district. Spring sowing will shortly be in full swing.

Weather forecast.—The indications are for south-easterly winds, strong to gale at time. The weather will probably prove cold and showery. The night will probably be very cold. The barometer has a ris ; ng tendency.—D. C. Bates, Wellington.

Triplets born to the wife of Mr Turner, an unemployed Middlesborough engineer, were exhibited in a gift perambulator in a local shop window, attracting large crowds. The occupiers of the shop were fined 10s for causing an obstruction in the street.

Finding that nis son, aged four, had been breathing somewhat heavily for a couple of weeks, a resident of Central Hawke’s Bay took the lad to a nose specialist for examination. An operation was performed. an ( ] a small button was extracted from the child’s nose.

There are no motor car speeders in North Adams, Massachusetts. A policeman stands at the roadside with a red latern or flag. Speeders are hailed and cautioned to use discretion. If the driver fails to slow down ' the policeman blows bis whistle—further down the road a board filled with short spikes is stretched across the the highway.

Jones arrived home unexpectedly one morning and found his wife’s Irish washerwoman the only occupant of the house, “Dou you know anything about my wife’s whereabouts?” he asked the queen of the tub. “Faith, an’ Oil don’t, Misther Jones,” she replied. “There’s nary a soign of them in the wash this week.”

It is not often that a juryman is excused from service after he has already been empanelled and feat among the favoured 12. This occurred in a divorce case in Auckand. The juryman was a brother of one of the witnesses, and the judge remarked; “Counsel think, and I agree, that it would be better if he did not take further part in the deliberations. The juryman ' agrees this course would be better in the interests of everybody.”

On Saturday last some Westport coal was put on the fire at Mr T. Spiller’s residence (relates the Wairarapa Standard). When the ashes were afterwards removed an oldfashioned gold ring was found among the debris. The ring has apparently been made in five sections, ana in spite of its baptishra of fire it is very little the worse for wear. Inside the ring is the following inscription: “William Douglas, of Orchardton, died "July 9, 1821.” Evidently the ring was a keepsake of an English miner, who is or was working in one of the West Coast coal mines.

The Primary School Rugby team played Wharehula this morning, about seventy travelling out by motor. The game was a splendid one, being well contested. The result was a win, for Stratford, by six points to nil. L. Cplllns. broke away on his own and centered to Dug Butcher, who scored. Collins d?d not improve the score with his kick. Later, P. Collins drop-kicked a goal from a penalty. Mr G. Were of Toko, refereed very satisfactorily. The hospitality of the Wbarehuia residents was again strikingly exemplified, all the visitors being entertained to tea and refreshments before leaving.

The Dunedin correspondent of the Christchurch Press reported: A large and curious crowd gathered around the end compartment of a first-class bird-cage carriage on the express, the reason be.ng that the two prisoners who received each a term of seven years’ imprisonment at the recent criminal sittings were in the compartment bound for Paparua prison. The ex-missionary Lind took an affectionate farewell of his wife and children on the platform, while several people shook hands with the ex-chemist. “Poor old Jimmy,” an expression often heard, seemed to sum up the opinion of those assembled. Inside the compartment the two sat for a while with the blinds up, but a few minutes before the train started the exmissionary shut himself out from the view of the crowd by pulling down the blind. On the other hand the ex-chemist preferred to look out of his window, and when the train moved off numerous hand waves were directed towards him, the reply being a wave of his handkerchief. Winter Is on us again. Get your spouting and downplpea repaired and don’t let the timber in your houses and shops decay for the sake of a few shillings. Stan Rob Inson will do you a good Job, Step alnnr to Weston Bros, and give your order. s