STRATFORD NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 35, 14 February 1901, Page 2

STRATFORD NOTES.

BANQUET TO MR. NEWTON ICING. The Stratford people decided tha' Mr. Newton King could not be allowed ro leave for Home without marking their sense of the great benefits conferred on the district by his businrxs

enterprise, accordingly a complimentary banquet was tendered to him on Tuesday evening at the Coun'y Hotel. Stratford is somewhat notod for the succesj of such functions, bu 1 ; it is r,o exaggeration to say that the aft'iiiat the County Hotel on Tuesday was the most brilliant gathering ever held in Stratford. Notwithstanding tickets heing fixed at a guinea each, i.ver 100 gues'6 werP present. The chm- was very ably filled by Mr, Joseph Mapkay, the County Chairman, and the tsiA 1 s were loaded in exquisite taste with eviiry variety of S'il : ds and liquids and ornaments and flowers of the m >st beautiful description. In fac 1- , Mr. and Mrs. Kirk wood excelled ail their previous efforts. In spits of the attendance no less than 20 apologi s for absence were read by the Chairman. The toast list was wisely a restricted one—The King, Army and Navy and Yo'ustpers, r»nd the guest of the evening, In proposing Hie 'a'ter, the Chairman made tin (loquent speech, in the cou r 6e of which ho referred t:> Mr. King as the most enterprising and far-seeing settler in Taranaki, the typical auctioneer, and tha best friend the settlers in Taranaki wished or were over likely to have. The Chairman's remarks were supported by Messrs. Wood head (Stratfo'd), Nolan (Hawcsra), (Jorj'igan (Matiaial, and F. Bayly (Toko). Mr. King most ably and faslingly replied. "Tho Iloat and Hostess " and Auld Lang Syne brought the procjediogs to a close at 11.30 p m. During the evening the proceedings were enlivened by some excellent music by the Stratford Band, while songs and recitations were given by Messrs. Rapley, Bond, and Nathan.