STRATFORD NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 33, 7 February 1903, Page 2

STRATFORD NOTES.

1 (From our Own Cohresposdent.) [ Many and fervent have been the prayers of thankfulness offered up by us in the neighbourhood of Egmont for the succession of fine sunny days, without wind or dust, with which it has phased the Powers to bless us. The duties of the mm with the hose hays not been light, and our streets are clean and dry and cool. The farmers have seized the occasion, as Mrs Brown says, by tha " firelock," and are literal'y " making hay while the sun shines." Oa Thursday, the s'h, Strat f ord was en fete, the ocosion being the monster picnic of the United Friendly Societies of tha district. King Edward Park w is gay with fliga and the bright colors of the ladies' summer cos'umas. A large number of visitors from New Plymouth cams down by the morning train. Everything wtnt off in a highly satisfactory manner, so that the officials miy congratulate themselves on a successful function. Amongst those on the ground, I notice d Messrs Symes and Jennings, M's.H.R., and tha Mivors of Stratford and El'him. The mueh-neelud improvements in tho railway yard are now almost compile, As a rule the authorities are slow to vecognisn tho increasing requirements of a growing town like Stratford, but in tho mutter of ra'lway we have everything that should meet the demands of cur traffij for mauy years ta come. The lengthening of the platform now allows the north and sou'h trails to be worked at tho same time, and passeng rs aro put to the minimum of inconveniscc *, where before everything was confusion, battle and bustle. The goods shed and cattlj yards are now on Juliet-street. Str tford, i»,de:d, has no reason to find fault with the Minister of Railways for his treatment of the town. Our bowlers h ive having; a rare old time duiiug the fine evenings of tha last few weeks, for was not the championship being slowly decided. Oue by one the competitors weie weeded out till but Me-srs Brown and Fitzgerald wore left. In the final name Mr Bivwn bad to own himself beaten. It is, indeed, soite'liina fr a new player like Mr Fitzgerald to be proud of an l I hope to him on *omi future occasion ma-.suring himseif with the cracks of other clubs. Bowling has taken on here, and promises to ba tha most popular of summer gain is.