Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 42, 23 February 1904, Page 2

Stratford News.

(From oiii- con-esponiilent.) Monday Kvening-. This is the laiwl of sport ol> all kinds. Columns of racing, cricket, football, rowing, tennis, bowling, etc, (1 beg the bowlers' collective pardon for not men'tfoii'ing ! Ivem first), lill tlw papers. In each game the spirit of emulation is kept alive by contests for some coveted trophy —arid there the similarity eivds, for the footlxullers prefer n cup (emblematic of the tankard of mi (.thrown ale), the cricketers go to the opposite extreme, and strive for mythical ashes, and the bowlers, scorning! to bo 'base imitators', have evolrud u form of trophy known as "the fuatliers." To the lay niin'.l (ahem !) if certainly seems, as if the winner of this trophy slvould be permitted, its the Autocrat of tli<e Hreukl'ast Table phrases it, "to crow gently." On the local green on l*'rkkiy evening Inst an exciting' contest ended in victory for Mr Ueorge .Smart by the nitirowesi of margins—one point. J lie (howlers travel to Altayiwiu on Thursday next to have a friendly argument with .their old opponents theiv. One cannot help noticing with ttimißemeut, and a little envy, perImjxs, tile fieemasonry that seems to oxi.vt to u far greater e.vtent among bowlers than followers of other gttmes. A bowUv may be a strangur in a strange town, but he luum't been there long before someone suys, "Hullo., there's old So-*mid-+'.o, of the Wh&t-you-cull- em club. jMet him at the tournament last year." And he gves over, shakes haiuds, shows the visitor round, and makes time pass pleasantly for Jam.

The Chamber of Commerce, ivcfntly formed, or rather revjxud, on the initiative of the Mayor, Mr N. J. King, promises-, as tlw lulvertisesay, "to till a long-felt want. ' 'lho Tradesmen's Association will probably continue its existence as a Ixttly more piwtieulusly conlining itself to trodcsmwi's and townspeople's affairs, while questions uflectmg the whole of the district can be better *loal't with by a representative body such us the new chamber will l*>.

'J lie We.st]»oit pt-ople aiv doubtless exalting the name of Cai'iK'gie. Tinware th« hajjpv possessors of an order for £OOOO on thy .Steel King. Application was numde about a year ago on behalf of the StnitiWl J.ihitiry, and it is to be hojaul tJisit tlie answer (when it arrives)' will bo as favourable «.v iu the case of Westport. 1 notice that our old ft iend Mr K|li.s has been efifen'uic joyfully into an electioneering campaign at Home, and that some Opposition paper hu.y been mo:i't unCleyervedly attacking him, ami ini[>eacbin'g tho truth of his statements about our 2,0(K> t (H)0 trained iig'lijtiii'i* nion, atud *thp youngHtors who neglect their nwirblcK unrf tops to make bulls' eyes at 1000 yaids. 7 feel sure that Mr Kllis Ims been soling for him to think t.hiat Mr Kedilon .sulfei.s similarly. f'hanjjes arw irt-niling among the land aguuts of Ktratfoiil. One yoes to Hamilton s-hprtlv t v i establish a branch there, learing a newly-ac-quired partner in chargu of his Stratford business. Another is reported lo lie leaving for fivsh fields anil pastures ik*w. The pieniic on Thursday next should sentil up tiie railway lvcvijits coiwidiirivb'ly. The Trad«wnien's Association has decidi'd ;;n a whoki hoISiay. The Municipal Band will accompany the excursionists, who, whin they arrive at the seaside, will lind the l.i-mon Co.'s line steamer Itotoili avuihible for trips "round lhp hiiibour." Ijt will doubtless )»■ a dillicukt job lo got some of the yo'inijSHtws out of the bat-lus in time to catch the train for jninie. S|>enk!,ug of the Mumicipiil Hand, it. is lo be hopi'd that the clTdrt iilK made, by means-; of an art union, to raise sulliciont lumls to purchase new Instruments will be well supported by townspeople. The band has mottle K <X*l plotless in the lace of considerable dimeullies, ami if the people waut it to go ahead furtin'r, they must helji to obtain the instruments so banlly nee<U<i. 1 Ik; t'lioral .Society 'is another imi.- »!'•!»! prgj>ni«i(ti|iii miikintj a (l-istinct 'flldxauee, Owjiiy to Hie nunuber of juHt before lMister, the committee have wisely decided to postpone the next concert for a month.