DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 176, 18 August 1909, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondents.) STRATFORD. The great Stinking Fish Party, otherwise known as His Majesty's Opposition, are well named, as they ecoiu to he doing all they pos'Sibly can to hinder the progress of our fair Dominion by painting a black picture of the lamentable condition of things monetary and commercial. Funny, isn't it? The Athenic, one of the largest boats trading to the Old Country, carried a full cargo; butter is a good price, woo] solid, brad higher than ever, cheese top of the market, no potato blight, free education, lime and manure carried for the long-suffering farmer at a. minimum rate, dairy inspectors abolished and now called instructors, one noxious weed inspector abolished, one hundred of the Roads Department retrenched, local County Council going to gazette pennyroyal a noxious weed, all the dairy factories in full swing, and New Zeala/il just as prosperous as ever; cows giving more milk, breeding just as many calves'; race meetings flourishing like a green bay tree, "Ikey Mo," in spite of the Gambling Act, "laying t'hein" as freely as ever; the local Borough Council inviting the Police Commission to visit Stratford, and the Xgaire land-taxers allowed to freely express their opinion; on the Government valuers. What more do people want in this blessed country, flowing with milk and whey? Mr. Xcwton King's hide and skin sales have reached huge dimensions, and are now the premier hide sales of the Dominion. As the slaughter of the innocents will shortly commence, they will go still higher. Cattle are at top price; £lO to £l2 is a fair average for a good dairy cow now. and specials' reach as high as £l4 right through. The tillers of the soil wear a happy and contented look. The controversy on hospital charges continues, and the question of what a hospital is for is the burning question. Neither the Minister in charge, the Board, nor anyone else is quite clear a? to what its' functions are. It is to be hoped that the new Bill will allow mem hers to be elected on a broad franchise, something like Parliament, so that all the people will be represented, as, after all, the consolidated revenue finds most ot the money.

WAREA,

A meeting of the Warea Defence Rilh Cliil) was held on Saturday night. Five members were present, and llr. McLachIn 11 was-voted to the chair. The minute* of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, The notice of motion given at last meeting—''That a limit of 03 in regard to handicap s'hooting he estab lished. and i-n the event of a tic being made bv two or more members, tinmember with the least handicap secures Hie leg-in: in the event of a tie, then the member who scores most at the longest range secures the log-in"—was read. An amendment was proposed thai the motion read "02" instead of "05.'' It was proposed that the 02 limit apply to scratch me n only, and in the event of any two men ticing, the member with the least handicap secure the leg-in. Then if both handicaps are the same, the man who scores the most at tin longest range will be awarded the leg-in. —Messrs. W. JlcLaelilau and C. TI. King applied for their discharges from the club, as they -were leaving the dis'trict. The discbarges were granted.—Mr. 11. A. Mills, president of the club, sent in. hi c resignation, owing to his leaving the district. Mr. Mills stated that hj« in' presenting a trophy to be fired for. II was resolved that the MeercUiry write to Mr. Mil-Is tendering liiiu the' thau'<of the e'uli for his offcr of the trophy, and that Mr. Mills' resignation be ac cepted with regret. The airship craze has now got into tbis district. On Sunday night last the mysterious light that was supposed to be that of an airship was seen floating about over the Knitnke ranges for some time in the early part of the evening, and on Thursday night again it was supposed to have been seen by some of those who -were at the bachelors" ball, but it afterwards turned out to be the two large stars, Venus and Jupiter, that were close together that night and showed very bright from sunset until late in the evening. Mr. T. E. Julian, who recently sold bis dairy stock, owing to bis lease of the farm being up, took over the Wares store on Monday last from Mr. C. 11. King. Mr. Julian, being a resident of the district from his childhood, and being known by all around. ou<rht to get a fair share of trade. Mr. King left lice on Monday, and is, I understand, going ovo: to Hastings. The ninth competition for Mr. V. V. Robinson's trophy was fired on Saturday last. Only a few competed, and poor scores were made. Mr. W. 11. Julian secured the leg-in.