STRATFORD NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 319, 19 February 1910, Page 8

STRATFORD NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, February 18. Whilst motoring to the New Plymouth races yesterday, Mr. Rhodes, licensee of the Stratford Hotel, had a very narrow escape from a smash up. He was unacquainted with the road and when close to the Sentry Hill bridge tried to pass a car ahead of him. The dust raised in front prevented Mm seeing the bridge, and it was only wnftu the splashboard came in contact with and was smashed to pieces by the side .of the bridge that the party realised how close they had been to a serious accident. I heard rather a good story about the petroleum works at New Plymouth. -A gentleman and his wife, visitors to your town, in the course of a walk passed the oil works. The lady ask'd what they were and y her husband :'i>-1 formed her. Her next question was as to the depth of the bores and she was rtold about nine thousand feet. Nothing; more was said and a little while aititwards some friends were joined. The lady commenced talking about what she Jiad seen and been told and a conversation sprang up between the ladies. The ■husband came up and asked what they were talking about, and received the reply: "Oh, we were just talking about the oil bores and wondering how the poor men who are at the bottom manage to breathe." His wife and aer friend are still wondering why the "riuie man" went into fits of laughter. To-day is "pay-day" on the railway Ai'orfcs, and as the dairy factories pay out to-morrow business should be brbk in Stratford. The following are the amounts which will be paid out by the various factories around Stratford for January milk, the' figures in parentheses being the amount for the corresponding month last Ngaire £2775 (£2690), Cardiff £I!WS ( £1987), Lowgarth £1062 ( £1676), Huiakama £440 (£564), Puniwhak.iu r £3l6 (£170), Makahu £340 (£2'oo), Stratford £7191. It will be noticed \ that in nearly every case there is an,.] increase over last year's figures. It is said the railway works are responsible for the decrease in the quantity of milk supplied to the Huiakama -factory. Settlers in several instances iave ceased taking milk to th« factory .as they find a better market amongst the men on the railway line. Four rinks of Stratford bowlers visited Eltham yesterday, but after an interesting game victory rested with the home team by 101 to 85. The Mayor of Stratford is convening .a meeting for the 25th inst. to consider the formation of an Agricultural and Pastoral Association in Stratford. This *is a movement which it is to be hoped will receive the hearty support of tlis farmers of the district. As the junction] oi the railway line Stratford must \e-| come a very important stock centre, and it is certainly the best situated town, from every point of view, to be the locale of a winter show. Four pupils from the Stratford District High School passed the Senior Civil Service examination. These were: J. Marks, E. Dewhirst. J. Cuthbert, G. M. Wylie, whilst IT. Priestley secured a partial pass. The Stratford Horticultural, Society's autumn show will De held on Manli ,10th and 11th. Ml ; . R. H. Cameron, of the firm of Cameron and Brooking, the well-known contractors, met with'a serious accident jto-dav. He was out at Te Wera. where ,the firm is just completing' a met-.il-.crushing contract, two days only being required to finish it, when, as far as Van be learnt at present, he slipped in "front of a loaded quarry truck, whiA passed over his right leg between the knee and the ankle, fracturing it snrt smashing it badly. He was driven into Stratford. After consultation. Drs. Paget and Carbery decided that amputation of the injured limb below toe knee was necessary, and the operation ,was performed this afternoon. General sympathv will be extended to Mr. CamVron in his misfortune.