Stratford Summary

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 18 November 1911, Page 3

Stratford Summary

(Prom our Resident Reporter.) MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Friday. November 17. A fair amount of business was disposed of in short order at the S.M. Court this morning. In the S.M. Court, before Mr. W. G. Kenriek. S.M.. judgment was given by default in the following cases:—G. Syni'e (Mr. F. W. Wake) v. A. E. Kemp, claim £3 4s 2d and costs (1.35); A. D. Carberv (Mr. J. R. 1,. Stanford) v. .Tames Farrell, claim £3 18s and costs (10s). In judgment summons. G. Clement (Mr. F. W. Wake) v. John Ilaggie. a debt of £3 12s 3d, the debtor failed to appear, ami an order was made for payment of the amount forthwith, in default seven days' imprisonment. Central Co-oper-ative Stores Co. (Mr. W. 0. Malone) v. dames Hodge. Xo appearance of debtor. Order made for payment of £l9 6s, in default 14 days' imprisonment. In the case of A. Ferguson (Toko)' v. H. L. Divehall, on a judgment debt of £l3 15s Bd, Mr. Fookes appeared for the judgment debtor. The debtor was put in the box and examined by counsel, but no order was made. A BUTCHER'S BILL.

Mr. Kenriek,- S.M., found it hard to believe this morning, even on the man's own sworn testimony, that he didn't know what wages his sons were earning, or how much they contributed to the family exchequer. ''You ought to know," he told the debtor, who was opposin" an application for an order by his family butcher. "You could have asked your wife, couldn't you?" Counsel endeavored to show that the debtor was in the habit of taking work, giving an order to some of his creditors for the probable amount to be forthcoming, and then quitting work. In one case he gave an order for over £5. and left when he had earned only ten shillings. In another case he gave an order for a somewhat similar amount, and left the work. Then his wife came along and collected the twenty shillings he had earned. "You shouldn't give an order until the money is there." said His Worship. "But," 'complained the debtor, "he. forced the order out of me." To which counsel rejoined. "And I suppose the butcher was forced to give you the meat for your family?" And the Magistrate chimed in. "And now he's, trying hard to, force you to pay for it." These storms burst idly over the head of the debtor, who stood, firm that he had not ■•had''the" money to satisfy the <lebt, "It's a most unsatisfactory state of affairs," commented the Magistrate, in announcing that he was unable to make an order. ''This man goes on. year in and year out. obtaining goods on credit, and giving orders for payment which are not of any use. I can't understand why tradesmen give so much credit hs this."' (The claim was for £l3 odd.) Of course, he said, a man did some good to the State bv rearing a family of eleven, but-that was heav" ily discounted if the" country' ha'd. in some way or another, to keep the children. He recommended the debtor to make an effort to-pay a few shillings a week to meet his creditors. : ' " '

STRATFORD'S INSPECTOR AT WORK. The borough inspector had his >isuai little "crop" of cases to-day in Court. C. J. Wiley was fined 10s and costs for driving two loose horses in Portia street, within the borough. A young fellow named Luklington. who w<is caught cycling on the footpath 'in Celia street, was also fined 5s and costs, the Magistrate remarking that fines didn't seenf to have any effect in stopping i.!, 0 practice. "You all seem to think that you'll be the lucky one who won't be caught, but you'll all be caught.in time." The cyclist murmured. ''Thank you." when the penalty was announced, and retired. For a similar offence in Romeo efreet, J..Ward was fined a similar amount. A WAGGOX ADRIFT,

. The polite proceeded against J. T. Belcher for leaving a vehicle and horses unattended in Fenton street, and without chaining- the wheel. The defendant appeared, and gave evidence, that he had. been carting on the-roads in this district for 20 years. Tn recent years he was frequently in Stratford with-, a two-horse waggon, and, his method of securing the team was by tvins: the reins back to the brake. Then.'if'the horses moved on at all, they found the whole weight of the waggon, on their, teeth, and soon pulled up.- On this occasion he had about a ton of goods. -on f the waggon, which in itself weighed about 15 cwt. Ifc was taking in goods at Mr. Newton King's, and whilst he was away for a moment the Sergeant came up; hence the information.

Sergeant Mullen's evidence was to the effect that the horses were moving off towards the railway line, and that they had nearly reached it when ho caught them by the head, folding them with difficulty. Ifc held them for a few minutes before the defendant was summoned from a neighboring hotel. Fined 5s and 7s costs. A TUMBLE AT THE TUNNEL. A COSTLY AMUSEMENT, Edward Lance and Ralph Haddock were charged separately on four counts, first with having wilfully damaged a .pair of spectacles valued at .C-t. the property of Sarah Bradley: second, with assaulting Sarah Bradley: third, with assaulting Edwin Bradley; and fourth, with assaulting Alfred Bradley; the charges all arriving out of a rumpus at the YVhangamomona tunnel on October 31 last. Both men pleaded gnilty.

Sergeant Ciillcn said that the two men pot ilnuik, mid went tn Bradley's place. TJradlev was chopping wood at the time. Thpy assaulted the P-rndleys, catching tin l woman liy the legs and throwing her to this ground, dragging hor along by flic leg- :"id breaking her spectacles. The menfolk were also punched and knocked almiit. Maddock manfully took the whole blame on himself, but the Ma-i-lratc pointed out that his mate tould i...f 1. ■ said to have had nothing to do with it. for he .-aw a woman assault ul and didn't, attempt to prevent, it. Th" price claimed for tin* spectacles ( <MI ?lruck the S.M. as too high, and he remarked that lie couldn't all'ord to pay such a. price himself. Mr. liradley. liowevcv, gave evidence that the glasses ciist e;; ]: v - ~| l|,,me. and that a specialist had -aid it would cost £4 to repair them. II". went on to say that the two ac: n-i ,1 wire good fellows when sober. and that their as-ault on him anil his family was. he believed, the result of s •.■ la'-inidcrstanding. They had been mi-led inlo believing they had a grievan:"< against him. He asked the Magistiale ti"! 'o be too hard o l the men. Sergi-an; Cullen also gave tile men a The Magistrate, said that in view of lira'!!...-'-■ ' -timony he would not make t'v ;.ai''h ""tit heavy, although he felt ; • " ■ ■■>■•! the men to gaid. without ■;!;<■ ~;. ui ii tine, for striking a v.aaaa.n. '!•■ "-.lriied them that men who d-ai'V a.-; .■ niitted itssaults were often piini-hi i! fur crimes which were quite iininteiitimal. In the course of such a m-uH''" a r.iit might pick up an axe, ~,.,■ h: V i: cnswer a charge of murder. ; or manslaughter. Tie advised them to give up the drink and place their money in the Post Office Savings Bank, where.

it would be of more use to them. Each was fined £2 for the assault on Mrs. Bradley, convicted and dis< barged on the other charges, ordered to pay the cost of the glasses, and expenses amounting to .£4 12s, each man's little hill for the affray running into six guineas.

XOT WANTED. A man named George Wilson, alias Morison, was sentenced to 14 days' gaol on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond. He had, the Sergeant said, been knocking around Stratford in a senii(lrunkou state for a few days, generally in the company of men of a like kidney, and hanging on to them as long as they had money to spend. He had made himself a nuisance by endeavoring to sleep in livery stables, and had eventually been found by Constable Mcintosh at night, half drunk, smoking in a railway carriage, having dossed there for the night. Sergeant Cullen said if the man wanted work he could easily get it. He (the Sergeant) could get work for a dof.eu men just now without difficulty. THE TERRITORIALS. THE SWEARIXC--IX PROCESS.

The swearing-in- of Territorials and Senior Cadets at Stratford on Thursday night drew to the Town Hall about a couple of hundred youths of splen'did stamp, most of them well set up, alert and of splendid physique, the sort of boys of which the district may well be proud. With rare exceptions all were cheerful, and did not seem to view compulsory military training as any hardship. The officers present were: Colonel Malone, Captain Carbery, Captain Hampen, Lieutenant Wilson, Lieutenant James, LieuCaptain Carbery, Captain Lampen, Lieulinger.

After the swearing-in- had been completed, all were mustered in the hall, not in particularly military looking lines, by the way, and were addressed by Colonel Malone and Captain Lampen. The former seemed endeavoring to put the lads at ease concerning the bogey of conscription, but certainly their bright, e!Sger faces showed no fear of the alleged evil.-, of the system. Colonel Malone gave a spirited address, and characterised those men who had not come that night as wasters, and promised that all wasters would be looked up. Colonel Malone hoped Stratford would J>e an example to Taranaki, and Taranaki an example to Xew Zealand, and concluded by urging them to play the game. Lieutenant Lampen,shrdlu mh shrdl

Captain Lampen, in addressing the men. asked them never to be afraid of making any request or complaint that was well founded, and promised to give every consideration, "but," he said, "don't point. That's one tiling I can't stand and won't, stand."

Tlifi first parade of the Territorials will be held next Thursday. The Stratford company starts right off the mark without any officers, and these will be chosen from the ranks without regard to favor or influence, but on personal fitness.

CEXERAL NOTES. As a result of the electrical disturbance it is thought -that'the telephone line between here and Whangamomona is out of action. The proposal.to institute.a uniformity of half holidays in Taranaki is-still exercising the minds of the commercial men of this district, and the matter will be discussed again at the next meeting of the Chamber of Commerce executive. Stratford is so central that it's representations should have some weight. It does seem absurd that in such a comparatively small area like the province of Taranaki we should have two differ ent half-holidays observed. From Xew" Plymouth to Eltham-the Thursday is observed, but South Taranaki holds on to Wednesday.. Last.year a movement in the direction of observing the one day was initiated, but it was badly timed, and there was sufficient time in which to bring about any change before the statutory time for the fixing of the holiday by the local governing authorities. . _

A post-card, one of the first ever carried by aerial, post,, is being exhibited at the Stratford branch of the Melbourne Clothing Company. Mr, Kdgecumbe .explains—as does : the postcard itself—that it was posted at; Windsor, antf travelled by aeroplane to London, then travelling to the Dominion by way of Italy. The card is attracting a good deal of notice. An aerial,posit .would be an excellent thing "out wist." ,jiuvft now. for the main road of the-.Whanga' saddle is heartbreaking for any.iiTiailman.;.- ■:. : . Mr. 0. Ruscoe, of,' Stratford, who won first prize .in thp. thoroughbred horse classes at \ew, Plymouth for two years running with, Royal Dragoon (Campfire —La Mnlo), a fine chestnut colt, is sending up a fulj-brqiher this year to try and capture more, prize money. Good judges declare, 'that.- he's '"a little beauty." RoyaJ Dragoon won at Stratford, too, 'last' yeaf, and the yearling will probably follow in. his steps here. The dam will be shown, at New Plymouth in the thoroughbred mare class.'

_ Rev, W. A, Sutler, vicar of Stratford, is away on a. weltcarned holiday just now, the •first he'has had since his ordination some sf.t'years ago. Ever of an active temperament, r he is making his holiday tour 6n his Cycle, and isn't having too good atinie'of .it. on account of the weather. 'lie,is at present in Wellington. Rev. #. ,4 Wyatt, of Auckland, is the acting-vicar". /' .. '-

Mr. t. Bird, "returning officer for the Stratford electofa'te,;'returned on Thursday from a visit to the outlying districts j of the electorate,,' 'on the trip he tra-| veiled.. 382 Wiles.,'of ..which 222 were on horseback, and 160 t>y .vehicle. He inspected ~>l polling-booths, the most distant of which is 00 mijes from Stratford. During the electrical- storm the other night tlie lightning got on to.the .telephone wires at : the.' s'outli end of the town. Mr. R. MeJ\. Morrison's 'phone was placed out of gear; but no serious damage was done.' '■',.'... The Stratford Municipal Library, is kept well supplied' with 1 newspapers, but. one frequently hMirs complaints that the newspapers are not 'filed, or that after being filed- tliey are removed from the desks and taken To the tables. The desk allocated to the local dailv hasn't had a.paper-place*;! \m it since Tuesday. November 14, and there's only half of that one left now.; ■ •' • . ''• "Library Frequenter" forwards me the following letter on library matters:—A matter that requires more attention at the hand- of the' Trading room authorities is,the-illustrated papers placed upon (he table. At present-, within a very 1 short, ,time; after'the arrival of these] papers, the illustrations are taken out sheet by sheet and scattered all over the place, and oftentimes they are so mutilated as to become useless What is required is that the- illustrations should be treated in a similar manner to those in other well-appointed reading rooms, viz.. make them a 'fixture to a table by the placing of an iron rod down the centre. Tlie New Plymouth, system might be adojitcd with advantage by the Stratford Library Committee, and it would be well if they would make themselves ( acquainted with the methods obtaining there.The St. Andrews Lawn Tennis Club j racially opened the season on Thursday afternoon. There was a good muster of

members and visitors from other clubs. Mr. Bra.yshnw (the president)'and Mrs. Brayshaw took part in the opening. Mrs. Tlrayshaw providing an abundant and excellent afternoon tea. Play on both grass and asphalt was keen and enjoyahle, and on all hands the opinion was expressed that the club is in for a successful season. ft had been intended to open the Stratford Lawn Tennis Club's season this week, but a postponement was made. A fairly keen interest in oil matters is evinced by many Stratford people, who arc anxiously awaiting developments at the hands of the English capitalists who have acquired the Taranaki Petroleum Company's interests. By the way. Mr. D. Ziman, a wellknown figure in oil and mining circles generally, was in New Plymouth this week. Conversing with 'a Stratford friend he said, he was very well satisfied with ithe oil prospects of New Zealand. He has not taken any special interest in our Taranaki field, but is keenly interested in New Zealand oil developments as a whole, and particularly in reference to Kotuku, where he < mitrols operations on behalf of English capital. His company at Kotuku is, he said, making good progress, and last week the depth of the well was increased by 00 feet. On Monday and Tuesday of this week the drill made a swift passage through CO feet of papa, and then struck a sandstone stratum, an experience which has delighted him and all concerned. Mr. Ziman is very h.opeful that the oil industry in Xew Zealand has before it a promising future. The north wind brought clouds of dust down Broadway this morning. The dust storms started early, some hours before the municipal watei'cart came into view. Then, when shopkeepers had despaired of seeing their new up-to-date sprinkler any more, out it tame. Then it rained. It is suggested that when the roads are dry and the wind comes along early the watei'cart might be sent put early too, as is done in Xew Plymouth. The matter has not escaped the notice of some of the City Fathers. Sir, —Allow me to congratulate you upon enlarging your sphere of usefulness by establishing an office in Stratford with a resident agent to furnish you with the doings of this important centre. A paper that'will speak out without fear or favo'r is a boon in any district, and that that policy is a strong plank hi your platform is evidenced by the manner in which you always criticise the actions of public men or allow your correspondents perfect freedom to do so, as long as they are temperate in their language and keep off dangerous ground—f mean libel. Such a journal is •very much needed in Stratford, and I hope your new venture will be profitable' to yourself and a gain to the communitv'at large.—l am. etc., "STRATFORD RESIDENT/'