Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 131, 24 November 1911, Page 3

Stratford News.

STRATFORD DOG FAXOIERS. SITVKSS AT XEW PLYMOUTH. Stratford fanciers worn well represented in the do* section at the Taranaki Agricultural Society's show, and they scored freely in the awards. 11. Bowler, in a strong class of greyhound bitches, was placed third—a really good specimen. T. Kirkwood, one of the most enthusiastic fanciers, not only in Taranaki. i but in the whole of the *Xorch Island, was successful in several sections, and also won the special prize for most points scored in the dog classes. In pointers he brought out a new dog to Taranaki—one recently purchased by him—David Copperlield, which, prior to coming into Mr. Kirkwood's hands, had proved himself a winner in keen'competition at various shows, although only a puppy. He had no difficulty in scoring in the juvenile class, and was second to Mr. I'. IT. Smith's famous Barkis in the open dogs. The quality of the. latter can be judged from the fact that he won the special for the best dog in the show. E. B. Stohr, with Seaspray, won in puppy, novice and open bitches. This is one of the best pointer bitches seen on tillo show benches of Taranaki. and is quite good enough to win outside ijii' good competition. In English setters T. Kirkwood was second in puppies with County Rake, a promising youngster. He was third in novice dogs with Shot, not up to the usual standard of representatives from the county kennels. In open dogs his Raek-a-Rock was first, a nice specimen, and shown in excellent form. The same dog was second in the limit class for dogs or bitches, and the same exhibit won in the brace class.

11l retrievers all the principal awards oame. to Stratford, and all were of really {food quality, quite above the average of retrievers shown outside the principal centres. F. Patterson was first and second in puppies (dogs or bitches), and Mrs. E. Patterson third. In open dogs Mrs. Dunham, another Stratford exhibitor, was first, with J. .T. Patterson second, and'the latter won the bitch class, and also the brace. In bearded or Old English collies Miss D. Cuthbertson had no serious competition to contend with, and won all through. In sporting teams T. Kirkwobd. was second, and J. Patterson third. 'Miss D. Cuthbertson was 'first in non-sporting team, T. Kirkwood second in 'sporting brace, and • Miss Ciithbertson' : fTrst'"hi the non-sporting brace. Miss'Cuthbertson was also second for best non-snorting dog or bitch.

These were the only classes in which. Stratford fanciers were represented," and. it can be seen from the awards thatdogs from this part can well hold their own,: even in good company, for'the show of dogs held in conjunction with the Agricultural Society's' )!>ll exhibitionr."was easily the best, both in numbers, and quality, which has been held, iri Taranaki. .:■'". .

DRASTIC MEASURES -WITT ?" '• Some time on Sunday last some lads who were in tjic-public' reading room in the Municipal Buildings broke down a shelf or bench.. It was not, an act of' wanton mischief, the town clerk ~gx: . plained to the Borough Council,'the" other evening, byt was an accident?' A young fellow had called, at his oilier' and owned U)) to having caused, the dajnage. for which lie wa- prepared In'pav.' He and two other.-,, he -aid. had been leaning with their backs to the berich, and their weight thrown upon 'it. arid "thev overtaxed its strength. ' : ' ■

Discus-sing the ma tier in Council, a suggestion was made that'the''libftiry should be closed altogether oil 'Sundays', on the ground that there had' beieh trouble ever since, the public "had been given access to the reading-room on that day. It wais alleged that the place was used mostly by larrikins "on Sundays, and-that, although the custodian clo-ird the "iuiiMing af 'half'jih'st five o'clock the place was opener! tip-again by these lads and all the'light* fumed on. They tjhen amused themselves, by leanintr out. of the windows ami passing remarks abrmt women and -girls passing along the. -tfkeetv ;.-

The whole mailer was referred .to the Library Committee for a report, ; fo ,t>)ie. next Council ineotin™. • ,-. ~.v , r. The mit!<-•->',- labors should :bc IlL'ht. although, th,.-trouble seems to be one of long standing. The question, of whether or not I lie reading-room should' be upon on Suihitiv-->- one upon which the Council will hardly arrive at, a conclusion which will satisfy even-one. The, reading-rooms in most towns are, open on Sundays, and are very-freely, used. Larrikinisni of ihis kind, is confined to a few town-, and' in each case'iVconfiiveVl; to a .very .few per-nn- who. might .vert easily be named and warned, Shrlnl'd .these few erratic individuals have, it in their power !,, i-revi lit tip- rooms' being nsi'd for their proper purpose on Die Onlyday on whicli Mime j"'ople desire to go there,"? Perlui;.s a -'. rid watch oii'tbc rooms for instance.- of misconduct; and a pro-icutiou or two. wuiild have a beneficial result.

The free ingri s-. of lariikiiis after hours suggests burg'anoii- entry. ta rmpi'riti'.' with d 'S or windows. Or do the larrikin-,, <-<■!;■" .e.'.vn ihe chimney'' \'o: the city father, who grumble aboil* the bov- -jeiliug ill can remedy this very ea-ilv. An op. r.jng wa- ..in for a win(lov.'at the rcir of the municipal btiild-i' ing-i loiil' ago. The window lias not been put in vet. PmluMv -he boys go in. and out. bv this simple mean-. The back ,1 „.!• '■: llcf pn'rtion of the block in thottgl' carp', nter ai: ! a !o'-ksmilh could impr'ov it a b: ( . !' remimN one of. ih" -c'ioo'lio'.k -tor'- of the earlc-s far-;-i- ,-h-i sufl'ir-'l a ii>!;ni leg and halt i -ice- "all for the want of a sixpenny

A XKHT.ri T!"!) CUT. Mr. C. \. (■'.::■' is i :i,-i- donalcd lo ilio V. v.!i:;li ('niii'.cil. :•< trn-tocs for the ::i.:; !i< of Slratfi l'-!. a - ! i i'!' handsomely : ..inn! volumes nf I In' Kiii-vrlnjirdia Bvi-:;i-i-■:.-!!. These volim - have for some ■iiii. li.m-ii -!:!!, linir '"I i 1'"1" 1 mantelpiece ;■•. ilii' f 'i)'in-il (h.imhcrs. moved <'ieiv ili.iililli'-s fur their l»'U:-v ]IVOSPI- - -,;; .„. !'..,t I!-,,- :\iiti!:-;i l are !••■) :lccos»ii|le to I I'l' "Vlloral pillllie. 111111 Mi.. hooks won' nnl " ; vcn for I lie delectation of (lie city father- only. Or. Mni'ii,ii ..rest |.;', the oll'.fT "Vlllil'L' tint tile iivoMii'.' hookcaso, wis:«■ ii seemed now in lie n-cil for «<■::<■<:..'. i'i!i']io<"s anil not, for tin' one inirpoh') fur which it was originally de.si<m<>!l, sho'.ih 1 . he placed in

* From Our Resident Reporter. *

some more accessible place, and the volumes placed in it, so that Mr. Curtis' object in providing these fine works of reference at the disposal of the public would be achieved. This, like the trouble with the youths in the reading-room, was referred to the Library Committee. Br the way, encyelopaediat are not nearly as popular as the "Colonial editions" of current fjction. One of these days we will perhaps find more people interested in books of the practical kind, such as these volumes which Mr. Curtis was good enough to buy for the public. When that day comes this handsome gift will be more appreciated than it seems to be to-dav.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. THE POST OFFICE. ' Sir,—l am. pleased to see that attention is being directed to the very insuflicient accommodation provided at the local post office. I do not know if tlie olHcials are housed any better than the public in the matter" of space, but I should think fresh air would be at a premium in these. The place is wretchedly small, and quite unworthy of a town like ours. I would like to suggest that the President of the Chamber of Commerce be personally supported by all our business and professional men when he goes to lay our case before Sir Joseph Ward. A new post office is a crying necessity. The site, like the railway route, can be left to the departmental officers to decide, but I hope it will be kept fairlv central.—l am. etc., PROGRESS.

THE ELECTRIC LTGHT QUESTION. Sir, —Noticing in your valuable paper some few days ago the report of an interview' with Mr. Masters re the acquisition of the Stratford nlectrical concern by the Council, I should like to put this position before your readers. If the business is such a splendid concern, why has Mr. Masters to resort to such peculiar methods in acquiring it? When asked to publish his original report, brought down by a sub-committee of the Council, which report misled the majority of the Council into going on with the business, lie says first it would affect the valuators in their work, but. in an interview with the Stratford Post, he promised.to -publish it as soon as the valuers had finished [their, labors. At a meeting of .the Council to receive the valuers' report'he then said that the original report would mislead the ratepayers, and carried, a resolution that it be not published. Such methods" have filled the ratepayers with suspicion, which is quite justified. I feel sure that it 'a voto was taken oh" the proposal at the present time Mb.. Masters would not get a ratepayer; besides himself and his fast diminishing coterie and the shareholders of the Electrical' Supply Company, to vote for the acquisition of the business. . .ui~< : .. .- .1 \..i' .

One more reagon,;for looking at the business with eyes .of. suspicion is .the .fact that yon find fhe shareholders of the concern' doing all they possibly can to push their business on to the ratepavers. —I am, etc.;- . LUX.