Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 140, 9 December 1911, Page 3

Stratford News.

AFTER THE BATTLE STRATFORD FITS FORWARD HER CLAIM. It would have dune your heart good to see tin' rush for the Daily News at the local bookstall this morning. It was unprecedented, as far as I can learn, but it wasn't surprising, for, apart altogether from the faet that there lias been an election rush on the morning paper for weeks past, there is a very solid increase in its circulation in Stratford and the adjoining district. The policy of opening a resident agency here is very generally approved, and there is a widespread appreciation of the activity displayed in enlarging the scope of the paper and at the same time bringing Stratford affairs more prominently before the notice of the whole of Taranaki. It is recognised that, this must have a beneficial effect on the town, which, as. is fairly well known, is now on the brink of a sound progressive movement. Altogether over a thousand copies of the Daily News were circulated and seized upon with aviditv this morning in Stratford and its immediate district, and the agents' special supplies were immediately snapped up. DISCUSSING THE SITUATION. i The whole of the morning has been occupied by scores of our business people in discussing the situation which the figures have revealed. No one here was prepared for it, although there are some who claim to have foreseen something of the kind. Pencils were produced, and heads counted. A prominent Oppositionist found in a few minutes that the Ward administration had met its Waterloo, and he set about the construction of a Ministry with Mr. Massey at the head of it. In the next group of anient politicians the pencil was being wielded on the margin of the news sheet by si Government supporter, and he confidently returned Ward, Millar & Co. to . power, with a working majority of eight,' and with the rosiest of chances of winning more than half of the remaining seats.

F.iit the general opinion in this borough is that a change of Government is imminent, and will'be assured at the conclusion of the second ballots on Thursday next. Such an expression of opinion frequently found hot opposition, and an argument was sure to follow. As equally certain was a challenge, an assertion that '•'money talk-." and a wager. One man is reported to have filled some pages of his note-book with bets on the matter.

And here in Stratford there is a very general opinion tliat the trend of public opinion, wliich has cost the Government several scats, ami which places further seats in danger, owes its birth to Stratford. Of course. Stratford usually knows how to keep its end up. so no one need be surprised to learn that here in Stratford was tiie very germ of the Reform Party's organisation. It was. I am assured, to a Stratford man that Mr. Massey turned for a scheme of work. Tt was the Stratford nun who advised Mr. Massey to let himself be seen and heard throughout the electorates. It was the same man who supplied the detailed working plan which has been followed throughout the Dominion. The big crowd of electors on Thursday night stuck firm till midnight. There were still hundreds of people in the

street at 2 a.m. Cheers and hooting : ami liana ok ins; filled the air. Hut there was no disturbance. Mr. llino motored off to Tnglewood during the evening, and T am told that hi, secretary. Mr. Bond, had to submit himself to the Yankee llobson ordeal. That is only rumor, hut where there's smoke . I'pon Mr. nine's return to Stratford he might well have ejaculated, ''Save me from my friends! - ' They seized him and raised him shoulder-high, and perched precariously aloft he was borne in triumphant procession. That lie escaped with his life is not wonderful, but that 'he escaped without very serious derangement of his apparel certainly is. It was long after three o'clock when the last result went up, and a most orderly crowd of electioneering barrackers dispersed. The ringing of the firebell was the act of some mischievous folk returning northwards to their homes. The firemen must have blessed them.

I forgot to mention, by the way. that ,r r. Mine is selected as Minister of Pub- ■ Works by one gentleman wdio denies

"overnment any chance of mainta'.e' their seats on the Trcasurv benches.

DOMAIN BOARD. The Domain Board's monthly meeting this afternoon was attended by Messrs. 0. X. Curtis (chairman). P. V. Ralfe, B. McK. Morrison, W. P. Kirkwood and T. 11. Pen n. There was no correspondence, inwards or outwards. The chairman said he had visited King Edward Park with Mr. Penn, and had come to the conclusion that the sycamore trees were having a very bad elTeel on the spruce and oilier young trees on ihc north side of the Paten river. They were very beautiful tree.-, but he thought they would have to jro, for. amongst other reason', the winged seed spread the sycamores about until they become a nui-ancc. Mr. Penn a ••reed lliat miles, the sycamore were lak u out the\ would kill the trees behind them. Tlirv will be "ringed" or felled at the c'i-cretion of the chairman and Mr. Mor-

Tin- sccretavv reported thai after con-.-iilliiiir with .Mr. l'ciin lie iiml ptivon permission In :> visitiiiL' showman to e'vo it Fireworks display in Victoria !'aH\ to the weather conditions lie ha.] been unable to show, and lia<l suffered ■-< 10-s of C.l. -(. now lie asked for a refund of hi- CI fee. -Refund aulliori,ed.

STRATFORD TENNIS CLUB The tennis players have much to complain about as far as the weather is concerned. (!n-dv and rainy days have prevailed, and there has been lc-s prac-lif-e to dale than in aiiv season, perhao-. >ince our local cluh- were formed. S| ; ll some teeniliers have nianatred to »el inlii form, and some cxciliiiL.' malches Imv- heen played on the Stratford Club's lawni. This week X. Crawshaw played a ladder match against K. Yoiinji. who was on the third thh". the two top places lieiii" held by R. ?.. Anderson find Don Cameron. Crawshaw prevailed, but not until after two hours' solid pbu'iiinir. the maximum number of frames (33)' lieim.' placed, and tlie final score j reading «—a, s—o. «-'">. The scoring was vow even throughout, and deuces

* From Our Resident Reporter, * *************'********** ******.!.*

were as plentiful as the flowers in spring.

Next Thursday the club will receive a visit from the New Plymouth club, and teams of six ladies and men will be engaged on either side. The weather today is warm and fine, and gives promise of better tennis conditions to come. GENERAL NEWS. The Amateur Operatic Club will hold a. full rehearsal on Monday night in the Town of Hall of "Trial by Jury," which is to be .staged on Thursday next in aid of the school funds. Professor Owen Cardston, who is to organise an "All Nations Carnival" in aid of the fire brigade funds, has arrived in Stratford, and will make an immediate commencement with the training of two hundred children who are to take part in the dancing novelties. He promises something new on each of the first six nights of the New Year. Besides some dainty and unique : dancing there will be a charming scene. The Primitive Methodist Sunday School comes of age on Sunday, and an- i niversary services will be held morning, ] afternoon and evening, with special singing by the children and special sermons by the resident minister, Rev. B.' Metson. The annual week-day rejoicing is fixed for Tuesday, when 'i understand very satisfactory reports will be read, showing a good increase of scholars and healthy finance. There was no business for to-day's meeting of the Licensing Committee. On Monday morning at 10.30 a meeting of creditors in the estate of A. E. Burgess, boot and shoe importer, will be held at Stratford. i

The paths in the park are to be given a Christmas cleaning by order of the Domain Board.

The inspector of noxious weeds has ordered that the broom in King Edward Park must be cut down whilst in the height of its golden glory. One or two of the members of the Board thought it should suffice if the broom were cut on the flat land, and not interfered with along the banks of the stream, because it was rather attractive there than otherwise. Mr. P. F. Ralfe, however, who lias had some years of experience to guide him in coming to conclusions in matters of this kind, objected that if the broom were allowed to seed on the river banks the seed would be carried downstream on to settlers' farms, and the resultant growth would become a nuisance. So the Board decided to liavo every bit of blooming broom about the place cut down forthwith. The next meeting of the A. & P. Association's committee will be held on Tucsdav evening next. Victoria Park is no longer the convincing ground of the football fifteens and cricket elevens. The new showground provides a better playing-field, and the grandstand accommodation is a boon to spectators on a winter's afternoon when there's half a gale off snowy Alt. Egmont. The Domain Board loses the footbailor without a sigh of regret, for. as was said at the Board meeting to-day, it cost .more to keep the ground for them than was ever received in revenue. Victoria Park is an excellent breathingspace, in the residential area, and is a fine playground for the rising generation.