Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 144, 14 December 1911, Page 3

Stratford News.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ONNIVERSARY (By Telegraph—Resident Reporter,) Stratford, Wednesday. The Primitive Methodist Sunday School anniversary services, which commenced on Sunday, concluded on Tuesday night. The tea and concert were both largely attended. Mr. E. G. Foster, superintendent of the school, presided at the concert, at which the children sang special anniversary hymns in a manner which was a credit to themselves and their teachers. Solos were sung by Keitha and Reg. Martin, Mrs. Hancock and Miss Sanders, and recitations werg given by Miss Wade, Laurie Robinson, and Jim Foster. The balance-sheet showed a credit of over £5 on the year's working, and the report showed a substantial increase in the membership. In the votes of thanks, all who assisted in celebrating the most successful anniversary in the history of the school were mentioned, and special mention was made of Miss Robinson and Messrs. T. Lamason and R. Lobb. THE STRATFORD SCHOOL. The local School Committee decided to inform the Education Hoard that it does not feel inclined to reopen the school af- 1 ter the holidays until the new building is finished. EGMONT NATIONAL PARK MEETING OF THE BOARD.

The Egmont National Park Moard met to-day at Dawson's Falls House. Present: The Commissioner of Crown Lands (iMr. W. Armstrong), in the chair, and Messrs. W. A. Collis, J. R. Hill, C. Goodson and R. McK. Morison. Apologies were received from Messrs. S. Percy Smith, A. H. Moore and R. Dingle.

The resignation of Mr. G. A. Marehant from the Board was received with re-1 gret. The members of the Board were enthusiastic in their praise of the excellent state of the Dawson's Falls houses and their surroundings, and also concerning the excellence of the dinner served by .the custodian, Mr. H. Graham. Some delay was caused by a big tree having fallen across the road about a mile below the house on the previous day. RACES AT, NEW YEAR The next event of importance in Stratford is the Stratford Eacing Club's meeting on New Year's Day and' the following day, on the club's well situ-, ated and splendidly appointed course on the Pembroke road. The S.K.C. is essentially a go-ahead institution, and has been ever since its inception., It is only a few years, comparatively speaking, since the club was formed, and the first races were held on a course that boasted as fine a collection, of blackened stumps and logs as one eould wish for. But the men who guided the destinies of the young club were practical men and good sports, and apparently with profound confidence in the future of the district. The meeting was in those days held in March, on St. Patrick's Day. The races grew in importance, stakes' were increased, and horses were entered from far and near. Then the club managed to exchange dates with the Opunake Racing Club, whose meeting had been held on New Year's Day for some years. Then the Stratford Racing Club's meeting became recognised as a splendid summer outing, a couple of day's well conducted sport in a district full of sports. The Stratford old-timer returning to Stratford to-day cannot fail to beimpressed with the great improvements effected on the course. The club owns DO acres of freehold, valued at £45 an acre, of £4320 in all, and the assets of the club at the end of the last financial year were valued at .£7340 in property, plant and bank balance. The receipts for the race meeting of 1910 were upwards of £3OOO. Owing to the inadequate, accommodation for stewards and officials, and also the crowded condition of the grandstand at race meetings, the club let a contract for the erection of a new stewards' stand, and for the extension of the grandstand to make it accommodate half as many people again. The old building used as a secretary's office, jockey's room, etc., has been removed to another portion of the course .md made revenue-producing. The „..■..: 'stand enlargement is now about tosi'j'' '<>, and in addition to providing this increased seating accommodation will give a greatly enlarged space for luncheon and afternoon teas,

The new stewards' stand is a capitally appointed building. The measurement's are on a liberal scale, and all the rooms are well limited. A wide verandah, floored in concrete, runs round three sides of the building, and is surmounted by a spacious balcony. The ground floor is devoted to the- secretary's offices, weighing room and jockeys' room. The' staircase, which takes its beginning from the verandah and thus docs not take up any of the building proper, leads to the first floor, on which arc tke stewards' meeting room, stewards' private room, and .pvess-n).oni, all opening on to the balconv, and all verv convenient. ' '

Tho club lias made a departure by crccfing .in inm i-nilinjr around the lawn bird-cage, and saddling paddock, and this, when painted white, should be an attractive fiaiurc. The lotalisator house has li■ -. >■ remodelled, and a silent totalisator •■■ ':'! hj" installed for the Xew Year meeti•■■..-. The ennim't■''■■■ was well advised in not attempting ;> ii vel ■ and improve the lawn this .. ii-. for with the very unfavorable w..-'thvr it would have been impossible !<• :'-t a decent sward. This work will j• ■■ -1 ■.»_'-■! ■-- he undertaken early in the autumn. On the course proper the top-rai '■!■■ bi'en completed from start to .fmi- 1 :. The course has been improved by i'-.ili;.' i:;i a couple of dips, one at the back ■■!" (lie course being a decided inijn-'-M lei'ii!,. for now the horses will be vi> : !.'.' ,i!l the 'way. The logs and stum)! ..■ i ih" club's property have disappeared. ; >M 'vvcrvthing in the earden is lov, .-

As stall ' " ;he annual report, the club has s : i .! ■!■ number of Stratford Extension -■■. :'-»!- adjacent to tin- western lioundtM .! i !ii> "course. These sections have '.!■••:! -rciirely fenced off. and trees havi' '■■■■;' idanted with a view to preserving I':■.• i,:.lty native bush on them, theivl;.- ■>ufeiring a boon on the town for -'\ liirir. Planting has also been curre ! out on other portions of the club's oivn''rty. with a view to beautifying '.'. and als'i providing a good background • > ihe racing track. Thus it will be -. .■■! that the. affairs of the club are in *, i-ry capable hands, and that I the romtniilie is kept busy in carrying

* From Our Resident Reporter. ❖

out improvements. The club appears to be fortunate, too, in having a very capable caretaker.

The committee at its last meeting, appointed Mr. J. R. L. Stanford to act as judge at the forthcoming meeting. Mr. Standford is a good sport, and should also make a good judge. Mr. J v E. Henryß is the handicapper for the first day, and he should have the weights ready by Friday or thereabouts, the acceptances closing on the 22nd, on which dates the entries close for the Borough Stakes, Fanners' Plate, and Cardiff Stakes. Mr. J. Cliadwick, of Auckland, is the handicapper for the second day, and Mr. Harry Thomson, of Christchurch, is to act as judge. The club is determined to make this year's gathering a big one, and they can safely rely on good support from north, south, east and west, for the progressive policy deserves support. SWIMMING CLUB. The annual meeting of the Stratford Amateur Swimming Club on Tuesday night was not largely attended. Mr. E. B. Stolir was voted to the chair, The chairman said the club might be congratulated on the success of the previous season, which finished with a credit-balance, despite the fact that only one night carnival was held, and that the club had incurred expenditure in in-i stalling electric light at the baths. There had been a number of visiting swimmers' at the carnival, and they expressed themselves well pleased with the management of it, promising to return this season to the club's sports. Mr. Stohr also congratulated the club on having a very energetic secretary, to whom was due the bulk of the credit for the success of the season's work. He moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr. Kirkwood seconded, and the motion was carried without discussion. Several new members were elected. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Officers for the year were elected: President, Dr. Carbery; vice-presidents, Messrs. E. B. Stolir. F. A. Tyrer, J. F. Watson, \v. P. Kirkwood and D. J. Malone; committee, Messrs. Marlowe, Davy, D. Finlay, Whittington, C. S. Kelly and J. J. Staples; handicappers, Mr. G. E. Seabright for open events, and Messrs. Seabright and Kivell for local events; starter, Mr. E. B. Stohr; timekeeper, Mr. J. F. Watson; auditor, Mr. C. Potts; secretary, Mr. Kivell; assistant-secretary Mr. C. Potts; delegate to centre, Mr. D. McFarlane (Wanganui). An honorarium was granted to the secretary, but he said that he preferred to work for the good of the club, without any remuneration. The meeting, however, was insistent.

The annual subscription was fixed at 2s fid for the season.

The secretary was instructed to ask the school committee for the use of the baths on the same conditions as obtained last year (including the exclusive use of the baths on alternate Thursdays, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

Mr. V. Skoghind was electod to represent the club on the School Baths Committee.

On tjie motion of Mr. Kirkwood, seconded by Mr. Stohr, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. R. H. Kivell, the custodian at the baths, for his courtesy at all times and his assistance at the carnivals. Regret was expressed that the club's finances did not allow of a more substantial recognition of his services. THE BALLAST PIT. It is generally thought that the Skinner Road ballast pit is exclusively used for the purpose of obtaining metal for the" railway line now being constructed' by the Public Works Department to connect with the Main Trunk at Te Koura, but there are other works carried on requiring more skill than the mere loading of trucks with ballast. For instance, all the concrete blocks (each weighing nearly 200 pounds) for tunnel arches are made there, and at the present time there are many hundreds of these blocks ready for transit. Six men are constantly engaged .at this work, and about 100 blocks per day can be turned out. The moulds used for the purpose are provided with movable sides,' the insides of which, together- with the ends, are treated to a.coating of soft soap before the cement is put in. This prevents the mixture adhering, and gives a smooth surface; but be'sides this precaution, a man with a trowel goes round the newlylaid cement moulds and passes the implement along the sides and ends to prevent air-holes. Water is laid on to the Works. A tank lunl been placed on high ground, and Is kept filled by .a; pump near the river (the pit is along the banks of the Patea river'), innl pipes lead from the tank to Various portions of the works. When the cement blocks are laid oiit to harden up 'it is •necessary that they should be kept moist, and this i 3 cattily done by turning' on the hose. Where cement is freely used there is always a considerable-'amount of fine dust lying about, and tho : hose is found very useful to keep this from becoming an annoyance to (,he workme'n, who have a slight objection to taking'in'quantities of cement anil becoming as stiff as boards. It will be recollected that during one of the bubonic' plague scares in Xew Zealand some years ago it was attempted to induce rats to take k mixture of meat and cement, witli a dish of water close by. The result of partaking of the mixture would have been disastrous to the rodents, and the men at the ballast pit object to being subjected to a similar experiment. ■ The internal ha'rdening-up process is not palatable to them. The gravel pit is from 20 to .22 chains in length, by «bout|'a"chain in width at the widest place, and' runs from north to south along the bank's of the Patea river, the ballajst being now obtained from the north end, where the face is over 20 feet high. Several' feet;of'stripping has to be done before the gravel is reached', and the waste earth is trolliwl to the river edge ami tipped iovWJi-Softie little disslanee .above the tip!)i'(6f course, lower down) the river runs t'oi-ffld a sharp point, and through this, close to the cliff, a race! has been, made, along which water is carried far the purpose of washing the. gravel for the concrete blocks. Besides the washed gravel, the large stones got out of the pit are napped and mixed with it, t so that there' u very little of wnat might be termed waste. ' The bjillast train runs right into the pit, but [the grade is rathc/stiff for the return journey, and only five trucks are taken ud at a time: Ten full trucks constitute unload for the journey on to where ballasting is being done. About, forty men are employed at the pit, amt there is quite a canvas town at the, southern end. Four or five mar- | ried coijples with families are to be found comfortably domiciled at the

works, including Mr. Williams, the overseer.

As before stated, the ballast pit is on the banks of a New Plymouth borough reserve, at present leased to Mr. West. There w likely to be some trouble over royalty, Die borough authorities having apparently just discovered that the Government is removing gravel from their property, although the pit has been in existence for a number of years. There is an engine-shed and coal depot not far from where the branch joins the main line, the guard having a comfortable, residence near by, while the other engine men live in more unpretentious dwellings. BOWLING Since the Stratford green was officially opened for play (November 2) there has hardly been a day which might be said to be (it for bowilng. What with an extraordinary rainfall, strong winds, and extreme cold, very little play has been indulged in. Hitherto, at this time of the year, everything has been at its brightest, and no difficulty experienced in getting oil' local and inter-club matches; but this year the only inter-club match played lias been with* West End, with two or three contests for the 0. M. Curtis trophy. The club is certainly not so strong as it used to be, and after selecting about three fairly strong rinks, the remaining players would not be able to hold their own against such veterans as Xew Plymouth could put in the field; but there are some very promising colts in the Stratford Club, and after a season or two they will be able to give a good account of themselves. ;

On Thursday Xew Plymouth is sending down five links, three of which will d« •battle for the inter-club banner, while the scores of the remaining two will be added to the others and count in a friendly match. , GENERAL. Dr. Blackley, Mr. R. W. D. Robertson and a party of ladies passed through Stratford to-day on their way to Dawson's Falls, house for a holiday.

The sale of work was continued on Tuesday night, and the result should be a goodly increase of the parish hall funds. Mr. W. H. H. Young conducted an auction, and "knocked down" all sorts of goods to all and sundry, causing great hilarity. Some of these days the Borough Council is to re-erect the firebell tower. A lorry bumped into it once, and it has been lying on the ground ever since. ' It is nice to see that the concrete piles are in. The tower seeds will probably be planted in a little earth on top, and a beautiful new tower should result. Meanwhile the firebell swings in a wretched little tripod. PERSONAL Mr. W. Johnston, manager of the Bank of Australasia, who has been promoted manager at Masterton, leaves on Friday. Mr. C. Massey, accountant, is in charge of the bank here until a new promotion to the managership is maide. A strong effort is to be made at tonight's meeting of the executive to persuade Mr. E. Jackson to retain the secretaryship of the A. & P. Association.

Are you interested in Xmas goods? Then see Mr. H. J. Hopkins' fine fresh stock of lovely leather writing-cases, hand-bags, purses, dressing-cases, ladies' companions, and so "on. The great poets in handy volumes are amongst the new books, and here are some splendid presentation works. Art china and Japanese goods are well represented. A kt>' cial feature is the exceptionally fine ingathering of Xmas and New Year greeting cards. The premises have been enlarged to show the new toys.' Here are dolls galore, dolls of all sizes at all prices, some dressed, other "mid nodings on." Bucking bronchos, kicking mules and puffing motor-cars are just about the last word in mechanical toys. Some come in or send the children. We treat them as squarely as adults.—Advt.,