Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 155, 29 December 1911, Page 3

Stratford News.

GENERAL NEWS. Rain, rain, rain! Is there any need to enlarge on it? Rain has fallen almost incessantly the whole day through. It isn't a bit ' like holiday weather. Stratford folks who have visitors from other parts are trying to look pleasant about it, and assure the strangers that the ehildfen born locally are not necessarily web-footed. If this weather is going to continue no one knows what may become necessary. The business people are growling—and well they may. It's too wet on Ave and a half days out of the six for people to'come in from the country to do business, and on the fine half-day—should there be one—the farmers are pleased enough to stay at home and try and pick up arrears of work. Ploughing is all behind. And those who have ploughed and sown are not much farther ahead than the others, for the heavy rains are washing away the seed. It is not going to be a season, apparently, for '-flashing big cheques," even if they are bigger than usual.

The Patea river has been exceptionally high all day, and little knots of men have, faced the weather to go down to j the bridge and have a peep at it. It's very dark now, about 4.15 p.m., but the electric light people haven't switched on the current yet. On these dark nights the people would be glad of the light a bit earlier. Rain or no rain, business brisk or business bad, there are always marriages at this season of the year. This morning marked the first of a series of events in which the clergyman will play a prominent part before the New Year holidays are over.

The streets have suffered a good deal by the steady downpour to-day. The footpaths, bordered by a bank of grass, have in many cases been small watercourses.

This morning we received the first strings of horses for the Stratford races on Monday and Tuesday next. With fine weather the club' is in for a record

meeting. The school : excursion, the red-letter day of the year with the young folks, as well as with a very considerable section of their, big 'brothers and sisters, mothers, fathers, and all the rest of them, is fixed this year for February Ist. Special trains will leave bore at 8.10 a.m. and 9.5 a.m., and at the conclusion of the day on the beach, among the lupines, or amidst the fcra beauties of your Recreation Grounds, the homeward trains must he caught at four o'clock or a quarter past five. The probability is that the holiday crowd will be bigger than''ever this year.

Mr. and Mrs. R. Masters and Mr. and | Mrs. J. W. ;?oon left this morning on a trip to Australia. A local business man has had his faith in typewriter 'experts rudely • shaken during the past few days. A man came into the shop and asked the lady clerk's permission to see the typewriter. ] Khe, thinking he "was the man regularly! sent along by a certain firm to overhaul the machine if required, gave the necessary permission. After : a few minutes the stranger'.approaihed the "boss" and offered to fix tip the typewriter, "but was met With the reply that the machinei was nearly'new and iri splendid order, so that'his'servicos were not likely to be required. The visitor said the J machine was 'working very stiff, but the I business man would' not engage him, preferring to await the arrival of the regular repair expert. When the clerk went to use t the machine a few minutes later it wa ; s found, to be unworkable. Suspicion -fell immediately on the stranger. The young lady remembered having seen, him lift the machine and do something to the gear below. It was found that the. movement had been tampered with, but it was very speedily I rectified. No wonder the business man in question prefers how to deal with his I regular '.typewriter people.

Somp.-splendid, rehearsals, are being held for the big carnival in New Year's week in aid,of the fire brigade funds. ''The , Dancing Tour of the World" promises to be the finest spectacular entertainment, «yer attempted in Taranaki. and it is hoped the response of the public; will be such as will enable the fire brigade "to purchase a motor Are engine. When 'that, comes the authorities will, perchance, be asked to make the fire brigade station as smart-looking as tlia brigade and its appliances. Business in Stratford was very brisk on Saturday last, until the rain came. Then j it was just good, and no mar«, Some 'firms report a record day's business. ' • •

4> * <*» * * From Our Resident Reporter. * 4. * *************'******************