Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 3

Stratford News.

From Our Resident Reporter,

i]y improved, and soon had the game in hand. The competition is now in an interesting stage. Sangster has lost his commanding lead, and G. N. Curtis and G. Smart are making the running. It is now definitely decided that only one rink from Stratford will compete in the tournament at Wellington, owing to Mr. R. Morison's inability to get away. Mr. W. Ryan, secretary of the club, leaves for Auckland to-night to spend a month's holiday. Mr. A. Black will probably carry on the secretarial duties during Mr. Ryan's absence.

GENERAL NOTES

One might be pardoned to-day for throwing up his hat and yelling a whoop and horoo, it's fine, gloriously fine. Blue sky overhead, and down below are the farmers working like Trojans, essaying the impossible feat of making up lost time. Ploughing and harrowing teams are being pushed along in hundreds of fields. A day or two of this sort of weather will probably see the mowers hard at work, for the grass is ready and awaiting the arrival of the haymaker. Here the scythe still plays an important part, though mowing machines are not; unknown. The farmer of to-day is keen tq adopt labor-saving machinery, and if the'season for saving hay is going to be a short one, as many predict, the man with the machine is well placed in the race. With the improving pastures there is noted a decidedly easier tendency in the fat cattle market. To-day a wagon loaded with bales of wool passed down the main street. This, was the first arrival of the wool season. Shearing is very backward. Mr. D. O'Leary, of the firm of Messrs. O'Leary Bros, and Downs, of Auckland, ( iS on a visit to Mr. Albert O'Leary, man- J aged of the Egmont Clothing Company.: He is accompanied by Mrs. and Master O'Leary. In conversation this morning Mr. O'Leary mentioned that he'Kad been muck struck by the up-to-date appearance of most of the Stratford business houses, and particularly by some very fine window displays, which he thought would hardly be excelled in Auckland. Mr. aud Mrs. J. Lilley, well-known and highly respected residents of Stratford for a number of years past, celebrated the fortieth, anniversary of their marriage on Tuesday last. A number of members of the family and intimate friends gathered to congratulate them and to wish them many, years yet of health and prosperity. . A Stratford visitor to Christchurch w,at asked for some opinions concerning the Davis Cup contest. His experience was soon told, and it was this: "Rain, rain, rain. "I saw no tennis—only rain. As we can get plenty of that in Stratford, I came back.". ~ , ' faymaking operations are delayed by wet weather, but there should- be no delay iu obtaining scythes, scythe bandies, blades and stones. Be ready for opi .-ations when the sunny days come with a rush. Messrs. Masters-~&-Son guarantee their haymaking toq-ls, . and stock them largely. They ,vill suppJy all the wants of the men in. the ' haSppaddock, and supply them well and cheaply. That enterprising firm, the Egmontf Clothing Company, has a replace adver-J tisement in this issue; and the new notice is brimful of points of interest to all men and boys in. this district, and to all those to whom men's, and boys' clothing is a matter of concern. . Mr. O'Leary, the manager, has spardd no : pains to make the stock large, complete,- up to the mo-. ment in style, and up to the high-water-mark ,of quality, whilst the prices are as reasonable as the goods are dependable. Suits, boots, trousers;* shirts, hats, caps and braces are amongst 'the .newly opened goods, and there is no need to wdrry about where to clothe -the men and boys; just call in. It's just as natural in a man as in a woman to be well dressed. To do himself justice a man must place himself in the hands of a good tailor, and if he's wise in his.generation he'll sort out the best. He will look for a man 'with.; lengthy experience. ■ Messrs. W. Clark and G. Ruscoe, who are associated .in the management of the/Broadway Tailoring , Company, give a guarantee of personal 'supervision of all tailoring entrusted to Ithfem, and a guarantee of satisfaction.' ' The premises are at '-'White'/; Corner," at the north end of Broadway. ; See their advertisement in this issue.

THE TERRITORIALS.

The following is the training programme of the 2nd Mounted Rifles for January: Parades: Stratford, D squadron, 11th, at 11 a.m. (Regimental Sergeant-Major Dunham), and 25th. 11 a.m. (Captain Cardale, Adjutant). Both parades at Old Masonic Hall. Waitara: D Squadron, January 11, 2 p.m., (Captain Ca-rdale); and ,25th, at 2 p.m. (Sergeant-Major Dunham); both parades at the X.T.M.R. Drill Hall. Manaia: C Squadron, January 11, 1.30 p.m. (Sergeant-Major Dunham), at Drill Hall. Opunake: C Squadron, January 25, 1' p.m. (Captain Cardale). Wanganui, January 16 and 27, 2 p.m.; Raetilii, January It* and 27, 2 p.m.; Waverley, January 20, 2 p.m.; Alton and Waverley, January 20, 11. a.m. The 11th Regiment will hold parades next week as follow: Monday, Eltham, 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Tariki. 11 a.m.; Wednesday. Inglewood, 7.30 p.m.; Thursday, Midhirst, 11 a.m.; Friday,' Stratford, 8 p.m. Captain Lampen and Sergeant-Major Dallinger will be present at the Inglewood, Eltham and Stratford parades, and the remainder will be taken by SergeantMajor Dallinger alone. ' ,The local troops are being measured for uniforms. The Adjutant-General's department expect to have 30,0d0 uniforms ready within a month. Parades were held at Toko and Tututawa on Tuesday, aud at Douglas on Wednesday, under Aroa-Sergeant-Major Dallinger. There were good musters in all cases, and the Sergeant-Major reports that there was a commendable keenness shown, particularly among the cadets. The same remark applies to the parade at Kaponga on Thursday, when Sergeants Major Dallinger and Sergeant Dunham instructed. *■ The majority displayed some knowledge of drill, and the work at this centre was very promiisng. <

' A PECULIAR POSITION . '

A peculiar position is disclosed in connection with the election of a member to represent the Strathmore riding on the Whangamomona County ' Council. The previous election was upset because the name-of one of the nominators of} a successful .candidate:was''not oh'the 1 ] roll. Mr. John Morgan Jones was'then j declared duly elected, but he resigned with a view of contesting the seat with | th<» man who had been displaced. ;The I electors don't seem to have cared very much which 'one secured the scat, for only 52 east their votes. Those 32 were evenly divided, 20-voting for Mr. John Dtrggin and 20 for Mi'. Jones. ,The.issue, is still in doubt. Another peculiar thing Is that the candidates were evenly supported at'each of the two polling places, each receiving seventeen votes at Strathmore and, nine at Makahu.' The returning officer, Mr. A. F. Coleman, will have to draw lots to decide which of the ■ twp is to represent the electors 1 on.the | Council, and vlill' carry out this duty I some time next week, on a day which J will be duly notified to the candidates, in order that they, or someone repre- 1 seating them, may be present.

THE CARNIVAL' "■ r

There was a good house at the fire ] brigade fete in the Town' Hall on Thurs-1 day, and the audience was- higfily de- j lighted. The performers appreciated the kindly faces more than the empty benches, which were rather pronounced on;the previous" evening, and danced and sang accordingly. was declared to be It lie best performance of the week, owing to' tlie' greater familiarity with the' unions and varied movements in the numerous dances and tableaux'on the p'r()giamtait>, in which ease 1 it is fait to 'assume that 1 to-night's performance' should b'e the-'best of the Series. Don't miss it. •'■' ', ' -'

' BOWXING. <■'

THE O.M. CURTIS TROPHY. • The following ~ matghej Imve ■ been played on the lo<;ul ijioiylMig green, ki ( the <>. .\r. Curtis Trophy,.'competition Morison 17. v. W. Ryan 20,.. v... Curtis 17; King 22, v. Ap.ii 2] ; ; gangster" ( 20 v. Porritt lo; Sangi}tef,'.2J,'v.'Krrng-14;' Porritt IS, v. King Hi; Curtis 23,'v f ' Morison 11; Morison '.,1.7.., -v.-King- F4; Wake 21. v. Sangster 17jjMorison W,\. Wake 13; Smart 17, Curtis 24. v. King 12; Curtis 24, ;v. Porritt IJ3; Smart 25, v. Curtis 15. jTliis. last-match was played on Thursday... Curtis had abig lead at 13—fi, but then Smart stead-