Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 181, 30 January 1912, Page 3

Stratford News.

Stratford, Monday. WHY NOT A SPORTS MEETING? The suggestion was made during Thursday night's dinner that the Stratford Caledonian Society might be revived, or that sports should he held under the auspices «{ the newly-formed Scottish Society. We had some good sporta meetings here a few years ago, but then the management fell out with the weather man. They were a hardworking lot, too, and not easily cast down. Of the old committee we still have amongst us Messrs. E. B. Stohr, E. H. Cameron, OR. McK. Morison, W. Morrison, G. Pugh, Alec Stewart, J, H. Thompson, F. A. Tyrer, Tom Gardiner,' T. Kirkwood, K. H. Kivell, F. W. Webster, C. T. Perrin, P. Skoglund, D. iJ. Malone, H. Good, Geo. Hunter, J. Mackay, and maybe others whose names do not. occur at the moment. / Pipers and Highland dancers used to flock to Stratford from all parts, for it was one of the best meetings on the coast. Now Stratford has no sports meeting. It shouldn't he hard to get one, either this year or next if the matter is taken up heartily. A member of the Scottish Society suggests that a great Scottish gathering should be held here on January 25th next, to take the form of a picnic rather than a sports meeting/. 1 There would be dancing competitions, bagpipe music, wrestling, feata of strength, races for the children, and games for the million. Special provision would be made for the women and children. Then at night the menfolk could hold their Burns supper. With a Caledonian picnic by day, there should be a record gathering x>f Scots by night. Should the picnic idea appeal, we might hark bock to the old Athletic Club's programme for a few hints. In 1899 this club" held a meeting in Victoria Park, and they utilised the lake. A couple of row.boats helped to provide the amusement. There were a whalcboat tug-o'-war, marine race, district pair-oar and ladies' pair-oar races, swimming races, 1 ! a greasy boom, duck hunt, long dive, and so on. There are some people in New Plymouth who will rem-ember that meeting. The names of A. R. Standish, F. E. Wilson, C. R. Western, K. Webster, C. Webster, A. N. Morey, L. Ford, H. Bedford, and others appear amongst the list of competitors. Possibly a sports meeting including such items as. already outlined would appeal more than a regular sports meeting, the programme to include all the Highland events for which j competitors can be secured. j

THE A. & P. SECRETARYSHIP. Mr. E. Jackson' 6 resignation from the secretaryship of the Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Association was not unexpected. As he explains in his letter his fira's land agency business has grown to such dimensions that he must give more of his time to it, and the residue of his time will not be sufficient for the successful conduct of the. secretarial duties of the association. It is unfortunate in a measure that the association should so soon have to make a change of this kind, for Mr. Jackson, having been in the movement from its early stages, must have a knowledge that will not be picked up .by his successor in a few days or weeks. Energetic, enthusiastic, courteous, and painstaking to. a degree, Mr. Jackson has won golden opinions from all who have come in contact with him, and it is pleasing to read in his letter to the, association that he will continue to associate himself actively with the management of the show, thus giving the incoming executive the benefit of his experience.

LAWN TENNIS STRATFORD AND NEW PLYMOUTH CLUBS. On Thursday our three lawn tennis clubs -will be engaged at New Plymouth. The Stratford Club will meet New Plymouth at the Vivian street courts, and a combined team representing W.Y.M.I. and St. Andrew's will play Fitzroy. Teams have been selected as under:— W.Y.M.L-St. Andrew's, against Fitzroy: Dud. Cameron, R. D. Brown, T. Marshall, B. V. Kivell, H. W. Douglas, A. King, G. Anderson, and G. Syme, Misses H. Wilson, E. Mackay, E. King, R. Everiss, E. Brayshaw, and M. Irvine. Stratford, against New Plymouth:— Don Cameron, R. B. Anderson, V. Crawshaw, E. H. Young, F. N. Fussell, Hedditch, J. 11. Thompson, L R. Curtis, Miss Black, Mrs. Paget, Miss Mackay, Miss D. Mackay, Mrs. Wilkie, Mrs. Rennell. OPENING DAY AT TE WERA. A tennis club has been formed at Te Wera, and thanks to the energy of a number of gentlemen, including Messr*.

* * * * * From Our Resident Reporter, * * * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. * 4» <|>

Johnson, Nolan, O'Neill, Malcolm, Morrison and Lethberg, a splendid court has been formed right alongside the railway line. The court is a clay one with a coatinj» of tar, and it appeared to play well. Mr. P. Lithberg, the secretary, was recently transferred to Waitara, and that position is now filled by Mr. F. Malcolm. The club was favored with perfect weather for the opening ceremony, which took place on Thursday afternoon in the presence of about 40 or 50 members and friends. There was no formal opening, the first game being a mixed doubles, Miss McElhone and F. Malcolm v. Miss Finnerty and J. Morrison, and from thence onward, the court was fully #ccupied until dark. Afternoon tea, provided by the ladies, made a pleasant break, affording opportunity for needed rest and refreshment. There is also a clay court at Pohokura, and another in process of formation at Whangamomona, so that a tennis tournament among the lino clubs may eventuate at some future date.

THE A. & P. ASSOCIATION To the Editor. Sir,—l was much interested this morning in your report of the discussion at Saturday's meeting of the A. and P. committee, and particularly with reference to the question of whether or not members 9hould be admitted free to the gymkana which is proposed to be held soon. As far as I am concerned, I am prepared to pay my modest "bob" at the gate and another for the grandstand, and I am sure that this will be the opionion of any member who got nearly squeezed to death in the grandstand' at the November show. If only half of our members pay two shillings in this way it will do something towards paying for the cost of a very necessary improvement. I think the executive is to be! commended for voluntarily undertaking an autumn sports meeting in our in-: terests. They needn't do it unless they like. We didn't ask them to do it, but they think it will raise some money, and are prepared to do the work and pay for admission. It wasn't in their bargain, and it wasn't in ours. We members put in our £ 1 subscription for one show, and that show we've had—and a good one, too. I hope other members of the association will hasten to assure the executive that .we farmers appreciate, their work, and that we are "sports" enough to pay. Thanking you for your space.—l am, etc., SIDE-ROAD MEMBER.

GENERAL NEWS. 'Tis .said that one needs a pretty good nerve to ride a motor-cycle. At least one motor-cyclist has that necessary qualification. A fellow needs a pretty good nerve before he will scorch along a busy footpath on a motor-cycle, doesn't; he? The übiquitous Mr. Barlow will have something to say to Mr. Motorist if he happens along at the right time. And the offender should bear in mind that Mr. Kenrick has increased, the penalty for breach of this particular byA grocer's lad had a lively experience this morning. Delivering groceries in the vicinity of the hospital, he noticed a sack in the act of toppling over the side of the cart; He tried to rescue, it, missed his footing, and fell over the wheel./ He stuck to it gamely for a while, but\ then the horse cleared out, and the re- ■ volving wheel tore the skin off his leg. So he dropped. The horse took the cart at top speed around the block, but ,the only damage was a broken rein. Mrs. Bernard, the proprietress of His Majesty's Theatre, has let a contract for the erection of a dress circle. The picture entertainment continues to increase in popularity, and' the theatre is nearly always crowded on "change" nights. The new arrangement for supply of films is working admirably, and "star" series are shown here now soon after their arrival in New Zealand. The dress circle, whilst providing comfortable seating, will enable patrons to view the pictures under the .best of conditions, namely, from a, raised viewpoint at a considerable distance from the screen. A preacher on Sunday night referred to "a creamery a few miles from Strat- i ford to which comes a man noted for his loud swearing." The description wasn't definite enough to disclose the identity of the creamery referred to. _ Initial arrangements are being made tor the picnic in connection with the Holy Trinity Church Sunday school. T-ast year the picnic was held at the Xgaere gardens, and probably the rendezvous will be the same this year. In the list of vice-presidents of the Scottish Society, "Mr. A. Marlow," of Inglewqod, should read "Mr. A. Morton." The firebell tower at the fire brigade, station once more rears its height Even as far as it has gone the re-erected tower has caused a little fresh activity in the fire business. With the tower at half-cock we raised a false alarm on Friday night. With the bell hoisted up on high once more the brigade may get busy once more. The Hon. Thos, Mackenzie, Minister of Agi iculture, who was among the invited pests to the Burns supper on Thursday last, has telegraphed as follows to Mr. Alec. Henderson, secretary of the Scottish Society :-"Have been absent in back-blocks districts of Otago. Cordially thank Burns Society for kind invitation. It would have given me pleasure to have been present, had this been possible. Hope had most successful gathering—T Mackenzie' I

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