Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 223, 19 March 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

I Stratford, Monday. ST PATRICKS DAY. Stratford is pretty well represented at the Opunake races to-day. , The first contingent of race-goers got away from here at about six o'clock, and it must have been nearly eleven o'clock when the last motor-car puffed its way over the bridge, Inglewood and other towns sent good detachments, and most of the cars i seemed to run out of spirit near one or i other of our houses licensed to retail lubricants. The Opunake Club has doubled its grandstand accommodation lately, erected a new licensed booth,] moved the totalisator house and im-l proved the means of ingress and egress, provided good dining-rooms, five new loose boxes, and made many other improvements. It is no longer "a race meeting in a paddock," hut is rapidly becoming of greater importance and capable of providing a good day's sport for sports enthusiastic and otherwise. Those people who have honored Ireland's patron saint, and who don't follow the, sport of Kings, have found little to do. A tennis 1 match has been played on the Stratford courts. But for the absence of many of our townsfolk at Opunake and an occasional glimpse this morning of racquets 'and' flannels,/ one would hardly have remembered the anniversary, unless one were Irish. Green favors have not been conspicuous to-day, but there's* a genuine note of enjoyment about the Catholic social proceeding im the Town Hall to-night.

THE FIRE BRIGADE Firemen have things pretty warm sometimes, but it must be pretty cold for those Stratford firemen who turn out some mornings at six o'clock tb perfect themselves in their work. Stratford and .Eltham brigades ate to try conclusions on Thursday week ai Eltham in three events, a challenge having been given by the Elthamites. Ihe' events to be contested, and the teams from the Stratford brigade, are as lows.Five men carry.—Foremen Wilson and Burgess, Firemen Boon, Drake and' Davis. Three men Carry.—Foremen Wilson and Burgess, Fireman Boon. Two men coupling.—Foreman Burgess! and Fireman Drake. i

A & P ASSOCIATION. j GYMKHANA. j Very hearty support has been promised both in the matter of entries and attendance of the public on the occasion of the Stratford A. and P. Association's gymkhana to be held on Easter Monday, April 8. The fact of the fixture being held on a public holiday 6hould add greatly to the success of the meet- 1 ; ing, more particularly so seeing that) there will not be any gathering of a like nature held anywhere in TaranakiJ on that day. Another factor, which no j doubt will greatly assist in the matter I of attendance on the day, is fhe very' central position of Stratford and thel convenient situation of the show) grounds. Special trains at excursion' rates will be run from New Plymouth, Waitara, Hawera and Te Wera. The programme 'of events ■ covers -steeplechases (maiden and open), pony jumping for .ponies of different standards of height, motor-car driving, trotting, races,! and a . number of very . novel evqnts. Programmes may be.had.on application to the secretary, Mr. E. Jackson, Stratford. Entries close on March 30th, and ais that date/is now drawing near intending competitors would be well advised to make their entries a,s early as possible and by so doing greatly facilitate the work of cataloguing. The Stratford Orchestral Society has been engaged to supply music at the Stratford A. and P. Association's gymkhana on Easter Monday. There will be a programme, of specially selected music, capably rendered, too, for the orchestra is composed of good instrumentalists, well led, and well practised. BERNARD'S PICTURES "THE TWO ORPHANS." A "star'? picture, truly, and one whose story, went.right to the hearts of the big audience at His Majesty's Theatra to-night was . "The . Two Orphans" There's something of repetition in saying that it is the finest picture ever screened here, but the fact that one finds it necessary to use this phrase repeatedly is merely an indication of the march onward of the picture-making cdmpanies. There's a species of melancholy in the story. There's real drama in it," a touch of chivalry, and a glimpse of much that is opposed to it. There's poverty, and

* From Our Resident Reporter. * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Istratford. * * * ♦****♦*♦♦*♦********************

there's dazzling wealth and splendor. And there's a story full of incident, just enough detail left for the entranced spectator to fill in. The gloom and ; grime of the underground hovels of ; Paris in the Louis period have beon told by Dumas and other famous French novelists, but it is absolutely impossible for New Zealanders to obtain any conception of the awful eur-1 roundings until the scenes are reproduced on the screen as in this wonderIful picture. The story revolves around two orphan girls of high birth, and one of these is blind. The story is old, but !told by the cinematograph it is new and again enthralling. The girls' father is murdered, and the children ore thrown on their own resources. One is forcibly abducted, aad Louise, the blind girl, is seized upon by a designing hag, who forces the beautiful orphan to beg in the streets. The film unwinds a dramatic story, and, as in all good stories, the sisters ore one day re-united. A strong scene is that in which Henrietta'; the abducted girl, is saved from becoming the mistress of her captor. Faring the heartless crowd of aristocrats, the beautiful girl makes her appeal, "Of all those] in this room, is. there not one gentleman?" The appeal is in vain. Stirred) to her soul's depths, she cries, "Of'all| these gentlemen is there not one man | of The chevalier who steps forward to help here is immediately the ] hero of the audience. His wish to marry the girl is opposed by the King, but eventually the course of true love is guided into smooth waters, and all ends happily. The film gives an idea of the luxurious surroundings of the noblesse ' of la belle France in those days, and is in every way a treat. The film is 3000 feet in length, and not one inch of it is 7 superfluous. The remainder of the pro- > gramme is of • the usual high standard, j '■ See these pictures Tuesday night and( Wednesday night. J A WEEKS SALE. , . j 1

i The Egmont Clothing Company has an unique record. It has never held a sale. But Mr. O'Leary, the manager, .intends launching one on Wednesday morning, and because it is the first one it's to be a memorable one. Prices are being cut down mercilessly. For instance, men's light boots (all new goods) ■ carry a reduction of five shillings a pair. Blankets and rugs, very seasonable lines, have all been similarly treat-' ed, and every article ,in the shop is to be ruthlessly reduced in price. It's to be a sale that will made more friends for an already highly popular business. You are reminded that this sale will last for a week only. INTERESTING REMINISCENCES

Mr. J. 0.. Batchelar, the well-known Komney Marsh sheep judge and breeder of Palmerston North, is staying with his ,son : in-law, Mr. Laurenson, Acting-Post-master at Stratford. Mr. Batchelar remembers passing through Stratford when the only human habitation appeared to t>e a slab whare, which served for tha purpose of an accommodation house. The slice of corn beef and a spud in its jacket cost 2s 6d, whilst for a consideration of a shilling you could get a nobbier of whisky thrown in. The keeper of this wayside inn was Mr., Gustaye Tisch, the late popular host of the Terminus and Mayor of New Ply-, mouth. Over 50 years ago Mr. Batchelar rode from Wanganui to New Plymouth to the Taranaki races. There was not. a bridge.between Hawera and New Ply-' mouth, and ■ some of th« fords were pretty bad.; That was the year that' Quinlivaji's Redeemer won the Cup. Old identities will reme.mb.er.it. Returning, fcrantj-eigM started from New Ply-; mouth, and the last' man to Hawera had to shout champagne. Sufficient to say, eleven horses died ,on the way. To say Mr. Batchelar is; amazed at the growth of Stratford is to put it mildly. He leaves,.for .Palmerston by to-morrow's express. LAWN TENNIS !

STRATFORD BEAT INGLEWOOD. ' Stratford Club beat Inglewood at Stratford to-day by 150 games to.'ilO: The courts 'were very heavy, rthWesuiti i of the recent liberal rainfall, but still the day's play proved very enjoyable.'! Scores, Stratford mentioned' first:— 1 Men's Singles.—R. B. Anderson 9 v 1 R. E. Taylor 6; E. H. Young 9 v. A. jj Law ,3; C. Crawshaw 9 v. J. Sutherland] 6; J. H. Thompson 9 v. A. Patterson 3; F. H. Wilkie 7 v. IST. Sutherland 9. Ladies' Singles—Miss Black 3 v. Mrs. Matthews 7;a Miss Orbell 4 v. Mrs. Law. 7; Miss D. Maekay 6 v. Mrs. Hynef 7; : , Miss Wake 7 v. Mrs. Paterson 4; Miss. O'Brien I v. Miss Fitzherbert 3'. Men's Doubles.—Anderson and Young 9 v. Taylor and Sutherland 0; Crawshkw and Thompson 9 v. Law and Pal;ersoa 4; Thompson and Wilkie 9 v. Paterson and N. Sutherland 2/ Ladles' Doubles'.—Misses Black and, Orbell 5 v. Mesdames Matthews and Law 7; Misses Maekay and Wake 5 v. Mes, dames Hynes and Paterson 7; Misses'. Wake and and Miss Fitzherbert 7.

. Mixed Doubles.—Miss Black and Anderson 9 v. Mrs. Matthews and Taylor 4; Miss Orbell and Young 9 v. Mrs. Law and Law 7; Miss Maekay and Crawshaw 9 v. Mrs. Hynes, and J. Sutherland '6:. Miss Wake and Thompson 4 v Mrs Batenon and Paterson 5 j Miss O'Brien and: Wilkie 9 v. Miss Mtzherbert and Sutherland 6. • GENERAL NEWS , ' A man who bought a farm only a few years ago at Toko for £0 an acre was I looked upon by his neighbors as the embodiment of the old saw about a fool and Ins money. Four years ago he sold for £l6 an acre, and left the district with about £7OOO, so 'tis said. Last week the farm was sold for £32 an' acre! It is hoped to have a big gathering of ' Liberal members at the McCluggage complimentary social on Easter Monday night, Mr, P. Galvin, one of the 'original proprietors of the Hawera Star, and one of the best known journalists in New Zealand, was in Stratford on Saturday, staying with Mr. A. W. Read. Mr. J. Dowling, who was for some years ganger on the railway here, is now clerk in the maintenance department at Aramoho. Mr*. Dowling is at present on a visit to Stratford. Mr. Tom Dowling, who was in the Government offices in Wellington, and successfully passed his L.L.B. examination, is now in the mechanical branch of the railway service, the ctose attention to study and the office work having caused a breakdown which necessitated a change. He is now engaged in some repair work at the I headworks of the Mount Egmont railway.

Mr. J. E. Armstrong, District ■ Traffic Manager, arrived in Stratford by tonight's mail train, Mr. J., Q. MeKenzie, public Works Engineer, leaves to-morrow for Whangaj momona, on route to Qngarue by,road, j He will be accompanied by Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, and I Mr. R. H. Nolan, of Hawera. j The following, Opposition members have accepted .invitations to be present at the Hine social at Stratford next I week: Messrs. W. F. Massey, Guthrie, Feildin; H. Okey, New Plymouth; C. Wilson, Taumaranui; G. V. Pearce, Pa tea; and probably Dr. Newman, of Wellington. Mr. James Allen is ■■prevented by a previous engagement from coming. The Stratford members of the New Zealand Army Medical Corps- arrived back in Stratford on Saturday night, after an enjoyable week spent "in camp at Seatoun, Wellington. Captain Carbery, who had charge of the local contingent, arrived back to-night. : Constable M. C. Cowan, who succeeds Constable Mcintosh, arrived from Christchurch on Saturday night. Mt. E. N. Melville, recently of Lamason and Melville, has .purchased an auctioneering business in Devonport, Auckland, and leaves for the north shortly. •■ The wintry weather has caused indefinite postponment of ihe swimming carnival. ;■ Mr. W. Clement Cargill, formerly of •Stratford, but now proprietor of the Waitemata Times, Devonport, was a passenger to Stratford by to-night's ex- i press. . ; Major O'Sullivan, Director of the Equipment and Stores Defence Depart•ment, is on an official yisit to Stratford.