Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 224, 20 March 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

THE WAIPDKU RAILWAY. The Railway Department is unable to accede to the request of the local Oddfellows' Lodge for an excursion up the Mount Egiuout line from Waipuku. Some years ago, when the line was still under the control of the Public Works Department, such a picnic was held, and the visitors revelled in the.glories of the Egmout Xational Park. But the Railway Department has set its face against the use of this section of the railway for any purpose other than that for which it was constructed—for the carriage of stone from the Mount Egmont quarries to various parts of the province. The reason for this is, 'it is ' alleged, that the grade is too steep to be ' safe. In which case it is too steep to, be used for the present purpose, for, if. the grade is too severe for a passenger train it constitutes a source of danger to the men in charge of the ballast trains. The settlers would be glad of the right to use the trains for the carriage of goods, but this is denied them. They are. not allowed to travel up or down the line which runs past their I doors. Is it good business to turn away ; revenue like this?/ ' In the, opinion of many people there would soon be a goodyplmue of business on the line if excursions were arranged, 1 particularly if there were facilities for I leaving Stratford and Inglewood by the j Saturday evening trains and connecting with the Monday morning services. There j may be difficulties in the way, but the chances are that these could be overcome. Anyhow, here is a chance of earning good revenue for the railway and popularising Mount Egmont. THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL The Catholic social on St. Patrick's night in the Town Hall was, as usual, a bumper success. Those present hailed from the outlying districts for many miles round, in addition to Stratford's"! own local dancers. It was a fine night for dancing, and there was a good floor to dance on, with the prospect and fulfilment of the prospect of one of the best of suppers, provided by the ladies. The music was supplied by Mrs. (5, Bialichj, with Messrs T. Walsh (piano), W. Walsh (violin), Hughes (violin), and S. Bernard (cornet) assisting, whilst the j following played for the extra dances: j Misses W. Connell, W. Fitzgerald, and) McDonald, Messrs Richardson and j Hughes. A musical programme was in-1 terspersed with the dancing, contributed as follows: Step-dancing, Messrs Haggie and Patterson; 6ongs, Misses Eileen Bernard and Rooney, Messrs Haggio and 'Bernard, and the Masters Pollock. COMMERCIAL NEWTON KING'S STRATFORD < WEEKLY REPORT. \ At the Haymarket on Saturday there i was a good attendance of also a fair yarding of pigs, chiefly weaners. Prices ruling were about par with previous sales. I quote:—Slips and weaners 9s to 15s, backward and small 5s to 7s, small stores 18s fid to £1 4s Gd, medium do. £1 to £1 7s, cow £5, sundries at usual rates. At the Mart.—Ducks Is 4d, turkey hens 3s lOd to 4s, hens Is 3d, potatoes 7s fid per cwt., onions 2d per lb. Furni- i ture and sundries made good prices, j Fruit: About 1700 cases came to hand during the week, some 1000 cases being offered at auction. Prices ruling were about the same as last sale. Peaches No. 1 3s fid .to 4s, No. 2 2s to 2s 9d. apples, dessert 3s to 3s 6d, cooking Is to 3s; pears, W.B.C. 3s fld to 4s 6d, other sorts 2s 9d to 3s, cooking 2s 3d to 2s 9d; plums, Is 9d to 3s Gd; quinces, 3s to 4s 6d; tomatoes, 4s fid to 6s fid, according to size of case and quality. !• ' . GENERAL NEWS. > This afternoon an old resident of WhaJigamomona, Mr. William Baker, was brought in from Te Wera by train, and was admitted to the Stratford Hospital. On Monday he was carting firewood,

* * * *-. * From Our Resident Reporter. * * * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. *

when an accident occurred, by which the load was capsized and he was pinned beneath it, suffering serious injuries to his chest and side. In answer to a telephone message, Dr. Steven met the sufferer at the train and made him as comfortable as he could before sending him on to the hospital. It is reported that a local syndicate has approached the borough council for a lease of the Town Hall. The idea is to run a skating rink on the most up-to-date lines upon those nights when the hall isn't otherwise engaged. Residents report that the Wha'ngamomona saddle is in a dreadful state, as j bad as ever it has been. s Mr, J. E. Armstrong, district iraffic manager of the railways, spent Monday night m Stratford. He was interviewed by Mr. C. D.. Sole, chairman of the Stratford District High School commit*«e, in reference t» Stratford's annual seaside excursion. About a month a«o a letter was received from the Railway Department by the committee to some extent complaining of the magnitude of the Stratford school picnic, and suggesting that the number of passengers should be reduced. As a result of the conversation, the air was cleared a hit, and the official mind was disabused of the idea.' that this was a picnic of all the Strat- ] ford sshools, the fact being, of course, that these two long excursion', trains to I the seaside are filled by Stratford folks only. The Department will make whatever arrangements' are necessary, I un- | derstand, to cope with the growth of the rising generation of Stratford when on picnicing bent. > The scnooi committee is meeting tonight. Arrangements will be made for the official opening of the wing of the District High School. It is stated locally that engine-sheds i will be erected before long in Stratford ) tor the accommodation of the stop-over - engines. This will be a necessity in connection with the Stratford-Main Trunk railway service, and will also allow of the re-adjustment of the time-table to give New Plymouth the early mornin" train it is so anxious for. Stratford people would welcome such a service, for it would allow them to transact their business in Petrolia and return home, by the mid-day train. I Miss Ida Sole, senior clerk in the local telephone exchange, leaves shortly on temporary transfer to the Wanganui exchange. It is really an exchange, Miss Hogan coming here for four months and Miss Sole's term at Wanganui being of similar duration. The Rev. Father Power, of Hawera is in Stratford to-daj. Mr. A. W. Read had an accident to his car on the. way to the Opunake races yesterday, and it was through no fault of his own, either. A man driving in a long-shafter gig refused to make wav < for the car—a not uncommon habit with some people, who reckon they own the road. Probably he reckoned he was "getting even" with some motorist who, as some motorists do, had treated him unkindly at some time or other. Be that as it may, Mr. Read-ran his car off the metal on to a strip of grass by the roadside, and ran into a ditch, the presence of which was not suspected. Some of the passengers—there were two ladies in the car and two men—were thrown out. Such an accident would be very I simple on the Skeet road, where a drain )■■ close to the metal is almost hidden by long grass. The Operatic Society is making capital progress with the "Pinafore" rehearsals. At Monday's practice Mrs: G. Bond was allotted the part of "Buttercup," and Miss Gladys Black will appear as "Hebe." News is scarce to-day, but meetings will be plentiful to-night. The-school committee will hold its monthly ..meeting. There's to be a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce executive, where railway matters will be discussed. The borough council is holding a'special meeting to consider a little job and to discuss the Town Hall and the offer to lease it as a skating rink. And at the A. and P. Association office there will be a meeting to form a branch of the North Taranaki Hunt. , :