Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 225, 21 March 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

j Stratford, Wednesday. STRATFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE. At the committee meeting on Tuesday night, the headmaster, Mr. F. A. Tyrer, reported:—"On Friday last we had on our registers the names of 738 children. The average attendance for the current year, up to date, was 683. We have been allowed possession of, and are now working in, two of the rooms of the new building. During the month our •work has been interrupted by the absence through illness of two responsible; teachers, Messrs. Dysen and Morgan. I Mr. Dyson was absent from the sth to the 11th. Mr. Morgan has been absent since the 6th, and will not be able to return for some weeks. On Thursday, the 14th, Mrs. Geddes arrived to t J arry on temporarily the work of Mr. Morgan's classes. Mrs. Geddes' ability in school work is so well known in the district that I need hardly point out what a fortunate arrangement for the school this is. The constant danger to little children of the railway crossing at Fenton street is well known to the members of the committee. The whole of the children on the south side of the river—there are 311 of them—cross the line here at about 9 in the morning and again about 3 o'clock, in the afternoon.! when the train Service is very busy, and shunting up and dotoi the street is often going on. It has occurred to pie that, if you laid the matter before the Borough Council, that body migjit arrange to construct a footbridge over the river opposite the school, Say on Orlando street, and, if this were done, the danger to the little ones' lives could be rarely minimised."—The Borough Council will be approached on the matter. The visiting committee reported that the board had been requested to arrange to put the grounds in order and askedthe chairman to leave the matter with • the two local members, Messrs. Masters and Rogers. A considerable amount of work will be necessary. The resignation' of Miss Butler, M.A., had been sent to' the board. The committee considered the board officials had been very remiss in not having the new desks earlier. Three standards had been tryin® to carry on under very adverse circumstances, and the fault lay entirely with the Education Board. The committee recommended that the new school be opened on Thursday, April 11th, with a conversazione and progressive euchre party and dance, the charges to be Is to the euchre and concert, and .an extra Is for gentlemen to the dance—This re-! commendation was adopted. HIS MAJESTY S THEATRE Tljis favorite place of amusement is still drawing good houses, the great attraction at present being "The Two Orphans"; but besides this remarkable cinematographic production, the whole of the other films are of exceptional merit. The theatre is now one of the most up-to-date in the Dominion, the recent addition of a dress circle offering induce- i ments to many who did not care to face the body of the hall. Madame Bernard's enterprise is to be commended, and that the public appreciate her efforts is fully borne out by the support extended. On Friday night a benefit will be tendered the Stratford Fire Brigade, in order to help supplying funds for procuring more up-to-date fire-fighting appliances, when no doubt the building will be literally i packed. Special fire pictures have been) secured for the occasion, besides a number of other first-class dramatic, scenic, and comic films. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY The _opunake railway route is again occupying considerable attention in South and Central Taranaki, the proposal to appoint a Commission to finally j settle the vexed question being responsible for present activity on the part of those who claim to have interests in the location of the line. Looking at the matter from a broad standpoint, one is led to wonder what necessity existed for setting up a Commission—with its attendant expenses—to settle such a simple matter as a few miles of railway line. lam not going to discuss all the rumours that are floating about regarding the personnel of the Commissionwhen appointed—but it is to be sincerely hoped that men will be selected who will look to the future as well as the present requirements of a branch line between Opunake and the New Plymouth-Wellington-Main Trunk lines. An engineer of some note has already reported j exhaustively on the line, and this after going personally over the whole ground, [and if this report could be obtained it | would open the eyes of many who claim , that this or that route is the bet t. , Stratford is now the junction of the [Main Trunk line, and as there is no hope

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

of altering this, then there should be very little trouble in fixing the junction of the Opunake line. If a line junctioning at Stratford were to cost even £IOO,OOO more than one junctioning some where else further south, I believe the difference would be made up in a very few years. If the Commission settles the vexed question once and for all in the best interests of the Dominion, then its appointment will possibly be justified; but, as I before mentioned, there seemed to be little or no need for such a tribunal when capable Government engineers could have done all that is necessary.

' CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held last night, there being present: Messrs. W. P. Kirkwood, W. 11. H. Young, J. Munro, W. A. Hewitt, S. H. James, J.. B Richards, and J. W. McMillan In the absence of the president (Mr. J Masters), Mr. Kirkwood was voted to the chair. A discussion took place on the visit of the Agricultural Department's cinematograph operator t'o Taranaki for the purpose of taking views of dairy herds,' etc., the chairman mentioning that in a. conversation he had had with the operator (Mr. McDonald) it transpired that a number of excellent pictures had been taken in and around Stratford,, including some fine ones of Mount Egmont. After various opinions had been it was,finally decided to ask the Minister of Agriculture to allow the views to be shown in New Zealand, it having been stated that it was intended by the Government to take the views direct to the Old Country for exhibition | there. One member expressed the opinion that if the views taken in this' district were put on at His Majesty's' Theatre they would draw crowded! houses. ;

The Hawera Town Clerk wrote with reference to the universal half-holiday, stating that a full meeting; was unanimous in the desire to see the movement brought to a successful issue, but Saturday was strongly opposed. Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P.,* forwarded a communication from the Telegraph Department,, in answer to an application by the Chamber of Commerce for direct telephone communication between Tahora and Tatu, stating that nothing could be done in the matter at present. j With reference to an application by the Chamber for a mail service between Whangamomona and Ohura, the Post-master-General (through Mr. Hine) stated that the idea could not be entertained at present, but that the matter would be _ reconsidered when the inland mail services were re-let. The secretary (Mr. Richards) stated, that he had written to the Chief Postmaster at Stratford, pointing out that : the control of the Purangi-Kiore-Makahu road would be handed over by the Stratford County Council ;to . the Clifton County (Council;, which latter was in a bejtter-,position to:, keep, it in proper order, and it was decided to again urge the postmaster to establish a mail service to Kiore, - Makahu and Purangi. The Opunake railway, with the proposed Commission to settle the junction, came in for lengthy dicussion (in committee), the. outcome of which was that it was decided to seek the co-opera-' tion of the Stratford Borough and County Councils, with a view to procuring all -necessary data for putting before the Commission. It was also decided to wire to the Prime Minister asking him if the Commission had been set up, and when its duties would commence.

BOROUGH COUNCIL A special meeting of the .Stratford Borough Council was held on Tuesday evening, when there were present: The Acting-Mayor (Cr. N. J. King), in the chair, Crs. T. Lawson, S. Ward, J. D Healy, R. McK. Morison, and T. L. Paget. Messrs. T. Mercer and E. Drake applied for a lease of the Town Hall for a teorm of, say, five months, for a skatcided that -the coffer be accepted at' night and 7s 6d for afternoons, the hall, to be used only whem not otherwise en-' gaged. On the motion of Cr. Boon, it was deJjiJiefde that the offer be accepted at £1 per night and 10s per afternoon, 5s extra to be charged for every hour after 10.30 p.m. A communication was received from the Public Works Department with regard to the erection of a boundary fence between the Police Station and a borough reserve. The cost to the council of the fence the Department proposed to erect was £lB ss.—lt was decided to pay half the cost of erecting a legal 1 fence.' The council went into committee, and on resuming a motion was carried accepting the tender of Mr. Chard for boulders at 4s per .yard, and pit gravel at 4s per yard. BOWLING. HAWERA v, STRATFORD. A very enjoyable four rink match was played between the above clubs on the local green this (Wednesday) afternoon, resulting in a win for, Hawera by 02 to 78. Following are the scores:— a. h. Fookes, Black, Mac Donald, Sangster (s) U Bates, Treeby, Curtis, Tait (s) 27 Porritt, Penn, Wake, Morison (s) 12 J. Hicks, Spence, Keen, Foy (s) 31 Ward, Wright, Smart, King ( s ) 25 Reilly, Robinson, A. Robertson, Robertson (s) IS Brake, Ryan, Jackson, G. Jackson (s) 30 Barnett, Foden, Crabb, Hicks (s) IB Grand Totals 78 92 NORTH TARANAKI HUNT CLUB f H 11 There was a fair attendance at a meeting of those interested in the formation of a branch of the North Tarauaki Hunt Club here. Mr. Fulton presided. Messrs. A. lit Humphries and A. Cliff, of the North Taranaki Hunt Club, were present, and fully explained matters. Mr. Humphries apologised for the absence of the club's master, Mr. A. H. Halcombe. He also expressed regret at the misunderstanding that had occurred over the previous meeting. In New Plymouth they had what was recognised as l/lve nest pack of hounds in the Dominion. The hounds had taken prizes throughout the Dominion, and it was desired to have as many people as possible to have the benefit of the hounds. As Stratford had now a good A. and P|. Show, it was desirable to have a branch of the Hunt Club, as it would .encourage a breed of horses which the A. and P. Association desired to see. The Stratford branch would have a number of

meets each year, and members could I always follow the hounds in New Plymouth. He promised good sport to all who followed his club's hounds. The chairman said that he was particularly partial to the sport which encouraged; a,good .kind of horse. Unfortunately hunting, which, everything considered, was a good eport for the country, was going back as a sport. Hunt clubs required considerable funds, and it was highly desirable that the clubs should be strong enough to demand, a totalisator permit. The man that followed hounds would make a good soldier. Dr. Paget thought ithey should.,appoint , a committee to canvass, the district, possibly including Eltham, to find out what support they would get and what good hunting country was available* Mr, Cliff said there was country round Stratford as good for hunting as any over which the New Plymouth people hunted. He explained that the idea was to get Stratford members of the club. They would not be a branch * and a separate club could not be formed, because no kennels could be kept within fifty miles of .each other. Mr. Humphries explained at length the progress of the club,'and the rates of subscriptions, which were: Gentlemen £2 10s, toon, members £1 Is, ladies and boys under; 15 ss. He pointed out that hunting improved tjhe value ol hacks. The club had waited on the Minister forInternal Affairs, and had impressed on Him the advisability of assisting hunt clubs, because of the manner in which they improved the breed of horses suitable for remounts. The Racing Conference had promised support for the hunt cltobs, but if this was not forthcoming the clubs would approach Parliament direct. The hunt clubs had a better call on the Government's assistance than the racing clubs, which encouraged a breed of horses of no use in the defence of the country. On the motion of Messrs* Jackson and .Watson, it was resolved that a committee consisting of Dr. Paget and Messrs. Fulton, Lynn, Davey, and Stohr, with Mr. Cliff, be appointed to report on possible members and the country available. The committee will report at a general meeting on Tuesday next, Mr. Humphries hoped to see some Stratford hunters at the opening hunt in New Plymouth on April 18th. He also stated that if they could guarantee half-a-dozen to follow the hounds the club would hold a hunt in Stratford. Mr. Chaney, deputy-master, extended a' hearty invitation to all interested to attend the opening hunt at Waitara on April Bth. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. E. Jackson for the trouble he had been put to over the matter. GENERAL NEWS. . Persons using the footpaths of the borough at night, especially in Broadway North, complain that the lights are rather a nuisance than anything else. One may bo walking along a* rather a smart pace, with a light rjght in his. eyes, and presently a collision with someone coming from the opposite direction proclaims "danger ahead." If the liW had a shade they would serve pedestrians much better than they do now. Perhaps our City Fathers will take the hint. There is a rumour extant that the Borough Council is about to take action again c t, itself for allowing the free growth of the yellow hrooiri on some unused stmts. Having outlawed this shrub the municipality ought to set a good example to burgesses. The railway crossing at Began street requires attention at the hands of the proper authorities. After heavy rain, ajnd we have been getting plenty of it lately, foot pasengers have great, difficulty in getting over dry-footed.