Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 226, 22 March 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

I Stratford, Thursday. A USEFUL INSTITUTION When the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was resuscitated some two years ago, there were not a few who predicted that it would soon share the fate of its predecessor, but those who entertained such a dismal opinion of the institution must now confess that not only is the Chamber a fixture, but that it has done, and is doing, excellent work in the interests of the district as a whole. Country settlers especially should be thankful for the attention that is paid their wants by the Chamber, as is evidenced by its desire to secure telephonic andj mail services to remote .places. Chambers of Commerce are a power in the land, because any reasonable request by one body is backed up by similar institutions throughout the Dominion, and when all hands get to work something has to be done. It would be just as well, therefore, if back block settlers would keep in touch with the Stratford Chamber, and they can rest assured that any wants will be duly represented to the proper authorities. ENTERPkISiwu TOWNSMEN. Roller skating has caught on in Strat- 1 ford, and as a means of passing a pleasant hour during the winter evenings few amusements can equal it. Last winter there were no less than three halls occupied most nights of the week with this sport, but, Madame Bernard having decided to use His Majesty's Theatre exclusively for picture shows, has sold her large assortment of skates to Messrs. T. Mercer and E. Drake, who purpose opening a rink in the Town Hall on Monday, April 1, which is to be conducted on the most approved and up-to-date lines. Inglewood, Tariki and Midhirst will be visited at intervals, at which places carnivals will be held. As the latter place has not, so far as I am aware, had this fascinating pastime in-' troduced into its midst, the advent of Messrs. Mercer and Drake should be hailed with a considerable amount of pleasure by the residents, who will no doubt taks as kindly to the sport as their neighbors. A FOOTBRIDGE WANTED. The appeal made by the headmaster of the Stratford school at the last committee meeting for the erection of a footbridge over the Patea river on, say, Or-i lando street, opens up the question of J the risks run by school children in having to cross the railway line in Fenton street during the time all the trains are on the move; that is, the Hawera and Toko trains arrive just a3 the little ones are making their way to school, and the mail train leaves for the south immediately after. All these trains crossing a thoroughfare where school j children of all ages are passing causeii wonder to be expressed that some seri-j ous, if not fatal, accident has not oc-{ curred ere this, but luck, if I may soi term it, has been on the side of the | juveniles, although there have been some 1 narrow escapes. As Mr. Tyrer pointed out, some 311 children come from the south side of the river, and these, be- ■ sides' a large number of others, have to cross the railway line morning and afternoon when the train service is very busy. Such being the case, then, the school committee can approach the Bor- \ ough Council with a good case, and asthe cost of a footbridge is estimated to be comparatively small, there should be little, if any, hesitation on the part of our City Fathers in acceding to the request. The expenditure is one that the ratepayers are not likely to cavil at, because it will largely minimise the dangers that lurk at the Fenton street crossing. The only wonder is that some such scheme has not been thought of before, as the crossing under notice has been a source of anxiety to school teachers and parents for many years past. HIS MAJESTY S THEATRE. To-morrow night the Stratford Fire Brigade will be tendered a benefit, when a special picture programme will be presented, including the Terrace fire at Wellington, a great New York fire, and also Chicago's disastrous conflagration. The local brigade is in want of more up-to-date fire appliances, and Madame Bernard has kindly consented to help, and what is more, has gone to the trouble and expense of securing pictures suitable to the occasion. A bumper house should result. Not only will the .publie by their attendance assist a worthy institution, but they will nlso get Ml value for their money. BOWLING. When you see men playing bowls with their coats buttoned about their ears and looking as if someone bad emptied a plate of ice down their backs, it may be safely assumed that interest in the proceedings must of necessity receive a damper. When the match was started with Hawera on Wednesday afternoon most players shed their coats and laid themselves out for a jolly time. Ere long vestments had to be resumed—in some instances big coats were donned —and still the biting wind could not be kept out. It was the opinion of evenplayer on the ground that thev had never indulged in the good old game under such freezing conditions; " vet they all kept their temper and made believe they were enjoying themselves. After Wednesday's experience it would not surprise me to learn that Amundsen or Scott had laid out a green at the South Pole. EGMONT PARK BOARD. The Egmont Park Board held its meeting at the Stratford House on Wednesday, the party going up by drag. There were present: The chairman (Mr. J. Billiard, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki), Messrs. Smith, Collis, Goodson, R. McK. Morison. and the secretary (Mr. Stocker). Three applications for ieave of absence were received, but in one case this was refused. The board recognised the difficulties in the way of attending the meetings, but hold that repeated absence is not conducive to the satisfactory conduct of the board's affairs. I Members welcomed Mr. Bnllard. who sat for the first time as chairman of the board. A resolution was also .passed condoling with Mrs. Armstrong in Ihc irreparable loss she had siHained in the death of her husband, the late CommisIsioner. Tt was decided to spend CIO on the track between the Stratford and New Plymouth Houses. Several members expressed ~urpri.se. at the ease of communication between the two houses, the walk being a very beautiful one and ( only occupying less than two hours Some delay has ben experienced in ob"

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

taining the grant of £2OO voted by Parliament. The secretary explained that the department had intimated that it was unusual to expend two grants in one financial year. This was held to be unreasonable, as the previous grant was overdue, and should have been paid 'into I the board's account in the preceding year. A telegram, however, was received stating that the money would be immediately available. Satisfaction was expressed at the general progress made. The house, with the addition of three fine new bedrooms and a large diningroom, capable of accommodating some I twenty persons, has been greatly improved. Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen were I excellent hosts. During the day the members carried out some explorations, visiting a few of the beauty spots. What the members did not see personally Mr. Christiansen showed them by means of some fine photographs he "had taken recently. GENERAL NEWS On inquiry I learn that: Mr. Morgan, of the Stratford High School, who has been indisposed for some time, under-] went an operation on Wednesday, and! ift is possible he will not be able to' resume his duties at the school for over I i a month. Mr. F. Copestake, of the Stratford abattoirs, who has been confined to his) bed for some time with a spinal complaint, is on the road to recovery his many friends will be pleased to learn. The undermentioned factories paid out for February butter-fat on Wednesday as follows:—Stratford, £6609; Ngaere, £3969; Lowgarth, £2100; Cardiff, £1550. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Ashton left by the ' mail train on Thursday morning fori Napier, where they will spend a short) holiday. > "Tis an ill wind that blows nobodv) good," and in this connection its iV: worth mentioning that while townspeople have been complaining of the bitterly cold weather at this season of the year, country settlers are rejoicing that this self-same weather has really saved their turnip crops, as had warmer conditions prevailed after the late sowing the fly pest would possibly have had th* best of the bargain. As it is, however, turnip crops are looking excellent, all! over the district, and cattle should Haw no lack of feed during the winter. Applications for the position of secretary to the Stratford A. and P. Assocition close at 5 o'clock to-morrow afternoon with Mr. E. Jackson. The annual general meeting of the Stratford Football Club will be held in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday evening next. The business set down for hearing at the Magistrate's Court to-morrow includes four undefended civil cases, eight judgment summonses, one defended commission case and one affiliation oaee.