Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 231, 28 March 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

j MR. MASSEY AT STRATFORD. THE POLITICAL SITUATION. (By Telegraph.) Stratford, Last Night. Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, arrived in Stratford to-night, and was met at the railway station by Mr. J. 13. Hinc, M.P., and a fairly large number of the Reform Party's supporters, who gave three hearty cheers for the Leader of the Party. Mr. Massey acknowledged the compliment with a brief "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen., The Leader of the Opposition was accompanied by Mr. Guthrie, member for Oroua, and Mr. C. K. Wilson, member' for Taumarunui. When seen to-night Mr. Massey said he had nothing to say at present, but if the Cabinet was announced to-night he would have something to say about its personnel to-morrow night at a complimentary social to Mr.-J.~B. Hine, M.P. Otherwise speech will possibly be merely the sort of speech usu-1 al at social functions. FOOTBALL. TARANAKI RUGBY UNION. The annual meeting of delegates of the Taranaki Rugby Union will be held at,' Stratford to-morrow (Thursday) evening. According t : o a southern enthusiast, the management committee of the past season is going to be put on the defensive. The best means of defence, so our old footballers tell us, is to carry a counterattack into the enemy's territory. If these tactics are -employed—be it expressly understood that they are not recommended here—there would be some fun. As it is, however, the meeting will probably pass off as well-conducted meetings usually do. We haven't a Mr. Weir up here to create a fuss. Mr. Dan Malone is to bring forward a suggestion which, it is hoped, will commend itself favorably to the delegates. He proposes that Taranaki should run] a second rep. team, a B team. The advantages are many. We have many nlavers practically as good as the men in the rep. team, and they are often disappointed when the selector passes them bv. Tn these days, a disappointed youn« plaver piay forsake the game for hockey, jrolf. or the game with the shining penny in it. The position in the B team would be practically an intimation to a player ) that he's among the next best. The ex-j istence of a B team would mean to the! senior rep. man that he would have to) mind his p's and o's. else a B represeuta- i tive would be called on to take a hand in the first flight. Tt would mean that B rep. matches could be arranged with outside unions, and our rpps. coming on would get experience impossible of aeonisition under to-day's conditions.. Thus, it would be better for football generallv. Mr. T. Mercer has made his annual presentation of a football to the Strat-; ford Football Club. )

THE MAYORALTY. Ponie residents who claim to have "inside" information declare that 'Mr. Masters lias no intention of again contestins; the Mayoralty. As a matter of fact. Mr. Masters will not announce his intention, one way or the other, until he returns to Stratford from his holiday. BERNARD'S PICTURES. There's to lie a -grand change of programme at His Majesty's Theatre on Thursday night, and included in the picture marvels is ''Over Niagara in a Barrel." Of all the thrilling feats of irrepressible sensation-provokers this is reported to be about the pick. The picture is realistic in every detail, and the magnificence and grandeur of the great Niagara Falls are clearly depicted on the screpn. To regular patrons of the pictures the mere fact that "The Diamond Gang" is an Essanay production is a guarantee that it will be the real thing. The story shows sensational detective work, some miraculous motor-driving, a hot chase of the desperadoes by the police, the pang's last stand in an old hovel, and their ultimate capture. "In the Hot Lands" is a film which brings forcihlv to the minds of dwellers in this rain-favored country the awfulness of life in arid countries. The mother's illness, the doctor's orders to place ice on her brow when there's no ice for 25 miles; the gallant daughter's ride to the store, which she has to break open in the absence of the owner: her interrupted return, owing to a robber making off with her mount: the agonising journey of 18 miles on foot; and the saving of the mother's life as a result of her efforts; all these details are «hown with a faithfulness that carrier conviction. "A Trip to the We of Man" is a splendid scenic, and "The Gipsy" a good dra--

* From Our Resident Reporter, * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. * * * *♦♦*♦♦*♦♦♦♦♦* *****i|»i|i***********

matic film. The remaining topical, comical and education films are all good, too. HOCKEY. THE STRATFORD CLUB. Xothing has been lieard lately of the Stratford hockey club, and it has been suggested to me to put in a "feeler" to find if. the club is still existent. It is time the members were called together. Last year Stratford had a rattling team. They won the southern championship, but in the play-off with Inglewood on the latter's ground the northmen were • too good. J It is stated that Kaponga,is'going to "hot stuff" this season. NORTH TARANAKI HUNT CLUB. The meeting of Stratford members of the North Taranaki Hunt Club, called for Tuesday evening, lapsed owing to the wet weather interfering with the attendance. The notice, too, was short. Mr. Cliff, the huntsman, desires to express his thanks for the kindness extended to him by the local committee during! his visit here on the club's business on i Tuesday. "He told me that the country' over whish they had obtained permis- ' sion to hunt was splendid hunting territory, most conveniently situated, too. THE GYMKHANA. i The irrepressible man in the street calls it the "Jim-o'-Shanter," but the proper way to pronounce it is "Jimkarna." The name, however, and the fancied difficulty of pronouncing it, havej been a good "ad." The entries close with the secretary, Mr. E. Jackson, on March 30th, and the gymkana takes j place on Easter Monday. I GREAT RELINQUISHING SALE. I A unique -opportunity of purchasing) : high-class fashionable drapery occurs in | Stratford this week. Mr. A. Spence. J whose <lrapery and clothing business in I the Municipal Buildings is one of the t best-known in the district, has come to] the conclusion that the terms on which j the Borough Council has offered a new I lease of his premises are quite impossible, j Hence his determination to realise every-1 i tiling by the time the lease expires, with I a view of relinquishing business. Mr. ! Spenee's stocks have been well bought, | and it is unfortunate for him, whilst i fortunate for the bargain-hunters, that i he has just got in his new autumn and winter goods. These goods are 'in all the most approved styles and shades. J but. in common -with the rest of the) stock, they have been tremendously re-1 duced in price. Mr. Spence realises that J the new sale prices mean a real sacrifice,] but the stocks are big and the t'me is I short in which they have to go. So the I | whole stock is being ruthlessly reduced J tin price, the shop being closed to-day,i j Thursday, and Friday to enable every j I article to come under review. This moil-1 | ster relinquishing sale, which Mr. Spence I bis determined shall be a record one, coml menccs on Saturday morning at nine 1 | o'clock. The doors will open promptly I at that hour. !

BOWLING. Brake and Morison played Ryan and J. Jackson (holders) for the Osmond feathers on Monday afternoon, and after a very exciting game the former annexed the trophies. GENERAL NEWS. Tom Wing Kee, who deserter! from the steamer Rotorua on the 4th inst,. was arrested a couple of nights ago at Miel.hirst. his home, and was remanded to appear at Wellington on a charge of desertion. Constable Bl easel has gone down to the Empire City with him, so Constable Liston is here again from the Te Wora wilds.