Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 232, 29 March 1912, Page 3

O ur Stratford Page

PERSONAL. Mr. J. Masters, Mayor of Stratford, accompanied by Mrs. Masters and Miss Masters, returned to Stratford on Wednesday evening from a holiday tour of the North Island. The first fortnight was spent in the Auckland district, Mr. Masters attending the Methodist Conference as delegate from Stratford. The weather during those two weeks or so was wretched. Te Aroha and Rotorua were visited, and whilst at the latter place his Worship received an invitation from •Sir Joseph Ward to attend the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building 6 at Wellington on Saturday last. Mr. Masters made his arrangements so that this function would fit in with his travelling programme, and duly attended. A few days were spent at Levin, and the return to Stratford was made as above, stated. Mr. Masters, who is not as strong and robust as he used to be, feels much beneited by the trip. Questioned as to whether he will again seek election as Mayor, he emiled and said he would make his plans known in due course.

Afl £,A-STRATFORDITE. Whilst on his travels Mr. Masters stayed with Mr. J. D. Morison, at Te 1 Aroha, and learned from him that he was an aspirant for Mayoral honors in the northern borough at the coming election. His many friend 6in Stratford will wish him every success. Mr. Morison was in business here for a great number of years, and during the whole of that time interested himself in public and aemi-public institutions. He was for years a most useful member of the borough council, and was one of the progressive members of the Taranaki Education Board. When he left 'here the Stratford mayoralty was within his grasp, for Mr. Masters had intimated that he would stand down in Mr. Morison's favor. Mr. Morison is well versed in debate and the laws governing de-> bate, the result of liis active work in the Stratford Parliamentary Union. A good level-headed business man, with sound and progressive ideas, and with a good knowledge of the management of municipal affairs, our erstwhile townsman should make a really good mayor of Te Aroha.

THE PREMIER-ELECT. TO VISIT STRATFORD. The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Prime Minister-elect, has been invited to be present at the complimentary social to Mr. McCluggage on Easter Monday night, and will in all probability lie present. MR. MASSEY ON THE ROAD. MEETING THE SETTLERS. Mr. W. F. Masser, M.P., accompanied by Mr. Hine, M.P., and a number of his supporters, motored out this morning to Tariki, Midhirst, Inglewood, Toko, and Ngaere. He was greeted at every centre by a good gathering of settlers, and at Inglewood the party was entertained at luncheon. Hk speeches throughout expressed Mr. Massey's great pleasure in noticing the all-round prosperity of the settlers and the successful development of the dairying industry, whilst he found in the healthy, sturdy children en route a complete denial to the Taranaki child-slavery allegations. Papty politics were eschewed, Mr. Massev holding back his ball cartridge for the big "rally" at Stratford. FIRE BRIGADE RIVALRY. ELTHAM v. STRATFORD.

The Stratford fire brigade team which went to Eltham to-day to try conclusions with the Eltham men ' left the ashes down there, the home team winning two out 'of three events, although they seemed at one stage to have a mortgage over the two-men "dry" event. The following are the results:— Two-men dry event.—Foreman Murray and Fireman Brown (Eltham) beat Foreman Burgess and Fireman Drake (Stratford). Times, 43 3-ssec. and 44sec. Five-men carry, "wet".—Foreman Murray, Firemen Brown, Fake, G. Robinson and Cliff (Eltham), 3osee., beat Foremen Wilson and Burgess, Firemen Boon, Davies' and Drake (Stratford), 44sec. (with 2sec penalty). In this event each side had a blow-out in the first run. Three-men carry, "wet."—Foremen Burgess and Wilson and Fireman Boon (Stratford) beat Firemen Brown, Robinson and Fake (Eltham) in *>R2-ssec (with Isec. penalty), Eltham's time being 27 3-ssec (with 3sec. penalty). The return contest will take place next summer. MOVEMENTS OF CLERICS. The Rev. J. M. Thomson, M.A., minister in charge of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, has received a call to the church at Foxton. The Rev. Reade, who succeeds the Rev. i C. C. Harrison in charge of the Methodist Church here, comes with an excellent reputation :•> a preacher. He is a young married i.ian. with two children.' 'iiS&lf COMMERCIAL. T. LAMASON'S REPORT. j A very large entry of poultry came forward on Saturday, and prices, considering the class catalogued, were very .satisfactory. I quote as follows:—Hens Od to 2s fid, cockerels Is to Is 9d. roosters Is to Is 9d, pullets 2s Gel to 3s, ducks Is to Is fid, geese 2s 6d to 3s. Vegetables and sundries at usual r:vtts. Two traps were sold, realising £ll and £B. About 700 cases 'of fruit came forward during the week. Apples brought 2s to (is. pears 2s to 6s Cd. peaches 2s to 4s, passion fruit 3s Cd to 4s (id. watejr melons Cd to Is each. GENERAL NEWS. About midday the dulcet strains of a well-tuned brass band floated along Broadway. The presence of Mr. Massev had nothing to do with it. The band was just starting for Toko, to play (the sports, and gave us a taste of its | nnality first. It is rather a pity that ! the band hides its lisht under a bushel. The rapidity with which a crowd gather|ed should give it an idea of lio.w I much we would like an open-air conI cert. ~ ' Mr. P. F. Ralfe. one of our oldest, and for vears one of our most prominent, residents left last night for Raglan. Like the swallows, Mr. Ralfe seeks a warmer clime during the winter months, and he will not return for about half a year. The mounted rifles had an excellent

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

parade tliis afternoon at King Edward Parlfff ,Men and horses are now getting to know the work better, and some of the mofements were carried out with comm'&idable alacrity. Mr. i Laurenson, chief clerk ft# the Stratfcjfjl Post Office, is now enjoying his annual three weeks' leave. The Primitive Methodist Church choir held a gasden party at Mr. C. H. Saunders' lovely grounds to-day in splendid weather. The Grossi entertainers had a fairly good house last night. Some of the "turns" were good, some needed improvement, some needed deletion. Peed is gloriously plentiful everywhere, and farmers face the winter with good prospects. Turnips and 'other fodder crops are doing well, and stock is in good condition. The men out-back have a quarrel with the weather. Bush should have been burnedtoff long ago, but the weather was too wet. Then we had about ten days' fine and- some fires were started at the beginning of the week. Then it rained again. The loss of a "burn" is a serious matter to the occupier of the land; but better no burn at all than a bad one. The public are well catered for to-day. There is a Reform rally down" at the Ngaere zoological gardens, a sports meeting at Toko, school picnic at Stanley road, garden party at Warwick Road, a shooting match, a cricket match, and bowling, tennis, and 1 even golf enthusiasts are busy. Our fire brigade team is away at Eltham, where an inter-brigade team competition is in progress. Tonight we are to have Mr. Hine's presentation at the town hall, Bernard's 5 Pictures, a skating rink, and a lecture I on a religious subject. There may be | other forms of amusement as well. Opposition makes for solidarity. The carpenters and joiners have formed a union, and cited the master builders, claiming trigger pay. (The employers met at Stratford to-day to discuss the situation. BUSINESS NOTES. In this issue Mr. T. Lamason advertises entries for his mart sale on Saturday next. ! Mr. Spence's relinquishing sale commences at 9 o'clock on Saturday morn-1 ing. Some of the prices marked on the goods are ridiculously low—l am sure Mr. Spence will pardon the reflection—and tlie bargains won't' last long, for the Stratford people know a good thing when they see it. Mr. John Leydon's furniture'sale, with five weeks to go, is "booming". i