Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 205, 9 May 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

CHEAP SARCASM

BUT A USEFUL INSTUTION. The fellow who stands at the street corner and sneers at the fire brigade members rushing off to a fire is not a particularly useful member of society, that is, if all his thoughts are of the same lofty nature and his doings are on a level with his thoughts. It takes no hero to stand by and jeer at the men who are doing the work. It took no nobility of nature, no remarkable gift of brains, no unusual intelligence, to stand at the corner of Broadway and Ryan street on Tuesday evening and sneeringly ejaculate "Noble bandt" Three firemen, the first on the scene after the bell rang, were making as fast as their legs and the heavy ladder-cart would allow them to the scene of the fire in Cordelia street. They were doing the work they had voluntarily undertaken to do, and all the reward they got from this generous mind was a | sneer. Could sneering bystanders but be lashed to that unwieldy ladder-cart for J a while, and made to pull it, they would ' be. less inclined to belittle the work of ' the volunteer firemen. Firemen are deserving of every praise for their selfsacrificing work. Fortunately for the • community generally, they do not become weary of well-doing, but practice regularly, year in and year out, to become proficient in their duties, so that when the call comes they may save life and property. (Fire brigade work does not consist merely of putting on a shiny helmet, brass-buttoned, coat, and a broad red stripe down the trouser-leg. It is not all play. Think a moment. A lamp capsizes, or a curtain catches fire from a candle. The house is ablaze. "Fire! fire!" Someone dashes into the fire station and pants out the message. The • fireman sets the. alarm bell going. Firemen enjoying their quiet smoke, others | having dinner, some playing billiards, I or, it may be, all soundly sleeping, start up as though they had sat on the business end of a tack. Clapping on helmet, and hardly staying to buckle belt, the fireman rushes off to the station, on to the scene of the fire. Is he getting paid for all this? Xot he. The first few men seize the hose and ladder cart, and trundle it rapidly to the locality of the burning 'house. Still puffing and panting, some of them almost ready to collapse, they run out the hose, burst into the burning house, direct jets of water judiciously, and save the place from further destruction, and perhaps prevent a whole row of cottages going. A noble work? Yes, They take their lives in their hands. For this, firemen are deserving of the gratitude of everybody. They are entitled to be furnished with every facility in the prosecution of their work. In the case' of our own fire brigade they are entitled to more modern appliances. One very necessary piece of equipment is a hose-reel, and for this the brigade lias made application to the Council. It will cost about £33. Having wheels of a diameter of six feet, and being lightly built, the reel can be readily propelled with a minimum of labor. Firemen dragging the present ladder-cart have had about enough of it when they reach the fire, for, when loaded, it is too heavy. It is of urgent necessity that the men are fit to go on with the actual fire-fighting when they get there. So the borough councillors should take these things into consideration when the application for the reel and new hose comes up at the next meeting of the Council. The Stratford Fire Brigade has a fine record. The members attend most regularly to their practice duties, and are at pains to "keep fit." When recruits are needed in this useful branch of municipal services will the ">Tsble band!" ejaculator apply?

STRATFORD-A COMMERCIAL CENTRE. Stratford's centrality is being more generally recognised. It has remained for Messrs. Burgess, Eraser & Co., of New Plymouth, or their representative, Mr. F. Pinson, to demonstrate that this is the spot from which Taranaki can be most conveniently worked by commercial travellers. Mr. W, Thompson, traveller for Messrs. A. Hatrick & Co., is obeying his confrere's injunction to go and do likewise, whilst I am informed that others are contemplating a similar move. T'lidcr the new arrangement the travellers can breakfast comfortably at home, and catch trains north or south at a little after half-past eight in the morning, instead of rushing off by the seven o'clock express. And they are home again before seven at night, and are slippered and contented by the fireside long before their New Plymouthgoing comrades have reached their desti-

❖ * >f> * * From Our Resident Reporter. * * * <1 Broadway North., next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. •{• * *

nation. Hours of unnecessary railway travelling are saved. This centrality of Stratford is going to do big things for the town, and it is good to see it acknowledged. and utilised by the big commercial houses. With the Opunake railway junctioning here, for, of course, 110 one in Stratford doubts that this wiH be the outcome of the commission, Stratford's chance in the commercial activity of Taranaki must come.

A BOON TO WHANGAMOMONA,

PUBLIC WORKS TRAMLINE. Mr. C. J. McKenzie, district engineer of the Public Works Department, has recently been engaged in surveying and preparing plans for a tramline to run from the bridge near Manga re road into Whangamomona, a distance of about a mile and a half. The work has. now been authorised. The tramline will keep to the railway formation for the greater part of its length, but detours will he made in places to avoid crossing streams. In such cases, with the permission of the Whangamomona County Council, the line will follow the main road, and will cross the main road bridge. The work will be put in hand as soon as the service rails are laid to the bridge, and only about a quarter of a mile of the unrailed track remains. The Public Works Department is laying the tram primarily for the purpose of facilitating the carriage of material for the numerous bridges on the railway route, thus saving the road. The cartage of heavy loads -of bridge material in the wet season would probably spell ruin to the road. But it is more than likely that the settlers will be enabled to make use of the tram, too, for cartage of stores. This will not only save the road, but by obviating the necessity for crossing the Saddle, must cheapen the cost of living bv reducing freight charges. Such a service will be a great boon to the district. If a small five-ton locomotive is obtainable —and it is thought that one can be brought from the South Island —the engine will be used for haulage; otherwise, horses will be used. It is quite on the cards that before very long the Government will institute a much better mail service between Stratford and Whangamomona, to give a return mail each day. or at least on five days a week. The disabilities of the baekblocks settlers are being one by one removed. There is no doubt that the Public Works Department pursues the right policy in allowing the public the use of the unopened sections of the railway prior to their being taken over by the Railway- Department. It is a fair thing that as soon as the work is sufficiently advanced to be a convenience to the settlers, that those backblockers should be entitled to the convenience. It has to be borne in mind, of course, that ordinary railway traffic on the lengths of line under the Public Works Department's control is outside of the Department's usual routine, and is possibly a bit of a nuisance. But the officials in charge of this district seem to do their utmost to help the people. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. THE PARISH HALL.' The younger folk of the Holy Trinity congregation have every reason to be gratified with the success of their first ,social held in connection with their effort to make the Parish Hall more cosy and complete. The social was held on Thursday evening in the Parish Hall itself, and was well attended. Card-tables on the stage were kept fully occupied, and over thirty couples footed it merrily to capital music voluntarily supplied by the following: Mr. and Mrs. C. Penn, Misses McDonald, O'Leary, Middleton, Butler, Rogers (2) and Morison. Mr. Arthur Staples was M.C., and was most attentive to his duties. The supper was provided by the ladies, and was bounteous and good. The floor was good, and dancing a pleasure. At the request of the ladies themselves the "basket" admission fee is to be abolished in favor of a payment in cash, they being desirous of assisting to swell the funds. The committee should have a successful season.

THE MOUNTED RIFLES CAMP.

GIFTS TO THE CHURCH The candidates at the September confirmation services voluntarily subscribed a sum of money among themselves, and handed it to the Vicar, with the request that he would expend it in the purchase of some article for use in the church ceremonial. The suggestion to obtain : a communion cruet%net with their approbation, and one was accordingly ordered from England. This has now arrived, and will be used for the first time on Whit Sunday. The cruet is of clear glass, oa a solid silver Das'e, silver-han-dled. and the silver cover surmounted by a cross. Together with this have arrived the silver chalice and platen for the Toko Church, purchased by subscription amongst the members of the congregation. They are to be placed in the church on the fourth Sunday of this month.

FOOTBALL The Tukapa Thirds have forfeited to Stratford Thirds, who are trying to arrange a match with Eltham for this afternoon. Another vacancy has occurred in the seniors, through Tim. Cameron being unavailable. Jones moves up from First Juniors to fill the gap.

BERNARD'S PICTURES. "Dan Morgan," the noted Australian bushranging film, will make its first appearance in Stratford to-night. It is a remarkable film in many respects, and, as all good bushranging films should be, is full of exciting incident. The acting and scenery are both described as excellent. Other stars in this week-end firmament of the picture world are the dramas. "Pull for the Shore, Sailor," "Heart of an Outlaw" and "Snare of Society," a well assorted trio.. The "Gatimont Topical Gazette" is always of interest, depicting actual happenings in the great world centres. "Kntre-nous" is a fine scenic, and "Making Safes" an interesting industrial film. There are several comics, sufficient to cause plenty of hearty laughter.

The Mounted Rifles will camp at Waverley from May 10 to 23, and men from Tututawa, Piiniwhakau, Douglas, To Wcra, Pohokura and Ratapiko are to 'be quartered in Stratford on the nifflit of May 15. The right half of B squadron will parade at Stratford at 8.15 a.m.

on May IG, and the Elthain men at Eltham at 9 o'clock. Uniforms will be issued to-day at the Paris Hall, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., or, if these times are inconvenient, the issue will be made to individual men to suit their requirements. It is provided that the country menfbers staying in Stratford on the night of May 15 can get their uniforms then.

GENERAL NEWS.

The re-decking of the Swansea road bridge over the Patea river has been commenced. Should the weather keep fine, the Stratford bowling green will be open for play this afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. John Mace, of Omata, are staying .with- their daughter, Mrs. F. M. Marlow, at Stratford. Mrs. Smith, her sister, of New Plymouth, is also her guest for a few days. An accident, which, to resurrect an old friend, "might easily have been attended with serious consequences," occurred here on Tuesday evening. A car was being towed to Mr. Davison's motor garage behind another car. Crossing the railway line at Fenton street, the driver of the car disregarded the warning bell, and the Toko railway engine and truck dashed into the towline. The first oar was swung round against the truck, and the shunter standing on the break had the heel of his boot torn off. The second' car had the front wheels smashed, and Mr. Davison was thrown out and severely bruised. It is possible that an action will I)ebrought by the. Kailway Department, as a hint to the public that the warning given at the crossing must be observed. The fireboll rang fitfully out on Tuesday night, at about -seven o'clock. A chimney in a "bach" in Cordelia street had caught, fire, and the cottage was in danger, but the (lames were quickly subdued. The bell-ringing apparatus at the lire station was sadly out of gear. Mr. S. Jenkins, of Eltham, son of Mr. Tlios. Jenkins, founder of the Salvation Army Boys' Home, left yesterday for ■England. The Lowgarth Cheese Company lias decided to instal a plant for the manufacture of whey and butter, the plant including a .pasteuriser to convert the whey into a nutritious pig-food. The lion. Mr. Laurenson will speak at Toko to-night, and will, in company with the lion. Mr. MacDnnald. go to Whangamomona to-morrow to attend the Liberals' banquet to Mr. Jos. McChiggage. , _ . About ten years ago a party of visiI tors to Stratford were surprised to find a great, stump in the roadway, almost at the junction of Began street and Orlando street, opposite the Wesleyan Church. Borough councils and borough engineers liave come and gone, and may go on for ever, without interfering with the unsightly reminder of Stratford's bush village days. But the stump can not remain there for ever. Tt is perishing now of senile decay. This is un- ' do'ibtedlv a cheap way of removing the ; "himn. but would the Council not be —volv blamed if it were to cause a I>-:ip accident?