Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 276, 18 May 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

BERNARD'S PICTURES

Ilis Majesty's Theatre was well filled on Thursday night, when the change programme was submitted to an appreciative audience, who were unstinted in their applause. The star drama, "A Tale of the Wilderness," portrays most vividly the life of the pioneer in the bac-k woods of America, showing the many hardships he has to contend with, including fights with the Indians. The attack on the stockade is particularly thrilling. The other dramas, '"Edna's Imprisonment," "Hungry Hearts" and "Silas Marner," also appealed strongly to the emotions. The scenic, topical scientific and humorous views combine to make a programme of extraordinary merit.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY STARTING- THE NEW PLANT. The new plant which the Electric Light Company have just recently installed to cope with the increased calls that the progress of Stratford has made upon them, was formally started on Thursday night in the presence of a large and representative gathering, who assembled at the new power-house at th invitation of the company. Among those present were Mr W. P. Kirkwood, (Mayor of Stratford), and several borough councillors, Mr W. Hathaway (chairman) and several county councillore, Mr D. K. Morrison, manager of the Moturoa Freezing Works, the chairman, directors, and many shareholders of the company, as well as other prominent townspeople. Mr R. H. Cameron, chairman of directors, who performed the starting ceremony, characterised the function as one which undoubtedly turned the wheel of fortune another revolution in one of the most progressive towns in the Dominion. On behalf of the directors lie accorded the visitors a hearty welcome. It was, he said, some thirteen years since the ratepayers had wisely voted in favor of lighting the town with electricity, as against water gas. Then Wellington was the only city lighted with electricity. Now all the up-to-date towns, both large and small, were so lighted. On instancing the progress of the town, he stated that during the thirteen years this was the third extension that it had been necessary to make, and the directors fully anticipated that in five years the plant would require to be duplicated. Before entering on the present scheme, the directors had carefully considered the power most suitable for their purpose, and after much consideration the issue was narrowed down to suction gas or the Diesel engine. The latter was ultimately decided upon after an inspection of the plant at Dunedin, and nothing, he thought, would suit them better. Now they would be able to cope with the increased demand for current not only for lighting, .but for motive power, and it was the intention of the company not to confine their operations to the borough, but also to extend their mains to the country, so that the working fanner might light his house and sheds, cut his wood, milk his cows skim his milk, and churn his .butter at the factory all by electricity. (Applause.) He paid a tribute to the maker's expert (Mr Hill) for the expeditious and careful manner in which he had carried out the erection of the plant. Mr Cameron then pulled a lever and set the 200 'horse-power engine smoothly in motion, and. the dynamo (revoking, simultaneously. Tliia synchronised at once with the two dynamos belonging to the old plant. The assembled company drank success to the new plant, after which the machinery was stopped. Mr W. P. Kirkwood, Mayor of Stratford, heartily congratulated the company on the energy and enterprise .that it had displayed in installing such an up-to-date plant.. He understood that there were only eight Diesel engines in the Dominion, only three being in the North Island. This engine and one at Gisborne were the only ones of the lot [made in Britain. The installation of ! this plant certainly inaugurated a new era in the prosperity of the Electric Lighting Company. It showed that they intended to do what was right in the way of supplying light and he felt sure the company's business would increase greatly thereby. He was pleased to hear that they intended to use New Plymouth oil for driving the engine—(hear, hear)—and hoped the time was not far distant when ocean-going liners, driven by oil, would be able to come to a deep water harbor at New Plymouth, and there load up with Taranaki oil to supply their motive power.

* From Our Resident Reporter. * * * 4 Broadway North., next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. <f> * *

Referring to the proposal to municipalise the electric light, he stated that there had been, a difference of opinion between the ratepayers and also the members of the council as to its advisability. Still, that was no reason why the members of the borough council and the directors of the company should not be on the best of terms. In concluding, he called for three cheers for the company, which were lustily accorded. Mr H. Hathaway, chairman of the Stratford County Council, described the plant as a magnificent one. He referred to the great future before electricity • in this district, where firewood was so | scarce, and considered that in years to come it would be the main power utilised by the farming community. After the mayor 'had re-started the plant those present were entertained by the directors to light refreshments. MAGISTRATE'S COURT. The usual weekly sitting of the local Court was of short duration this morning. Mr. W. G. K. Kenrick was the presiding magistrate. LEVEL CROSSING CASE. The first case called was one in which 1 W. H. Rook was charged with driving a vehicle, to wit a motor-car, on part of the public road in Fein on street, Stratford, where it crosses over a raihvay on the same level, without complying with the directions on the notice board to stop| Defendant pleaded guilty. Sergeant McNeely prosecuted and explained that on May 7 defendant was towing a motor-car behind the one he was driving, and attempted to cross the level crossing in Fenton street while the warning bell was ringing. His own car got across safely, but a waggon which was being shunted struck the tow rope and pulled the rear car against the truck, damaging the brake-rest and also tearing the sole ) ofT a shunter's beot. The damage to the boot was 10s, and to the brake rest 7s 6d. This was the first time defendant had been before the Court. The Magistrate, in giving judgment, remarked that this was a most dangerous crossing. He pointed out to the defendant the big risk he ran of causing loss of life and property by not waiting f for a moment or two to allow the train to go by. However, as defendant would I have to make good certain damage, he ' would only fine him 10s, with 7s costs. ] j In reply to Sergeant McNeely, the Magis-1 j trate said that he would make no order ) as to payment of the 17s 6d damages, { as that was a matter for civil procedure.) BREACH OF BOROUGH BY-LAWS. I Jas. Davey was charged, on the infor- J mation of the borough inspector, with | leaving a dead calf unburied. He plead- ' ed guilty, but stated that the calf was not his; it belonged to a drover whom ' ! he had allowed to put a mob in his pad- j j dock one night, and this one died. De- j fendant was convicted and fined 10s and ] J 7s costs. Wm, Jebb was fined' 10s and costs (7s) j for riding his bicycle on the footpath 1 in Fenton street, and A. E. Chard, who J did not appear, was fined 20s and costs (7s) for allowing three horses to wander in Hamlet street. UNDEFENDED CASES. Judgment was given by default in the j following cases :—Striitford Printing and ■ Publishing Company (Mr. Malone) v. D. . Roe, claim £3, costs los; A. J. Gleeson (Inspector of Noxious Weeds) v. E. L. Bickerstaff, £1 7s, costs ssj same v. J. ) J. Hills, £8 Bs, costs Bs. In the judgment summons case, Owen McAloon (Mr. Standford) v. Hv. Jakes, claim £32 12s Od, there was no appearance of the judgment debtor, and no excuse was offered. An order was made for payment of the full amount forthwith, in default three weeks' imprisonment in New Plymouth [ prison. | . _ i GENERAL NEWS j The three o'clock train for New Ply- j mouth was a particularly long one, con-' sisting of a lengthy string of cattle trucks and passengers, drawn by two engines. Of course Regan street was for a time completely divided in two by the wall of trucks, to the annoyance and inconvenience of a crowd of traps, horsemen and foot passengers, who were held up for fully ten minutes. An old settler of Midhirst named Mr. A. Askew died at his residence, Denbigh road, on Friday, at the age of seventytwo years. Deceased had been ailing for some considerable time. The Stratford Horticultural Society held a most successful social and dance in the Foresters' Hall on Thursday evening. The hall had been tastefully decorated, the supper room also being converted into a drawing-room. About forty couples occupied the floor, capital music being provided by Miss Mac Donald. In addition, there were a number of non-dancers present, for whom cards were provided. Mr. H. Cameron made an admirable M.C. There will be no sitting of the Magistrate's Court next week, owing to next Friday being Empire Day. ilr. D. J. Malone, one of Taranaki's representatives at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, returned from Wellington to-night. The social committee of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society met to-night to complete arrangements for the social which is to lie held on May 24, and which promises to be a brilliant success. BUSINESS ITEMS. PROPERTY SALES. tear**' Mr. J. TT. Thompson, land agent, reports the following recent property sales: 450 acres sheep country, handy to the branch railway. 135 acres dairy fawn, Warwick road, Stratford, j Thirty acres at Ngaere. Three leases of business premises, Broadway, Stratford. Lease of Stanley Private Hotel, Regan street, and the following Stratford town properties: Broadway.—Mr. Climie's house and two sections, two business sites (comprising 03 feet frontage), four dwellings (5 and 0 rooms). Flint 'Road.—One dwelling.. Miranda Street.—One dwelling. Juliet Street.—Five dwellings. Hamlet Street. —Two dwellings. Falstair Street.—One dwelling. Ariel Street.—One dwelling. Cordelia Street.—One new dwelling and five-eighth acre. Fifteen quarter-acre sections in various parts of the borough. Mr. Thompson states that there is a steady demand for Stratford town property, both for houses and building sites.