Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 60, 29 July 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

\ From our Resident Reporter. e ! I A BEAUTIFYING odCIETY. e FORMED IN STRATFORD. t Xo one has ever accused Stratford of being a beautiful place. You may hear that it is bracing, or progressive, or wind}', or muddy, or wet, or fond of • talking about itself, or boastful but never beautiful. In the first place the •! town wants a whole lot more people 3 before the land in the borough is sufli--1 I cienlly built on and occupied to rob its back streets of their forlorn aspect. The area included in the borough is big enough for a citv. But wlmt people sue nere are progressive. Many of them are enthusiastic horticulturists, numbering rose trees by the hundreds and narcissi by thousands. They plant and beautffy and, ornament their homes. Then, too, there 1 are men who, from their love of the ■ aesthetic, devote much time to the improvement of our parks, but the people don't give them much money to play with. Months ago it was suggested in this column that a beautifying association should be formed. On Friday night, after several futile attempts, a beautify- J ing society was brought into being, with the following officers: Patron, Mr. J. B. lline, M.P.; president, the Mayor (Mr, W. P. Kirkwood); vice-presidents, Messrs. Percy Thomson and A. E. Osmond; committee. Messrs. R. McK. Morison, G. N. Curtis,' A. D. LUick, S. H. James, B. Fearon, A. E. Copping, T. H. Penn, N. W. Jennings, T. Mercer, H. C. Wright, J. H. Thompson. Four members are to J be elected later, together with a secretary. Speakers at the meeting roundly condemned the apathy of the people in the matter of beautifying the town, perhaps forgetting that this was the third time within a few days that the Do- j main Board had tried to get a meeting. I It's easy to talk of apathy at a meeting. It's easy to locate it when a meeting lapses twice for want of a quorum. In the two domains, the river banks, and Victoria Park, there is ample scope for the Society, after which some of the streets might receive a little attention. It is a useful work, and speedily becomes a hobby with the enthusiast. It is necessary to reach that stage be- ■ fore the Society can be said to be flourI ishing. But it is to be hoped that the | public will assist the Association in makI' ing our breathing spaces into enjoyable recreation grounds.

! STRATFORD DAIRY FACTORY. The annual meeting of shareholders of the Stratford Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd., takes place to-day in the Town Hall at 11 a.m. The annual report to be submitted by the directors is as follows:—Your directors have pleasure in presenting to >''■■•• 'aiders a, satisfactory statement <.' ' operations. The following statistics for the years 1910-11 and 1911-12 will be found interesting, the figures for 1010-11 being in parenthesis:—No. of suppliers 224 (217); milk received. 20.72.3.4311b (29,393.500); average test, 3.87 (3.81); lbs fat, 1.151.238 (1,122.580); lbs butter, 1,328,439 (1,304,346); over-run. 15.3 (10.1); lbs milk to lbs butter. 23.37 (22.53): cost of manufacture, 1.17 (1.09). The working account shows a balance of £4SBS 9s lOd. This will bring the average paid for j butter-fat for the year to 12.02 d per lb., I In accordance with the resolution passed ftt a special meeting of shareholders held on August 17, 1911, your directors have acquired the ITuiakama Company's plant and property. Unfortunately, during the season the Makuri Creamery was destroyed by fire, the loss over insurances amounting to £136 12s 3d, which has been transferred from the reserve account. As recommended at last annual meeting, an independent tester has been ' appointed in conjunction with the Midhirst Dairy Company. The retiring di-1 rectors are Messrs. W. Were, J. C. Rob- J son and J. Milne, who are eligible for re- j election. Mr. T. H. Penn again offers I his services as auditor." i

The working account shows that for the year ending May 31 last the sum of £52.897 15s Id was paid to suppliers, and £2021 14s Sd in wages. The cost of manufacture was £4014 15s Od, and of selling and management £1595 4$ Bd. The total payments on all accounts were £66,008 9s 9d. Butter sales produced £64,777 9s Id.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS. Mr. C. D. Role, for goodness knows how long an energetic secretary of.the Stratford Acclimatisation Society, has notified his intention to resign the position owing to pressure of business.

■False pretences are becoming alarmingly common. The other day one of these "pretenders" arrived in a town not very far from her, and set to work. He called on a clergyman, and told his story. He was a member of the same church. Had "sat under" Rev. So-and-So," a particular friend of the parson's, for so many years, and knew him -well. Spoke of his late minister by his Christian name. Oh, yes, he had laid the foundations well. He was in trouble. He had come here to work at his trade, and had moved half his furniture from the railway station to the house he had taken. But the hard-hearted, carrier absolutely refused to move the rest until he was paid for the whole job. What was he to do? He did not have the necessary cash—and his wife and family were coming by the night train. He had hoped to be able to have the hous<> all nicely in order for them. Could the clergyman oblige with the loan of fifteen shillings to satisfy the carter? "You know," he said, "I can return it to-morrow, for the wife will have plenty of money when she comes to-night." Oh, no, he did not want to put his friend to the trouble of going up town to Fee the carrier. It was too •bad. really, to put him to so much trouble. The other was not quite satislied about it all —he had had a wide experience in matters of this kind —so he made enquiries. The furniture story was found to be thin as air. The wife failed to materialise, and the man was seen in company which suggested an expenditure in "'creature comforts" which no wife would have p. chance of sharing. On this occasion the ''plant" failed to v.crk.

Mrs. "R. D. Lowers is making arrangements fur a trip to Australia with her sister. The man who was so plnckily rescued from tlie bush beyond "UTiangarnomona recently in a state of delirium tremens was reported yesterday to be again at large in a similar condition. Tlie Public Works Department has now moved its buildings from the 33-miles siding to AVhangamoni"na. A traveller 'who arrived at the siding yesterday morning an hour too e:ni\ for the ballast train had to shelter .Vneath a truck. Presumably the Department will place a man in charge of thr landing platform , tn look after the intends of consignors | and give delivery of goods received there. Tt is reported in Stratford, hut without confirmation, that Mr. R. IT. CampTjell has sold the Whiiniramomona Hotel. At a committee meeting of the Acclimatisation Society on Friday night it

was reported that 70,000 Loch Leven and brown trout were being hatched out at the Stratford hatcheries. A sub-commit-tee was appointed to see about the distribution of (he Society's 70 or 80 ; pheasants judiciously. BERNARD'S PICTURES. The star picture Zigomar v. Nick Carter promises to draw a trig crowd to-night to His Majesty's. The film lias quite a reputation already. This present series is strong in scenic pictures, which are always popular, and attract to the theatre many who care little for the remainder of the programme, although they seem to get lots of enjoyment out of every picture screened. "Picturesque Holland" gives charming glimpses of the Netherlands, with its canals and windmills, whilst the views of Tripoli are said to be a capital .series. A very powerful dramatic story is unfolded in "The Ace of Spades." This programme contains a star comic, entitled "Hogan's Ally." The story introduces seven characters—father, mother and son in two families, and a policeman. The two boys, street urchins, Mickey O'Hooligan and Fritz Schmidtburgher, set the fun going with boyish pranks. Then they get to fighting, and the Irish boy comes off best. The other little chap runs home and tells mother, and her "Dutch" is up in a minute. She sails into Mickey with a broom, and Mickey in turn appeals | to mother, who, with true Irish pugnacity, wades into Mrs. Schmidtburgher, and skin and hair fly till the Irishwoman wins. A crowd gathers round, and, to cut a long story short, the respective fathers have a bout of fisticuffs. A policeman is brought. Whilst the story of the fight is being told the youngsters who started the rumpus are seen to be fraternising, and, realising what, fools they have been, their elders shake hands all round. Other fine films are "Under Burning Skies" (drama), "While the Cook Slept" (trick comic), and "Fatal Chocolate" (comedy).