Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 63, 1 August 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From our Resident Reporter. THE TERROR OF THE BACKBLOCKS. INJURED MAX C'ARRTED 17 MILES OX A STRETCHER. MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH.

Another is added to tlie long list of serious accidents away in tile backbloeks to emphasi.-e the need for a resident medical man; ami another is added to the lengthening record of heroic 'bushmen who struggle through mud and slush, bearing on a stretcher their injured male to civilisation.

On Monday Mr. Frank Wakelin. formerly of Toko, met with a b:id accident, which nearly spelt his end. He was engaged on a road formation contract on the Manga road, Pitniwhakau, wlien a great lump of papa rock, weighing about half a ton. fell from the face under which he was working. Fortunately for him, the mass did not hurl all its weight upon him, but seemed to graze him. It razed the skin off his back and shoulders, and broke his ankle, and knocked him over a ldufl' into a creek twenty I'eet below. The papa seemed inclined to follow him. which must have meant instant death, but. after balancing inself almost on the edge of the 1)1 uIT. it fell backwards into the road. Lying helpless in the bed of the creek, Wakelin could not have escaped the mass had the momentum been suflici.nl to carry it on. His mates had great difficulty in rescuing Wakelin from his dangerous position. but it was managed eventually, and the broken limb placed in splints' made from the staves of a powder cask. A stretcher was quickly improvised from sacks and poles, and then started the awful journey through the mud. The party splodged through seventeen miles of slush before they took more than a fragmentary rest, and then they arrived at Mr. Hastie's homestead, whence the injured man was conveyed in a vehicle to Tututawa. Here Dr. Steven, who had hurried to the scene hv motor-car. was awaiting the party, and he skilfully attended to the' sufferer, who was afterwards brought iii to the Stratford hospital, arriving there about half an hour after midnight, or after nine long hours of suffering since the hour of the accii dent. Wakelin was in good spirits yesterday, and spoke in terms of gratitude of the exertions put forward on his be- | half by his companions and others who rendered assistance, and also to Dr. Steven for his treatment. The. injured man had his ankle fractured in two places, and his back and shoulders badly grazed and bruised.

THOMSON'S CALF MEAL. To rear good calves, pood farmers know it is necessary to add something to the "skim-dick" which on some farms is allowed to become the staple diet of tlie calf. The question that presents itself to the farmer is this: "What is the best shift' to add to [he milk?" If the best calves in the neighborhood are desired, then use "Thomson's Calf Meal." Messrs. McMillan and Ficdrie. who know of the great demand for the meal in the South Island, and the conspicuous success attending its use. have acquired the agency for Taranaki (with the exception of Lit ham), and have an advertisement in this issue. The component parts of the food arc such as to maku a wellbalanced ration, preventing scour and likewise making constipation impossible, forming good firm UesU and sound bone. Calves like ••Thomson's Calf Meal," and thrive on it. •.

To induce farmers to tost its value, the proprietors are oll'ering :i'sack at 22s Gd (regular price 28s) at New Plymouth. Stratford, or for 2."is lid at other railway station. A trial is confidently recommended, and the result of the trial is as confidently foretold.

A PECULIAR ACCIDENT. Mr. -Tames Scott, one of the oldest and' best known of the East road carriers, met with u peculiar accident at YVhangamoniona on Thursday last. Two of his team commenced to fight at the feeder, iir. Scott rushed to slop them, when one of the horses, who must have been a lied Indian ill his previous state of existence. made a highly successful attempt to.scalp him by biting the top of his head. Mr. Scott received a nasty wound, which necessitated the use of the needle. It is needless to add that Jimmy's language. was appropriate to the,occasion.

. FOOTBALL. <"' l if ton Juniors (ravelled to Eltham on Wednesday morning, expecting to play Manutahi for the second junior championship. When it became known that they, had gone through they were officially notified .tluit the match was fixed-for Thursday, and not for Wednesday. The team; however, had had club instructions to go to Eltham on Wednesday. Whilst having dinner, they were joined by the Manutahi 'earn, who, led bv a singular coincidence, also arrived in Eltham for a ma toll *Oll a day other than that said to have been appointed for a play-off match. In the circumstances the teams decided to play, and Clifton prevailed by three points (a try scored by Jimmy Mann) to nil. Mr. 11. Nuttall refereed. The Elthani Club having been notified that the game was to be played on Thursday, had made lio arrangements for yesterday's game, and there was no gatekeeper. It now remains to lis seen whether the match will be recognised by the union. One of the Clifton team informed me that, the Waitara boys would not travel agiin. even if the union decided that, the match must be re-plaved. PERSONAL.

Mrs. On. Sangstor. who is leaving Stratford shortly for her new homo on tin- Beaconsfield road, is to he entertained by the Tarauaki Scottish Society on Friday ni,t;ht. Mrs. Sangster was president of tlic ladies' committee which made the society's social in May such a distinct success, and for her work there ami in tin* iiilere.-ts of the society generally slu> is certainly deserving of all the honor that body can confer npon her. Mrs. Sang>ter's cheerful assistance in all good works in Stratford will be sorely missed, but. we have the consolation of knowing .she will not be far away. 'Miss Annie Oallaghan. who succeeded Mrs. P. (;. Arden several years ago as postmistress at Ngaeve, ami who lias carried out her duties with conspicuous success—this being attested bv her general popularity—is resigning her appointment in order to fulfil the higher duties of the «ex. She will be succeeded by her sister, who has been in Mr. A. Coleman's ofticc at Stratford for some time.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS. Several fine days in succession. TVe arc beginning to fear a drought. The cold at night, or when exposed to the v ind by day. is intense.

Tt is reported that great activity is now being displayed in the construction of the Public Works tramline out Wlinnga' wav.

The Bachelors' Ball, to eventuate this evening, promises to be a splendid afTair.

The Toko 'branch of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society is holding a "wo Scotch nicht" shortly. "Our Regiment," the comedy to bo staged here in October, will 'also be staged at New Plymouth, Bawera, Eltbam, Inglewood and YV,iii.nrn. Tlie proceeds ill each centre will be devoted to the funds of the local club of the Taranaki Garrison Sports and Pastimes Association. BERNARD'S PICTURES. '•'Forward the Light Brigade! . . . Oh, the wild charge they made. Honor tho Light Brigade, noble six hundred!" One of the most heroic feats in the whole history of British arms was the charge of the Light Brigade, and a vivid persentation of the scene has bean secured at enormous expense by one of the great film-producing firms of the Old V\ orld. Mme. Bernard has arranged 'o screen this wonderful film to-night, tomorrow and Saturday. It is entitled, The Victoria Cross,' or "The Charge of the Light Brigade." The story traces the fortunes of the colonel's daughter and Lieutenant'Cholmondeley, who has had the colonel's refusal of the daughter's hand until he has won his spurs. Soon afterwards, the Lieutenant sailed for the Crimea and took part in the Crimean War. Tlip. hardships endured by the British Army in the campaign of 1834-55 were terrible in the extreme, for not only had they to face a powerful foe. but also to contend with the great severities of the climate. Stirred by the sad tidings which reached England of the sufferings of the sick and wounded in the military hospitals, Florence Nightingale organised a band of nurses and hastened to their relief. Among those who enlisted for this noble work was the fiancee of Lieutenant Cholmondeley, and she is recognised by her father on the arrival of this devoted band at the front. The picture discloses some of the terrible scenes of this bittet campaign, enacted under a fierce and Minding snowstorm, and in which the nurses are ministering !o tlie wants of the stricken troops. At length, under tragic circumstances, Lieutenant Cholmondeley is given the opportunity of winning iiis spurs. The Light Brigade is ordered to take the Russian guns. The task is an unequal one, and as the small body of fiOO cavalry form up one feels that they are being hurled to certain death. The colonel's daughter watches from the tent the departure of tlie little band of heroes, which includes her father and her lover. They reach the guns, those that are left of them, and the gunnpr.s have fled in terror and surprise. Again the guns boom out, and to her horror the girl sees her father thrown to the ground, his horse shot under him. Lieuteriant Cholmondeley turns and dashes to his chief's assistance. He cuts down several Russians and hurls | another to the ground. Placing the ( colonel upon his horse he brings him | safely through the hail of shot and shell, | and they take their stand with the sad I remnant who rally after the gallant I charge. The last scenes are more peace- | ful. The regiment has returned to England, where we see the gallant lieutenant [ decorated by his Queen with the Victoria | Cross, and the union of the devoted | couple. The great Irish drama "Arrah- | na-Pogue'. is also included in the present series, by special request). It is an entertainment in itself. -Scenic films are '"Little Maids of .China and Japan" and '•Glimpses of Italian Lakes." Laughproducers are "Staiiff Dreams are Made of." "Tweedledum Extortioner," and '"Tim and Jim." An Edison drama, "A Man for a' that," concludes tlie list of subject.