Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 71, 10 August 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From iv,t Resident Reporter. tKUr.CH UHION. The officers of Hie Methodist and Primitive Methodist churches in the Stratford circuit met in the Primitive Methodist schoolroom on Tuesday evening to discuss church union and to arrange details for its consummation in the near future.

The Rev. A. Reader presided, and the Rev. B. Metson was appointed secretary. There were over forty present, including officers from all the outlying centres of church work. A hue spirit prevailed throughout the evening, auguring well for the ultimate union of the churches. The following resolutions (as recommendations) were unanimously agreed to:-—That there be only one circuit for Stratford: that on the 'consummation of union the two congregations in Stratford lie merged into one; that a committee be set rip to go into the matter of the church sitrs, with a view of seeing what is best to he done to provide accommodation for the congregation; that pulpit exchanges be effected between the two ministers, dates to lie mutually arranged; that we have periodic united social gatherings, arrangements to be left to the circuit stewards and ministers.

The feeling of the meeting was that in future there should be two ministers, one married and one single. The Rev. Mr. Frost reported on the work in the Fast Egmont mission in very hopeful terms, and the necessity for at ieast two agents- one at Douglas, and one «t Whangamomona—wag endorsed by the meeting. It was also decided to hold monthly united prayer meetings, alternating between the two churches, the first to ]>e held in the Primitive Methodist Church. The wish was freely and generally expressed that it would be possible to retain the services of the, Revs, Reader and Metson in the circuit for some time, those present realising that such 'would do much towards cementing the union and helping forward the work of the church.

Conversing with one who was present. T learned that the idea is to utilise one of the present church sites in Stratford for the united congregation, and that the disused church building shall be moved to a site adjacent to the church and used as a hall and Sunday school. STRAY PARAGRAPHS. It pays to employ a specialist for special worJj v An old saving has it that "a man who "isJiis own lawyer has a fool for hi P client." . Anvhow. a plaintiff in the Magistrate's Court at Stratford, who sued a debtor for some £27. employed Mr. R. Spence as his advocate. Judgment was obtained, and in due course a judgment summons was issued, and the case came before the court last week. The debtor's statement of his earnings was considered unsatisfactory he alleging that his total earnings amounted to only about £1 a week. The hearing was adjourned for a week, and the debtor was ordered to submit to the court a proper statement of his earnings and expenses over the period since the judgment was obtained. That statement was not forthcoming, but at yesterday's hearing Mr. Spence stated that he had received a telegram from the debtor asking what was the lowest amount that would be accepted in full settlement. A reply was sent, and bv the following mail came a money order for £25. The case was struck out.

The Stratford Operatic Society had to turn a couple of hundred awav from the Hawcra Opera House on ' Thursday. Seats in the pit were: selling at three shillings. The performance went well, but was marred bv two of the principals (Messrs. X. F. Dunlop and W. Lander, as "Sir Joseph Porter" and ''Captain Corcoran,"' respectively) being hoarse from very severe colds. The audi" encc. was most enthusiastic, and the society was well pleased with its reception. About £75 was taken at the doors.

The S.M. Court was occupied nearly nil day yesterday by the case in which Thos. Hastie. of Tututawa, sued William Godkin for £OS Os lOd, arising out of a grazing agreement. Defendant had grazed stock on plaintiffs farm, by mutual arrangement, for five months. Plaintiff sued also for defendant's board and lodging at plaintiffs house for 24 weeks at 12s (id a week, and under various other heads. The case was adjourned.

Book work, such as receipt books, delivery books, order books, counter books, etc.. all come within the scope of our printing works. The orders executed to date have given the utmost satisfaction to all customers, and this is proved by repeat orders. Our machinery is installed in Curtis' Buildings, next the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile offices. General book-binding, and rubber stamp making are special lines, but every description of printing is done on the premises' in first-class style, promptly and cheaply. _At the Borough Council on Monday aight Cr. King will move to rescind the motion passed at last meeting of the C..1111. ■} ;M "■ ■; '<_ ', ■ I. 1 ;. i n .ir , m (_],(, schedule of the loan proposals the .sum of €00(10 for widening the Victoria bridge to 09 feet, the full width of Broadway.

At the S.M. Court yesterday morning, James Dodd and George Mnmby paid the usual price of 10s and costs for breaches of the 'borough by-laws. Dodd was caught cycling on the'footpath, and Mumby for driving without lights, and each was fined 10s and ordered to pav 9s costs.

At a mooting of the Stratford Bowling Chili's committee'on Thursday evening, it wis reported that the top-dressing of the green with sieved papa had been completed by working boos of members, and promised to lie in splendid order lor the coming .season. The Stratford Bowling Clu-h's committee passed a resolution as follows: "That the Stratford Club agrees 'to the opendoor _ policy at the Tarauaki Provincial Rowling Association's tournament, provided no club enters more than three rinks, and the entrance fee for each rink be fifty shillings." The Stratford and Midhirst Dairy Companies have decided to each form cow-testing associations. Vr. McKonzie. who has been acting as independent tester for these companies, will be in charge of operation!?, and will provide any assistance required. The charge to dairymen will be (wo shillings per cow )er season, and the test of each cow's milk will be supplied once a month. The farmer in the first place supplies the weight of four consecutive milkings once in each month, together with a sample from each of these milkings. In return he receives a tabulated sCitoment showing the milk and butter-fat yield for a 30-day period, also the total of milk and butter-fat from calving to the end of ■each period. The farmer also receives, on the same sheet, a statement showing | the average milk and butter-fat production of his herd for a .'lO-day period, and a .similar average of all cows in |h ( > as . sociation. enabling Vim to compare the results. Mr. M". Ko'lon. dairy instructor, has been largely instrumental in forming these associations. BERNARD'S PICTURES. An excellent selecti<,:i of films was submitted at His ■Marsh's Theatre last night, on the oeens'ion of this week's second change. Chief ief-rest centred in the detective story. "Tom Butler," a long film of absorbing inlerrsf throughout, the audience closely following the

Many disguises sulopted and the quick I succession of stirring events. Another film of the sensatioiial order is "Bluebeard," a quickly-moving storv of tin* pirate, days. "When Memory "Calls" its a story' in which the human'element i.' tho chief characteristic. Even more interesting was "Harvest Time in Sicily." which, in addition to clearly depicting the obsolete methods of harvesting and winnowing, showed the quaint harvest rejoicings indulged in by the Sicilians. The latest Pathe Gazette contains the usual good assortment of subjects, an, especially interesting one being a big sale of cattle at Hereford. In "Deacon Debbs," one of the comic pictures, one is given a good idea of the carnival at Coney Island, Xew York's famous pleasure resort. The other comic films, "Stage-Struck Lizzie" and "The Ventriloquist's Trunk," were of a highly laughable order. The same programme will be produced this afternoon and tonight.