Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 120, 8 October 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

(From uur Kesident Reporter. SUNDAY SPORT To the Editor. Sir.—l have noticed that the Domain Board lias allowed a tennis club to make tennis courts in the Victoria Park. The newspapers never told w whether the Board was to get any decent rental, or on what conditions the Board allowed a liuie section of the people to monopolise the public-recreation grounds. Do you think it is fair, Mr. Editor,- for a»7 few people to say, "Keep oil the grass" if i go over the park for a game of tennis, or even of croquet ? The park was laid out for everybody, and not for the plutocracy. Are we to have tennis played over there on Sundays? I. knowSunday tennis is favored by members of one club, but I don't know whether this is the club. Supposing that this is the one, are they to be allowed to play tennis in our park on Sundays? It so, there will he a pretty strong protest from the people who own the ground. I do not propose to argue whether or not a man who works at a desk all the week is better employed at tennis on Sunday than at church worship, but I do want to call attention to the fact that tennis, which is played on Sundays in Stratford, is to be played in the public park, and I would like to know if Sunday.sport is to be encouraged by the Domain Board. If it is, then 'the sooner the ! domains are handed back to the Borough I Council to be looked after the better, j for no Borough Council would dare to j fly in the face of public opinion in this way. The Domain Board, however, is not representative of, or responsible to, the people, and may do this sort of thing i #rith impunity. Trusting, Sir, you will be able to find room in your "Stratford News" for this letter,—l am, etc., SABBATARIAN, > PERSONAL Mr. R. E. Bennell, of the National Bank staff, has received notice of transfer to Wellington. 'Mr. T. D. Sullivan, borough overseer, returned' on Saturday night from his holiday, which was spent in and around Hastings. He looks all the better .for the rest, and quite fit to tackle the road roller or any other phase of municipal activity. Mr. R. D. Lewis returned from Aus- j tr'alia on Saturday night. J STRAY PARAGRAPHS

To-night's debate at the Egniont Club will probably draw a big attendance of members. The subject is, "State Control v. Prohibition." The club team has to advocate nrohibition in the debate against the New Plymouth Brotherhood oh Thursday night, and to-night they are to haw the State Control arguments bumped up against them by their i fellow Parliamentarians, as a sort of j preliminary canter-for -the big event. As | this is the last club debate of the session, j it is hoped that members will make a j point of attending. At the conclusion of the discussion the adjournment of the "House" for a period of six months will be formally moved. When the "Parliament" again resumes its labors it will be found to be much strengthened and im-' •proved, for the session has had the effect of unearthing some vein- capable speak-, ers among the younger members. Stratford has no band rotunda, but an evor-imprpving band. Inglewood has a band rotunda, which lia's been used but once. At present a concrete and steel wire fence is being erected to protect the rotunda from invasiorij, A well-known "0.T.," in conversation yesterday morning, said that trade generally was very dull, but particularly in "soft goods." There was one grain of comfort in his talk, however, and accordingly we thank the Fates that we are not quite so dull as other places are reported to be. On Friday night, I am assured, both the mail and the south trains were despatched "on time." No appearance yet of the staff of men who are to effect such great improvements at the local Post Office. In order to remove a misapprehension, I am asked to state that the dabate between the Egmont Club Parliamentary Union and the New Plymouth Brotherhood at the Parish Hall on Thursday night is open to members of the club and their friends. All interested should easily manage to be invited, for there are over lfiO members, who are anxious to see the hall well filled. The Reform Party will hold a meeting in the C' l Council Chambers to-night to form a branch of the Political Reform League. A resid'-at of Stratford who had been away las?, week left a brooder in an unfurnished room in his residence in charge of a friend. To his horror, on his. return, he found that the lamp of the brooder had exploded, and had set fire to the room. A hole five, feet wide had. been burnt in the. lloor, and the brooder* had then fallen through under the house, even the piles having been burnt .through. Fortunately, there was no draught, otherwise the house would probably have been destroyed. BERNARD'S PICTURES. ' The biggest "bill" ever billed in Stratford fitly describes the present picture programme at His Majesty's Theatre. Messrs .l"hn Fuller and Sons, who are in the f< refront of picture supply comlanie.-, have ■■;:".'•. forward a very lengthy list this t''iie. and the subjects are remarkably ; Such a programme, of course, c om- :''• as an especial feature at fixed inlciTj!--. tor it is not always that-such a galaxy of films can be rei leased so us U> he all included in one programme. It is difficult to select a "star" from among the many "stars" on the programme, but probably the most unique and sensational is the picture secured from Flank Coffyn's hydroplane when it soared above the great city of New York. A moving bird's-eye view of this great hive of industry is a thing ! that is too good to miss. Taken from varying altitudes, the picture- gives a I remarkable conception of the wonderful ; building:; < reeyd in tuc city, the "skyscraper-," locking very small pebbles on the beach. It is interesting, too, for us to be aide in i'nis way to see as the airman sees this world of ours. This film comes on in the second part of the programme. "The Indian Mail Robbery," depicting one of the greatest uprisings of this Red Indians against the h'palc'-faces."' is one of the strongest Western films ever sent here. "Under Mexican Skies" is another great feature, and so is "The Love of an Island Maid," which introduces some of the loveliest tropical scenery ever offered to the eye by the cinematograph. "Funnyfaee wants to marry," is every bit as funny as the title suggests, and the programme also includes many other films of surpassing excellence. Patrons will be glad to knov.- that there is to be a further instalment of the "Dick Turpin" scries, introducing, as Ihe first film did, some beautiful scenes taken in Old England. r"*~