Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 121, 9 October 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From uur Resident Reporter.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, to be discussed at to-night's meeting, is an interesting resume of the doings of the year. It is unfortunate that meetings of the Chamber are not more frequent, but this is a, matter which rests wholly with the memhers themselves.

The most important public event of the year in Stratford is first referred to in the report, under the heading "Opunake Railway." Under the direction of the executive of the Chamber, although the report does not say so, "a strong committee representing various local bodies was constituted for the purpose •of placing evidence before the commission. The fact that connection by rail between Stratford and Kaponga was recommended by the Commission, is a source of much satisfaction, and the speedy construction of the same is highly desirable." The report goes on: "Mountain House.—A grant of £IOO was made by the Government for road formation, but further progress is necessary to enable visitors to the Stratford Mountain House to enjoy the comfort and conveniences which holiday-makers seek. This house is, of course, the nearest to the railway, and should become most popular with mountain visitors when all necessary conveniences are available there."

Reference is made in the report to slight alterations in the railway service, and to the consideration given by the Government to the requests of the executive for improved telephone and mail connections. It also records that an endeavor was made to arrange a uniform half-holiday for Taranaki, and that there appeared to be a majority in favor of Saturday, but no complete agreement could' be arrived at. Hawera had lately taken the matter up, and advocated the general adoption of Wednesday for the half-holiday throughout the province.

"Stratford-Te Koura Railway.—Construction has proceeded satisfactorily, aJid your committee trusts that all delay will be avoided until the Tangarakau coalfields are tapped. The supply of cheap and good fuel will he of great benefit to dairy factories and other industries.

"Cinematograph Views. Representations were made to the Minister in charge, and local views of scenery and the dairy industry were taken. These will probably ite shown in England, with ultimate benefit to the district.

"Land Agents Bill.—Opportunity was taken to urge on the Government the necessity for this, and the Bill is now in (he hands of the Land Committee. "Unsettled Bush Lands. —Recommendations were made to the Minister to open for settlement unoccupied lands east of Stratford, and communication between Raw-hitivoa road and Mangaehu road. Success so far has been only moderate.

"Mails and Telephones.—The establishment of mail services between Stratford and Ohura and Kiore and Purangi, and telephone connection between Stratford and Ohura wore urged, without success at present. The desirability of sorting on the mail trains the mails for stations east of Stratford was recognised by the Department. An improved postal service has been instituted in and around Stratford, with much to the community.

~ "Subscription and Membership. The members number 43, but the. subscriptions paid number only 14. Comment thereon would be painful, but it is a matter for regret that members do not show more loyalty to the Chamber, and better appreciation of the useful work It carries out.

"Prospects for the coming season are satisfactory. Prices for butter and cheese hold good, and there is no reason to anticipate a decline in values for dairy produce. The imports for the Dominion during 1011 exceeded exports by over half a million—a clear indication that the country is inclining to an extravagance of living which it cannot afford.

"The production of butter-fat is an all-important factor in the prosperity of our district, and there is a danger that the high prices ruling for this product may divert the attention of farmers from this. Farmers are apt to view the result of their year's effort by the amount of .pounds sterling received, rather than by the amount of butter-fat produced, but the most successful farmer is he who increases his butter-fat production most, and all m' ans such as herd-testing, winter feeding, top-dressing of pastures should be strenuously employed to this end."

The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £7 5s sd. Revenue included £8 7s Gd in members' subscriptions, £1 16s brought forward from the previous year, and £1 16s 4d transferred from the previous Chamber. Expenditure totalled £4 15s.

"OUR REGIMENT."

A most successful rehearsal of "Our Regiment" was held on Monday evening, wlien the performers had the benefit of instruction and criticism by a professional actor. The piece will first be put on at Stratford on October 30 and 31, afterwards at "S T cw Plymouth, Hawera, Inglewood, Eltha-m and Waitara. The proceeds in each centre will be devoted to the local funds of the Garrison Band.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS

Tlio s:tv;ii c .:••! Fire Brigade's annual meeting i-i ' ■ '■'-' Ih-1(1 shortly. Nomiiiiitions"for tin' various plective positions have closed. Captain firnbb is re-nomi-nated for the captaincy, nnoppospd. Lieutenant position will be contested l>y Foreman T. Wilson, and these two prominent workers in the brigade are also nominated for the post of first foreman, the unsuccessful candidate for the lieutenancy becoming first foreman. Second Foreman Burgess has opposition in Fireman E. Drake. The spirit of ambition in members of the brigade is a very healthy sign of its progress. The Stratford County Council invites tenders for a mile of metalling on the Waiwiri road. Mr. R. Beckett, painter, etc., Stratford, wants two good painters. A private letter received in Stratford tells of terrible weather at Home—the worst summer for forty-five years, and a more sunless season than a Taranaki winter. Hay and other crops are rotting everywhere," and prospects arc of high prices for farm produce in the coming winter, whilst farmers are in for a hard time.

BERNARD'S PICTURES

"The Love of an. "Island Maid" _ is spoken of as one of the most beautiful films ever screened in Stratford. The love sentiment is strong throughout, and the story is splendidly acted. But it is the setting which fascinates. Taken among those charming islets of the Pacific the tropical vegetation is depicted in all its waving beauty. Hundreds of sea fowl disport themselves about the actors, and the "Island maid" gives a fine exhibition of high-diving from the

' vessel lying in the b'.iv. Of a totally differed type, but even more entrancing still, is the series pv willing Mr. Frank Coffyn's famous hydroplane' over New York. This ('Hit was undertaken expressly for tlio Vitngniph Company, one of whose plintogrnpliers accompanied the bird man, and another of them took pictures or the machine and the flight from the umd. The hydroplane, which is an amphibious airship, first skims along the water, afterwards rising to a tremendous altitude and enabling the camera man to obtain a remarkable picture. The barbor held a great attraction for him, and the bulk of the picture is devoted to pictures of steamers and the tremendous array of wharves and shipping generally—an eye-opener. Then the machine noated over and under the great Brooklyn Bridge,'circled the Statue of Liberty, and enabled the camera to record the tiny specks which represented the hundreds of people in Battery Park below. The mammoth sky-sci-apers were made to look like great honeycombed boxes, and everything else was pigmied, too. Sweeping down at the rate of 70 miles an hour, tlw effect was uncanny, and 80 was the feeling produced whilst the machine cut "spirals" in its descent. "The Indian Mail Robbery," a Nat Pinkerton detective story, and "The Railroad Engineer" were strong dramatic features, and the rest of the programme was equally good. This series . will be shown to-night for the last time.