Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 124, 12 October 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

from uur Resident Reporter.

TOO MUCH TRADE

RAILWAY ENGINE OVERTAXED.

A STRATFORD. COMPLAINT.'

The importance of the Stratford-Main Trunk line to Stratford was proved by a. discussion which took place at the Stratford Chamber of Comineroe meeting on Wednesday night. Mr. Masters brought up the matter of the unsatisfactory nature of the goods service on the line. He instanced a case in which goods had been consigned from Stratford, to Ngatimaru on a Saturday, and they had not reached thejr destinaj tion until the following Saturday. This was due to the lack of accommodation on the line. He had ascertained that on Wednesday ■ and Thursday stock trains were run, and stock took precedence over ordinary goods, so that the ordinary merchandise had to wait! The .nee'd was urgent of an engine of sufficient power to take out the loads offering. If the service could not be improved it was going to seriotfsly and detrimentally affect Stratford's trade with that district, for farmer's living back from the railway 'line .could not afford 'to make two or three trips to the railway station to look for their stuff. In the case under notice the consignee came from Purangi,' 15 miles away, on three occasions before he got the goods. Mr. Masters J urged that the Chamber should move in : the matter, and he tabled a motion that I the railway authoritFes be asked to place | a, stronger engine on the line to cope with the traffic. Answering a question, Mr. Masters said the bridges had been strengthened, and heavier rails laid, so heavier engines could work the line. He ' also said thelocar,,railway officers were alive to the necessity for a change. Mr. Hewitt said the delay provoked constant complaints from ,the settlers. Another grievance was the "disappearance" of goods consigned to the stations along the line.

Mr. Kirkwood said the trouble arose simply from the fact that the tirade to be done had outgrown ,the service. He remarked that Mr. Armstrong, District Traffic Manager, had always met the Chamber in,an excellent spirit, and the speaker had no doubt that the D.T.M. would do his best to provide a better service. , The motion was carried. ■,,'

AN INTERESTING DEBATE

NEW PLYMOUTH BROTHERHOOD AT STRATFORD.

'Wet .weather and. counter-attractions were responsible for rather a thin audience 'at the Parish Hall on -Thursday evening, when the New Plymouth Brotherhood affirmed the principle that State Control is a better solution of the licencing problem than Prohibition. . The Eg-, nioiit Club Parliament took the negative. Mr. R. McK. Morison, "Mr. Speaker" of the Stratford House, presided, Dr. A. D. Carbery and Mr. P. A. Tyrer were the judges, and Mr. Robert Spence the referee. The teams .were: New Plymouth, Rev. Burton, and Messrs. AV. Forbes, A. Snowball and 11. B. Reid; -Stratford, Rev. Reader and' Messrs. J. McAllister, J. McMahon and C. D., Sole. The speakers in most cases made good use of their time, but facts were sometimes stretched until it was really a case for "cocoanuts froni the Tree of Truth," as quoted from "Sinbad the Sailor" by a member of the visiting team. The two leaders were far and away the best speakers, and probably the most effective of the remaining speakers was Mr. Sole. There was a remarkable agreement among tlie speakers as to the necessity for ending the present licensing system, and of the baneful effects of the traffic upon the human race. But there the agreement ended. The judges arrived at their decision without having to call in the services' of the. referee. They gave points for subject matter and oratory, these headings being further subdivided so as to award points for the individual and collective presentation of the case on either side, argument (comprising fluency, suitability of language to matter used, revisal and conclusion). The verdict was in favor of State Control advocates by 873 to 850. There were the customary votes of thanks. AT SUPPER'.

Speaking subsequently at the supper tendered the visitors by the Egmont Club Parliament, Mr. Jonas Masters, the president of the club, had a word to say in favor of the debating circle, and complimented many of the club's speakers on the great improvement during the year.

At the request of the chairman, Dr. -Carbery and Mr. Rpence (Mr. Tyre'r having been excused from attendance at the supper) gave short addresses concerning the debate.

STRATFORD RACING CLUB Mr. Alfred Coleman has been appointed secretary to the Stratford .Racing Club, in succession to Mr. Geo. D. Hunter, resigned. Mr. Coleman has all the attributes of a good secretary, having capital organising ability, and any amount of tact, whilst, of course, his position in the forefront of accountancy in Taranaki is sufficient proof of his ability to conduct the office duties. The choice of a secretary for an institution like a racing, club is not the easiest matter, but the club is to be congratulated upon securing such a capable officer.

OPEN AIR CONCERT. The Stratford Municipal Brass Band will "play out" to-night in Broadway, in front of' the Municipal Buildings. The programme will commence at 8 o'clock.

FORESTERS' BALL The Stratford Court of Foresters hold a ball on Thursday night in the Town Hall as a "wind-up" to the series of fortnightly socials which have been successfully held during the winter. Despite the .wet night, and the consequent non-appearance of the expected contingents from Xgaere and Cardiff, fully a hundred couples attended. The <\ T gaere Orchestra supplied capital music gratuitously, music for extra dances being played by Misses Birkett and Copestake, and Messrs. Sanders, Kelly and Richardson. Messrs. E. and 11. Hancock were the M's.C, and in co-operation with Mr. C. Copestake, the secretary, kept things moving well. The supper was under the charge of the sisters of Court Islington, and was a credit to them.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS

B. ftrcen was fined in the S.M. Court yesterday for driving loose horses in the borough streets, and W. Brown for driving at night on an unlighted vehicle. The borough, inspector, in appearing as prosecutor, said that recently a man whom he detected in a breach of the bv-laws offered him 5s to "let it slip this time." The reply was, "Don't you try any of those capers on me!" An Americanised inspector would get a few "perks." Yesterday morning the defendant in a civil action, in which £1 6s 6d was in-

volved, appeared in person, having travelled from Tangiteroria, or some such place, away up in the roadless north. The plaintiff, who hailed from a lonely spot twenty miles inland of Taumarunui, did not attend. The much-travelled one secured a nonsuit. It would have been cheaper for the Tangiteroria man to have had his evidence taken 'at a northern court, but then court procedure is not likely to ibe well known outside the charmed circle.

_ Mr. Kenrick, S.M., disposed of the civil business as follows "at yesterday's court sitting:—Judgments by default: F.-W. Wake (Mr. Wright) v. W. W. Davis, claim £l7 Ss sd, and costs £2 lis fid; P. C, Price (Mr. Wright) v. C. Lovett, claim £1 Os and'eosts ss. Judgment summons: A. .J. Glason v. J. J. Hills, .claim £ll, order made for payment, in default seven days' imprisonment.

The man Clduge, who was remanded on Wednesday, charged with theft of ■money at Brisbane, was accommodated that night with a special sitting of the Court, Mr." J. McCluggage presiding. Instructions having arrived from' Brisbane, the man was remanded to Wellington, there to await the arrival of a police officer from Queensland to take him back to stand his trial.

THE PICTURE MATINEE

A final reminder is given of the matinee this afternoon. ■ Undoubtedly the present programme contains much of interest to the rising generation, and the "Study in Fish Life"'is an especially good film as an educational medium. "The 1 Sport of Kings" is /also good, picturing the life of a racehorse. Views of Salonika are also excellent. "Irene's Infatuation" and "Outwitting Father" are record laugh-producers. Dramatic films are of a high order of merit. "For his Pal's Sake," "The Little Stowaway" and "His Wife's Mother," are -all intensely interesting, and should" be appreciated" by big audiences this afternoon and evening 1 . Mdtinee at 2.30, evening performance at 8' o'clock.