Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 146, 7 November 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From Ouv Resident Reporter. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. iThe monthly meeting of the executive of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held 011 Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs. S. H. James (president), E. Jackson, J. Thomson, J. McMillan, J. Munro, W. P. Kirkwood, W. H. H. Young and J. B. Richards (secretary). LIGHT RAILWAY LINES. The Hastings Chamber forwarded the following resolution: "That this Chamber invites every chamber throughout New Zealand to join with it in strongly representing to the Government the impossibility of Dominion construction of all railways required for the development of New Zealand, to urge the Government to introduce a policy of light railway construction, particularly in districts where good arterial roads cannot b." made, owing to the absence of suitable road metal, and that if the Government is unable to construct such light railways that it be urged to offer facilities for such construction by local bodies ' or private enterprise undertaken with the consent and approval of such local bodies." Mr. Kirkwood said that before falling into line he would like to be satisfied that the policy would be a good one for the Dominion. In the case ot the Toko line, the original light line had had ■ to be replaced with heavy metals. Light railways might suit some districts, but not all. •Mr. Jackson said a light line would never suit the Opunake line. Mr. James would favor the resolution if it were stipulated that a uniform gauge should be adopted. There seemed to be no hope of the requisite railways being constructed on the present system. Would it not be selfish, then, for this district to "insist on a heavy line to Opunake, when a light line and slower • trains here would enable other districts to have a light railway too. It would be necessary to have a uniform gauge, to avoid transhipment. Practically every line of railway was started as a Egjit line. The railway through Stratford was really only a light line until recently. Speaking broadly, he thought they should go for more railways at the - -earliest possible moment, whether the lines were heavy or light. Mr. Ypung thought it unwise to urge the Government to adopt a policy of making fight lines, which had been shown to be a waste of money. That ' would be merely advocating wasteful expenditure. , Mr. James deprecated the parochial tone of some of the speeches. Mr. McMillan said a good deal depended on what was meant by a light line. ,In some quarters a light line meant a , narrow-gauge line. Mr. Young said the proposal to supt port the Hastings resolution was dangerous 1 , for they were asked to support a policy opposed to the views of the rail- , j way engineers, and of which they had (no expert knowledge. I The Chamber supported the resolu- | tion, with the addition, "provided that !such railways be of similar gauge to the present railways." THE OHURA MAIL SERVICE. I Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., forwarded a letter received from the PostmasterGeneral, stating that the Department had advertised but received no tender for the Wliangamomona-Ohura mail service I advocated by the Chamber. —Members I said they had not known of the tenders being invited, and it was decided to write Mr. Hine, asking him to ascertain if tenders could be called again, and, if so, that the Chamber be notified. The president mentioned the matter again of having a high fence erected between the Stratford railway platform and the unsightly back premises on the railway leaseholds. He understood tkat the General Manager had recognised the need for it. As an advertising hoarding it would be a good revenue-producer. Whilst recognising that it was a bad time to ask the Government for money, Mr. James moved that the General Manager be reminded of his promise, and asking him to have the work authorised. —Carried. STRATFORD-TE KOURA RAILWAY. I Some discussion ensued concerning the Stratford-Te Koura railway, and the reported reduction of the workers. Several members were of opinion, based on assurances received from various sources, that this was one of the lines which the Government intended to push on with, in view of the enormous and valuable deposits of coal in the Tangarakau coalfield. It was decided "that the urgent need for pushing on construction of the Stratford-Te Koura railway from the Stratford end until the Tangarakau coalfields are reached, be urged on the Prime Minister and Minister for Public Works, through the member for the district." STRATFORD BOWLING CLUB

COMMITTEE MEETING. At a committee meeting of the Stratford Bowling Club on Tuesday evening, arrangements were made for the opening day (to-dav, Thursday). The secretary (Mr. A. Black) was requested to post a notice in the pavilion, notifying that no member would be allowed to play in any competitions, club matches,' or for trophies, until his subscription is paid, opening day excepted; this being in accordance with i.lie resolution passed at the annual meeting of members. NEW MEMBERS. Twelve .naw members, including four honorary members, were ' elected, proposed by Messrs. King and Masters, who had canvassecj for members. THE TOURNAMENT. It was decided to ask Mr. C. S. Curtis, of New Plymouth, to represent the club, at to-day's (Thursday's) meeting of the Taranaki Bowling Association at New Plymouth, and he will be asked to support a motion to have the annual provincial tournament played between Boxing Bay and New Year's Day, on the ground that such a fixture would best unit, i.lio convenience . of bowlers and others interested. THE BANNER COMPETITION. It was decided to endeavor to secure a rearrangement of the division boundaries for the banner series. At present the Stratford Club plays in the northern division, and the matches \Vnitsira, New Plymouth, Eitzroyi aridi' West End entail the loss of a whole- dav: to bowlers, whilst the ijprtheni clubs! come here to. play, and ,)ose only a; day. The suggestion of the local cTub is. that the northern division should bp subdivided into,northern and central di;; visions. ; The northeri; wojjld, coinprisc; New Plymouth, Eitzroy, West Eritl and Waitara-; and the central, Inglewood,; .Stratford and ISltlunn. The winners;'in each division 1 would play off, and the feest club would then meet the best! hi ; the southern (Hawera, Waverlev and Patea), and western (Manaia,. | and Opjinake)divisions. Unless sonic: such scheme can be adopted, the Strata; ford Club will l)e unable : to enter for ; banner matches, and Elthatn, Which is, similarly situated, is of a l.ike opinion, bo I am informed. This arrangement

should be easily made, and would save a good deal of unnecessary, travelling. It will readily be .seen that the Stratford and Eltham clubs are badly situated in. this regard, and under the present conditions it is generally impossible for tlie best teams to get away. STRAY PARAGRAPHS The Toko Farmers' Union will hold their mangold and turnip-growing competitions again this season. . Authority has been given, and tenders will be called in a day or two, for the erection of two-storeyed offices for the Public Works Department in Juliet street, on the section acquired by the Department next the Stratford Club. The staff has been housed'for years in a small cottage, and the removal to "brand new" offices, with ten rooms, specially designed for their work, will be nothing short of a boon.. The Stratford Croquet Club opened the season under propitious weather conditions on Tuesday. The state of the greens was a credit to Mr. R. Dingle, who makes their care a hobby. Some enjoyable games were played, and afternoon tea was served. The three-rink bowling green recently laid down in the club's enclosure is looking really well, and we may expect to see the ladies bundling the bowls before very long. r Christmas is coming. Mr. 0. E. James seems to have an L.I.P. over the footpath outside his shop, and prams, 71 oils and children's delights generally are constantly arriving. THE EGG CIRCLE. I" '• To the Editor, j Sir,—Your correspondent, who has a j kick at the' Egg Circle movement, and 5 signs himself "Straggler," should try his hand at making a living out of poultry keeping. If he paid, as I did recently, 4s 9d a bushel for wheat, Gs for maize, 10s 6d per sack for' bran, and 1G& 6d for pollard, and hdd to accept lOd per dozen for eggs, he would want to sign himself "Very Much a Straggler." Poultry men have as much right to cooperate as dairy farmers, and it ill befits any Taranaki resident to sneer at cooperation. Does any person wish to return to the days when the farmer had ( to ask the storekeeper what he would give for butter? Old hands have told me they have lija'ny times been glad to sell at 4d per lb. Now that the dairy' farmers have made such a splendid success of co-operative manufacturing and marketing of butter, everybody is better off. Poultry men are perfectly well satisfied with local prices, excepting during the throe or four months when the market is glutted and prices drop below the cost of production. This is the sea-. son when they wish to export, and it is the season which enables them to strike the high price time in other country. Mr. J. Billenett, of Christchureh, has just got returns from a trial shipment of eggs to Vancouver. Result: Is 6d a dozen, with the prospect of higher prices on later shipments, which, please remember, would be despatched during out low-price period. Doesn't read much like. "Straggler's" 9d or lOd per dozen, does it? There are immense possibilities in poultry farming if the marketing is done right, but at present it is a very poor affair. I fear I have taken rather much of your valuable space, but "Straggler's" remarks are an undeserved kick at men who are only trying to make a decent living.—l am, etc., VERY MUCH A STRUGGLES. BERNARD'S PICTURES To-night a splendid star drama will be screened among the new series. It is entitled "The Black Chancellor," and the story runs: Mr. Wilson goes on a visit to Count Dawa. The count's daughterl is lady-in-waiting to t-he Princess Ilka, who is in her minority, the State being governed by the Chancellor. The Princess Ilka is in love with Prince Rosowa, but the Chancellor has mapped out another destiny for her. Mr. Wilson meets Lady Dawa, and one observes that there is a mutual attraction between them. A proposal of marriage is made to Lady Dawa by the Chancellor's Adjutant, a very sinister-looking ( villain. His proposal is rejected with ssorn. At a splendid State function, the Princess Ilka and her lover, unnoticed, leave the assembly and proceed to an ancient church, accompanied by the Lady Dawa. The princess and her lady have just been married secretly and left the church when the Prince is pounced upon and carried off to a dungeon. The story continues in interesting fashion, flnaily a happy ending being achieved, with a maximum of pleasure to those who view the film. The supporting pictures are all stated to be excellent, and some specially good comics are promised, including "One Round O'Brien," a veritable screamer.