Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 160, 23 November 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From Our Resident Reporter. fiIFLE SHOOTING. The Stratford Rifle Club had a good practice shoot on Thursday. Several new members had their maiden shots, and acquitted themselves. The light was dull, and the wind, variable and unreliable. C. Speck 06, and E. Brocklebauk 93; topped the list. OBITUARY Mr. William Abbott, proprietor of the Stratford Hotel, who has been ailing for some, time past, died on Thursday night. Mr. Abbott will long be remembered by all who knew hini as"one of the whitest." He lias resided iii New Zealand for. over thirty years, and. had'been for many years past engaged in the hotel business, successfully conducting both town and country establishments. He was for over six years licensee of the Wliangamomona Hotel, retiring from there to his farm oil the ■ Mangarc road, soon afterwards re-entering the business aS "mine host" at Toko, whence he came to Stratford. During his proprietorship this old-established hostelry has become very popular, and his demise, though not expected, will cause general regret. He was a man well versed in all matters of sport, which lie supported liberally, and while his health allowed it he was a prominent Mason. He leaves a widow and a family of six (Messrs. Win.' Abbott, Piikekohe; Ed. Abbott, Turakinii; ! IT. Ij'. Abbott; of "All Black'' fame, Strat- j ford; Miss Atari oil Auckland;? and Misses' Ethel ami Vera AbbottJ, . ■ ]

S.M. COURT At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. Kenrick, S.M., judgment by default was entered in tiie following cases: .McMillan . and Fredric (Mr. Fookes) v. A. Cameron, claim for 4s, and costs ss; Wilson, Drake and Co, (Mr. Duff) v. Sydney Lane, claim £2 19s 7d, and costs 10s; Official Assignee. (Mr. Stanford) v. James Mouat, claim £1 10s. and costs ss; same v. Frank Council, claim 15s, and costs lis; C. E. Gooding (Mr. Stanford) v. A. Williamson, costs only, 12s; J. A. Stanford v. Frank Farrell, claim £4O 13s Id, and costs £1 3s; same v. Roy Hill, claim £0 15s 8d | and costs 13s; same v. A. J. Hill, claim I £23 18s 3d, and costs £1 8s ; same 'v. A. Williamson, claim £9 4s lOd, and costs 10s; A. Ferguson (Mr. Fookes) v. A. J. ITill. claim £6 15s and costs £1 8s 6d; C. Diamond (Mr. Stanford) v. H. Burrows, claim £3 and costs 16s; G. A. Bales (Mr. Thomson) v. James Murray, claim £2 14s Od, and costs 10s. Arthur Barry was ordered to pay Mullen and Marshall £ll 19s 4d, in default eleven days. STRAY PARAGRAPHS At the S.M. Court yesterday batches of Territorials were fined for non-at-tendances at parades. The fines ranged from 5s and costs to 40s, the amount being varied according to the validity or otherwise of the excuses offered. The Magistrate was not inclined to allow "lame" excuses to afltet his judgment, and "had no time" for the men who plained of inconvenience, remarking that twentv years ago he had managed to put in this par ules of two hours each. Tie , also expressed the opinion that if he were an employer of labor he would not employ "any fellow who tried to get out of his drill."

Mr. E. Mason, of Stratford, won six firsts and a championship with his fine harness horse Zanzibar at Hawera, and then sold the horse to a Wanganui lady for £75.

"Barney," Mr. E. Jackson's champion •)ony, was thrown out of a 13.2 hands class in Ilawera as being over height. Strangely enough "Barney" has often won in the 13.1 hands class, was measured as 13.1 on th'> second day of the show, and was allowed to compete.

Record entries in Taranaki for horses is the Stratford A. & P. Association's experience this year. Leading breeders are making this their one Taranaki show, because i' # is so centra] and so well managed. To eclipse the great horse-racing district of Ilawera is no small thing, and we are proud of it. There are 418 entries in the home industries, which section has had to be reduced. el«e tile entries would have been bigger. Pigs and cattle are big classes. In the competitions twenties are not unconirron. and no fewer than 21 are entered m one of the hunters' competitions. The executive has made very complete arrangements in order to secure punctuality and rapid despatch in the competitions. The public will be glad of this, for |ft«t year the competitors took things too easily.

PERSONAL Mr. IT. E. Abraham, who succeeds Mr. F. \Y. Webster as mmiger for Mr. Newton King in Stratford, arrived yesterday. Mr. who is a son of Mr. Abraham so well known as a member of the firm of Abraham and Williams, has for the pa st four years been managing that firm's branch at Levin. The Chronicle savs of our new citizen: "Mr. Abraham has taken a keen interest in the Kwlins !!:'•> ->f the district. Tie was captain of the TTeatherlea Golf Club since its inecproM. and is a prominent tenuis plaver. Mrs. Abr-'ham has proved herself an enthusiastic wickler of the raeqnet. ami in social matters has taken a leading part. She has, too, in many •! fv.i assisted the Church of England." • It is understood that Mr. Tclx! r. vlio hands over the reins on p.,,, .; 1 * .. ]- r:«=!7ned his post in order lo nun-li ; -lock and auctioneering bii.-inrss of V ■■ ■■ s. W. H. H. Young & Co.. in liar: : ■ vwith Messrs. F. Dobti.ii, !•'. P. Till and Geo. Smith.

Messrs. Ward and Dnnlop have sold t!v ' r , ■ 'lamahu Hotel to Mr. H. E. Archer. <■( Tl'.'< n ' > ; ' Minstrels liiul a fail' house, p"f! u 'verv fair performance on 1 Thursday evening. Mr. Vi ilkie was fi'ivl < ■-' on his own as a cornerman, bill: was also effective. Some n r!> •••>•'•• v,-"re good, the orchestra was <"}■' ' • ' U'R banjo :nnl mandolin »adc it q-iite the real tiling. Captain oml '?•••'. 1 atnpon filled the second part with s> xvcll-played sketch. "Diamond Cut Diamond." Tile proceeds go to the Anglican Parish Hall finid. BERNARD'S PICTURES To-night is the last night of one of the. finest proi'ranimes our enterprising picture hall proprietress has ever secured. The star drama, "Sands o' Dee," is a very fine production. "The Romance of Icefields" is another nreat production, showim; some realistic acting and genuine snow i|i'"cts. The great ice waterfall, fr«K vrhtr* the hero of the drama is kuvim!, is wit-1 one would term an eye••<vn<T. j'isan' Miles through the Eockies" shows to advantage the Canons of tli" Kin Grande and 1000 beautiful spofs nf the Rockv Mountains. "Lena and the Geese," "Bridget Explains," "Mak:n<j a Soldier," and "An Australian Summer" are undoubtedly the best' of comics.