Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 167, 2 December 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From Our Resident. Reporter,

GUESSING COMPETITION. The secretary of the A. & P. Association, Mr. B. Fearon, was present at tlio abattoirs on Saturday morning about six o'clock, in order to testify that the animals used in the show guessing coinpetitions were well and truly' dead. Then came the business of sorting out the hundreds of guesses at the weights of the carcases. Competitors were "hot stuiP about the fat bullock, Mr. R. Lloyd, of Stratford, guessed its exact weight, 72(J!/olb. Several others were only half a pound out. .Miss Youn" (Stratford), E. Daine (Stratford), ,l.v seph Kowaleski (Waipuku), and 0. F. Frank (liuiakama) made the weignt 7201b. Mr. E. Walter (Douglas) guessed 7-21lb. These live divide the "second and third prizes. The three sheep weighed 2201b, and this weight was guessed exactly by Messrs. C. W. Giffonl (Huiroa), iy. H. Were (Toko), T. Jones (Wanganui) ami H. Huckstep (Midhirst). There was fully a couple of score of people who were near enough to be dangerous. In the pig-guessing Mr. G. Agent (Riv-' erlea), who was in the final hut year, guessed 2251b, when the exact weight was 224'/Mb. Mrs. Brewer (Makahu), and Mr. P. Deegan (Rowan) cruessed S23'/ 2 lb. The receipts were in the neighborhood of £4O, which is a good indication of the amount of "battling" done by the ' men m charge. STRAY PARAGRAPHS Borough Inspector Barlow's batch of by-law capes at the Court on' Thursday • was not a large one. Michael Kelly was fined lOs, with 7s costs, for driving Tyithout lights in the bor.ough of Strat ford. Percy Paul, for cycling on a footpath in Orlando street; Leslie Sharrock, for a similar offence in Cordelia" street; Fred. Jones, cycling on a footpath in Orlando street, were fined 'los and costs. Edward Fawcett pleaded guilty to driving a cart'across a'footpath, and was fined os and 7s costs, despite Jiis plea (which the borough inspector promptly denied) that he was "new on the job." There was only one judgment by default at the S.M. Court on Thursday. Judgment was given for the Stratford Electrical Supply Co. (Mr. S., Duff) against S. T. Evatt for £4 Os fid and 13s costs. After argument, Mr. Duff was awarded £2 15s Od costs in a settled case. Burgess v. Beedie. Judgment was given for plaintiff in the defended action, Godfrey Phillips (Mr. Wright) v. .John Phillips (.Mr. Anderson), for £4 Os Od and costs. The plaintiff had sold the defendant a watch on approval. It was returned ten weeks later, in an unsaleable condition. Plaintiff's story was that lie had found the watch was sec-ond-hand, and had not used it. His Worship refused to believe that any man would have bought as new a watch insuch a state.

Some difference of opinion arose during the Last few days between counsel engaged in a civil action. In the circumstances, Mr. Anderson, for the defendant. asked the Magistrate on Friday morning not to grant costs against his client, as most of the money had been paid into Court, on the understanding arrived at with his "friend," Mr. Duff. Mr. Duff having given' his version, his Worship said that these misunderstandings could be avoided if members of the legal fraternity would follow the Home practice of making such overtures to one another in writing, and writing the replies thereto. Costs were granted. Mr. Anderson said that in future dealings, in order to prevent misunderstandings, he would adopt the Magistrate's suggestion; "but," lie added, "I have never found it necessary with any other office." Mr. Duff objected to the remark. Mr. Spenee, who was sitting at the counsel • table, remarked, just loudly enough to be heard, "What, more withdrawals?" Mr. Anderson: "T withdraw that remark, your Worship. There undoubtedly were misunderstandings in this ens; 1 , but there shouldn't have been." Which is something like apologising for calling a man a liar, and adding that the man is a stranger to the truth.

"Xpvoi- seen a better turn-out in the colony," wrote Mr. D. Ross, of Brunswick, Wunganui, who judged the tradesmen's turn-outs at the Stratford A. & P. Show. The subject of the remark was shown by Mr. T. W. Reilly, of 'Eltham. 'Snow fell on the ranges on Saturday morning, and all day the air had a wintry liile in it. The A. & P. Association can reckon themselves lucky, for People's Day was the only fine day of the week.

A meeting of the executive of the A & P. Association will be held on Tuesday evening.

BERNARD'S PICTURES. Featsred in to-night's programme is a magnificent 'Vitagraph drama, entitled "The Red Cross Martyr," every foot of which is 'brimming with interest. Another picture story that should appeal to patrons generally is entitled Fire and Straw." A description of the film is as follows:—Mary Light, daughter of tlit' Rev. Alfred Light, becomes a settlement mission worker. She soon becomes very popular and a favorite with all. In her work she visits a rendezvous called "Jake's Place," and meets Jack Burr, a wicked but handsome man. Despite her good spirit, the flesh is weak, and she falls in love with him. Jack, seeing his advantage, pursues her with wicked intentions. He finally makes love to her, but Mary will not hear of it unless lie reforms, which is a hard proposition. One night she overhears him planning a burglary, and, with the aid of her father, seeks out the president of the firm to be robbed. All three go to the otlice. and Mary, dressed in white, hides in the vault. When Jack and his pal arrive, they are surprised to find the vault door ajar and, taking Mary for an apparition, rush pell-mell from the office, much to the merriment of Mary and the others. The ruse, however, brings about Jack's redemption, and he wins the pretty mission worker.