Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 185, 23 December 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From Oar Resident Reporter. MR F W. WEBSTER ENTERTAINED The esteem in which Mr. F. W. Webster is held throughout Taranaki was shown on Saturday night by the very large and representative gathering in the Stratford Foresters' Hall to do him honor, the occasion being his retirement from the managership of Mr. Newton King's Stratford branch, after 26 years' service with the firm. The Mayor of Stratford (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood) presided. On his right were the guest of the evening (Mr. Webster), his successor (Mr. H. E. Abraham), and Mr. J. P.. Hine, M.P.; on his left, Mr. Newton King. Mr. W. D. Webster (New Plymouth), and J. M'Cluggage (secretary).

Apologies were read irotn Messrs. Evan Jones and W. H. Were (Toko). Geo. Calvert (Strathmore)', H. J. H. Okey, M.P. (New Plymouth), W. H. Hewitt (Stratford), H. Death (Inglewood), E. Walters (Douglas), D. M'Keown (Pihama), Stanners (Opunake), W. A. M'Cutchan (Whangamomona), W. H. H. Young (Stratford), S. Pitt (Stratford), W. D. Linn (Oakura), E. Vickers (Inglewood), and T. Mercer (Stratford). A capital dinner was catered by Mrs. M. H. Brooking, and then the company commenced the business of disposing of a heavy toast list. "The King" was loyally honored.

Mr. T. C. Fookes proposed "Trade and Commerce," and in doing so made a brief retrospect of the progress of Taranaki during Mr. Webster's term of service, 26 years, with Mr. Newton King. The beginning of Stratford was just about the tine that Mr. Webster joined Mr. King. In those days Mr. King had a business in New. Plymouth', held regular sales here, and had a resident agent, Mr. H. N. Liardet. In those days they had to put up with only a fortnightly visit from a New Plymouth banker, Mr. Cecil King at first, and Mr. Clarke following. The " bank " wa3 . part of a paint shop. He compared that with the present conditions, with so many banking institutions here. He touched on postal and railway development, and referred to the necessity for a better post office. Various businesses were outgrowing their present buildings, and Mr. Newton King, the Loan and Mercantile, and others, were going in for larger buildings. The speaker referred to the growth of the dairy industry, and Mr. Pilcher F. Ralfe, one of the pioneers of the industry, came in for praise. With big prices for butter, cheese, and wool, the district was in for a good time, but there was a fly in the ointment, ,in the shape oi the tightness of money. But he noticed that Mr. Harold Beauchamp, usually thought to be a pessimist, forecasted an easier money market. Mr. Fookes considered that they were yet only on the fringe of the development of this district, and that in the, very near future Taranaki would be still more prosperous and progressive. Mr. Newton King, responding, met with a flattering reception. When, he said, he remembered Stratford first, he used to come out here on a little pony. He "might sell a pig or a cow, and ride home again, quite satisfied." People said "Never mind, it will come," and it had come. When he opened here, he chose Mr. Webster as his manager, and he was sure that Mr. Webster had done what he intended to do, and his best for the firm. Mr. King told some humorous reminiscences of the early days o f the business, and kept his hearers i» a roar of laughter. But, coming back to the toast, he said that when he had started business in Stratford he had done so in the belief that Stratford was going to be the best town in Tara- ] naki. He still believed it would.

(Applause.) To-day Stratford was on a surer and sounder foundation than ever. As Mr. Fookes had said, the farmers had had a bad time a few years ago, but to-day there was none of that. Prices for wool and all produce wore at a high level, but so, unfortunately, was money. If Mr. Beauchamp prophesied easier conditions, then he personally was really delighted. For months past, why, to speak to a bank manager, would cause him to pull a face that would nearly make a man sick, and as for getting any money out of him ! Referring to the guest of the evening, Mr. King said that he and Air. Webster had been assocwled for 2(5 years. Mr. Webster had come to him fresh from school, just as he himself had gone to Mr. Webster, sen., fresh from school. They had always been good friends, and had scarcely "had a word." Mr. Webster had had unlimited power and trust down here, and had made himself popular to a degree unattainable by most men. As for himself, Mr Webster's resignation left him "like a tree with an arm lopped off," but he supposed some fresh shoots would grow. It must not be thought that he had any unkind feeling towards Mr. Webster because he was starting for himself in the same line of business. There was plenty of room for them all in this progressive district, and he wished Mr. Webster every success.—(Applause). Mr. Joe M'Cluggage proposed "The Dairying Industry of Taranaki." Taranaki, lie said, was the home of the dairying industry, and owing to that this province had gone ahead more than any other province in the Dominion in the past ten years. They had good rainfall and good land, and with the adoption of more scientific methods, the opening up of new markets by the Panama Canal and so on, the farmers "'ere in for a better time than ever. *u this progress the harbour at New Plymouth would play no unimportant part. Stratford at the present time was just on the balance. It was either going to be a big town or remain stationary. The odds were that the town would remain stationary, because of the stoppage of the very important railway works on the Stratford-Te Koura line. The Stratford business people were not bestirring themselves in the natter. One of these fine mornings, though, they would read in the paper that the railway from Auckland to the i Ohura had been completed, and the Ohura railway station opened by'a big train load of excursionists from Aucki land. Then they would wake up, and find that their trade was drifting away to Auckland. He advised them to "agitate, agitate, agitate," as the onlj means of obtaining satisfaction in such matters from any Government. Other places were pressing their claims on the Government, but Stratford was doing nothing. Mr. M'Cluggage then referred to liis business dealings with Mr. Webster. He had been brought into close touch with him—for he was for years Mr. King's Whangamomona representative—and had always found their guest courteous, obliging, a thorough business man, and ready at all times to do a good turn and give good advice where required.—(Hear, hear.) He assured Mr. King that all Mr. Webster's friends appreciated his kind words concerning their guest.— (Hear, hear.) The remarks had shown Mr. King to be a broad-minded, thoughtful, and kindhearted man, and they appreciated the fact that he had come all the way from New Plymouth at great personal inconvenience to do honor to his retiring manager, and to show his appreciation of Mr. Webster's work. Mr. M'Cluggage ■PnH oi<Vf> nnA linnn.l Hint "\f» Yir.,1,,,4.,,,.

would do well in his business. There could be no doubt that there was the opportunity, for the farms were being reduced in area, and the rural population would greatly increase. Mr. Webster had had a good business training, and hud his father at hand with sound advice—(Applause.) Mr. King had a name for quick discernment of character. He had been right in his choice of Mr. Webster as his leader here._ He had also picked a good one this time in Mr. Abraham.—(Cheers,) Mr. Abraham had come into a big business, but had the mana of a good name, and a good staff, to help him. Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., replying (in the absence of Mr. R. Dingle), congratulated the farmers on their good prospects, and made the point that the townspeople were necessary, as they created demand for farm products. It was said that farmers were the backbone of the country, but "the auctioneers were the backbone of the farmers," coming to -their assistance in a very necessary way. Talking of milking, he said-"he had milked 27 cows- in two hours.—(A well-known Inglewood man: Oh! Mr. Hine advocated greater attention to side-lines on the farm. Poultry-farming, for instance, should be the province of the farmers' wives. He paid a tribute to the Stratford citizens and their Chamber of Commerce. If Mr. M'Cluggage had been attending the Chamber of Commerce meetings lately he would not have made the statement he had just made. Public works ■had been stopped all over the country until the finances improved. He contradicted the statement published ir.' a New Plymouth paper, that the work was being stopped only at the Stratford end of the Te Koura railway. There was a 50 per cent, reduction at each end. They all knew the necessity for pushing tnat railway through, but till the Tangarakau Gorge was negotiated we could not get much busiotss from out beyond it.

In proposing "Our Guest," Mr. Kirl wood referred to the pleasure they al felt at Mr. King's presence, and th good spirit permeating his utterances Mr. Kirkwood said he remembered Mr Webster as long as he had known Strat ford, and he had always associated him with Mr. Newton King. Mr. Webster had seen Stratford grow from a bush village to a strong and progressive town, on the high road to become the mast important inland town in the island. Mr. Webster was popular with the farmers with whom he had had to deal most largely, and also with all classes. That popularity had been sustained right, through his long business life here, and a man had to be a good man to hold the popularity that he acquired. He was glad that Mr. Webster had dccicbl to stay where he was known, and that he and Messrs. Dobson and Uniackc were going to commence business in the midst of friends. He then pre seated to Mr. Webster, on behalf o: many friends, a substantial cheque aa small token of the very great esteen in which he was held in "this town.(Cheers.) He hoped that the recipient would long live in Stratford, and that he would have a prosperous career. Three times three—and more—greeted Mr. Webster's rising to respond. He i admitted that they had "got him in a J hole." He felt their kindness most I acutely, and regretted he could not express his feelings in words. He recalled the day when he joined Mr. King 26 years ago. He was a shy little fellow then.— (Laughter.) For a while he was a bit scared of "the boss," but soon got over that. "Well, Willie, you're just coming with me. You do what I tell you, and you'll be all right." Generally he had done so, but at times he had disobeyed, of course. Mr. King had enjoined on him to "Be civil, and never to mind hard work, for five o'clock came at the same hour every day." He had worked as hard as he could, following the example of 'his late chief, who was as good in the collar to-day as he was 26 years ago. The speaker's first promotion allowed him to accompany Mr. King on his drives, of which he told some tales. He raised a smile when he told that when he booked at his first sale he didn't know what a promissory note was. The "notes" used to "hum" in those days. After 13 years at head office he was promoted to the' charge of the Stratford branch. The business and the staff grew to their present dimensions. He assured his successor that he was a lucky man to be in charge of "the boys" that he had just severed his connection with. Those "boys" would put their shoulders to the wheel and work as well with Mr. Abraham as they had with the speaker. Much of the kudos poured out on him should have gone to his staff. He had always run the business as he would have run his own. Severing his connection with Mr. King and, his staff was the hardest job of his' life. Mr. Webster thanked the company sincerely for their handsome present, which he appreciated more than he could tell. (Cheers, and "He's a jolly good.fellow," with, more cheers.) Mr. H. E. Abraham proposed* "The Army and Navy." In acknowledging the ■ welcome tendered him, he said he knew, as Mr. M'Cluggage had said, that Mr. King had a reputation for picking good men, and he "hoped he hadn't given a miss in baulk this time." Ah

for the army and navy, ho humorously referred the company to the' historybook.—(Laughter.) Captain Larapen responded. Other toasts were ''The Ladies," "The Tress." The musical programme consisted of songs . by, Messrs. F. IT. • Wilkie, A. L. Jones, H. W. Douglas, W. D. Webster, sen., and recitations by Mr. Wilkie. whose humorous "turns" were encored each time. Mr. J. IT. Thompson played tlie accompaniments.-

PERSONAL Mr. S. Staples, chairman of the Waimiri County Council, Christchurch, aiui a member of the Christchurch Tramways Board, is visiting, Stratford. BERNARD S PICTURES. The special series of pictures for festival week includes some rattling films. "The Valley of tluD Galzach" is a very fine scenic, which places the sublime grandeur of the Austrian Tyrol before the eyes of the picture patrons. "The Lake of Dreams" is a tragedy of shattered ambitions and blasted ideals. There are other fine pictures, which are enumerated in the advertisement on this page. There will be a special hospital matinee Tuesday afternoon, and "The Life of Christ" on Christmas night.

The Stratford Brass Band will play from the balcony of the 'Municipal Buildings to-night, and on Christmas Eve will go a' caroling.