Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 195, 7 January 1913, Page 3

Stratford News

1 YOUNG MAN'S SUICIDE I NO APPARENT MOTIVE. About nine o'clock yrstordny morning the police received information that a man had committed suicide on the Monmouth Road. Sergeant McNeely and Constable Bleasel immediately made to the scene. In a, cottage on a farm belonging to Mr. I<\ M. Bayly they found the body of a young man lying on the kitchen floor, with his throat cut almost from car to ear. A blood-stained razor, the property of the deceased, was tigh'.iv gripped in his hand. The man ha.l evidently cut his throat when standing alongside the table, and the, place war- iii a fearfully bloody stale. . Informitijii concerning the victim was difficult 'o obtain, but Sergeant McNeely asc. vtnired that the name of the unfortu:":i'e young fellow was Herbert Parkes, avl that Ik was about 28 years of age. Hi had fumerly been farming with a pa.tne. as Stevens and Parkes in the district, but a little while ago they sold out. and the deceased lived for a time about Ingewood. Latterly, Parkes seemed down on his luck, and Mr. Lowe, who manages Mr. Bayly'.s farm, gave him work to do. Yesterday morning he went about liis work as usual. Lowe drove to the factory, leaving home between seven and eight o\ clock. Parkes was then at the house, and was rational enough. But, returning about nine o'clock, Lowe wag horrified to find that during his absence the man had taken his life. As far as he (Lowe) knew, the deceased had never spoken of any trouble, and he was quite at a loss to account for the suicide.

Gathering up the deceased'.e few effects. the police brought the body to the Stratford morgue. Nothing was found among his belongings to indicate who he was, or whence he came, and the cash in his pockets amounted to 3d only. Sergeant McNeely has received information which has prompted him to enquire in the Wanganui district for relatives. An inquest will be held to-day.

| CASEIN MANUFACTURE STARTING AT MIDTTTRST. ' Mr. A. Brown, chairman of directors of the Midhiret Co-operative Dairy ComI pany for more years than many of the shareholders can remember, mentioned in conversation yesterday that, but for the wet weather, the company had hoped to enter a new field of activitv this week. A building is in course of erection alongside the main factory at Midhirst, and- a plant is being installed for the initial operation in the manufacture of casein. This is not a very alarming process, being merely the precipitation of curd from the skimmed milk. The curd will be pressed in the usual cheese press, and packed for transport to the Casein Company's works down near Wanganui, where the casein will be extracted. Mr. Brown stated that the company was confining this business at present to the main factory, and treating the milk of only such suppliers as were willing to accept instead of skim-milk the whey, and an extra per lb on their lmtter-fat test.

'Tt's surprising to mo. he continued, how some of them have so quickly found the immense value of calves and pigs. I reckon I've boon in the business a "ood while now. and worked tlie thing "out, but T've never lieen able to make "out if pigs and calves are anything like a penny-farthing extra on my butter-fat. Pome of them say tlinv have made this and that, "he continued," "but when I ask how it's done I find they don't debit themselves with anything for the rearing of the pigs and wintering of the calves. They treat the total return from pigs and calves as all profit. For my part, i l"ve never been able to winter calves or buy or rear pigs for nothing." "As for the feed value of whey, some say it's all vijlit. and some Bay it's no good. We shall see. I was one of those who went down the coast to see how the casein «vliey-fcd stock thrived, and I can say the calves looked just as well as any T:\ranaki skim-milk calves, which may or may not be saying much. They don t seem to go in for pigs very much in that district, and T have no opportunity of seeing the results of the use of this whey for pig feed. But T believe that a payment of extra for every pound of butter-fat supplied is going to pan out better for me than the raising of pigs and calves."

THE BURNS DINNER Mr. Aloe Tfender son. secretary of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish ' Society, has received word from Mr.. R. 0. Tirnco. a former member of Parliament, that he will be pleased to propose the toast of "The Immortal Memory of Robert I!iinw' at the Society's Burns* Dinner <on the 24th instant 'in the Stratford Town Hall. Mr. Tinice is one of the foremost Scotch orators in the Dominion. and his services are eagerlv soutrht after. For some years past Mr. Rriice has given this toast at the Otago Society's gatherings, and Taranaki Scots have reason to be thankful to their secretary for being cute enough to "pet in eaih."

STRAY PARAGRAPHS Ma jor-Clencral J. A. Godley. Commandant of the Forces, arrived in Stratford by Monday evening's express, and is staying at the Countv TTotel. He -was met, by Captain F. H. Lampen. of Stratford, area officer, and Captain Steven, of Tin era. To-day General fiodley will in" ' Mr. ,T. Ti. TTine. M.P.. and others int; rested, to discuss defence matters generally. On the evening goods train northwards yesterday travelled the remains of the ,'l'onl" motor car which was run into by the special train at Norma nby on New Years Day. causing the death of Mr. John Young. of Opunake., Tt is easily seen that the engine had struck the car amidships, almost at the seat. The body was smashed to matchwood, but a front, and a hind wheel are intact, whilst several of the rods withstood the force of the impact. Tleavy rain interfered with the yarding and attendance at. Mr. Newton Kings Douglas stock sale yesterday. Tint a few years ago a sale 12 to 14 miles out meant an early start with the Cortland waggon from Stratford. Yesterday Mr. J'airbrothcr. the firm's stock mift ioneer. was Mill here at eleven o'clock.. Verily the automobile is elmininating distance. I he Rev. A. Reader returned on Saturday night from Mofueka. Mrs. "Reader and the family will spend about six weeks longer there. TSv the way. that "Sunny Stratford" suggestion did bring the rain, didn't it? Six days of the New Year have gone, and rain fell on 100 per cent, of them. A well-known farmer told me yesterday that whilst the rain had probably done no harm yet the men on the land would be well pleased now to see its cessation. The reason? Well, firstly, there has been enough wet to thoroughly soak the ground and refresh the pastures: secondly, there has been enough to make the stockyards muddy; thirdly, the hav is just about ready for cutting; fourthly, the continued rain is interering with building and fencing operations; and *o on. up to the prosy preacher". s "nineteenth!}'," which is that man

is sel(lom_ satisfied for long with the weather he has been praying for. Mr. Chas. Coley, an old Taranaki War Veteran, died at his residence in Juliet street on Sunday, aged 7(1. Mr. and Mrs. 11. T). Notts, resident; here for many years, are spending a short holiday in Stratford. BERNARD'S PICTURES The reception of the present programme at Jlis Majesty's Theatre is flattering to the management. "The Price He Paid" is certainly a fine dramatic film, and "The Widow Casey," and' "The HalfBreed's Treachery" are also good. "Bathers in Ceylon" and "Indian Temples" are the leading pcenics, of whieli there is a rare collection,