STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 223, 8 February 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

(From Our Resident Reporter)

AN .ADVERTISING PICNIC.

TO THE TARANAKi RACK BLOCKS.

Messrs. J. McCluggage and C. D. Sole are interesting themselves in the matto- of arranging for a party of New I'lviiioulh and Stratford Imninc.-s men to make a holiday trip into the Tarauaki backblocks at time, so that these gentlemen may become personally acquainted with 'the vast potentialities of the district and the urgent need for raj)id construction of road and rail. What this great hinterland means to Tarauaki in"the near future is comprehended by only a comparatively .small section of the 'business community, else there would not be the present apathy in regard to the development of the backblocks. Mr. McCluggage informed a News representative yesterday that it was hoped to organise a party of forty. Excursion train* eoiul be secured on the railway line and on the Public Works train as far as Kohuratahi, at which point settlers are prepared to take up the matter of conveying the picnickers to the camp, which these same settlers will prepare. It is to .be hoped that the idea will come to fruition. It will pay to advertise the great wants and the great possibilities of the vast stretches of grazing land out there, and the great deposits of coal awaiting development. THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Mr. C. E. James has presented the Fire Brigade with a handsome silver-mounted bread board for competition, and Mr. Alf. Moon with a beautiful oil painting. The Brigade',; finances are low. With a view to improving the state of the exchequer Captain C.rubb is to make a canvass for honorary members. The fee is half a guinea, and it is better to contribute in this way to keep up a good live brigade than to withhold the cash and let the brigade ''go to the demnition bow-wows,' which must occur if there is not sufficient money to maintain it in a slate of real efficiency. The following are the handicaps for next Thursday's competitions:— Bishara Cup. —Lieut. Wilson and Foreman Burgess, ser.; Branehman Evans 2 see. Secretary Drake 2 , /.'See. Bratiehniau Boon 3see. Fireman Davies 3 1 /oSec. Fireman Crossan 4 1 /; sec. Fireman Sullivan flV.sec. Fireman (lorton flsee. New Zealand Clothing Co.'s Trophy.— Secretary Drake ser.. Foreman Burgess 1 sec. Rranehman Evans lVCsec, Fireman Davies and Lieut. Wilson Usee, Branchman Boon 4sec, Fireman Sullivan 7sec. Fireman Gorton flsee. Entries for the Burgeiss Cup. a scratch event, are: —Lieut. Wilson, Branchmen Boon and Evans, and Firemen Drake, Davies. Crossano. Sullivan, and Gorton. Special competitions will be held to decide the ownership of the trophies presented bv Messrs. A. Moon and C. E. •Tames. These will take place after the team returns from Wanganui. STRAYS. The Council of the Taranaki Athletic and Caledonian Association has approved of March 13i.1t for the Mangatoki Athletic Club's Annual Sports. There was the usual little hatch r>." debt eases at the S.M. Court yesterday, and the usual batch of tardy Territorials (o fine in compliance with the refutations. A bike race between Stratford and Eltham on Thursday was won by IT. Voyle. with E. Tow'nlev second and E. Speck third. S. Parker and G. Wann tied for fastest time, with 38 minutes. BERNARD'S PfCTI'RES'-TO-NTGTTT. There is no question of the enterprise of Mai'amc Bernard, proprietress of His Majesr-'s Picture Theatre in Stratford. The present programme is one of startling brilliancy. The projection of the pictures by means of the modem and powerful plant is not excelled anywhere in the Dominion. As the present series will be screened to-night for the last time those people anxious to see these famous dramatic!, scenic, topical and comic films should take'note. The first picture makes its appearance prompt at S o'clock, prior to which there will be a selection or two bv the Acme Picture Band.