STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 247, 8 March 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

f From C;ir Resident Reporter. I Oliii-i : Nc.M Loan & Mortiuii ile Agency j to. Tv : t j/ii-.iie n;i. GREAT EASTER ATTRACTION. GIGANTIC GYMKHANA. What is a gymkhana? The writer asked a lovely girl if she would like to spend her Easter, Monday at the Stratford Gymkhana. Her answer gave him the biggest shock of his life. However, she consented to come after it was explained that a gymkhana was really a glorified sports meeting, where deeds of prowess on horseback, cycling, running, leaping, trotting and a host of gloriously funny events took place. The Stratford A. & P. Association possess the finest and most picturesque grounds found anywhere, and they are admirably suited for providing the necessary accommodation for a great gymkhana. Under magnificent trees numerous families can picnic with delightful comfort, whilst lovers who delight to love may stroll through the walks along the I river for the modest fee of one shilling. j Tf you have never been to a gymkhana then come to the Stratford one on Easter Monday. You will enjoy glorious sport, and the Stratford people will enjoy your .company. THE HORTICULTURAL SHOW All power to those enthusiasts who conducted the horticultural show. No one but the worker himself or herself has any conception of the amount of work that has to be done before the flowers and fruit are so carefully staged for the judges and for the delectation of the public. Some of the members of the committee were hard at it for iibont fifteen hours on Wednesday, and left the Town Hall shortly before midnight. Daybreak saw them still enthusiastic, snipping flowers or pulling carrots for the show. When the annual , meeting comes round these same enthusiasts will probably form the bulk of the attendance, and they won't care to pass a vote'of thanks to themselves, but'they deserve the hearty thanks of their fellow members of the society and of the hundreds of local residents who annually enjoy these fine exhibits of the fruits of labor in the gardens. The j fact remains that without the immense I amount of voluntary work put in by I lovers of horticulture these liorlicul- | tural shows must cease to exist, which i would be n pity, for they are of great educational value. This week's show has been very successful. One would like to ' see more exhibitors, perhaps, instead of allowing a few to sweep the boards in certain sections. The attendance in the evenings was good, and the public were treated to a musical and floral promenade, Mr. Rogers' orchestra supplying exquisite music. STRAY PARAGRAPHS i I At the S.'M. Court yesterday several farmers and landholders were fined small , sums for failing to clear their land of ■ I noxious weeds. The inspector", Mr. WilI son. mentioned to your representative I later in the day that one of the defend- ] | ants was a sort of absentee owner, and ! j his farm was practically the only one I in the locality on which the growth I of weeds was worth worrying about. Tie '■■ considered that cases like this —the : introduction of weeds to and the neglect ] of them in an otherwise clean district— I should be punishable by a heavy fine. I Mr. Wilson stated that weeds were bej coming troublesome "out east." I Mr. T. T. Lamason was duly registered as a land agent yesterday in the Magistrate's Court. Mr. Fopkes appeared for the applicant. The umual district meeting of Oddfellows at Stratford will be held next Thursday. At Cardiff on Thursday evening, after the quarterly meeting of the Methodist Church, the Rev. R. Metson was entertained at a social, and presented, on behalf of himself and Mrs. Metson, with 'a handsome marble clock. Very general regret was expressed at the popular minister's departure from the district. BERNARD'S PICTURES I The present programme will be shown ' to-night for the last time. The pictures lare all good, and verv interesting, and there is bound to be the usual Saturday j night crowd.