STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 274, 11 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

From Our Resident Reporter. Ofiicc: Next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. Telephone 113. ( STRATFORD FIRE BRIGADE AND THE COMPETITIONS. It hail been confidently expected that the local brigade would have been able to secure for Stratford the second annual competitions of the Taranaki Provincial Fire brigades' Association. But, as one member put it, "we haven't re- [ spcetable ground for firemen to work 011." This is unfortunately true. The brigade has been consistently asking the Borough Council for a year or two past to have a water main iiid into Victoria Park, near the croquet lawns, so that a proper practice ground can be made. But .still the practices and competitions take place on the roadside, just along Page street. The Council has promised ( to put the necessary sum on the coming year's estimates, and it is unlikely that the estimates will be prepared without a further reminder coming from the brigade. The men who voluntarily train for lire-lighting are deserving of a reasonable amount of encouragement and assistance from the public purse. But some ratepayers can't desist from commenting severely upon some alleged happenings upon lire brigade property within the past month or two. The ratepayers have a duty to perform to the i firemen, but the duty of the firemen ] does not end in attending competitions > (partly or wholly at the public expense) and ill lire-lighting. STRATFORD FOOTBALL CLUB There was not a big muster of members of the S.F.C. at yesterday's opening practice, the Toko Athletic Club's gathering doubtless accounting for this. The Stratford fifteen this year will not be as heavy as of yore, but every effort is to be made to turn out a well-trained team. There is a strong back division available, and the forwards are more than fair, including some of the good old-timers.

PERSONAL Mr. A. Spence has definitely decided to retire from business in Stratford. Mr. F. Hcdgman, formerly manager of the Singer Sewing Machine Company's branch in Stratford, leaves this morning for Wellington, where lie will enter the polices barracks for training, his application for enrolment in the police force having been approved. STRAY PARAGRAPHS A' middle-aged man named Alfred John Wans tall was sentenced yesterday to a month's imprisonment for the theft Jof. a virg, the property of James Caldwell. at Kiore. Messrs. J. Masters and J„ MeC'luggage were on the Bench.

• <)ne ,of the officers of the local fire J brigade' (ells a rather good story, without" divulging 1 names. The other day the brigade canvassed the town for honorary members' subscriptions, and the appeal to property-owners and business men was fairly successful. Ono tenant of business premises in Broadway was (Cntjrtly unsympathetic. He declined to /admjt that the brigade,had any right ito canvass him,'. ot that be was under sa'iiy liability to support the brigade, ?\v|hul], lie contended, should be kept up ! by'the insurance companies, in whose in- ■ terestsr the brigajle worked, though un--1 wittingly. A 'few nights later the.telephone at the fire brigade station rang furiously. The indignant citizen was calling up the brigade to put out ,a chimney fire!