STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 293, 3 May 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

THE TOWN HALL SHOULD IT "lili SHIFTED? T, if suggestion by the Mayor that the J-own Hall should be pulled down and re-erected in liroadway is being discussed. One gentleman who has had long civic experience views the proposal with distinct disfavor. The Town Hall, "''.V*- W(ml( l P«y very little better on the new silc than now. The present ■stand is central, and easily accessible to iatepayers in all parts of the borough, in his opinion there would be objections to moving it up to the north end of the business section. It would be better, lie continued, to add to the building a suite of olliees, so as to set the of the present block of municipal buildings at liberty for renting purposes. These would bring in a very considerable revenue, and provide more money for maintenance of streets, and so on. Whether or not the library and reading-room would be a success in Juliet street is a matter for argument, but probably it would be as well not to move these away from the busy haunts of men. The idea is well worthy of consideration.

BEARDLESS BOYS AND BEER TOKO PUBLICAN FINED. At the S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr. W. G, Kenrick, S.if., Robert Morrison, licensee of the Toko Junction Hotel, was charged with having supplied to three youths under 21 years of age alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises. Mr. E. Spence appeared for the licensee, and entered a plea of guilty. . Explaining the circumstances, counsel said the offence had been committed on I the night of the recent Toko sports, when there was a fair rush of business at the hotel bar. Two of the boys, who were then wearing bowler hats and mufflers, looked quite twenty-one, and , were served with their liquor as asked J for. The third lad had been refused liquor on account of his age, but when the licensee's back was turned he helped himself out of the whisky bottle. Mr. Spence said his client realised the seriousness of the offence, but trusted that in the circumstances His Worship would not find it necessary to endorse the license. The lads were lined up in court for His Worship to decide whether or not any one of them could reasonably be taken for '2l years of "age. Mr. Spence : pointed out, as in his address, that on the night of the sports these youths Would be "big guns," with bowler hats and silk scarves, and "half a week's growth on their chins," but His Worship cut in with the reply that even if there werejialf a week's growth it would not be visible. Mr. Spence fished, ana received a statement from one lad that he shaved once a week. With all the skill of a tonsorial. artist, Sergeant McNeely sized up' the' position, and stared hard at the boy who had just spoken. "When .did you shave last?" he asked him. "About a month ago," came the reply, which seemed about in accord with the facts, if, indeed, his face had ever felt a razor. Questioned as to the conduct of the hotel, Sergeant McXeely informed His Worship that'no complaints had been made about the general conduct of the hotel. The Magistrate said that in these cases it was the duty of the licensee to give himself the benefit of the doubt. The offence was a serious one, and he had power to endorse the license, but, taking into consideration the report of the police, be would inflict fines only in this case. On the first charge the licensee was fined £lO, and £2 on each of the other charges, with costs amounting to £-2 8s 9d.

S.M. COURT At yesterday's sitting of the S.M. Court, before Mr. W. G. Kenripk, S.M., judgment was given by default in the following cases:—D. Steven (Mr. Thomson) v. E. E, Rijtchie, claim 12s 6d and costs £1 9s; Mcßain and Childs (Mr. Wright) v. H. Taylor, claim £l4 13s and costs £2 l<3s Od; Charlie Lockwood (Mr. Thomson) v. Charles McPhee, claim £4O 4s Od, and costs £3; R. Hannah & Co. (Mr. Spratt) v. Arthur John Hill, cla,im £4 4s lid, and cost los. In the judgment summons case Scott and Jackson (Mr. Thomson) v. William Sharrock, claim £3 19s, there was no appearance of the judgment debtor, who was ordered to pay the amount forthwith, in default one week's imprisonment.

SOCCER ! MEETING AT STRATFORD. 1 A special general meeting of delegates to the Taranaki Association Football Union was held in the County Hotel, Stratford, on Wednesday. The Rev. W.'S. Stent presided, and the following delegates were present: Messrs. Stapleton and Mitchell (Hawera); Foreman and Betts (Kaponga); Barclay (Okaiawa); Rev. \Y. A. Butler and Butchart (Stratford); Smart and Crabtree (Eltham); and the secretary, Mr. J. J. East. The secretary was instructed to write to the Auroa Football Club explaining that the Cup held by them would in future be played for by school teams, and that' they be requested to forward the Cup to the secretary without delay. It was resolved that two teams be selected to play a match at Stratford on June 3, prior to the picking of the team to play the crew of H.M.S. New Zealand. The Rev. Stent, and Messrs. S. Clark and Betts were appointed a selection committee. For the future any delegate is to be allowed to appoint a proxy should he be unable to be present. It was moved that all clubs play in one division instead of two, as heretofore, and a lengthy discussion took place on the subject. The .Stratford and Eltham delegates stated that if it was intended to run a North and South division they had been instructed to withdraw from the competition. The following executive was appointed to deal with matters in connection with the Association: Messrs. Clark, Crabtree, Roper, East and the Rev. Mr. Stent. A list of rules was drawn up, and the secretary was instructed to procure quotations for printing same. Mr. Clark was appointed to referee the A. and B. matches at Stratford and the Taranaki-Xew Zealand fixture at New Plymouth.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS There is a probability that ttie date of the Scottish social will be altered to June 12, as the 2(ith clashes with the ILawera Winter Show. Edward Flynn and Frank Davis were fined £2 5s and £3 5s respectively for violent behaviour in a railway carriage

FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER. Office and Job Printing Works: Next N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co., Broadway. Telephone No. 113.

and breaking one of the windows. J The gale winch ragwl furiously on (.Friday night through had the usual efI feet of putting a few telephones, not I exactly out of commission, hut awfully ' near it. A few fences came over, hut ; the total damage was not serious. It | rained hard during the. morning, and I there was a big drop in the school at- ! tendance. , Mr. F. W. Webster has been confined j to his home for a week by a sharp j attack of influenza, but is now rccover- ■ ing. I Farmers and others are reminded of Messrs. Webster, Dobson & Co.'s sale of second-hand timber at the back of the Club Hotel, Stratford, to-day. It is stated that the headquarters of the 11th Regiment are to be moved from Stratford to Hawera, for greater convenience in administration. As practical farmers in the Stratford district for a number of years, Mr. Ed. Jackson and Mr. Campbell Jackson, trading as C. and E. Jackson, the well-known Stratford land agents, claim to know a good farm when they see it. In this jssue they specially recommend a couple of well-improved, nhandy-sized dairy farms. The attention of intending buyers is sure to be arrested by these. The cold snap ushered in this week lias driven men to realise that winter is here, and that a warm overcoat, or a waterproof, can no longer be dispensed with. "The Kasli" advertisement 011 this matter will appear in a day or so. Meanwhile, Messrs. Mullen and Marshall merely mention that there's no finer stock of overcoats, or underwear either, for tliat matter, than'they have at their popular premises in Stratford.