STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 305, 17 May 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

J CHAMBER OF COMMERCE "Pooh! Chamber of Commerce! Who »ft: tlieyV—A self constituted body representing no one in particular, but speaking with a big voice of authority." Thus spake a well-known resident on Friday morning. Remarks of this kind are decidedly unfair and quite untrue. Possibly there is some excuse for public ignorance concerning the constitution of the Chamber and for the jibe that its numbers are few, for the Chandler never has a very big attendance of members at its meetings; hence the executive transacts a good deal of the business, which might well be discussed by a general meeting if members could only be prevailed upon to attend in decent numbers. The fact remains that the Chamber of Commerce is fairly representative of the commerce of Stratford, and the | executive speaks with the authority of the whole body of members. There is room for a bigger membership, and seeing that all of our business people benefit more or less by the numerous changes and improvements in public affairs due to the work of the Chamber it is fairly up to them to join the Chamber, and to pay up their little subscriptions to help the good work along. It is not necessary, nor is it possible, to enumerate here the benefits to the town resulting from the continued representations to the Government by a wide-awake Chamber; hut it may be noted that recently the Chamber was successful in securing the opening up of blocks of land east of Stratford, thus laying the foundation for increased business with this town, whilst better telephone facilities, an improvement of the conditions along the eastern railway, and the determined battle for the | Stratford-Opunake railway line have all [ been due to the Chamber in the first instance. This last entailed more work I than most people imagine, and eventually the case for the Stratford route was undoubtedly most ably presented, a credit to the organisation and to that indefatigable organiser, the secretary of Chamber. Instead of these scoffI ing remarks, let residents ascertain how best they can assist the Chamber, and then "buck in" and give all the help they can in the direction of progress. i i STRATFORD POULTRY SOCIETY The Stratford Poultry Society is holdI ing its second annual show on July 2 and 3, in the Town Hall. The show promises to be a big one, and, besides the strict poultry sections, there are home industries and other departments. The New Zealand Association has allotted no fewer than fourteen championships. The entries close on June 23 with the secretory, Mr. T. Ladd. Fanciers are informed that the prize money is liberal, and there are numerous specials and trophies. STRAY PARAGRAPHS There will probably he a good branch of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society in Xew Plymouth soon, for Mr. J. F. Anderson,'of the office staff of the Stratford branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, has accepted a position as accountant in the New Plymouth office of the Taranaki Oilfields, Ltd. Mr. Anderson will be missed in connection with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and St. Andrew's Tennis Club, of which latter organisation he is the secretary. A good singer, his services have been in demand at the Scottish gatherings here. He is a hardworking member of the executive of the Scottish Society, and is of the right temperament to actively assist in organising a branch of this flourishing body in New Plymouth. Mr. H. L. Spratt, whose ankle was sprained during Thursday's football match at Stratford, is confined to his bed. One drunk was convicted and discharged at the S.M. Court yesterday. The May Dairy Company cheques in this district for April milk" are:—Stratford £4(125, Ngaere £IBBB, Lowgarth £135!), Cardiff £1247, Midhirst £5050 19s 3d. Midhirst pays out to-day. Tn the S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr. W. 0. Kenrick, S.M., the "following undefended cases went by default:—L. H. Neal (Mr. Thomson) v. j. Thacker, claim £2 10s 8d and costs 10s; E. C. Robinson (Mr. Macalister) v. 11. A. Prebble, claim £lO 10s and costs £1 10s fid; Thomas Young (Mr. Macalister) v. Charlie McPhee, claim £44 2s !)d and costs £3; R. J. Scott (Mr. Macalister) v. Peter Rugurski, claim £4 15s 5d and costs £l. The Scottish Society's second annual gathering is advertised in this issue to take place in the Stratford Town Hall on June 12. The committee is engaging exceptionally able talent for the programme of Scotch songs, humor and dancing, and there will be a full pipe band in attendance. The ladies are going to eclipse even last year's supper arrangements. A lad named Albert Trask, employed in the job-printing office of the Daily News at Stratford, had the misfortune I yesterday afternoon to get his arm caught in the machinery. He was at once taken to Dr. Steven, at Edwards's pharmacy, where it was found that the bone of the forearm had been splintered and the arm badly contused and cut. It will be a couple *of weeks before he is able to do any light work with the injured member. "He hasn't a single fault except drunkenness," remarked Sergeant McXeely, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, when a man named Dickinson, , engaged out last on the { co-operative works, was charged with drunkenness and committing an indecent act. According to the evidence the man had come in on a periodical burst, and, as was his wont, had purchased a bottle of whisky and kept it, this being his usual practice, until at length he had drained the bottle. Upon accused promising to take out a prohibition order against himself he. was convicted and discharged on the charge of indecency, and lined 10s for drunkenness. "Wrongly served" was the plea of a man in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, and he and his counsel had no difficulty in proving that he was not the man wanted by McCluggage Bros, to settle an account. The plaintiff firm had to pay his expenses, and there would be little left of the amount of the claim, even if it were paid now. Mr. D. Graham, "the white fruiterer," I keeps a fine stock of fresh fruit always. He appeals for support, confident of his ability to sell fruit that is above suspicion. Mr. S. Sharp, who managed Mr. C. E. James' hairdressing and shaving saloon throughout the whole of its successful I career, has bought the business and' moved the whole of the up-to-date fit-1 lings of the saloon to convenient prem-1 ises almost immediately opposite, where he will he pleased to welcome old customers and new. Complete fresh stock of smokers' sundries.*

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

A tremendous drop in the temperature lias ])i'on<r]it iibout a big advance in the demand for warm wear for men. "Tlie Kasli" just now presents a new sliipment of warm woollen shirts, besides which .they have a great range of over-' eoats. Messrs. Mullen and Marshall, the proprietors, are both well acquainted with the men's wear trade.*