STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 307, 20 May 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER.

PHENOMENAL DOWNPOUR

I When Stratford tradespeople stand at their doors to watch the rain, you can just depend the rain's something special . Yesterday afternoon, somewhere about four o'clock, Broadway looked like a sheet of water. Business was at a standstill . There was nothing to- do., but watch the rain. Then it eased a I while, and men began talking about it. ihen (the lightning, which had. been part of the exhibition, redoubled its energies. The thunder rolled nearer, and crashed viciously. The heavens seemed to open, and the heavy rain of a few minutes earlier became a mild summer shower by comparison. Gutters and spouting on the buildings were overtaxed. A stiff breeze, and then came the hail. Horses defied their drivers, and turned tail. Cabmen waiting in Broadway for their "fares" hurried back to the shelter of the s'tables. Shopmen and shop assistants gathered at the doors to watch, Then in many places the deluge found the defects in the buildings. Torrents descended into the shops. Down came parcels of drapery, clothing, and boots from their fixtures, the water frqm the gutters flowing down the walls. Sunlights let in the water in bucketfula. Hotels seemed to fare no better than other premises. Rain found an entrance nearly everywhere, and some tenants of the older buildings will doubtless have something to say to their landlords. The streets were 1 flooded, or as near to being flooded as could be in a well-drained, sloping town as Stratford. Blocked culverts caused the storm-water to back up, inundating the footpaths, and spreading lakes well up to the middle of the road formation. During the height of the hailstorm, it was quite imposible to see across ; Broadway. Dwellings' suffered equally, and people know now where the plumber is required. "I've been here over twentv years, and I've never seen anything 'like it," said one business man. And that was the general opinion. FOOTBALL THE STRATFORD CLUB. Footballers are looking forward to Thursday's match between Stratford and Tukapa seniors at New Plymouth. On paper, on the form shown this season so far, the Stratford men look to have a big chance of victory, but they are not being allowed to take things even slightly for granted. The old players are pointing out to the team that the Stratford seniors have never yet won a match on the Western Park ground, three draws and a los 3 being the record to date. The Tukapa team has always been a difficult nut to craek, and is a tough proposition again this year, despite its poor display at Eltliam on Thursday. The Stratford team is strengthened by the inclusion of Don : Cameron, the New Zealand rep. "Don'* is a dangerous man on the attack, and will probably be played at wing threequarter. This will allow of R. Wood going up to half, where he ought to give a good account of himself. Cameron may not be tremendously fit,' but he is in better nick 'than was expected, and his bellows will be well tuned by Thursday. The Stratford team can pick up and pass, and Cameron will doubtless be given his opportunities. Shed practice to-night for all players. Every man picked is expected to "turn up, for only practice can bring success. Teams for Thursday against Tukapa seniors at New Plymouth (leaving by : the 8.50 a.m. train) are:—Stewart, Dewar, Wood, Fearon (2), Sullivan, Woods, Boon, Bonner, Cameron, Dobson, Olliver, Brown, Tocker Kivell. Against Tukapa First Juniors at Stratford, at 3. p.m.:—Kilpatrick, Osborne, Brown (2), Collins, Pearce, Rogers Tichbon, Stewart, Kennedy,Marfell, Hockey, McCorniack, Wallace, Armstrong; emergency. Sangster. Against Star Second Juniors, at Stratford at 1.30 p.m.:—Sullivan (2), Collins (2), Till, Sangster, Cameron, Crossan, Stewart, Sheahan, Castledine, Richmond, Bishop. Blair, Steer; emergency, O'Neil. STRAY PARAGRAPHS ! An elderly woman, with a lengthy list of previous convictions, was up before the Justices at the S.M. Court yester.day charged with drunkenness. She was convicted and discharged, conditionally upon her entering the Old People's Home at New Plymouth. . The soft lignite coals which are gener§;f in use are deceptive. The other | !( a householder plumped a kettle n "On some apparently dead ashes in a fireplace. In the morning, 'the kettle had boiled quite dry. Fires have been traced to wooden ashbins, into which ashes were emptied that had seemingly no fire in them. The other night York Chambers, a building which has already been through one fire, had a narrow escape from destruction by Are, owing to this same cause. Mr. H.E. Lawrence, solicitor, called in at his office in York Chambers at about ten o'clock on Saturday night. He noticed a smell of burning, and, descending to 'the ground floor, found a fire in the back area, a wooden-floored place. The ashes from mie of the fireplaces in the building had been placed in a wooden receptacle, and had burned through this and through the floor. A few buckets of water sufficed to souse the fire. But the narrow escape should act as a wanting to people generally. Mr. Bert Clough has made a big forward move, forsaking his old premises in favor of thp big, new, and brightly lighted corner shop in Curtis' Buildings, opposite the post-office. Mr. Clough is to be commended for his enterprise, and can safely rely upon a big increase of business, for in these days enterprise meets with its due reward. Ladies will appreciate being able to judge colors so easily—more easily than elsewhere. The bigger shop has meant buying bigger stock, and there are bigger values than ever. Members of the Egmont Club are waiting impatiently for the opening of the series of debates to-morrow evening. The debating circle is very popular, and, conducted on proper lines, must result in good to those taking part.

The school committee meets to-night. Footballers are talking about the firea't win the Senior fifteen scored on Thursday last, and wondering about their chances in the next match, but the greatest wonder is the value that is to be had in overcoats at Mullen and Marshall's. They are showing coats to keep you warm and coats to keep you dry, in the latest styles and colors. Mr. S. Sharp, who managed Mr. C. E. James' hairdressing and. shaving saloon throughout the whole of its successful career, has bought the business and moved the whole of the up-to-date fittings of the saloon to convenient premises almost immediately opposite, where he will be pleased to welcome old customers and new. Complete fresh stock 0 f smokers' sundries.*

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