STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 12, 14 June 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

THE SCOTTISH GATHERING

"Success" is hardly the word for the Scottish gathering on. Thursday night in the Town Hall, for it is not sufficiently expressive., The affair would have been a success even if only half as good as it was. There was a very big attendance, and the crowd included visitors from various parts of the province. There were so many good features that it is difficult to single out any one in particular. The concert was a treat, the society having gone far afield to "lecure vocalists and other performers, in addition to local talent, which was all excellent as well. The vocalists were Miss Agneß Segrief (Wellington), Miss Knight (Lower Hutt), Miss Nielson (Hawera), Mrs. Wilkes (Toko), Mr. Whitehorn (Hawera) and Mr. P. H. Wilkie (Stratford), in charge of the comic section. Miss Taylor (Fitzroy) recited capitally. The Scotch dancing was done by people of experience on the boards, and was fully appreciated. The dancers were Misses Todd (2), Messrs Wade (2) and Masters Johnston. The Taranaki Pipe 'Bank.took- part in tKe proceedings, and' led/Chief 'Kennedy jn-.'the : grand' march. The "dance was. most enjoyable, whilst the supper made a fresh record in the list of Stratford triumphs. The dance music was supplied by Messrs. Richardson (piano), Kelly (cornet) and Cottier (violin). The supper was the result of weeks of organisation and hard work by the ladies' committee. Mr. D. Butchart, the secretary, must be heartily congratulated on the splendid arrangements made in every department. Mr. W: L. Kennedy, the society's chief, made a starring speech at. the commence : ment of the proceedings, which, made a' the Scots' feel prood o' theirsels. THE BATTLESHIP EXCURSIONS STRATFORD RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS. Mr. J. B. Campbell, stationmaster at Stratford, supplied the following information for passengers intending to travel to New Plymouth next Tuesday. There will,be four trains from Strat- | | ford to Moturoa. The first leaves at 7.35 a.m. This is I the train for the schoolchildren, the | teachers and committeemen in' charge, i It is to be distinctly understood that no : adults can travel by this train unless there is room after providing accommodation for the schools. As there will probably be over 800 frqm Stratford, and ::the train has to pick up over 400 at various stations en route, there is not likely to be any room for adult 9, so it is not advisable to make arrangements to catch this first train, which is timed to reach the Breakwater at 9.42 a.m. At 8.10 a.m. a train goes through here, but will not pick up Stratford passengers. The next train, at 8.45 a.m., to reach Moturoa at 10.42 a.m., will carry passengers from Stratford and from the Toko line. The next leaves here at $.lO a.m., and will take passengers from any station from Stratford to Fitzroy. Due at Moturoa at 11.12 a.m. The last train, leaving here at 9.35 a.m., and due at Moturoa at 11.42 a.m., stops where required. Passengers are required, as per the regulations, to bring the correct fare, 2s 9d return, second class. There will be no first-class tickets issued. It will be quite impossible to give change, and people must bear this in mind. These remarks apply to all stations, whether ' flag stations or not, for the guards will be instructed not to give change on the trains.

At Stratford there will be two ticket windows in the lobby, .and in addition a ticket box will be placed outside the building, between the main entrance and the wicket gate at the north end of the station building, to divert some of the traffic from the lobby. The public are asked to get clear of the ticket windows immediately on obtaining their tickets. Tickets for Tuesday's journey can be obtained at the station at any time on Monday, up till 8 o'clock at night. Ttte public are asked to a vail.themselves of this privilege, which will be convenient to them and to the railway staff as well. THE RETURN JOURNEY. Trains leave Moturoa at 3.10, conveying passengers to Inglewood and stations south of that to Stratford, arriving here at 6.25 p.m.; at 3.35 p.m. for Stratford and stations as far soath as Hawera; at 4.10 p.m., Inglewood to Stratford and Toko; at 4.45 p.m., stopping where required,, arriving at Stratford at 7 p.m.; and at 5.15 p.m., also stopping where required, arriving here at 7.27 p.m. Midhirst passengers travel by trains at 7.45 a.m. (children), 9.25 a.m. awl 9.50 a.m. ; Tariki, 8.15 a.m. (children), 9.40 a.m., 10.10 a.m.; Inglewood, 8 am., 10.5 a.rii., 10.35 a.m.; Lepperton Junction, 7.35 a.m., 8.27 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. DELINQUENT SOLDIERS TWO INTERESTING CASES. A well-built, powerful-looking hid of seventeen years, a member of the Senior Cadets, but far bigger than the average Territorial, came before the Magistrate on Friday morning to answer to a charge of having failed to attend a parade at Eltham. He pleaded not guilty. Sergeant-Major Bonar deposed on oath that Mills belonged to Midhirst, but had not attended a parade there since January 24. He moved to Eltham without notifying change of address, and subsequently to Whangamomona, again neglecting to notify the Defence Office of hisj'hcw place of abode. He attended no parades at Eltham. At Whangamomona he was seen by witness and told of a parade taking place that day. Mills declined to attend, although he was on the parade ground. Immediately the parade was over the defendant had emerged from his brother's house, closed by, and walked down to the township with the local cadets, apparently with intent to defy the local authorities. This lad had previously been lined for non-attendance. The Ser-geant-Major endorsed Mills' statement that since then he had attended every parade. In answer to the Bench, the defendant said that he had not intended remaining in Eltham, and had not thought it worth while to go to parades there. On April 9, the date charged in the information, he had been busy, and was unable to get away. The S.M. chimed in with the remark that he would not believe that his employer had prevented his going to drill. And in the event of any employee being prevented by his employer, he had only to report the matter and the employer would be dealt with by the Court. "You've got to attend parades. You've got to do as the others do," said the Magistrate. "If you're going to shirk, we'll have to send you to Wellington to do 28 days' drill. I don't want to fine you yoiing fellows. I want you to put in your drills." His Worship further explained that the Cadets and Territorials must take the trouble to inform the area officer of change of address, and, if away from their own drill centre; must put in

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the parade with the local in- | forming the office* in charge and obtain- !' ing a certificate for forwarding to the ] officer in charge of his ovm unit. Quite a number of men who, .had. been before j the Court never would have been had j they treated their officers with ordinary [ courtesy and complied with the regulai tions made with regard to change of j address. The defendant expressed his I willingness to put in extra drills to j make up, and was advised to look after himself, become efficient, and obtain si transfer to" the ranks of the Territorials. He was ordered to eome up for sentence when called upon. On a charge of failing to produce his record book, he again pleaded not guilty, and explained that when he left home he left the record book there, and his people had not been able to find itHe was ordered to make a thorough search and report to the Defence Office. George Mudford was charged with failure to attend the recent camp at Oringi. Mr. J. E. L. Stanford appeared for the defendant., Sergeant-Major Bonar said this defendant was a member ot.j?., Company,, 11th Regiment,"and had; formerly; resided at" Oea<: He had. not attended any parades at Stratford, although he- had lived here some time. There was no doubt that he.'had been evading his training. Witness had spoken to Mudford's father, about the matter, and had been told the lad "would face the music." Mr. Stanford explained that the lad was chief chauffeur in his father's motor garage, and it would have been very inconvenient for him to let the boy off. That, of course, was no excuse. But the lad had a defective right hand, and had evidently relied on that to secure him exemption from military service. The probability was that, he would be exempted if the matter were properly gone into. It appeared that he had gone to Dr. Carbery, the military doctor, and asked for exemption, but had been informed that he would need the certificate of three doctors. If the lad really were unfit, Mr. Stanford suggested, it would be unfair to punish him. The S.M. said that if he were to accede to Mr. Stanford's request ;t would ! be tantamount to saying that men thinking they had a right to exemption I need not bother to apply for it until they were- summoned. But he must" say that until a man was really exempted he was liable for service. Mudford showed his deformed hand, and told the Court that when he was passed as fit the hand was in a bandage, the result of an accident, and the examining medical officer had not stripped the bandage off. The case was adjourned to allow of Dr. Carbery (Surgeon-Major Carbery) being called. He subsequently deposed that shortly before the casual; camp Mudford had asked that his hand be examined, but he had explained that he could not give exemption, which must be done by a medical board. The defendant was shown to have put in one parade in 1911-12, and none in Fined £3 and costs, with an intimation that he must attend parades from now on. STRAY PARAGRAPHS _ "He came in to help, to celebrate the Scotch anniversary, your Worship, and took too ; much whisky," was Sergeant McNeely's explanation of the appearance of a first offender in the Court yesterday.—Convicted and discharged, with a caution. The visit of the battleship to New Plymouth is only one of the many important functions of the time. There is the important announcement, for instance, that "The Kash" has made a special purchase of a special line of specially good boxed suits for men, which are being sold at from 40s up. This is a snip. Take advantage of it. A start has been made with the extension of Messrs. Mofey •*? Son's showroom. The particular men are the. men whom; we like. They appreciate our clean and cosy saloon, the absolute clearness > everywhere, promptness and excellent shaving and hairdressing. Tobaccos cigars, cigarettes and all smokers' sundries are fully stocked.—At Sharp's. The King's Birthday does not cause any great excitement when it falls in midwinter, as does the present Sovereign's birthday. It is not much of a time for out-door gatherings, unjess you are clothed in warm underwear, a good suit, and topcoat from 'The Kash" (Mulden and Marshall, proprietors).