STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 21 February 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

FHOK OUB RESIDENT REPORTER. Office and Job Printing Works: York Chambers (upstairs) Telephone No. 113.

"QUO VADIS';"—TO-NIGHT ■ -'Quo Vadis?" produced at liis Majesty's Theatre last night, represents one' of the world's greatest cinematograph enterprises, and doubtless to.nighl's production will again be witnessed by a crowded house of appreciative .patrons. There is a sharpness and conciseness in the whole production which is at once remarkable and pleasing, and its 8000 ft seem all too short. The istory of "Quo Vadis?" is a wonderful portrayal of the struggles and persecutions of the early Christians shortly after the death of' Christ. Interwoven with the treatment of these historical events is the story of the love of a Roman patrician for a Christian girl Lygia. Nero, the voluptuous Emperor of Rome, the fiend who could fiddle while Home burnt and write weak verses while his empire tottered to its fall, is one of the most forceful characters in the cast. The picture gives an almost incredibly accurate idea of the man who must have lived in daily fear of the subjects whom he so despotically ruled. | The burning of Koine provides some of the most appalling pictures of a great city's destruction, while the nuul monarch gleefully contemplates his work of destruction. The culminating point in the story is the driving of the Christians to the wild beasts. Lygia is one of the victims, and in the amphitheatre sits Vinitius, her lover, torn with fears for her and burning with hatred for the cruel tyrant, his Emperor. Lygia is rescued by I'rsus, a slave, and Nero, fearing tile wrath of the populace, orders her release. The final scene is one of the most striking. Nero is driven from his Empire, and by night and in fear, he flees along the Appian Way, and, pursued, he lets a slave do what he dare not, and dies by the hand of i one of the race ho has despised. "Quo i Vadis?" must be seen to be appreciated. |

CORRESPONDENCE

THE DOMAIN BOARD.

To the Editor. Sir,—Upon reading your article the other day regarding' the Stratford domains, I did what I had promised myself to do for a long time. I went round the upper park—King Edward, I think. I had not seen the place for about eleven years, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the transformation effected. Perhaps it has taken an unduly long time, and perhaps the Board should have done moTe; but 1 do not think the Board deserved 'your unkind criticism. I believe, with you, that the time has come for a more active policy in attending to Stratford's beauty spots, but the chances of doing anything much do not appear too rosy in the light of the very little support accorded the Beautifying Society. Isn't it about time we heard something about this society? Its little plantation on the riverbank was overgrown with weeds last time f saw it, and that does not say much for the energy of the men who started the society with such a flourish of Returning to my subject, 1 quite agree that King Edward Park ,can be made ;i very beautiful place, and 1 hope the Domain Board will try to work up a little interest. If I might make a suggestion, it is this: Apply to tile Borough Council for assistame. If the case were well presented, I think the councillors would "come to light." especially as the Mayor and a councillor are members of the Board. I am. etc., . SCENIC.

j THE FIRE BRIGADE

The Stratford Fire Brigade held two competitions on Thursday; the results being:— Hallctistcin Bros'Trophy—Foreman E. A. Drake (scr), lmin 10 <t-ssee, 1; Fireman Bradley (lOsec), lmin 12 2-ss.ee, 2; Foreman Evans (4sec). lmin 13sec, 3. Also started: Lieut. Wilson, Custodian Burgess, Secretary Gorton, Firemen Harris and Milner. This trophy lias been competed for every six months for the past live and a-half years, and has now Ibeen won outright by Foreman Drake, who won it three times at intervals.

Bishara Cup—Lieut. Wilson (scr), 41 2-asec, 1; Fireman Milner (2sec), 42sec, 2; Custodian Burges.i (scr), 42 l-sse.\ 3. Same starters as in the previous competition. Lieut. Wilson won the cup outright, having won it twice in succession. RIFLE-SHOOTING On Thursday a team from the Strat- [ ford Rifle Club journeyed to Kaponga . to try conclusions with Kaponga Club ' for the Challenge Shield. The Kaponga *' team were again successful in defending it. The conditions were very tricky ' at times. The following are the scores: c KAPONGA. < 300 500 000 Tl. ] C. Hollard 31 31 33 05 t T. O'Neil 28 33 30 92 I A. 11. Guy 31 31 30 32 : S. Hollard 28 31 31 90 1 G. Smith 31 27 30 88 : E. Harrison 20 33 27 80 I C. Papps 28 29 20 83 i ('. King 20 32 24 70 i ' 823 27-1 232 702 : STRATFORD. I 300 500 000 Tl. ! X. F. Thorpe £9 31 32 92 E. lirocklebank .... 31 32 29 92 A. Sangsler 28 34 29 1)2 C. .Jackson 28 31 28 87 A. Speck 29 30 20 85 A. Ferguson 28 20 20 80 A. Wiekham 25 29 17 71 A. Mackcy 20 17 27 OS 224 230 212 COS STRATFORD BOWLING CLUB iThe progressive doubles on the Stratford green on Thursday, played according to the system invented by Mr 13arnett. of Christchurch, proved very suev ecssful. Every player thoroughly onI joyed the name. King, with no losses, won the skip's prize, with Masters and McMillan rmi-iiers-iip, one loss each. Sliarn and Skoglund Junior had one loss each for the lead's trophy, which was then decided according to the rules on the aggregate number of points scored in the first two games, Sharp winning. In the lead's game it is necessary that nlayers see the set through, and one skip who Ileft before the last game without any explanation to his lead, or making pro-

vision for a substitute, came in for some rather caustic remarks from the rest of the players. Skoglund ,'lunior is only a boy, but a valuable "emergency.'' He lias a habit of beating many players who are reckoned to know something of the ganic, and if he, continues as he is going now be will make some of the hoary ones think a little some day. GENERAL NEWS The Borough Inspector had a. field-day with by-law cases at the S.M. Court yesterday. T. Gorton was charged with driving a horse and cart om a footpath in Orlando Street South. The Inspector said the condition of the road at the point was not cood. In the «r«TM«stances a conviction, without fine or costs, was recorded. James Dodd was fined 40s for riding a motor-cycle at night without a light. Tlie Inspector said be had been lined 10s in October last for a similar offence. D. Corkill, charged with riding a bicycL on a footpath, said it was very difficult for a letter-carrier to keep from riding on the footpath. The approach to the footpath was rough in places, and if he walked along the path he doubted if the letters would ever get delivered. A fine of os, with costs 7s, was imposed. The S.M. said defendant must bear in mind that he could not be treated differently from any other person. For riding a motor-cycle without lights, Alfred Petrie was fined 2s Od without costs. H. Barrington was charged with riding a motor-bicycle without lights, at 7.5.5 p.m. A line of 5s without costs was imposed. A line of 10s, with costs 7s, was imposed on D. McGregor f»r riding a bicycle on a footpath. 11. Tatton, the Salvatbn Army officer, was charged with riding a bicycle without a light. Defendant said the night was brilliantly moonlight, and he had trouble with his lamp. Fined ss, without costs. J. Beatson, for driving horses loose in the street, was fined ss, with costs 7s. Jack Murphy, alias John MeConnell, alias McConville, against whom there were 28 previous convictions for sundry offences in divers places, appeared at '■ the S.M. Court, before Messrs. J. Mas- , ters and S. B. Hunter, r iid was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for using bad language at the Midhirßt Town Hall on February 13. The police also executed on him a warrant for commitment for a month's imprisonment, incurred through an assault at Marton. A Stratford school party left "for the mountain at 3.30 yesterday, consisting of 20 of the senior High School girls in charge of Misses Tooman, 'Gordon, and Jackson. The party proposed to spend the night at the Stratford mountain house, to put in to-day exploring the I beauties of the locality, and to return 'o Stratford during the afternoon. On Friday morning there passed away at his residence, Juliet Street, another of the. Maori War veterans in the person of Mr Charles Coley, who had reached the ripe age of 78 years. Deceased came out in 1854, with the Imperial troops, and since the end of hostilities has resided in New Plymoith and Stratford. Mrs Coley predeceased him 12 months ago. Judgment by default was given in the following ease 3 at the Court this morning: Manoy and Hassall . Horace Jennings, £2 13s 3d, costs 15s; same v. —. Leonard, £9 14s 3d, costs £1 3s C.

Eight sticks of dark Havelock tobacc-o for Or: eight slicks of Derbv, Gs; eight 2oz tins Havelock, 7s Od; eight 2oz tins Derby, 7s Od. These ate specimen prices from Stan. Sharp's stock of smokers' requisites. Next Bellringer's, Stratford. A gift to please those yc i would favor with a mark of your personal esteem—your portrait. Nothing could be more appropriate. Make an appointment with Mr McAllister to-day. Broadway, Stratford. There is no questioning the fact that "The Kash" is the best place in Stratford for men to supply their clothing and mercery wants. Quality and priee tell their own unequalled story in favor of the store.