STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 207, 2 March 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

FBOM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER,

Office and Job Printing Works: York Chambers (upstairs)

Telephone No. 113,

I THE MOUNTAIN CLUB. GOOD PROGRESS. There was a capital attendance on Friday nigbt at tlie adjourned meeting of the Stratford Mountain Club. Mr. ,T. B. Richards, as convenor of the inaugural meeting, presided, and referred to the work of the provisional committee.

1 INTRODUCTORY. Mr. Richards referred in terms of ("ratification In the cordial reception the [ cluli had had at the hands of the people of Stratford, and he predicted for it a large membership and a prosperous life. The club's first excursion had taken place on a recent week-end, the (Saturday night party reaching the summit next day, and returning via Dawson's Falls. It was very apparent to those who had made the ascent by the various routes (lint the Stratford route was far the best for ascent, on account of the solid "going," whilst the scoria on the Dawson's Falls side was equally advantageous for the return trip. A letter had been received from Mr. 11. Williams, manager of the East Egmont (Stratford) Mountain House, offering substantial concessions in weekly boarding and daily charges to members of the club. Further, owing to the difficulty often experienced in procuring sufficient vehicles, to take visitors right through to the house, he would be willing to bring his trap down to the radius line to convey the luggage or belongings of a party of four without charge, on any day but Sund:y. This, said the chairman, should prove a great convenience to visitors, for it would he easv to arrange at any time to be taken to the end of the metal. In a few days ho hoped to have another vehicle, and , would be prepared to meet parties of ] three from the end of the metal to the I house and back to the edge of the re- I serve free, if they stayed four days; ' otherwise, the return trip would be 2s 6d a head. This was certainly encour- I aging to the club and enterprising on the part of the caretaker, who was proving his willingness to co-operate with and assist the club in its work. Mr. Williams will be thanked for his offer. OFFICERS ELECTED.

The following officers were elected: President, Mr. .1. B. Richards; vicepresident, Mr. E. Jackson; captain. Mr. T. James; secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. Kirk wood; committee, Messrs C. L. ■Grant, H. L. Spratt, C. S. Rutherford; auditor, Mr. C. Potts. MEMBERSHIP BADGES.

The president remarked that the committee had discussed the matter of obtaining badges for members. It was too late to obtain permanent badges this season, but it would he as well to have some distinguishing mark by which members might know one another and be recognised by visitors to the house. The Daily News' offer to print the initials "S.M.C." on ribbons free of cost was accepted. The committee will obtain permanent badges. A scheme of advertising on railway stations was discussed. TKLEPUONE COMMUNICATION. The secretary brought up the- matter of having the mountain liohm. connected continuously with Stratford. He mentioned that last Sunday a gentleman visiting the house was' taken seriously ill. The County Hotel was connected night and day'with doctors and fire station, and probably the mountain •house could be added to the list.—To be attended to. A WORD IN SEASON.

The president asked members to U9& every effort to prevent spoliation of the bush or any other scenery on the reserve. There had been times, too, in the past, when the enjoyment at the house was apt to incline to boisterousness, and he asked members to do all in their power to prevent discomfort to visitors. HONORARY GUIDES.

11l regard to the matter of guides, tlie necessity was emphasised for very careful selection, and it was decided that the committee should appoint honorary guides On the recommendation of the captain, such appointments to be for a year unless cancelled by the committee. : THE CLUB'S DESIGNATION. Some discussion took place regarding Mr. Spratt's proposal to change the name from '-Mountain Club" to "Mountaineering Club," but the (majority of the members present preferred the shorter name, mainly because mountaineering savored more of alpine climbing while the objects of the club were as much to popularise the bush and the lower slopes, and to advertise the place as a scenic resort, as to arrange for parties to reach the summit of the mountain On the other hand, Mr. Spratt thought the name "Mountaineering Club'' would be the better name: although the bush might be very well for young people. The word mountaineering applied not only to reaching the summit, but also to surveying, exploring, finding fresh tracks, etc. The word "mountain" hardly expressed the objects and standing of the club. The president, replying, said the bush was beautiful, delightful and wonderful. It is all very well for people to speak lightly of the bush, but that bush in the mountain reserve was the finest asset possessed by (lie province. In a fewyears the original Taranaki bush would be but a mem,,iv, with the exception of this national park anil one or two other reserves. THE PRIZE ESSAYS. The Daily News representative had an opportunity of glancing over some of the essays in the A. iynl A. Association's essay competition. The lirst prize essay is a good general comment on the show, mid some of its passages run thtisly:—"Situated near the centre of the Taranaki district is the prosperous little town of Stratford. Some three or four years ago, it was decided that a show j should be held at Stratford, and the principal men of that town have spent their patience and time in trying to make these shows a success. . , Wearily the days dragged by, till at last the long-expected day arrived. After our lunches were packed, and we were all attired in our very smartest clothes, we started on our journey. . . .We could scarcely walk along the street for the dense crowd of motor-cars, cabs, buggies, gigs and riders which filled the road, all wending their way t 0 the showgrounds, which are sonic distance out of

town." This essayist baulked at the sixpenny charge at the gate, but eventually went to have a look at the dogs, but, "as they were barking and yelling and making an awful noise, which was not very pleasant, we thought we would go" out." And they went out. A visit to the cookery exhibits followed, and then "Periwinkle" went to the poultry tent. "Here we were greeted by the loud crowing of a big rooster, who was thinking lie was king of all. He looked at us suspiciously as we entered, but when we approached him to see who he ' might belong to, he quickly retreated." She then went to the cattle feat. The animals were "all beautiful and glossy, and indeed their owners must have taken much time and trouble over them. We were soon arrested by the familiar yet peculiar squeal of the pig, and going to have a look at these animals, we were astonished at the numbers and size of them." Reference was made to the judging of light horses, and to the dog parade, which seems to have caught Periwinkle's fancy, her hunioi being tickled by the fact that "there was a little girl leading a big dog twice her own size, while in other cases there would be a big, tall man ,perhaps six feet high, leading a tiny little dog onlyseven or eight inches high. Next was the grand parade. . . . Let us hope that the Stratford show will always be a success, and add one day of enjoyment to the life of those who do not very often go to shows and picnics and such sports."

"Pickwick" expends two foolscap pages in describing the arrival of the crowds, etc., and enumerates the variww sectious as she pusses. "At five o'clock the crowd begins to disperse, and once more the motor cars, vehicles, and people crowd the road, the people with a satisfied expression on their (faces 1 ." Good news this, for the show officials.

"Columbine," winner in the B grade, has a good descriptive style. Here is a piece:—"Passing through the gates, the sounds of laughter, barking, crowing, and the mingle of hundreds of voices greeted my listening ears, The first thing that attracted my attention was the dog tent, from the vicinity of which came the mingled yelps of pleasure and the surly barks and growls of anger. But, behold, on entering, what lovely iferocijous-looking bull-dogs, eager-eyed little fox-terriers, long-eared greyhounds, glossy-coated setters, and ugly, snorting little pugs. All of them looked contented and well-kept, except one poor fellow who looked very miserable owing to the loss of a quarter of his ear. "Columbine" confesses to being "exceedingly hungry" when confronted with the cookery section. , , ," Tw« ; of-the bulls were big enough to have been elephants, figuratively speaking, ot

course Next came the cattle, the wealth of Taranaki, and they looked very beautiful with their gorgeous ribbons and their glossy coats glittering in the warm afternoon sun. . . The object of this show," the writer contends, "is to excite competition among th» farmers and factories, and thus help them to turn out better articles and rear better animals."

THE TOLL GATES. MILK CARTS MUST PAY. At the meeting of rate.iyers in Midhirst last week the county chairman announced that he had consulted Mr. Martin, solicitor to the counties' association, on the question of whether or not it was possible to exempt milk carts from the payment of tolls at the gate proposed to be erected. Mr. Martin has replied stating that there is no power to make exemption. There is a list of those special classes of traffic which may be allowed to pass through ths gates without payment of toll, but milk carts are not included. In the Hawera County the. dairymen's bull has been taken by the horns, and the tolls schedule provides for the exemption of the milk carts, but the Stratford Council favors abiding by the law on the matter.