STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 265, 7 April 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

F2OM QUE EE3IDENT REPORTER.

Office and Job Printing "Works: York Chambers (upstairs)

Telephone iKo. 113,

STRATFORD'S BIRTH-RATE. Through the courtesy of Mr. S. 11. James, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, we are enabled to publish not only the vital statistics for the. past month, but the. number of births for each year since 1880. In the usual way the birth-rate may be taken as an indication of the progress and prosperity of a district, but there are frequently circum- / stances that prevent this from being a reliable test. It will be seen that the maximum was attained in 1900—the only year in which the births numbered over 300. It should be borne in mind that for the last two or three years the Whangainoniona district has been cut oil from the Stratford registry, so that fact will account for the apparent fall-ing-off. It is satisfactory to note that, since 18SG the births have increased about threefold, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. The liguros are as follow:—lSS7, 00; ISSS, 91; 1880, !K>; 181)0, 103; 1801, 130; 181)2, 120; 1893, ISO; 1804, 180; 1805, 218; 189G, 229; 1897, 242; 1808, 251; 1890, 210; 1900,1 225; 1901, 249; 1902, 271; 1903, 279; j 1004, 205; 1005, 280; 1900, 250; 1907, 251; 190S, 205; 1909, 307; 1010, 208; 1911,, 242; 1012,201; 1013,208. The statistics for the last quarter are: Births 77, marriages 11, deaths 12, and for last month 22, 4 and 2 respective!'-'. If the birth-rate for the first quarter of the year is maintained the figures at the close of the year should be the highest on record. A. & P. ASSOCIATON. A meeting of the general committee of the Association was held on Saturday afternoon, Mr. J. D. llealy (president) presiding. \ | The executive reported on the improvements ell'eeted at the grounds, also I thanking all those, who acted as stew- j ards at the annual show.

Preparations for the gymkhana were well in liihid, tbs entries being very satisfactory. With reference to the conference of A. and P. Associations being held at Hawera, the following rcpiits had been sent forward:--(l) That the AssociatioiiK represented at the conference agree to carry out all the recommendation* passed by the conference; (2) that in tho yearling heifer classes, an animal only lo be allowed to compete in one class; (3) that the conference consider the question of outside gate charges. The Question of arranging a trip to the Mouniahaki State Farm is to' be considered after the the gymkhana. The executive recorded its appreciation of the. services of the following gentlemen in collecting calves, etc.: Messrx W. 11. H. Youtisr, Campbell Jackson, J. R. Richards, J. Sliottcr, W. W. Vickers, «. E. Fowler, J. Misehewski, B. Orr, T. Or', J. T. Belcher, J. Stewart, J. Whittinjjton, G. Townsend, J. Unn and Master Duncan Young. In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. Healy referred to the satisfactory nature of the linances and the progress of the Association. ,

Mr. .T. B. Kicliards urged the members to do all in their power to make the gynikhaua :t success t:hat would eclipse the previous gear's record.

The report was then adopted. In reply to 11 r. J). J. Malum-, the chairman stated that the committee were, considering the, <|iicstion of providing a wooden lloor (or the luncheon room.

Three new members were elected. A vote of thanks was accorded to those who had lent paddocks for the accommodation of gift calves. THE GYMKHANA Without a doubt the greatest attraction for tin- Paster Monday holiday will bo held in Stratford. We refer to the Stratford A. and P. Association's gymkhana. Splendid entries have been received for the various events. A total of twenty-three horses have entered for the mile trotting event, and nineteen for the mile and a-lialf trot. The jumping events have all attracted good entries, and fourteen of the best sheep dogs in the North Island are competing in the dog trial. The novelty events are also well patronised, and the tug-of-war competition, for which post entries will be accepted, is sure to attract some good teams. The Association has gone to a good deal of trouble and expense, to ensure the comfort and pleasure of visitors. Hot water will be provided free for picnic parties; special tv'ins have been arranged, and arrangements made with the clerk of the weal her. The luncheon and afternoon tea arrangements are in the capable hands of Mrs. Brooking, of Stratford, so patrons will j be well catered for. Come along and participate in a great day's fun and sport. BERNARDS PICTURES. The excellent series of films screened at His Majesty's Theatre last night well maintained the reputation of the management. The star drama, ''The. Special Officer,*' is an exciting and sen.-ji-tional production, which holds the attention of patrons from start to linWi. There is a series of striking scenes shown in this detective drama, which deals with the machinations of a confidence man and includes a run on a bank, besides a number of other powerful sensations. The Vitagraph drama is a particularly pleasing production, and so is the Pa the nautical film, 'The L'.sl; Voyage of the Sanswitts." The comedies and scenics are all excellent of their respective kinds, the programme as a whole being most attractive. The music is a special feature of the entertainment. TOWN HALL PICTURES

A complete change of programme tonight at the Town Hall includes the star film, "The Price of Pardon,'' by the Pasquill Co.. who are well-known as being | one of tin' best companies in the world. "Waiter Number five" i:i u drama by the A.IS. Co. "When we were in our Teens," is. an A.JS. comic. The A.I!, comics are very popular, and ensure a heartv laugh 'wlienever they appear. "The" Bachelor and the Baby" is a screamingly laughablo picture, and pi't--1 rons should not miss -seeing this. "A Simple Story," "Into the daws of Death," "The Kissing Germ/' "A Day in the l.ile of a Recruit," "Hantirg Stags in the Forest of Kamboiiilat" (a wonderful scenic), make up a programme well worth seeing, and a most enjoyable evening is r.urt! to be the lot of those who

attend to-night. Tlia music will lie as ' usual all tliat can be desired, fitting, j as it does, to tint pictures, which makes I it :i most liiirinnnioiis whole, pleasing the | ear as well as the eye. This is one of the best programmes submitted so far, and should be awarded a bumper house. The priees lire the same as in larger towns, and the programme as good: anil patrons may rely on seeing some of the world's best at the Town Hall. THE MOUNTAIN CLUB. (By Alpenstock.) The mountain calls, and bow many of us respond is best indicated by the reference books kept throughout the. world at all mountain resorts. The challenge of precipitous dill's, to scale the dizzy heights, the call of the glacier with its huge crevasses and yawning abyss, are all too readily accepted I and all too frequently end disastrously, I accounting for the chronicling of many fearless climbers crossing the great dij vide. Tis sad, and, aye, all too true, j so long as the mountain's present almost inaccessibilities, so long will the mountain dare devil desperadoes endure, each fatality being an outstanding advertisement, one that money alone could never procure. I am inhabited with the belief that if a ■member sufficiently bankrupt of fear, or possessing a desire for a cheap ride into elsewhere, were, to permit himself to be gratuituously avalanchcd, from a tourist's point of view, Egniont would speedily Bercola it into its own. Happily, although possessing climbing grounds equal to any in the world, New Zealand is particularly free from Alpine disasters. The sa-d and lamentable happening on the Linda Glacier, when King, a member of tht> English Alpine Club, and his two guides, Thompson and Richmond, lost their lives is quite an unusual one, and one that will rcnuiin forever green in the memory of ns all who so deeply deplore the loss of the lives of these brave fellows. The good work of the Mountain Club is still progressing apace, and is observable in the new track to Curtis' house. In the years past this was. the acknowledged pal.li to j to the summit, but when the track across the -Vlanganui Gorge was coil; strueted, the present, route was selected to make the ascent, and has indeed proved itself as being the best track, of all, tracks up Alt. Egniont being all bard going. The continued disuse of the mu.'h water-worn Curtis path .permitted the vegetable growth on either side to meet and become entangled, thus subteraneanI ising it, and making the passage through ja most difficult task. To obviate this necessity, and acting under the instructions of the club's engineer, .Mr. K. Q. Robinson, a passage way some six feet wide has been cut from the Mangaiini (Jorge track and connecting with the upper portion of Curtis track, right up to the old historic house, built by Curtis Bros, away back in the hidden years. The secretary and some of his persuaded friends have avalatiched themselves into this work with superhuman energy. Wonderful are the tales told round the camplire of the records established by these gangs of expert axemen. To a stranger, listening to the conversation, the impression conveyed would be that the mountain side was denuded of timber and all cleared and stumped This is not so. The wonderfully variegated bush and scrub is mostly still there, and it is its alluring as ever, GENERAL NEWS A first offender agninst the law of sobriety was yesterday convicted and ■ discharged. Mr. X. ,1. King has secured a contract for additions to the nurses' quarters at the Hospital. An interesting double wedding takes place to-morrow. A number of electors have already been added to the borough roll in view of the forthcoming Mayoral election. The legal offices in Stratford will be closed from 1 p.m. on Thursday next to !) a.m. on Wednesday, 15th insf. The Stratford auctioneers' offices will close for the Easter holiday* on Thursday at 12.30, and will re-open on Tuesday morning. Mr. Xewton King's usual weekly Haymarket sale will this week talke place to-morrow (Wednesday), at 12 niWock. As the banks are closing from Thursday till the following Wednesday, business people should make their jivrangements accordingly. Mr. and Mrs. Prosperous have a. fjw v.'ords of wisdom to say to-day about wedding presents. In common with hundreds of others, these good people have found V. E. .lames' the best place to j buy jewellery, plate, glassware, cbinaj ware, and so on.

Stratford men who arc travolling, golfing, or "gymkaning" at TlnMtr, rail find their new suit, topcoat, hut. shirt, or tie at "The Kash," Mullen awl Marshal], proprietors. blight.sticks of dark Haveloek tobaoco for (!s; eight sticks of Derhy, Gs; eight '.'it tins Haveloek, 7s fid; eight 2oz tins Derby. 7s (id. Those are specimen prices from Stan. Sharp's stock of smokers' rcmisites. Xext Bellrinper'a. Stratford. Your photograph will please tlicra a!i —some of your friends have heen expecting one for a long time —don't be satisfied with one taken years ayo. .just as you are to-day, in your everyday attire. Having your portrait taken is as pleasant as an informal cull on good friends. Make an appointment to-day with Mr. MeAlistcr, Stratford.