Stratford and Ngaire.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2317, 4 January 1893, Page 2

Stratford and Ngaire.

(FBOM OUR OWN COBBESPONDENT.) , The holiday season ia cow pretty well over, and bas been taken fall advantage* of by this district, wbere the farmers work very loog boars in summer and feel them* selves entitled to enjoy a little mild dissipation when it oomas in the way. Tbe Presbyterians were first in the field with a fancy bazaar in aid of the manse fond, which resulted satisfactorily. The bazaar was closed with a ooncert, at which some capital, music and singing were rendered by residents and friends. Stratford and Cardiff schools oame next with their annual pionics. I was not at the former, but the latter event was very saccessfnl, there being probably over 400 ; people present, large and small, and the * fun being kept well going up till past tbe time when sober old folks go to bed. Everything was provided free by the liberality of tbe ladies of the district, and the Stratford County Band, according to promise, discoursed sweet musio daring * the day. Boxing, Day was signalised by a so* called international sports meeting at the Bushford Park course, which was also well attended. This event was got up by a private individual as a speculation, the£S prizes being articles of jewellery of such. T and-sueh value. 2 mention tbe fact*' because it is a new departure, so far as I am aware; whether it is likely to beb! advantage from a public point of view will be entirely matter of opinion. ; To-day being kept as New Tear's Day, more picnics one being held at Stratford and Cardiff, tbe Presbyterian and Primitive Methodist bodies.- holding their : Sunday School treats at the former place, and tbe Cardiff affair being, a time* honoured fixture. When yon add the distribution of prizes at tbe Boman Catholic day school, and a concert got np by the promoter of the sports meeting, you will admit that if people have not enjoyed themselves it has not been. for 1 lack of opportunity. The many friends of the Rev. J. Mo Intosh will regret to hear his son burst a blood vessel during the progress of tbe bazaar, and was quickly in a very oritioal state. He is now slowly recovering. I learn from good authority that the Bnshford Park course is likely to be in capital trim for the approaching race meeting. Tbe proprietor has taken great pains to make it all that could be desired, and has bad a 4-ton roller at work for some time past firming the ground so as to have the coarse perfectly sound. There are good entries for the various events, % &o& the clnb are hopeful of a very successful meeting. Many people around here will remember Mr. Mace, who was Mr. McKenziVs wheelwright for a good while. He was a * splendid tradesman, but wag, unfortunately, addicted to drink at intervals.' He kept steady for a good while before leaving here, drew a big cheque, got oo the flpree, went over to Sydney, and, in a fit of mad' ness, threw himself over the cliffs and was dashed to pieces. A. melancholy and per- - mative ending to a useful life. Mr. McKenzie. by-the-bye, has built a large new smithy on a side street, and if »«!"„ t m tb y e c "fad on Broadway will probably be devoted before long to-

other pursuits than those of Tobal Cain. The new smithy had a very narrow escape of being burnt down, though, the other evening, a heap of timber in the corner being found on fire some time after the ■„ shop bad been closed for tlia night. Had the building once caught, the results would probably have been yery serious, as { a itrong wind|waß blowing and sbops and bbuseß are pretty numerous just there. I think it is high time a fire engine was procured ; should a fire onoe start, with -, • one of our strong winds blowing, it is . .bard to say where it would be likely to Mr. Moore, of Kahodri, had the top of bis thumb nearly cut of the other day ' t whilst mowing Mr. Taylor's paddock with ft machine. He was doing something to

the cogs when the horses moved, tbe '1 tohetll nearly or quite cutting through the bone. Mr. Frazer, chemist, bound up the Wound. ;-{,;, Jfir. Tayler, by-the-bye, has set up a ' ..' flciur and oat>miiiing plant driven by water- " Palter. Another sign of the times.