STRATFORD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2411, 17 January 1895, Page 3

STRATFORD.

Prom Our Own Correspondent. Stratford. January 15. Rain, rain, day after day,’ since New Year until Monday (yesterday), when the weather gave us a hailstorm for a few moments by way of a variety. The atmosphere then became damp, warm and decidedly unpleasant for muscular movement. •

The chief talk at present is of a horsey nature, in view of the local races on Thursday. The recent rains have much improved the course. Special trains are laid on, and visitors are expected from every township between New Plymouth and Wanganui, providing, of course, that the weather remains fine.

The town is full of racehorses, and stableroom is at a premium. The nominations are 228, as against 211 last year. Horae beaus grow well in this district, judging from a sample of those grown by Mr Matthews, of Eltham. The stalks are fully eight feet in length;’ and well podded. Tho additions to the Eltham Cheese Factory are now complete, and the new vats will provide such accommodation as will allow of the night shift being done away with. The much-wanted telephone extension to Cardiff is in a fair way to be an accomplished fact, and it is expected that very shortly a start will be made with tho connections.

Stratford now boasts of haying three photographers in the town.. Another lairdrosser and tobacconist has recently opened new premises. There are outward and visible signs that the 6 p.m. closing daily of the shops will break down, as more than one small storekeeper threatens to keep open. At a special meeting of the Anglican Church on Sunday night it was announced that during the past year the offertories and pew rents were 427 I2s 2d less than in the previous year, and that the clergyman’s stipend was 460 Is 2d in arrears. An agitation is now going on in the Toko district to get a dairy factory started for the Gordon and Waiwiri roads. .

The Rev L. M. Isitt, the apostle of Prohibition, is announced to visit Stratford shortly.