LOOKING BACK

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 25, 28 March 1928, Page 5

LOOKING BACK

PBOTES FROM THE PAST. DROPPED THE RUM. Hum Keg Creek, which crosses Denbigh Road some distance up from; Mountain Road was so balled hex cause some of Chute's soldiers dropped a keg of rum there. It was found afterwards by surveyors. A PRIME JOKE. Once Mr George Capper agreed to cairt fcome sacks of fungus to Stratford 1 for some Maoris and one of the Maoris took Mr Capper over to the lintel and shouteid a drink. In the passage-way /there was a), 'weather* glass, at- which the Maori kept looking. At last he asked: "What's the time on that tiling?" It took sonu* time to explain to the Maori that the thing did not tell the time, but/ 'Publican Keane thought the Maori's question a pnmei joke. He thoughtl it was well worth another pint of beer, which he promptly shouted for Mr Capper and his Maori friend. "Hori Kap' was Mr Capper's name with the Maoris. A BULLOCK STORY, Mr Honey, now of Hawera, had two bullocks during his time in, Stratford, which would go anywhere: with him if he walked in front of them. When he got them he wasi told; "George Capper trained them and they will be able to understand swear words." One bullock he. could not get to back and he told Mi' Capper about it. Mr Capper started to spelak to the bullock, and iti started ta back at. once j : and afterwards whenever the bullock saw Mr Capper, it made off as. fast as possible

PLENTY OF TAYLORS. There were plenty of Taylors ati Ngciere in the .early days, but most of them were not related, to Mr T. 0. Taylor, father of Mr H. C. Taylor, chairman of directors of the) Ngaere Dairy Co., Mr H. G. Taylor went to Ngaere in 1880 as. a child of six months old. ±tf METALLED THE CARDIFF i / ROAD. "; ;'; Mr R. H. Cameron, now of Hauraki Plains, wag. T previously well known as a contraictor in Stratford. One of his job's wag the metalling of Cardiff Road, in 1887. NO WORK FOR THE POLICE. In the early day, says Mr George Capper, a policeman was stationed at Stratford, hut he was afterwardswithdrawn, as there was,nothing for himl to do. MANUAL FIRE ENGINE. Mr George Smart is one of the oldest members |o| the. Stratford Fire Brigade. The original fire station was a small sh.ed near the northern entrance to*' the railway station. ' This shed was later, shifted to the present site in Broadway North. .Thej first engine • was a manual one- ' Water was. taken from a. creek m the vicinity of Regan Street. Perhaps as many as thirty people would . man the engine—citizens as well as Fire Brigade members. ' .:•