Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1911, Page 3

Stratford News.

j WESLEY CHOIR CONCERT. A MUSICAL TREAT. The first of the Christmas festivals in Stratford was the Christmas concert given on Friday evening by the Wesley Church choir. The published programme was such as to appeal to lovers of good music, and the church building was well filled. The concert proved, amongst other things, that there is some exceptional Went in Stratford, and tlwvit the choir is one with which the local Methodists have full reason to be pleased, for the voices are good and well developed, whilst the chorus work showed that tlifiro had been assiduous practice and skilful instruction. The Stratford Orchestra was heartily applauded for affl i its numbers, which included such grans as "Torok Maygar" (Hungarian march), the "Dawn" idyll, and Mendelssohn's "Spring Song" and "Boating Song," the interpretation of each being well up to the .best amateur standard, and the instrumentalists evincing a good' insight into the intentions and aspirations of the composer*. These orchestral items were alone worth more than the admission charge, and a distinct credit to Mr. C. H. Rogers, the conductor. The choir rendered three anthems splendidly, the solo work and chorus accompaniments be-' tag excellently taken and thiei whole effect itiuneful and well balanced-. The anthems were "The Heavens are Telling" (Haydn), " Behold I bring you good tidings" ((Joss), andl "Hark, hark, my soul" (Simper). Miss M. Hopkins' "Ave Maria" from the "Cavalliera Rustieiana," was a violin solo of exceptional merit, the bowing and melody being alike above the overage. Not many performers outside the ranks of professional instrumentalists make a success of this delightful composition, tbut this rendering was very fine. The only lady soloist was Mrs. R. Masi ters, who has become a prime favorite, and whose reputation suffered not at all by her singing of Hill's "My Fairest Child." Mr. E. W. Lewis has a decidedly valuable asset in his voice, and his choice of a. solo, "The Better Land" (Oowen), was very forttfnate This was a very (pleasing item. Mr. W. V. Wilson chose for his number "The Coming of the King," ami succeeded admirably, more particularly in the fine declamatory passages. Sung as it was on 'Friday night, this solo might be repeated ad \ libitum. The same two gentlemen were I associated in the fine duet, Watchman,! what of thet night?" (Sargearit), and | again earned the hearty plaudits of the i audience. No more fitting solo for the organise at a Xmas concert could have been chosen than Haydn's "Hallelujah Chorus," and its gramd passages pealed forth mightily at {he- will of the organist, who is to ibe complimented. The accompaniments, the success or otherwise of which can almost make or mar such a concert, were admirably, played by Miss Hopkins and Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Thompson. SWIMMING CLUB. OPENING THE BATHS. *«<—• '.sl*,* The Swimming Club's committee met on Friday evening, Mr. E.. B. Stohr (vice-president) presiding. The meeting was ain emergency one, convened to consider the suggestion of Mr. C. D. Sole, chairman of the school. committee, that the baths should be I opened before the school broke up fori the holidays. It was decided to assist the school committee in opening the baths for the season, and to undertake the manage* ment of an afternoon's swimming sports on Thursday next. It was stated that Mr. Sole had undertaken to provide the prizes for school children's events. Ibe programme will include 25 yards 50 yards races,- corfu dive, cork mble, hoys' and girls' laces, and divcompetitions. he appointment of the captain and -captain having 'been left to the com*e, Mr. E. H. Kivell was unanimoussleeted captain and Mr. H. Masters these being -probably the it enthusiastic members in the club, r. 0. S. Kelly introduced the matter naugurating a club championship, the iitions governing it being so framed to encourage members to swim in ry event. He pointed out that at tent various swimmers had their icy" distances,, and would' not comi in any race unless it seemed a >ral" for them, If,e woukl have a lenge shield prpvided, the name of winner to be inscribed, each year, a cup .to become tile absolute properof the winner of 'the championship, I trophy to be worth three guineas. Kelly reckoned that' the man who |t it would be weM 'entitled.to it, as best all-round -swimmex in the club. suggested that, six/handicap races, r 50y<te, 75yds, 100 yds, 150 yds, rds, and 440 yds, .the points counting L 3; second, 2; third,. 1. Prizes to riven in each event. The'.championship d not be won by any member who not. competed in. all sjx races, pnie discussion took pla.ee, and eventuit was decided that the secretary |ild confer with Mi;. -Kelly .andi report at a future meeting. 1 ; BOWLING- .. THE NORTHERN ASSOCIATION'S TOURNAMENT. Tt .serins hardly likely that more than one tram of liowler.s from Stratford will take part in the'Nifrllfein'i Bowling Association's tournament, which opens at Wellington on January Bth next. The following bowlers have been picked, and have aiTiiiigid to represent the club: McDonald, King, G. Smart and Sangster (skip)

Tin' Smart went prominent in Thursday's iiiiitcli between New I'lvmoiitli ami Stratford for tiie banner. H. Smart's link beat Sangstcr's by ten points, and C. Smart equalised matters by beating tile veteran Thmdle by a similar margin. A. Smart sent down the winning bowl, just defeating G. ■ lacksnn by a |K)int. and was the only ]>oint tin* fathers of the game in Taranalii had to .-pare. THE PASSING OF A VETERAN. JXTKKKSTIXC REMINISCENCES. "Fifty-one'' writes as follow-: The late .Air. .lidm Diill'in. if not one of Taraimki's earliest seiulers, was at any rate a very early one, having arrived' from I India with the ."57th .Regiment in 1801. at the conii.tenceini :it of the Maori war. | The arrival of that regiment was marked , by several things. That interesting little j insect wUlul the cricket came along with it, as did -ccral monkeys, and the J I'll pee i , asscd as a florin) was

From Our Resident Reporter.

freely circulated in New Plymouth. The "Diehards'' played a prominent part in the Maori war, audi many brave officers and soldiers gave up their lives either on, the flpld of 'battle or through sickness; but the most disastrous event in the/ history of the regiment's stay in Taranaki was the Wairau massacre (on the Oakum beach), when Dr. Hope, Lieutenant Tragett, Sergeant Hill, and several other men were ambushed by a party of natives during a truce. This is merely by the way, as whan I mention .the 57th many thrilling evonts are brought to mind. But with regard to the late Mr. Duffin. What boy like myself (of course I am' referring to the early sixties) did not recollect him after he left his regiment and joined the police force? We have all run the gauntlet, but it was a good-natured run, and if we had been caught after playing a few pranks nothing serious would have followed. John Duffin joined the police force of New Zea- -. land under the Provincial Government, and the members of that force at ont time were .referred to as the "Four D's" —John Dunn (sergeant), John Duffin, John Doughertjr, and Doran (I don't remember his Christian name; it may have been John, too). When Sergeant Dunn died, John Duffin was appointed to take his place, and if I remember rightly was also appointed gaoler, taking up his residence in the little old stone "chokey," nearly opposite Okey and Arnold's present business premises. This was a great institution. It .had a little yard with low walls, and it has- been said that prisoners used to scale these,, go to one or other of the hotels, have a drink and a chat, and then quietly return home. It was in front of the gaol that a waggon was drawn up (on the footpath, mind) at every election for superintendent, andl on nomination day the candidates would address the electors from this primitive platform. The late Sergeant Duffin, so far aa I recollect, was exceedingly popular both in his regiment and as a police officer, and the respect that was paid his memory by according him a military funeral shows that his' old comrades in arms had not forgotten him. I could say a good' deal about the town of New Plymouth during John Duffin'B early police days, but suffice it to say that metal on roads was unknown, and'owing to the heavy traffic (carting big guns, provisions, etc.', for the troops) the highways were almost impassable. I hawe known the streets in the town of New Piym«uth so cut up that we, as boys, when the dry weather set in, could hide away in the ruts, and would take some finding. On another occasion I may give you' a few more lines on the way-back times. GENERAL NEWS Ait one <sf 3fr. Hime's country meetings recently a strong Government supporter was voted to the chair. He took the chair all right, and sat in it. He didn't seem inclined to budge out of it, either, so the candidate opened his address withoufany falutin' from the chairman—a silence which would be golden in many of the gentlemen who seem to think tlieir words' ar*> of more importance than those of the man who is paying for the hall. This particular chairman's, friends chaffed him after the meeting, and someone told him he should have introduced Mr. Hine to the. meeting. "Introduce, him be) bothered v something, 'like that—said the chairman. "You all knew him as] well as I did!, so where was the need for i introducing?" I

The ''twentieth' ' comes this week.) Glorious 20th! Golden 20th! This/ monte'is not so golden as of yore. The I factory cheques' wall change into less of the clinking win of the realm 'than a» so fondly : hoped when our butter was fetching such big prices from the travelling butter-buyers a few months ago. ij!o trade isn't of the brightest, ibut still there's a fair volume of business being done. There were scores and scores of folks on Saturday acting as advance agents for dear old 3a,nta Claus, and the two toy vendors 'whose advertisements appear in to-day's issue had' a good time. The irafejrence is obvious. Stratford isstill hopeful and buoyant, despite the fact that Friday morning brought us a frost and nearly ,every day brings its unseasonablegale and rain. Mov JVjTB, Richards, secretary of the Chamber of-Commerce, has now received a letter from the-'town clerk at Patea, stating that the Borough Council there is in favor of a> Saturday half-holiday. Eltluun and. Hawera haive not yet expressed' arf opinion cm. the matter. Perhaps a lefcterfrom one of them will reach the secretary in time for Tuesdays executive meeting. ■' The botough* inspector made a haul on Saturday by impounding farmers' horses tethered if* Cloton road near Mr. Newton King's Baymarket. One of the penalties ot progress. Jlr. H. •Prebble's, presence of mind was responsible f()r preventing a very serious accident ajt l)o!igl&8 on Friday evening. He was fconyeying- a party in his car, and travelling at petty well top speed, when he saw a, horse galloping towards them, toddled and bridled, but riderless, and evidenlx' badhj Scared, holding to the centre of. tfte road; A collision was unavoidable. , Mr. Pf'ebtole acted promptly. He.stopped.,the .ear, and,had it almost stationary ivlleH the horse galloped into it. The.hbrse was, the more injured of the two./Tlie-ear was turned nearly haffi .found by the force of the collision, and one of the lamps was smashed. The passengers received" a' shaking—and a bit of a scare!'' * :'.' •>

Mr* t Chfifc-terisoii, custodian- at the Stratford MftArftnfti'House, lias been appointed under the Egmont National.'Park 1 Hoard. Cattle, evidently turned into, tile reserve by farmers who own -land near- by,'caused serious damage to the tracks during the winter months. >' BUSINESS NOTICES , Mr. 'Klder has a notice in this issue .conc'erjiing Christmas cakes. No need to bake yoflrsclE,' and 'worry about your cake-making. Here's a professional baker and confectioner placing all his experience at your disposal," and the cakes he makes are "good goods" at just .about home : nmking prices." Added to the excellence of the cake itself, the ingredients of whicli are all of the finest quality, there'.is the-'tasteful and festivelookiug icing and ornamentation. Prices will be given on application at Elder's iPiakery. liroadway North. "A Merry Christinas" is in the air. This is the time when giving gives more 'joy than ever. Giving at Xmastide is I nn established custom. Selecting gifts is often a trouble, but not when there is such a wcH-assortedi stock as Mr. C. E. .lames' to select from. Is it for a v sweetheart? Sec the lovely purses, bags, dresMng-enses, art china, aluminium cases, and so on. Is it for. mother -or

father? There is a 'Splendid assortment to select from. For the children? My! Pi-ep into Jiunes' toy emporium. See the dolls, dolls that talk, dolls that walk, l dolls that sleep and dolls that wake—dolls that do everything but breathe. See the motor-curs, boats, trains, teddy bears, and all manner of joy-givers for | little and big boys and girls. There's alI ways a rush on Xmas Eve. Why not shop during the week, and get a better selection. , ~.»jjJIL!J|II