STRATFORD DISTRICT PAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1926, Page 8

STRATFORD DISTRICT PAGE

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS).

TOURING IN AMERICA. TRA NS -CONTIN ENT A L TRIP. A VISITOR'S IMPR-WSJONS. Au interesting account of a live months’ motoring tour of the United States was given io a Daily News reporter to-day by Mr. S. B. Hunter, who, accompanied by his son, returned on Tuesday evening to Stratford, after a most enjoyable and instructive holiday, in which nearly 9000 miles was covered by car. Mr. Hunter landed at San Franciseo, where he purchased a car, and taking the route of the old Sante Fe trail, commenced his long tour across the continent. He travelled east by the southern route, visiting numerous places of interest, and all the larger towns en route to New’ York, and returned by way of the Great Lakes, Niagara Falls, to the valley of the Platte, Yellowstone National Park, down the Snake River to Utah, and thence westward to San Francisco. At the point where General Custer and his cavalry were annihilated by the Indians at the Little Big Horn, Mr. Hunter was fortunate in making his arrival coincide with a wonderful historic pagent marking the 50th anniversary of the famous massacre, and had the pleasure of witnessing an exact reproduction of these stirring events. The trip was full of interesting experiences, and wonderful scenic impressions which have left a lasting impression. ROADS GENERALLY GOOD. With the exception of a few bad stretches, Mr. Hunter found the roads generally very good, and the fact that the only mishaps over the whole journey were three punctures speaks volumes for the care and attention devoted by the Americans to road-making. Concrete slabs, estimated to last 30 years' were found to be favoured, especia’’y in the Eastern States, but some 700 miles of bitumenised. roads were experienced along the coast from San Francisco. The price of petrol—or "gas," as the Americans call it—ragged from 19 cents to 32 cents (9Jd to Is 4d) per gallon, but seemed to be of an inferior quality to that in general use in New Zealand. The system of bowser pumps on the kerbside was universal, and the tourists were greatly impressed by the frequency’ and efficiency of service stations all along the route. Even in the scantily populated desert regions completely equipped service stations were dotted, at intervals. At these the tourist could also secure unlimited supplies of literature and maps dealing with the country ahead of him, while the complete system of signposts loft no doubt as to the correct road, or the best to take when a choice was presented. TRAFFIC CONTROL. The Americans have tackled the question of controlling the enormous amount of traffic on the roads in no half-hearted manner, said Mr. Hunter. The system is based on the principle of safety first, and elaborate measures are taken to reduce the risk of accident and collision to a minimum. It is compulsory for every’ motorist to stop at an intersection or country crossing, and if this precaution is overlooked a traffic

| policeman, in a distinguishing uniform I of grey, is sure to be on the look-out at the next town arrived at with definite information as to the car number, the time and place at which this rule was broken. Fines are then impartially allotted, twenty dollars ,or £4, being the penalty for a first offence, and imprisonment for set terms is almost invariably attendant upon subsequent breaches. The fixing of speed limits is the function of the various local authorities, and in the towns and cities passed through the speed ranged from 12 to 20 miles per hour. Out in the country the maximum was 35 miles per hour, but on clear stretches this was often exceeded, and in Utah Mr. Hunter drove 100 miles in two hours, making detours to avoid towns. Where the slab concrete roads are favoured—and this type, he explained, was almost universal east of the Mississippi—motorists were clear, warned of the presence of an intersection by the laying down of parallel slabs in black and white, at which point every vehicle must stop pending a signal from the traffic controller to proceed. By night three vertical lights were shown; the red meant stop, and as the traffic in one direction decreased a green light, signifying “make ready,” flashed out. This was succeeded by the white or yellow light, which gave right of way in one direction. Warning bells also synchronised with the green light, and the interval between this signal and the all clear indication was intended to give each driver time to have his engine turning and his gears in low so that the line of traffic could move forward without delay. Parking on the slant was usually permitted in main streets, but in this connection facilities 1 were extended to ratepayers whose I premises hud street frontages. Thus, by! paying a small annual fee a business I man could reserve a space suitable for his car immediately in front of his own door, and the municipality provided a neat standard indicating that no foreign traffic could block this space. SUMMER SPORTS. PROSPECTS FOR SEASON. With the coming of spring, the summer sports are coming to the fore, and I the prospect of a fine spring and summer are favourable for cricket, tennis and bowling clubs’ season. Preparations are now being made for the opening of what promises to be an excellent season, and it is probable that everything will be in readiness for the opening games as soon as the weather is more settled. The tennis clubs, stronger in membership than before, and with both concrete and grass courts in good condition, will have possibly one of the best, seasons in their history. The bowling clubs are also preparing for a good season. The Avon Club, which top-dressed its green in .the autumn, is confident that the season will be successful. The green has wintered very well, and for the first time since it was laid down the grass has had to be cut several times in the winter. The Stratford Club has been making some small improvements to their green, amf it also looks forward to a line season.

Perhaps the club which has most preparations to make is the Cricket Club. With an adverse climate and no permanent pitch, the club has had to face con siderable difficulties each year. The pitch

used is on the football ground in Victoria Park, and a great deal of work is required to get a ground that has had a hard football season into trim for cricket. Last year only one pitch was used, but the season was the most successful in the club's history’, the seniors winning the Taranaki championship, and the financial and social sides of the club’s activities wfcre also very satisfactory. Though the club has lost one or two of its good flayers, its prospects for the coming season are bright. BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER. ELTHAM TEAM. VISIT STRATFORD. THE HONOURS SHARED. Last night the snooker and billiard teams from the C.E.M.S. Club, Eltham, visited Stratford and played against Egmont Club teams. At. snooker the visitors won I>y five games to one and at billiards the Egmont. Club team were the victors by a similar margin. In the following details, C.E.M.S. names appear first:— Snooker.—J. Parson 109 v. S, Harvey <56; K. Pennington 100 v. P. Healy 65; J. Stauners 121 v. W. Casey 75; «T. McKelson 57 v. J. Weston 82; R, J. Holder 121 v. W Neal 67; J- Bates 116 v. G. Pugh 28. Billiards.—M. Kitchen 43 v. S. I'. Meyenberg 150; J. Manner 147 v. L. Ennis 150; N. Phillips 121 v. K Elgar 150; H. Baker 150 v. G. Rogers 105; E. A. Best 134 v. F. Weston 150; R. Young 86 v. S. G. Robinson 150. GENERAL ITEMS. At a meeting of the committee set up from the Taranaki, Egmont and Stratford A. and P. Associations, held yesterday at Stratford, at which Mr, W. G. Compton, the well-known organiser, of Auckland, was present, arrangements were finalised for the holding of a big art union with prizes to the value of £4OOO in aid of funds for the three associations. The art union is to be knoum as the “El Dorado,” and will close on February 3, 1927, the drawing to take place at Hawera on February 14. There were 16 wet. days during August, when 11.18 inches of rain .fell in Stratford, tho maximum (2.45 inches) falling on August 2. For the corresponding month of last year rain fell on 14 days, yvith a total fall of 7.7 inches. Mr. R. Masters left for Wellington by this morning's mail train. -Mr. J. O’Neill has been appointed caretaker of the Stratford Bowling Club. Mr. A. D. Stanley, secretary to the Auckland. A, and P. Association, who has been on a visit to Stratford for the purpose of interviewing breeders with a view to obtaining entries for the forthcoming Royal Show, has proceeded on to Ne-w Plymouth. Readers are reminded of the unique opportunity of enjoying a very fine conceit programme at the Stratford Town Hall on Friday evening when the Hawera choir, some fifty strong, will render the items. Competition contest pieces will be rendered. Anthems, solos, recitations, humorous items, etc., are on the programme. A special attraction is the violin solo by Master Fox; a brilliant young violinist.