CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1931, Page 3

CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

TENNIS CLUB OFFER TO BOARD.

POLICY TO RELIEVE RATEPAYER.

The Stratford Tennis Club last night offered the Domain Board 2s. 6d. permember for the use -of the ground in Victoria Park. '

The Mayor, Mr.-P. Thomson, explained that the club had paid Is. a member until the board had raised the charge to 2s. some months ago and advised, the club that after October 1, 1931, the charge would be 55., with a maximum of £5O a year. The club had held a meeting recently, he said, and as a result 2s. 6d. was offered the board. The board was following a policy designed to secure enough revenue from the sports bodies using the reserves to 7 cover the cost of maintaining the park, the charge for which was now debited to the ratepayers.

• Mr. C. R. Finnerty suggested that the question be deferred until arrangements had been made with the other bodies.-

Mr. R. R. Tyrer moved, that the prevD ous motion be rescinded, and gave notice to move at the next meeting that the charge to the’ club be the interest paid on the amount expended by the board, The motion was carried.

The curator, Mr. S. Taylor, reported that one of the two white swans on Victoria lake had been found dead. K® attributed its death to the fact that the black swans drove the white ones from the water and prevented them fropt feeding. ’ • - . Mr. Finnerty said the bird had been ailing for some time due to bloodpoison, ing.

In view of the cost of procuring another bird, no action was taken- in the meantime. , ■: ■

IDLE AND DISORDERLY MAN.

SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT.

Benjamin Prosser, of no permanent address, was brought before the Eltham Court yesterday morning charged with; being an idle and disorderly person without visible means of support. Mr. J. W. Stubbs, J.P., was on the bench. Constable Townsend gave details of the discovery of Prosser outside his residence - on Sunday morning, accused stating that he, had been chased all over the country and had been at the house since -five o’clock. He was wet from the knees down, said the constable, and was in an extremely nervous condition. He had been before the court on January 7, when he was convicted-and discharged, on condition that he-went to relatives at Pihama,- on a charge of being found on enclosed premises. Prosser pleaded guilty and said that he had been looking for work for several weeks. He was three weeks at Pihama and then had gone to Hawera, where he worked on relief jobs, but the pay was insufficient to provide even board, so he proceeded to New Plymouth and endeavoured to secure a job on the wharf. “There was nothing doing,” he said, “and it is. very hard to get a job.” Mr Stubbs:. Why did you .go to the police station? Accused said that he considered he required medical attention, and he wanted the constable to take him to a doctor.

In sentencing Prosser to a month's hard labour, the bench said that he could ask for what - medical attention he wanted at the prison. Ari order was made to keep him under observation during his term in prison. ■

CROQUET COMPETITIONS.

STRATFORD PLAYS ELTHAM.

The Eltham croquet players (A team) visited Stratford on Friday and played friendly games on the Stratford lawns. Following are the scores, . Stratford names being mentioned first:- — Doubles.—Mesdames Burgess and Weston 18 v. Mesdames Fountaine and McCready 26; Mesdames Boon and Harkness 26 v. Mesdames Summers and O’Hagan 17. Singles.—'Mrs. Weston 16 v. Mrs. McCready 26; Mrs. Boon 26 v. Mrs. Summers 24; Mrs. Jackson 11 v. Miss McDonald 26; Mrs. Harkness 26 v. Mrs. O’Hagan 14; Mrs. Burgess 23. v. Mrs. Fountaine 26.

Totals, Stratford 146, Eltham 159.

DAMAGE TO MEMORIAL GATES.

The Police Department advised the Stratford Borough Council last night that there had been no result to the inquiries regarding the damage done to the memorial gates at the entrance to Victoria Park. It was reported to the previous meeting of the council that the gates had been peppered with shot from a pea rifle or a heavy air gun,Last night it was reported that the dajnage had been done apparently with a spike or similarly sharp instrument some time ■ ’ ■ '