POPULARITY OF PLATEAU

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1934, Page 8

POPULARITY OF PLATEAU

STEADY FLOW OF VISITORS. The eastern side of Mount Egmont and particularly the Stratford Plateau have been attracting a steady flow of visitors, many of whom are tourists from other parts of New Zealand or residents of districts in Taranaki apart from Stratford. The camping ground at the. Stratford house and the accommodation there are being used continuously. The revenue at the Stratford house since January 1 has totalled £BO, which compares more than favourably with the amount collected over the corresponding period last year. Practically every visitor has gone on from the house to the plateau over the motor road, which is in good orde*.

Arrangements have been made for 200 delegates to the annual Masonic convocation at New Plymouth this week to visit the resort on Thursday, when it is estimated that about 60 cars will make the trip. Members of the Stratford Mountain Club will act as guides to the party. Twenty-seven members of the club, most of whom were making their first ascent, climbed to the summit on Sunday. The party was divided into two groups, one under the leadership of Mr. J. Carryer and the other under Mr. A. W. White. The route followed on the ascent was the Policeman and East Ridge and the descent was made via the Lizard and the Warwick Castle ridge. Climbing conditions were ideal. Mr. M. C. Gudex, Hamilton, who is a noted botanist, visited the park during the week and expressed a wish that he could arrange a more extended visit and enlarge his knowledge of the region. Recent visitors to the Stratford house include: Mrs. Hart, wife of BrigadierGeneral H. E. Hart, Samoa; Mr. and Mrs. Curgenven, Messrs. Robert and P. J. Brown and Mr. E. Polson, Wellington; Messrs. W. J. Winton, F. T. Mancer, C. Singer, Misses Pat Lovell and S. Singer and Mesdames E. I. Singer and H. G. Lovell Hawera; Mr. and Mrs. Cate, New Plymouth; Mr. R. Wright, Raetihi; Messrs. J. M. Denton and John W. McGregor, Christchurch; Mr. E. A. Loronsborough, Auckland; Messrs. J. and T. Paul and F. Loronsborough, Lepperton; Mr. J. M. Caupilan, Palmerston North. ■ LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETS. ONE STRATFORD APPLICATION. The quarterly meeting of the Stratford Licensing Committee was held at the Stratford courthouse yesterday, the members present being Messrs. W. H. Woodward, S.M. (chairman), E. Lilley, W. H. H. Young and J. B. Hine. There was only one item of business before the committee, an application by Leo Patrick O’Neill to transfer the Railway Hotel, Inglewood, to Ernest Charles Heel. The application, which was supported by Mr. H. S. Weston, New Plymouth, was granted. DEFAULT IN MAINTENANCE. ORDERS AT STRATFORD COURT. Two summonses for default in the payment of maintenance were dealt with by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Stratford yesterday. John Brannigan, charged with being £9 7s 6d in arrears with maintenance, was fined 10s. It was stated that Brannigan, against whom an order had been in force for 10 years and who had only once paid into court without being summonsed, had since paid the amount of arrears into court. Clarence Henry Dudding was charged with being £lO 8s in arrears on an order made in August for 16s a week. He pleaded guilty. A cheque for £5 had been received, stated the clerk of the court, since the summons was issued.

Dudding stated that he was working on contract, building a house at Tawhiti, Hawera, which brought him £2 a week as wages. He had been in continuous employment since January but the house would bring in no profit. Any money in his bank account being required to pay for timber. Mr. N. H. Moss, counsel for Mrs. Dudding, sluggested that Dudding be required to produce his bank pass book. The magistrate considered that the pass book should be produced for Dudding to prove his case and the summons was accordingly adjourned till March 19. Emma Kelly was granted a maintenance order against James Walter Kelly, consideration of her application having been adjourned from the previous court sitting, when a separation order was granted her against Kelly. Kelly had paid £1 10s into court, stated the clerk. Tlie magistrate fixed the amount under the order at £2 a month, £1 to be paid in rent and £1 for living expenses. Mr. Woodward also suggested that Mrs. Kelly inquire further concerning eligibility to receive the old age pension. ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Eltham Troop of the Legion of Frontiersmen will hold an old-time dance in the Ngaere hall to-night. The opening ball is to be held in Rawhitiroa hall to-night. A free bus will convey dancers from Stratford and Eltham. Music for old time and modern dances will be provided by a first-class dance band and a pleasant evening is assured patrons. A farewell social and presentation will be given Mrs. O’Hagan, Eltham, who is leaving io reside at Auckland. The evening will be held in the parish hall tomorrow. Mrs. O’Hagan has been organist for a great number of years and all parishioners and friends are invited. A dance will be held at the Rawhitiroa Hall to-night. The Eltham Legion of Frontiersmen will hold the first dance of the season at Ngaere to-night.