PUBLIC OPINION

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1937, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

WAYFARER.

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOP1CS STRATFORD REVISITED OLD RESIDENT'S VIEWS (To the Editor.) Sir, — I have been much interested in two letters on Stratford in the Daily News by two patriots. The first enthusiastically thinks there is no plaoe else can charm the eye like it, and whatever else he may be he certainly is-a single hearted patriot. The second writer charges him with not going far enough. Now I have been spending quite a deal of time in Stratford lately and 1 would like to go a little farther. I remember it when there were logs and stumps in the streets, and Broadway, with the small houses on each side, looked very isolated. But now it is a beautiful town with broad tar sealed streets and splendid buildings. It runs out into the country on the level with many beautiful, well kept homes and further on are well kept fertile farms. The old pioneers may well be proud of what has been done. I must mention the parks. •» The smaller ones are well finished and beautiful, and the great park up the river displays wide vision. While through being so large it looks a little raw in parts, one can imagine its possibilities. Also to a New Zealander the number of native plants and trees that have been planted will make it more beautiful as time goes on. Then they have made the best of the river, with a good path along each side and several good bridges over it. it will be a wilderness of beauty by and by. ' I also went to the racecourse. The last time I was there it was just ready for the first meeting, and it was pretty rough, but now it is a feast of beauty, with a winding, tar sealed road going through the native bush, and many of our best native plants and shrubs from other parts supplementing our own. The course and buildings are a joy to the heart of any sportsman. I Was told that the jOckey club stocks the ground itself. There will be a splendid line of springing Jersey heifers to be marked next spring, besides 'a very choice lot of lambs for the freering works directly. The stock reflects great credit on the management. I talked to a sawmiller, a keen live man with his eye on every part 6f his business and a good fellow withal. Then I visited a poultry farm of a thousand birds. I have beeh to quite a lot of poultry farms ' and have been very pleased with the FreemasOnry among the farmers." I was also very pleased with the sporting and aquatic activities of college students— a very fine sample of our coming manhood and womanhood. I must not forget the worthy stock drover who chased a lot of Jersey bulls all over the garden and then had to cut the noxious weeds on Sunday. And last but not least was the jocund old stoliemason. Good old Stratford! Memories of happy days.— I am, etc.,

Oakura, Nov. 19.