STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10292, 26 April 1895, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS.

» [FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT.] APRib 25.-«-The day has been unmistakeably wet, not ono of tho»o undecided, aunshine-and-shower sort of days, that tempt the unwary to go out without their umbrellas and the forgetful to come home without them. King Mud hns come to town, and in all likelihood will make a long stay. His llego subjeots on the unmetalled roads will bask — or, more correctly, wallow — in his royal favour until maybe nejft October. There is a wintry feeling in tho air, colds are prevalent, tho county stone crushers are laid up, and so are many other people, the produce trains have ceased running and producers' noses have started, the cry of the unemployed is beginning to bo heard, and the stonebroke want work at stone breaking. Midhirst athletic sports were to have been held to-day, but a very short inspection of thu weather this morning sickened the committee, so they threw up tho spongo and postponed the event till Mon' day. The ardour of our firemen is not to be damped, aud they take to water as naturally as they did to McLennan's whisky tho Other night. Thi* afternoon, from three to five, a team was hard at practise for the competition, to beheld at Hawera to-morrow. The Stratford boys may be trusted to give a good account of them selves. They 'may not win, " for it is not in mortals to command success," but they will do more, Horatio, they will deserve it The worthy chief of the Brigade, Captain Kivell, waa presented with a medal to-day by a few admiring friends. The ceremony was riot in connection with bis official duties, but its significance will j be understood on a careful perusal of your advertising columns. The County Council i 3 going to make an effort, by means of by-laws, to prevent its roads being ruined > by heavy loads on narrow tiros. It is high time something ■waa done. Roads hero cost too much to ' be allowed to be worn out iv no time by the croze for narrow wheels. Ifc is a far and away moro serious matter than a high assessment, and yet very few ratepayers give it a thought.