Hawera and Normanby Star Tuesday 4 Jan 1893

Stratford and Ngaire
From our Correspondent

The holiday season is now pretty well over, and has been taken
full advantage of by this district, where the farmers work very
long hours in summer and feel themselves entitled to enjoy a
little mild dissipation when it comes in the way.

The Presbyterians were first in the field with a fancy bazaar
in aid of the manse fund, which resulted satisfactorily. The
bazaar was closed with a concert, at which some capital music
and singing were rendered by residents and friends.

Stratford and Cardiff schools came next with their annual
picnics. I was not at the former, but the latter event was very
successful, there being probably over 400 people present, large
and small, and the fun being kept well going up till past the
time when sober old folks go to bed. Everything was provided
free by the liberality of the ladies of the district, and the
Stratford County Band, according to promise, discoursed sweet
music during the day.

Boxing Day was signalised by a so-called international sports
meeting at the Bushford Park course, which was also well
attended. This event was got up by a private individual as a
speculation, the prizes being articles of jewellery of such
and such value. I mention the fact because it is a new
departure, so far as I am aware; whether it is likely to be of
advantage from a public point of view will be entirely matter
of opinion.

To-day being kept as New Year's Day, more picnics one being held
at Stratford and Cardiff, the Presbyterian and Primitive
Methodist bodies holding their Sunday School treats at the
former place, and the Cardiff affair being a time-honoured
fixture. When you add the distribution of prizes at the Roman
Catholic day school, and a concert got up by the promoter of the
sports meeting, you will admit that if people have not enjoyed
themselves it has not been for lack of opportunity.

The many friends of the Rev. M. McINTOSH will regret to hear
his son burst a blood vessel during the progress of the bazaar,
and was quickly in a very critical state. He is now slowly
recovering.

I learn from good authority that the Bushford Park course is
likely to be in capital trim for the approaching meeting. The
proprietor has taken great pains to make it all that could be
desired, and has had a 4-ton roller at work for some time past
firming the ground so as to have the courses perfectly sound.
There are good entries for the various events, and the club
are hopeful of a very successful meeting.

Many people around here will remember Mr MACE, who was Mr
McKENZIE's wheelwright for a good while. He was a splendid
tradesman, but was, unfortunately, addicted to drink at 
intervals. He kept steady for a good while before leaving here,
drew a big cheque, got on the spree, went over to Sydney, and,
in a fit of madness, threw himself over the cliffs and was
dashed to pieces. A melancholy and permative ending to a useful
life.

Mr McKENZIE, by-the-bye, has built a large new smithy on a side
street, and it is said that the fine stand on Broadway will
probably be devoted before long to other pursuits than those of
Tubal Cain. The new smithy had a very narrow escape of being
burnt down, though, the other evening, a heap of timber in the
corner being found on fire some time after the shop had been
closed for the night. Had the building once caught, the results
would probably have been very serious, as a strong wind was
blowing and shops and houses are pretty numerous just there.
I think it is high time a fire engine was procured; should a
fire once start, with one of our strong winds blowing, it is
hard to say where it would be likely to stop.

Mr MOORE, of Kahouri, had the top of his thumb nearly cut off
the other day whilst mowing Mr TAYLOR's paddock with a machine.
He was doing something to the cogs when the horses moved, the
wheels nearly or quite cutting through the bone. Mr FRAZER,
chemist, bound up the wound.

Mr TAYLOR, by-the-bye, has set up a flour and oat-milling
plant driven by water-power. Another sign of the times.