The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1911. THE NEW SCHOOL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 89, 28 November 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1911. THE NEW SCHOOL.

Yesterday marked another important event in Stratford’s progress and advancement, when the foundation stone of the new District High School was laid by tiie IU. Hon. the Premier. It was certainly an honour to the district and an act of great courtesy foi Sir Joseph Ward to have spared Stratford an afternoon at such a strenuous time, even to perform sucli an important function. in a very interesting and entirely non-political address, Sir Joseph dealt in entertaining stylo with tiie Education system of the Dominion, and the immense amount of work the Department is doing. Until one sees the figures and realises what a comparatively small community we really are in ciiis favoured overseas Dominion ol New Zealand, it is impossible to comprehend'how great timt work really is. Let us hope that the new school may turn out many useful boys and girls well-started on the educational road that leads to life’s successes. THE SHOW. If our very fickle weather only proves .and, to-morrow and the day following will bo big days in Stratford, for the biggest A. and P. Show Taranaki has yet seen will open on Wednesday and continue on Thursday, i'Tiday ittingly concluding the function with a sale of exhibits. We have, in the past, lent solid support to our friends at Hawera and New Plymouth on the occasion of their A. and P. Shows, and wo hope to see the good feeling maintained and a proper reciprocity shown on all sides. This is only Stratford’s second Show, but even the most pessimistic must now admit tiie Stratford A. and P. Association is an institution that has come to stay, and while it has such a host of willing workers as the men who conlprisc the Executive it must flourish and go ahead. All we ask on this occasion is line weather! THE TUC-OF-WAR. Once again Louis Robertson, the Scottish champion light-weight wrestler, who has made his homo in this .Britain of the South, has met the redoubtable Stoker Penny—that splendidly, plucky naval specimen from HALS. Powerful—and has defeated him on the mat. While we congratulate Robertson, who, as a clean sport, has made a host of friends in this district, we must more than congratulate

Penny on Isis groat exhibition. It was as fine a test ol pluck, physical endurance, and good temper as one could wish to witness, and it brought home to one’s mind that hoys of the British bull-dog breed are not by any means extinct in King George’s navy, when the men of the stokehold number such as Penny amongst them. Ho returns to bis ship smiling, beaten but not in one degree disgraced! THE STRATFOHD-NEW PLYMOUTH SERVICE. A rather important alteration to the ra.ilway time-table, wo are informed, is to come into force on and after Ist December, from which date the 11.10 a.m. goods train, with car attached, from Hawcra to New Plymouth, will not run, but a passenger train will leave Hawcra each day at 11.15 a.m., reaching Stratford at five minutes to 1 p.m., and arriving in Now Plymouth at 3 p.m. This will be looked upon as a boon indeed, for, under present arrangements, it was utterly impossible to go to Now Plymouth by the afternoon train and return that night, but tin's will bo easily possible under the new arrangement. Further, the time of the journey is mercifully reduced, and one will have less of that feeling of growing old while onewpits, o)i the journey from Stratford to New Plymouth. THE HALF-HOLIDAY. As reported in our columns yesterday, Stratford’s business people seem generally favourable to observing a Saturday half-holiday providing all Taranaki chooses the same day. We certainly hope it will, because uniformity in this matter would ho perhaps the beginning of what we very much want, viz., uniformity of all holidays. Our New Plymouth contemporary, the “Taranaki Herald,” in referring to Mr J. B. Richards’ letter, reminds us that at the end of last year an effort was made to bring about uniformity in the observance of a half-holiday throughout Taranaki, but it was left until too late, and the various local bodies had to fix the day before the question could be thoroughly ventilated. An earlier start is being made this year, and it is honed that before the statutory date for fixing the day arrives public opinion will have had time to bo led in the direction of a uniform day throughout the province. At present some towns observe Wednesday and others Thursday, while in New Plymouth—and in a minor degree in other towns—a part of the community observes Thursday and another part Saturday. Needless to say, this leads to much inconvenience and confusion, and it would be better /for everyone if all.could agree to close the same day. There are difficulties in the way of uniformity,, wo are aware,! but they are hot insurmountable. It is possible that before very long Saturday will be the statutory half-holiday throughout the Dominion, and really it is the most sensible day to observe it.