STRATFORD REVISITED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 58, 4 March 1912, Page 6

STRATFORD REVISITED.

. SALVATION ARMY OFFICER’S ' OPINION. THE TOWN’S PROGRESS. ■’F ' __ Brigadier Vince, of the Salvation , . Array, provincial'officer for Auckland, arrived in Stratford on an inspection on Saturday afternoon. In a chat with a member of our staff this morning the Brigadier said his last visit to Stratford was in August, 1893. Ho was then provincial officer for Wellington, but change* ■ in the control made Auckland the headquarters for the Taranaki District, and tho Brigadier had tho West Coast of the South Island put under his supervision, it being found easier to work tho West Coast from Wellington than from Christchurch. This, however, was not for long, as in January, 1891, ho was transferred to Sydney, and remained in Australia till ■his recent -appointment to his present position. Tire Brigadier mentioned that for the last 19 years Melbourne had been the headquarter's of the Array for Nov/ Zealand. A new order of things would be instituted, by the arrival some time this year of a Commissioner. New Zealand will then be worked direct from London. “This,” said Brigadier Vince, “will Ire a grcai advantage to us. It will save much time and labour, for with a Commissioner on the spot to give his word, we shall save all tire time which would ho wasted in writing to Melbourne.” It was tho intention of our representative to ask Brigadier Vince what progress’ ho thought Stratford had made in the nineteen years that have passed since he visited the district, but the Brigadier volunteered this of his own account: “Strafford,” ho said, “has made great advances. When 1 was hero last the main street was over tho boot tops in mud. You have soma magnificent buildings for a town of your size. The progress is marvellous. Your main street especially is very fine.” Referring to tho progress of the Salvation Army in Stratford, the Brigadier remarked that it had boon satisfactory, all things considered. The chief disadvantage had been the faci that so many of their soldiers had moved to other districts.