LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 63, 17 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki Education Board has decided on the following holidays for the year:-—Winter holidays, 28th May to 7th June; ✓spring, 20th August to 30th August; summer, 17th December to 31st January, 1910.

Those who enjoy a good shoot should not fail to attend at the School Gymnasium this evening to see the match between the Mayor (Mr \V. P. Kirkwood) and Cr. donas Masters. There will ho an entrance charge of Od, the proceeds from which arc to he handed to the Beligan Fund.

The swimming carnival to he held on Thursday evening promises to be a great success. The secretary has already received nominations from Greytown, Hawera and Inglewood, as well as local swimmers. It only requires line weather to bring the'evening’s entertainment to a successful issue.

The executive committee in charge of the programme arrangements for the Stratford A. and P. Gymkhana on Easter Monday have definitely decided to cut out the suggestion of the hand contest this year, but have notified the secretary of the local band that it is their intention to hold a monster band contest at the Easter fixture of 1916.

A scheme for the establishment of a bacteriological and pathological laboratory in connection with the Auckland hospital was approved at a meeting of the Board last night. It is proposed to appoint a bacteriologist at a salary of from £OOO to £7OO, the Government paying half the salary.

One of our school boys, Wedge wood Boon, had the misfortune to ho taken by sickness during the month, and as a consequence was away from school for a few days. Previous to that, the boy had a record of six years’ unbroken school attendance. Excerpt from the Head Masters report which was presented to the school committee last night.

A reminder is given of the Midhirst Settlers’ Picnic and Sports to be held in the grounds adjoining the factory. As a varied programme of sports has been arranged by a strong committee, it is expected that a large number will be present. A dance will be held in the evening, and the proceeds of the whole day’s proceedings will go to the Patriotic Fund. An afternoon tea and fruit stall at the sports will be under the management of Mrs Brooking, ol Stratford.

A meeting of farmers interested in the fornnytion of a company for the purpose of erecting Freezing 'Dor'rs for Taranaki is to be held in Mr Newton King’s New Horse Bazaar, Miranda Street, Stratford, on Tuesday next, at four o’clock. The convenors aie Messrs Newton King, A. W. Budge, W. A. McCutchan, Wilfred Perry, F. Mar fell, and E. \\ alter. The meeting is one of the outcomes of the meeting held at Kolniratahi on Wednesday of last week, and specially referred to in our columns of yesterday.

The garden fete hold by the Ladies’ Tennis and Croquet Club yesterday alternoon and evening on the Club’s lawns in Victoria Park proved an unqualified success. \\ eathor conditions were perfect, and the lawns were in excellent condition. The grounds presented a charming appearance, and there was a large attendance. The Club expects to be able to hand over to the Belgian Fund an amount between £34 to £3o. The Chib wishes to especially thank the Stratford Electric (Supply Co. for the splendid lighting arrangements, the Municipal Band, Mr T, I. Lama son for lending and erecting tent, Mr Hrooklebank for tables and chairs, and all those too numerous to mention who kindly supplied articles and provisions. A detachment ol boy scouts di<l very good work. The ladies in charge of the afternon tea and supper did splendid work, which was greatly appreciated. Those in charge of games, competitions, stalls, etc., did brisk business, the bat trimming especially provoking great merriment. The bowling, putting and croquet attracted a great deal of interest. Mr Curd and Mr Henry tied in the weight of the cake (.'lib loz), Mr Pitt guessed correctly the weight of the parcel (21b lOoz.). and Miss O’Toole the sweets (dijlbs). Mr Douglas was successful in carrying off the trophy for guessing Mrs Dingle’s weight. The excellent programme of music played by the Municipal Band was greatly enjoyed, especially the playing of “Rosary.”

The following arc the amounts to he paid out on the 20th inst. by local dairy factories: —Ngaere £2639, Lowuartii 2018. Cardiff £IBBS, Stratford £8049. According to a press telegram, Timaru has been made a grading port lor honey. It is calculated that 100 tons will be sent away from that port this season. A very mean theft is reported to hav taken place last night after tlio Croquet Club’s fete, two sets of croquet clips having been stolen from the pavilion after 11 o’clock. The Harp of Erin was flying proudly iu the breeze at the Town Hall to-day in honor of St. Patrick, and by way of giving a happy reminder to the grand Catholic social there to-night.

Mr Thomas, who is in charge of the party of school boys now at Moumahaki, in writing to the Headmaster of the Stratford School, speaks of the great kindness with which the hoys were received at the farm. Hie manager and all the employees seem to be doing all they can to make the boys comfortable. After giving details of the daily work, Mr Thomas concludes his letter by saying “the boys are all well and everything promises for a profitable and enjoyable week.” It is gratifying to know that, notwithstanding all the appeals for financial help of late for the Belgian, Patriotic and other funds, the Harvest Festival of the Salvation Army is the most successful from a financial point of view than for years past, showing that the people of Stratford and district appreciate the work of these good people in our midst. The sum of £3O is expected to be netted, compared to £26 at last harvest festival.

In connection with the functioning of the Opunake Railway with the main lino south of Hawera, a meeting of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening unanimously carried the following resolution: “That" a deputation he sent from this Chamber to Wellington to wait upon the Government in connection with the railway to impress upon the Government the importance of Eltham as a centre of the main Opunake railway connecting with a train running north. Also the matter of getting the mail train and the New Plymouth train to cross at Eltham.” It was suggested that New Plymouth, Stratford, and Kaponga co-operate.

The meetings in connection with the Salvation Army Harvest Festival were brought to a close last evening, when sympathisers with the Army work were well represented, and together contributed a capital programme. Mr J. W. Boon was chairman, and in his remarks expressed pleasure at being present, and spoke of his constant sympathy with the Army in its good work. At the close of the programme Mr Boon called for thanks for the workers who had so prettily decorated the Hall. Adjutant Cook called for cheers for the chairman, which was heartily responded to. Then Dir Lamason auctioned the goods that were gathered together, good prices being obtained as a rule. Adjutant Cook desires to thank the people and the Press for such hearty response to the appeal.

Upon the arrival of the mail train at Moumahaki the thirty hoys from the Stratford District High School, who are under the charge of Messrs Thomas and Ellis, were met at the station by a man with a dray from the Farm, upon which their belongings and the camp equipment were conveyed to their destination, the boys covering the distance cheerfully on foot. The general manager of the Farm, Mr T. W. Lonsdale, extended a very cordial welcome to the party upon reaching the Farm, and under his orders several employees rendered valuable assistance in establishing the camp and providing convenience to ensure the comfort of the hoys during the period they are in residence. All the boys (continues our correspondent) are very happy and arc looking forward to spend an enjoyable time and to acquire some very, valuable information. In addition to the masters in charge, Dir Lonsdale it salving quite a keen interest in the hoys and members of the farm staff will take part in giving instruction.

To-day the man who was christened Patrick will be feeling very pleased with himself and the world in general. Irishmen the world over will to-day rejoice in the memory of St. Patrick, who, as everyone knows, “was a gentleman.” The beloved saint was horn in slavery in Ulster, though Scotland, France and Wales also lay claims to being his native country, as several towns of Greece claim Homer as their production. Wherever St. Patrick was born, bis chief work lay in Ireland, whither he was sent after visiting Home, as a missionary, and his efforts were crowned with the greatest success. It was when engaged in this missionary work that he made the happy allusion to the Shamrock as illustrating the Trinity, and happy indeed is the Irishman who in these distant isles can wear a sprig of that clear little plant on his national saint’s day. Authorities differ as to the ago at which the Saint died, it being variously stated at from 93 to 116, but the place of his decease was Downpatrick.