BUY A PIANO NOW WITHOUT TROUBLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 43, 21 June 1915, Page 7

BUY A PIANO NOW WITHOUT TROUBLE.

You want a.fine Piano, hut you thipk you cannot afford one. That is a mistake. Our Annual Balance how current offers you an opportunity to purchase on exceptionally easy terms. During this period we liberalise still more our usual liberal arrangements for extended payments. We do so because our Pianos', being British, are viur best advertisements, and we want to have one in every house in the Dominion, They are not mad* l merely to look well, bill: to play well—to occupy permanent place among the cherish•ssions of the home. You can make your selection from big recent shipments of the most notable English Pianos, including such brilliant instriinients as. the Broadwood, the [Sanies, the Collinson, mid the Collard land Collard. All will be offered this j month on the Special Terms referred I to. The Bristol Piano Co., Ltd., Wei- j ling ton. North Island Manager, M. J. ' Brookes. Local Representative: (<• W. Mills.

F.aiicl in baring inferioj instruments, and said the time was coming when they would have to get a set of plated instruments. He appreciated what the Council had clone for the Hand, but it should be understood that they must have assistance if they were to stick together and he worth while aw an institution. In conclusion, the speaker expressed the hope that there would be no discord among members

ill the coming year, bub they would work together in harmony.—(Applause). -* # * * "THE BOYS AT THE FRONT." The Mayor, in proposing the toast, spoke in fine patriotic vein. He said they all appreciated the lino manner in which the young men of the district I and indeed of the Dominion had j volunteered to fight the people's hatties at the Front. When the war broke out, it came as a thunderclap and surprised everybody. The people did not realise what it meant, and even some men in authority had the idea in their minds that perhaps it would last about six months. They could now see that Lord Kitchener was nearer right when he mentioned three years as the duration of the sttruggle. The Mayor said he was pleased to see some or their members were enlisting, and that the Baiid was doing its duty. Though it was unfortunate to lose members, all were proud to have them go. All businesses had to allow the men to go to the Front; indeed, businessmen had done everything to promote recruiting. We recognised in this country—although practically isolated—that we were absolutely dependent upon this war for our freedom. It was a very serious matter, and one could scarcely understand the position unless he had been in Ithe firing line. But all were going to see the thing through. They must remember that all could ifoVgo; some were tied to home, and felt rather bad that they were unable to enlist. But the time might come when he (the speaker) -and every other man might have to go. If that did happen, he believed everyone in that position was prepared to do his part—(Hear, hear). The issue at stake wa s the freedom of our land. The question was, whether they were to he ruled by an iron hand or whether the freedom recognised all over the world was to continue. Everyone, even Germany herself, recognised that we had been to sleep in lots of matters and /did not recognise the position we were holding in the world, but how that the position was threatened, the world was quite satisfied the Empire would finish the conflict victoriously at all costs, for the sake of the freedom of its subjects, righteous laws, justice and right and all that the Flag stands for. —(Applause). Italy, continued the Mayor, had now thrown in her lot ' with the Allies; before, she was really I tied to the other parties; but they had declared war without consulting her and so she was now perfectly free | to go where she liked, and, as they ' knew, had joined the Allies.—(Ap- )< plause). There was the question of , the Balkan States—when would they be satisfied?/ After •fill, it was a sel-

■'* fish war. Each participant asked it-' d self "Wliat is best for mo?" Indeed, n that was the essence of business—u everyone for himself. There was no s doubt the nations would be more satisfy tied with Britain at the head than L ' any other nation. i\s Britishers, they must feel proud of the nation, though c - it had lots of faults. He would be a

pleased when Roumania joined tin Allies, for the reason that it woul< lielp to end the war more quickly There was no denying the fact that ihey as members of the Empire h'ac lothing to gain, only freedom. The.\ iVanted no land; there was not an.v suggestion of territorial aggrandisenent—just freedom for ind the other nations. Any neutral mtion would rather join the Allies han our enemies. Hut victory would ie ours, the only question being, How ong will it he delayed? Only a few ueir in the secret service knew what ras the real strength of Germany, 'he people must remember the Allies uad not touched Germany yet. Germany had been studying the position for forty years. Our freedom was the bond of peace. It was a great deal in Britain's favor that she was not prepared, which proved she did not want war.—(Applause). 'The enemy's object was to push off her own soil and stay there, allowing all the devastation and misery to fall upon others and not upon their own. We should not under-estimate the enormity of Russia's task. The enemy had really pushed Russia back again, though she had an enormous number of men and vast sums of money., Britain had yet to build her ammunition factories, but Germany was prepared with plenty. It was pleasing to note that many i men had gone from the Stratford district, and also to read in the papers of the wonderful pluck and resource displayed by those who had reached the firing line; also that many of those who had been wounded were anxious to get hack to the trenches. There was no denying that our fellows were fit to meet any enemy.' The volunteer, he was satisfied, was as good as two Germans. The Mayor referred with pleasure to the fact that the

Fond linn •■'""' Lvro roprcfteniaiirfß, and also that two more bad enlisted. He had every confidence in those who had gone and wouid go : and they could claim it was not gold that was Irequired to enable them to light successfully. In conclusion, the Mayor 'asked the company to drink to fell* health of the "Boys at the Front." 1 * * # * | O Thompson, responding, said the Jove and devotion shown to the Empire was remarkable, but that was as it should be. All looked forward to going to the firing line. The Stratford • boys had done their share. It filled one with pride to read of the manner in which Private Jack Petrie was wounded. His realisation of duty led him into danger so as to get at the enemy. Officers and men were doing the. work of war as they used to play (football—they were playing the clean (game as usual.—(Applause). The (same spirit pervaded the Empire as a whole. The few men that had gone from New Zealand was only like a drop of water in a bucket, 'compared to the number required. It was something wonderful to think of troops from India. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand standing shoulder to shoulder and in the Dardanelles fighting for the same cause of freedom—it was a wonderful example of self-sacri-I fice and devotion to their Empire. Many of our boys we would never see ! again, but they wem fighting for their 'country and for us, and if New Zealand had to find men Stratford could lie depended upon to do her share. — (Applause). i*** \ # , PUBLIC APPRECIATION. The Mayor, in again referring to the Hand playing at the railway station when the batches of soldiers went forward to camp, stated that many public requests had been made to him to endeavour to get the Band out on every occasion. At intervals for at least two months detachments would be going forward. Members of the Band did not really know bow the public appreciated such a little thing, as that; people thought a lot of playing the boys off. No doubt it was not always possible to get a dozen or twenty /members out to the station, but he (the Mayor) impressed upon the Band that he would rather have four players than none at all. It should be remembered that a great deal could be expressed in music,, which could not lie said in speech at a solemn time, and that the public appreciated their efforts.

A BAND CONTEST.

i Conductor Marshall stated that it was the intention of the committee to inaugurate a solos competition [amongst members. It would be com- ' p.ulsory to take "part, and after three months of practice, the decision would he made. Three prizes would be given, and the successful players would probably lie asked to perform at a Band function in the Town Hall. The competition gave every promise of being a success, as bandsmen were already very keen on it.