“SOLDIERS DAY!”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 18, 26 April 1916, Page 4

“SOLDIERS DAY!”

GENERAL NOTES.

The official satoment of the attendance at the Show Grounds on Soldiers Day is 6003. There was a tie between five for the 1000-day clock presented by Mr B. J. Peters, the guess in each case being 6000. Mr J. Allen, who conducted a rloole’em buck at the grounds on Soldiers Day was very successful with his “show,” and as a result handed a sum of £G to the secretary.

The organising of the procession reflected great credit on Mr Geo. Bradley, convenor of the Procession Committee. Mr Bradley did an enormous amount of work and was responsible for the comic element connected with the procession. For some time before he put all his spare time in the movement, and the results of his labors was beyond expectations. The three ton of straw, presented to the committee by a number of Now Plymouth patriotic workers, has lieeu disposed of toj Newton King. The committee has now thirty hags of wheat for disposal from the same donors. The New Plymouth contributors had the land given to them rent free on which {o grow crops to he sold on behalf of he patriotic funds. All the work in connection with the ploughing, havesting, etc., was done free of charge.

The Anzac Bar proved a veritable' “god semi to ihe younger generation wno aUeuuea the leie. The promoters, Messrs W. Pella, E. Ticlibon ana E. Drake,' had a well-siocked dry canteen and they filled a much needed want by supplying the children with buns, pies, solt ' drinks, etc. The boys who took part in the day’s proceedings received their lunch free of charge at the Bar.

The fine flag pole on which the Union Jack was flown at the Show Grounds on Soldiers Day was instrumental of ruining the trousers of one of the most enegetic workers. Having procured a motor lorry, a party of four men made off to the edge of a creek whore some ash trees were imported to be growing. The tree was cut well down—after ’ some veiy hard and unusual Work—and then' came the question of how to remove 1 it to cut off the branches. The ground being well covered 1 with 1 undergrowth two of the party were commissioned to “lend” a shoulder to the Stump of the tree. After an extra hard push the tree gave way and one of the unfortunate “buslmien” flunking the’tree w'as failing on!him'" made h ledp idr life and landed' about waist id the creek nearby. 1 The credit does 1 ndt’cdntain good clean water, hut a stream of ironcolored mud. Quite consoled that the tree was not falling on him, Mrwas heard to remark: “My wife told me not to put on my good trousers!” He said he was also frightened to venture home and face his. better half. He was removed to terra firma, and after. an unsuccessful attempt had been made to “scrape”.him, he told his fellow workers to get the tree outvie best way they could, but’ he y as going Ijome. On returning about a half hour later, he told .his listeners that his wife had remonstrated with him, saying: “I told you, this morning, when you were puting on your good trousers that ydf; would spoil them.” Though he spoilt his “good trousers,” and the other members of the party v suffered from a fit of laughter, the pole was eventually landed at the Showgrounds,