STRATFORD DAY BY DAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 221, 29 December 1910, Page 8

STRATFORD DAY BY DAY

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. A conference of delegates from the Stratford and Eltham Borough Councils a*nd County Councils,' the Waimate County Council and the Stratford and Hawera Hospital Boards was held* at Eltham to-day to discuss the suggestion of the Inspector-General of Hospitals that an inspector to have charge and control of infectious cases should be appointed by the two hospital boards for the district. Mr. R. H. Cameron was voted to the chair. Dr. Valintine outlined his scheme, and after considerable discussion, on the motion of Mr. Marx, seconded by the chairman, it was decided that the Stratford and Hawera Hospital Boards be recommended to combine to appoint an inspector for the two districts, and that i» the opinion of this meeting the officer should reside at Eltham. The track to> the Stratford Mountain House is being improved, and it is anticipated that by. the New Year motorcars will be able to run as far as the House.

The mountain has proved an attraction to visitors during the holidays, and the Dawson FaUs House has been full. Another wrestling match on Thursday, when Robertson meets Balloch. f The many festivities which have surrounded the Christmas season in "the Old Countrie" have become traditions in most instances, for the observance of Christmas in the old-fashioned style is a thing almost of the past. The bringing in of the Yule log has passed away; carolling, with the quaint songs, is gradually becoming unknown, or being superseded by the visit of a section of the band, whose music usually shows, as the night wanes, that Christmas hospitality andi good cheer are not a thing of the past. Many of the carols were picturesque in language, though it remains for the author of "I saw three ships" to assert "Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem," equalling Shakespeare's georaphical feat of anchoring a fleet in Bohemia. The boar's head or peacock are known no longer in the ceremonies of the day. The Christmas, tree and the visit of Santa Claus remain,; and will be the source of enjoyment for thousands of children for years. If the wassail bowl is brought in no longer in its old form, the honoring of it still proceeds. There were many in Stratford on Christmas Eve who "celebrated" the Christmas season, and probably they wete not lacking those, who/on,"Christmas morn paid the penalty with a "sore head." For a couple of individuals the prescribed hour for the closing of hotels was too early, so they brought a couple of bottles of whisky and some glasses out into the street, and, seated on the kerbing, proceeded, to hold "opera Jlouse.'' Another man invested some of his surplus cash in ribbon, and proceeded to decorate himself by encircling his body until he resembled a Maypole. Tan stockings proved an attraction, to another back country resident, though he diverted their use from the covering of nether limbs to long gloves. With it all the "merry ones" were good-natured, and chaff ancl badinage were freely exchanged. Business has been very good in Stratford this year, and though the rain which fell on Saturday morning must have affected trade to a certain extent, all business men appear to be thoroughly satisfied with their Christmas. The trains from Te Wera were crowded, and a stroll over ; to the station to see the departure of the Late train, was interesting if only to give the spectator an idea of the large population of this portion of Stratford's hinterland. Work on the Whangamomnoa tunnel is being pushed on from both ends, but it seems improbable that the tunnel will be available foE traffic by next Christmas. The construction work is being pushed forward pn the other side of the tunnel. ' I hear -that seven applications have been received for the position of medical superintendent of the Stratford Hospital. ; A match between the Fitzroy and Stratford bowling fluffs was played here on Monday, when] the* former won by nine point?. \ '

The 'following sMcetea to represent South 'Tartfii&la'' agftinst North Taranaki in the cricket match at Hawera on January 2 and 3:—Dunlop,. Cargill, Prebble, Sullivan, Walker, Stewart, Baker, McCarthy, Pratt, iSerge&nt, Jennings; emergencies, Barry, Prince, Cooper. ' Mr. D. Crewe, of Pahiatua, is on a visit to Stratford.