Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 234, 1 April 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

SCHOOL PUPPILS ON TRAINS. NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT. The travelling public has a standing grievance against the Railway Department. If the subject of the grievance could be persuaded to stand also, or to sit, there wouldn't be the same ground for complaint. The cause of the dissatisfaction is the want of provision for the accommodation of the la'rge numbers of children who travel to Stratford every morning to attend school, and who return by the afternoon trains. The nuisance is particularly noticeable on the t'rain leaving here for the north at 3.15 p.m. Yesterday I counted a hundred I children aboard, and 1 only one carriage * ! seemed to be provided for them. The inevitable result was that there were school children on most of the platfo'rms, children were double-banked on some of the seats, and, what the other passengers found exception to, the overflow found its way into the other carriage*, monopolising no small portion of the seating accommodation. From personal observation, it must be said that the guards do their duty, and endeavor to keep the children from annoying the other passengers; but boys will be boys, and girls will be girls, and boys and girls in a train like to crow, and skyla'rk, J and chatter, and open and shut windows,' and so op. The Department, if it intends to continue giving free rides to children attending' school, should pufc on at least a couple of carriages on this train for their accommodation, and, what is just as important, these carriages should be reserved for them. THE MAYORALTY. The number of suggested candidates for the Mayoralty is diminishing. Mr. C. D. Sole lias definitely decided not to enter the arena, and, in, expressing his thanks to ratepayers who app'roaclied j him and were willing to give him their | support, he points out that were he to, : gain the coveted position it would mean disqualifying the firm of Bejlringer Bros, (of which he is Stratford in the matter of supplying goods to the borough council. Some of the other suggested aspirants for the position meet inquiries with a mystifying smile and a reticence which indicates that somebody has something up his sleeve. Anyhow, time will tell. THE OPPOSITION DISPLAY. THE PARTY DISPERSES. The Leader of the Opposition, who has been visiting Stratford' and the Whangamomona, count'ry, possibly in view of another election, has gone. Stratford seems to go on just as usual. The leader and his supporters who addressed the meetings round about repeated most of the message given to the people before the election, but in the most of the oratory there was- lack of that imagination which is the heaven-born essential of a g'reat statesman. The new Ministry was subjected to the same taunt as the old one, that it was a collection of men the men they

declaiming Mr. Massey's *the Opposition was on the big landowner, but his op|H'! the. duel enigmatically reman is known by the' comand left. H SCOTTISH SOCIETY. Henderson, secretary of the ■ Scottish Society, is desirous of |Mmembers, and invites people (a) (b) born out of ScotH of Scottish; descent on either ■(c) the sons and l daughters of H of the Society, to forward to him. The membership for men, and Is for the fair objects of the Society are the ■p of benevolence, education, customs, and accompHs, and social intercourse. The ■Mtal meeting is to be held on SBy.- 24th April, at Stratford, Bating society—its uses.

to be be the many young evenings. day, and the athlct^^^^^BH|H|^^^^H capably worship dcYelopmea^H^^Hl^HH^^^^H^^H s e their 11 nmuscmfrS^^^^^^^HH^^lH^^H work, al only there is givf^HHHHj^^^^^H^HH^^H whilst questions, history, exploration, and soH cial questions are relegated to comparatively few. So long as this state of ] affairs obtains there will' fail to. be a widespread appreciation of the duties of true citizenship. The preparation and I discussion of papers on various subjects, the reviewing of standard literary works, and debates on the leading questions of the day, will lend to widen the horizon of all who take part. A debating so- , ciety, properly conducted, is a means of education, it broadens a man's mind, and enables him to discuss with ease and confidence mutters of current thought ( and progress. Debating societies are also productive of a certain amount of amusement. They give training in the conduct of meetings. They may do a service to their members by arranging for

❖ * 4* * * From Our Resident Reporter. * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. j * ************* ♦****♦*♦**♦♦*♦♦♦4*

visits of lecturers on interesting topics. In short, a debating society can be made a very useful institution, and it is certainly one of tlie avenues by which the Egmont Club can prove that it exists for the betterment of tlie conditions of living amongst the young men, which was the principal object in view when it was formed.

BERNARD'S PICTURES. His Majesty's Theatre was again crowded to-night (Saturday), when the present high-class series was* screened for the last occasion. On Monday evening a new programme will be submitted, every item of which is worthji of being starred. The dramas are of lijgli merit. "The Girl and the Fugitive" appeals particularly to picture patrons, because the theme is based 011 p(resent-day life. "The Cowboy's Bride" will be greeted witi approbation by lovers of exciting picture stories, because it depicts life and love on a ranch and is powerfully acted and realistically displayed. "Field-Marshal Villiers" and "Cloud and Sunsliine" complete this section. "Nature Study in the Zoo" and "Reign of Flowers" plrovide the educational and scenic views, whilst the Pathe Gazette vividly -depicts topical happenings with which our newspapers have already acquainted us. The humorous side is strongly appealed to by four comedies, "First* Aid Flirtation," "How the Story Grew," "Five Bold Bad Men," and "The Wager," and he would indeed be ft misanthrope who could Resist being cheered and exhilarated thereby. A special feature is the sweet music dispensed by the Elite Orchestra. The prices will be as usual. circle Is 6d, 6talls Is, and children 6cS.

GENERA! NEWS. At Friday morning's sitting of the S.M. Court a boy of eleven years )f age was charged, on the information of the police, with having cruelly ill-treated a horse by riding it whilst it jad a very sore back. The next afternoon, just, after Sergeant McNeely had entered his gate at the police station, a wpman drove past towards Ngaere. The horse she was driving must have been in great pain, for there was a"nasty girth-gall showing red over a patch of skin fully two or three inches square. jThe woman seemed quite unconscious, or careless, of the fact that her steed was ; being most cruelly used. Someone, preferably a police officer, should have 'drawn her attention to it. i . A visitor to the Toko sports tells me ; that our old friend, Mr. *Jdhn Leydon, i and. his shiny hat were projminent lea-1 tures on the sports With a j beaming smile and a tin of he was J "all there," and the kiddies Bye tumb-1 ling about in all directions ■ okirr; for j the falling sweets. The vetf an s, .medj to know where every mother was sitting") with tiny children, and dropped a shower] of lollies in the lap of each Then he j ran races so rapidly that about £5 worth of toys and about i 3 worth of j small change (which he himself collected 1 In the crqafrd) found He J MinMßfumit £2 for a bandsmen's this prize-moiiiv found its Stratford band funds. HhHHK P. new offices NBHHflßpremises next Messrs Bellformerly occupied by Mr. block of 38, aad I'm the the lot."—Mr. H. J. Okey, playful mood at : Thursday's Becoming serious, he urged not to try to get into power to leave the present party washing-up, so that it could for any dirt discovered Thursday niglifj's speakers metaphors amusingly. Mr. lie wouldn't in the Goparty "for all the gold in Massey later on spoke or some lambs who had gone out for the loavesTftrt-'frehos," but who ] would return to the fold before next election. The new Minister of Public Works is to have a deputation from the roadless out beyond" in the course of next week. To-day is the -business man's black Saturday with many. It's '"the bank's half-yearly balance. But it. has been a good business day in the shops. When I looked in at Spence's drapery establishment the counte'rs on the women's side were thronged. Bank holiday on Monday, in celebration of the anniversary of the province. Its a handy time for a holiday for the staffs, for this has been a busy week fpif. thenty Jand (the ,overtji:me\ Veccfil would make a shops inspccto'r look for blood. | The Electric Light Company's day load will be available early in .May. Good progress is being made witH the erection of the new machinery. - leeting of shareholders in the Sfcrat■pKrs' 00-operatQi Association HEeld on t( > discuss the |Af making cheese next season ■fapany's facto'ry or factories. has been well threshed out Mangatoki, ; ind the dairy HHthere are right cut after the |H»t are p'romised to suppliers in the ne ?t few Tears. Regiment (Tar vnaki Rifles) |H. a regimental jet. Captain just obtained a fine bullHe is clothed in a coat of black BBvith the Roman numerals XI ■ white, these being the ,regi|Wlors. The youngster has ala taste for khaki trons■K there will probably be a deuntil tie pet learns