Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 250, 22 April 1912, Page 4

Our Stratford Page

1 Stratford, Saturday. THE MAYORALTY Wednesday's poll will be a heavy one. Messrs. Kirkwood and McAllister both have strong committees at work, and great enthusiasm is being displayed by the workers. Mr. Kirkwood has a ladies' committee of considerable dimensions. It is quite evident that there is good organisation on both sides, and whoever loses will have the satisfaction of having done his best. The candidates are to be complimented on their decision to take the platform, and it is expected that Mr. McAllister's meeting | on Monday, and Mr. Kirkwood's on { Tuesday, each at the Town Hall, will draw big attendances. Notices from the candidates appear in this issue. THE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. The committee has approved the following report to be presented at Monday night's meeting of householders, which takes place at 7 o'clock at the school: — At the householders' meeting last year the following committee was appointed:—Messrs. P. Skogluud, G. Smart, A. Stewart, C. D. Sole, R. H. Cameron, J. W. McMillan, D. McMillan, A. T. Mac-' Million, and J. Butcher, Mr. Sole being elected chairman at the subsequent committee meeting. Of this committee, two— Messrs. D. McMillan and A. T. MacMahon—have left the district, their places on the committee being taken by Mr. S. Clark and the Rev. B. Metson. Fifteen meetings of the committee have been Held, and the attendances of members have been as follows:—Skogiund 9, Smart 11. Stewart 15. Sole 15. Cameron 3, J. W. McMillan 10. D. McMillan 5, McMahon 7, Butcher 8, Clark 8, Rev. Metson 3. The first notable event of our year of office was the destruction of the greater part of the main building by fire on the 20th May. As you are) aware, prompt measures were taken for continuing without delay the school work. Thanks to the Salvation Army officer, the use of the Army Hall was obtained, and with the accommodation fhus provided and that furnished by the Technical School building, Monday morning (the fire took place on a Saturday) saw the school in full Bwing as usual. It was, however, a very trying time for the staff, and the very greatest credit should he given for the splendid way in which they met the difficulties. "Out of evil cometh good," awl we have : now to rejoice in the possession of a permanent, well-lighted, well-arranged, and sanitary building of brick, an ornament to the town and a credit to the education authorities.

The foundation stone was liiid by Sir Joseph Ward on 27th November, and the opening function is too fresh in your memory to need mcntioli. Efforts have been made by the conimittee to have the brick front of the building extended westward, the whole length, and this should still be kepi in view. Much remains to be done in making the grounds and surroundings worthy of the handsome building. The Education Board is arranging for the proper grading of the whole playground. The committee has in hand the asphalting of the floor of the sheltershed. One important addition to the buildings has been made during the--year by the committee in providing a commodious glass house for botanical studies. A matter that is already urgent and will become imperative in the near future is the provision of additional playing ground, the space available now being out of all proportion to the number of children. More ground can only be obtained by the removal of the headmaster's residence, and adding to the playground the area now occupied by the house and garden. With the valuable assistance of the Operatic and Orchestra! Society, an excellent entertainment was given at the Town Hall prior to the Christmas holidays. Part of the funds derived from the performance were devoted to the purchase of prizes for school work. The annual seaside picnic was held as usual at Moturoa. We were greatly favored by the weather, and there was a record attendance.

The number of children attending the school has continued to increase, and it is now easily the largest in the province. The school has grown a grade in classification for staffing, and is now on a better footing in this respect. Tn regard to results, it is gratifying to find that, in spite of the obvious disadvantages entailed by the scattering of the classes and consequent comparative disorganisation, these are equal to any yet obtained in former years. '(Signed) C. D. SOLE, Chairman. The balance-sheet shows that, with the amount of £47 3s 8d in hand at the commencement of the year, the committee controlled £350 Is lOd. The year closes with a credit balance of £49 14s lOtl. The committee held its final meeting last night (Friday). The chairman, Mr. C. J"). Sole, confirmed his announcement of the previous evening that he would not seek re-election. l r i' thanked members for their careful : '' cntion to the business, and/orthe very harmonious relations which had existed between them. There had been uo discordant note between him and the other committeemen or between him and the teaching staff. | Concluding, he suggested that the new 'committee should establish a school library. .Mr. (}. Smart, on behalf of his colleagues, regretted the chairman's de-ci-ion, Iml thanked him for his courtesy | ami iulerest at all times. Other memi bers followed in a similar strain, and the following resolution was unanimously passed: '"That it be recorded in the record* I hat Ibis meeting passes a xny hearty vote of thanks to -Mr. Sole for the very valuable and lengthy services to the school, .nul that it expresses its xcgrcl that he is unable to odor his services for a further period." Tu returning thanks, Mr. Sole said there were times in a man's life when he felt that he had been shot at long enough, and lie would like to be at the other end of the gun and shoot back. VALEDICTORY. I _ The Rev. J. M. Thomson and aire. 'Thomson left, this morning by the mail train for Foxton. Last, night they were entertained by members of (lie congregation at a social in St. Andrew's Hall. Dr. Steven presided, and voiced ( Ihe regret of his friends that the Ttev. \ Thomson had resigned his charge. Mr. lA. Sjience also spoke, regretting the chaiurc, and expressing the highest adI miration of the work done by Mr. Thomj .son duvinnp h's -"ven year-' ministry. On l behalf o[ the .'MiuTcfation he then'liand- \ ed to the departing minister a well-lilled purse of sovereigns, and a beautiful or-

* * * * * From Our Resident Reporter, * * *

$ Broadway North., next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. *

namental clock for Mrs. Thomson. Mr. Thomson feelingly thanked the doncs for the handsome presents, and expressed his regret that the time had come for the severance of many fast friendships he had formed in Stratford. Ho remarked that during his seven years' ministry locally he had seen the whole personnel of the Taranaki Presbytery change, and had seen 7tine ministers transferred to other spheres of work from Stratford itself. At the conclusion of the evening those present joined in singing "God be with you till we meet again." _. 1; ._.,']._,'„." A FALSE ALARM. After the mail train reached New Plymouth a message was sent from there to Stratford that a man had been seen to jump off the train when it was passing opposite the Stratford abattoirs. Members of the Midhirst railway staff a*i of the Stratford staff searched the locality, but could find no sign of any man having been injured. Sergeant McNeely also undertook a search with Constable McCallum, and it was well after midnight when the two officers returned, without having discovered any sign of a tragedy. Perhaps, some resident in the locality, who knew that the up-grade made speed of the train slower at. this point, risked the jump, and strolled off home as if nothing had happened. It: was as well that no accident occurred, for if a man had been seriously injured he might have died long before a search was instituted. Surprise is expressed that the matter was not reported from one of the intermediate stations instead f of- waiting until the train reached its j destination. GENERAL NEWS During Friday night Mr. 11. Masters' fancy goods and stationery emporium weie burglariously entered, and the sum of £5 was stolen from a drawer in the showroom. The police have the matter in hand. Thursday's gymkhana will probably | give the A. and P. Association a profit of over £BO. Had Easter Monday been fine the estimate of £2OO profit would probably have been very near the mark. The conversazione at the school on Thursday night returned a profit of about £l2. The prices of admission were very low, and the function was not meant as a profit-earning scheme. But to a school committee a douceur of £l2 j is ever welcome. | The next show in Stratford is to be a i poultry show, with, baby show attached, j Daddies of twins will be pleased to see i that .there is a splendid class for pairs, j which may be some solace to the afflicted ] ones. There is a big run on the poultry I and farm produce schedules, and the | committee jn charge r of the arrangements ! is expecting a successful exhibition, j Some of the "biggest" fanciers in Auck- j land are bringing teams of birds along. J On Friday night the ladies of Toko! road gave a complimentary social to | their friends, the guests being invited free of charge. Those responsible for ! the arrangements must be complimented! on the success attending them. There! was a brilliant gathering from all over central Taranaki. The hall was prettily decorated, the floor was- in capital order, and Miss McDonald, of Stratford, played excellent music. Misses Leydon and: Clarke were the M.C.'s till supper time,! after which Mr. Alec Rutherford, of j Stratford, was given the office. Misses Leydon and Fieldes and Mr. Day played for extra dances. :