Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 258, 1 May 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

Stratford. Tuesday. FREEZING THE CHILDREN NO FIRES AT THE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. The District High School building which was opened with such pomp and splendor and enthusiasm the other day is not popular with fathers and mothers and children to-day, and some of the teachers have got unkind things to say about it, too. The place is not finished. ,Parents have come to me with complaints that there is no provision for warming the rooms, so I have had a look at them my-s-df to-day. Anyone else who took the same trouble would emphatically endorse the opinion of the mother of three hoys and girls attending the school that the condition of things is a disgrace to the administrators of the education system in this district. It ought, to he mentioned, just here, that Stratford is situated at a considerable altitude, ; snd -experiences cold that the denizens-of the educational headquarters ; of Taranaki have no idea of. The wind ; blowing, from the west over the snowcovered ranges 'of Mount Egmont gives the air of Stratford an icy feel. It is J genuinely cold to-day. Business, men,, even tfiose who are on the move, complain bitterly. What of the poor children'who have to sit in one position for hours, in a room where there is no fire, ajid no' attempt -to provide artificial • heat? This, too, in a building of brick I only recently out of the workmen's [hands, and, therefore, hardly likely to be thoroughly dry. How .the youngsters ! can maange their tasks decently when their 'extremities are icily cold is a wonder "t6 most of us. But the position is that parents are not going to allow their ■VhiMrefT'to 'put up with it. Unless the 'school "is Warmed, and that quickly, the 'attendatiC-e is going to suffer. a,nd no mother can Toe blamed for refusing to allow' her offspring to lie cooped; up in ! these eoof chambers in such'., strenuous weather,- particularly as the youngsters must be ; damp to a "certain'.extent after trudging to. school in the rain. • Who is tv> blaWe? 'lt is not the 'teachers, who Would 'warm the rooms-.if they could. X'or file school committee, whti provide the 'fuel, And. are teady- tb give the ing arrangements are' complete. It may' be that the heat jriven ' off by the destruction of 'the old wooden buildings by -fire is thought sufficient to | la'st for a spell yet. The building is to i be warmed by Carron fireplaces, but J these are not in working order, as some of the parts were broken in ; transit. They arrived here six";oorr r seven Weeks ago,' The broken castings were to be replaced, and the stoves plaited m position at <t>nce. The castings must be very elaborate, yet the broken 'pieces "do not: suggest it. Perhaps the publication of | the parents' complaint will have the; effect df aTo'using some one ti> do some- J thing." - At® any rate; n<s Ikrm can be I done." -There used to' bt an open fire-j place in the wooden building;"'>" But' this lias been bricked in in l ; preparation-for* the-installation of the new stoves, and there are now eight .class 'rooms, each, accommodating fifty children, without ■any -heating arrangements.-, r. This-seems but'to. add insult to injury. The chair-. iria.fi of the school committee- has telephoned the .board's office on -the, matter, and a'letter from the secretary-is to- follpw,„ -There, is all, tbf material- for - a j «00?1 old-time Strat{o|d : 6hflik-e-MpS pd if j tW, parent? get to wifrtiflt >wiH; come. ".-■a'■■■} Vril 'FOOTBAJjr-.-'J,: ~*"r": < ■; Mie . third- UTade will }s.e-.played: fin .fhursday op Victoria. Park ground at-3 .p.m.- Th-e .seniors will play' ort tive show grqruqtond ffche first itmjors iwijl jar.vnttble'.-te tak# hift"p3»ce'oin,-ithe.pfick, .Bferwill be missed. ]i. y., -A.-& p' •' rAi a.) meeting ...of .the^exqfutiyejiffiihe •Sttatfopd. A. and PL 'Assojpiitt J ibii; ".last night, the Stratford J'ootjw/CjJiilj,' Ws granted-, the use of. the 1 shfe'grbri'tid for matches, on .the same coi'idifl'ons afe",last. year. A suggestion from tfoe caretaker 1 to tpp-.jiress the oval'with soil was. referred to the grounds committee. Messrs. Mori son and Healy will report on the. n-ecqssary. fixtures for the. produce shed. The grounds, and building committees -win ropol't. on. the iirel>«saTy improvejpents to, the buildings aid 'ground!, and wjil,"brin<f down estimate's of'the cost to, p.'' future meeting. A * hearty vote of thanks wfts accorded to' aTPwflio assisted in ilie recent gynikharia,' a special vote being minuted in appreciation 'of the generosity of Mr. C. End£rby, of' Wangairtii, wlio acted as judge and declined t'<V charge" either a fee <fjr. his out-of-pocket expenses. It 1 wasS decided that the £7l Is 3d profit' fi;pm"; the gym- ) khina, 1 * should be scheduled for the extension .of the members*'' stand. The president" gave nbtice to move at next meeting of the general cwjniittee that provision' for a' I .payment Erf- £l§ fpr life-'m-ehiberShip be incorporated in the association's' rules. • . - CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. The executive committee of the Soni.li Tarannki Christian- Emleoyor Union, met in the Primitive Methodist Church here last evening. There were present: Rev. | (president). Rev. Bnrley (vice.T president), the secretary and treasurer, and delegates from Patea. Kakaramea, Xoemanby. _ New Plymouth Methodist Church.'and the two Stratford societies. - - . The suggestions .made at the animal rallv at Ha worn on Friday were ]ilai-ed before the committee. Mr. Russell's suggestion that the future rallies should commence at 1.3(1 p.m. insipid of 2.20 p.m., and one hour be alI billed for business purposes, was adopted. Tt was decided that the annual rc- | port from each society in the union i should be forwarded to the executive ; committee at the last meeting previous ' to the rally—the reports to be sumrnarI ised bv the secretary and read at the . annual rally. j The Rev. Mr. Metson's suggestion that . a superintendent be appointed to organise and assist junior societies was adopt- ' ed, provided that a suitable person was | fortheoniisg. "With regard to Mr. Dixon's suggesj tion that the surprise visits between so- : eieti's should be discontinued, and that I societies be notified of any intended \ visit, the executive decided to take no j action, as it considered this a matter purely of a local nature, and not one I for the union to consider, i ft, was decided to hold the mid-winter < rally at New Plymouth, Some time in ' August, (lie date'to be arranged by the New Plymouth societies. The local offi.-

* From Our Resident Reporter, * * (fr * Broadway North., next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. * * *+ + *****4 *

cials, together with the Rev. Mr. Hales, of New Plymouth, were appointed a committee to arrange a programme. Delegates were appointed from the executive committee to visit societies in the union and to report at the nert executive meeting. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. There was an attendance of about 80 parishioners at the annual meeting of the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, tonight. The Rev. W. Butler presided. The report, as published yesterday, was adopted. The Vicar announced that he had been offered, and had accepted, the position of honorary chaplain to the Bishop of Auckland. This would not, however, he said, necessitate his leaving Stratford. Mr. A. C. Bell was chosen vicar's warden, and Mr. A. F. Grant parishioners' warden. The following vestry was ■ elect-fed: Messrs. E. W. Lewis, T. Partridge, A. P. Staples, G. W. Miles, W. V. Wilson, W. 11. H. Young, and J. H. Ilo'bbs, Stratford; J. T. Belshaw, Car-, diff. Others have to be appointed by Toko and Midhirst. The vicar was au-: thorised to take steps to obtain an assistant clergyman to help in the work of the parish.

BERNARD'S PICTURES, To replace "The Mystery of a Hansom I Cab," whose .successful run came to a close to-night, Mme. Bernard has five or six new film s for the delectation of patrons on Wednesday. These include the pathetic "A.8." drama "A Christmas Carol," said to he a sweet subject well i told by actor ancl einematographer. "The Voyager" is one of Selig's greatest In-1 dian dramas, and as these are always popular, and the picture is on for only one night, there should be a good house. The usual change is announced for Thursday. Coming shortly is "Dan Morgan," the rioted Australian bushranging picture. GENERAL NEWS. , At a meeting of the Stratford District High School' Committee to-night, Miss •Francis Neilson; M.A.. assistant teacher at Riverton High School, and an old Wanganui College girl, was chosen to succeed Miss Butler on the teaching staff of the secondary department of the school.. - To-morrow is • "the first." Men and dogs have gone to the front and more are going. To-morrow the guns will be banging merrily, and by the end of the i week we will'be hearing stories of actual J and imaginary bags. But the shootist is not in it with liis. fishing confrere when I it comes to "yarns." ' ! The Foresters' Lodge opened its win- ; ter series of socials last night, and such i popularity ;was achieved in former • years that the,hall was overcrowded on > this occasion, that is, from the dancers' i point of view. The committee in charge J seemed to know its business, and the M.C., Bro. E," Hancock, was specially at- j tentive. Mrs. Brooking catered for the | supper, and members of the Order saw | to it that the'; guests enjoyed the very pleasing rcptist, whilst the tables showed that ladies' lodge members had interested themselves to good purpose. The Ngaere orchestra provided capital music, extra dances being played by Miss Copestake, Messrs-. Richardson and Sanders. Mr. C. Copestake, secretary to the com-' mittee, .is to be congratulated upon the success which attended the efforts of himself and- his -co-workers. The mayorftj , installation will take place to-niorr.Q\v. (.Wednesday) at .1,1 o'clock, not' at" ten o'clock as previously, stated'. ''r v The muc.S italked-of Sanson case is to be .further in Wellington this week. Mrilß. Spqnce is .associated with Mr. Skerr?tt'' l (lor 1 the' defence) in the argument ih< the" ''Supreme Court. It will be remflmbSrad iltihat at the end of very lengthy .evidence .it was arranged that argument §hould be taken in, Wellington' to me'el' th'fe convenience of the. parties cbnf-Srnfe'dv' I • There are .whispers"of libel in the air, arising out the ; mayoral election struggle, / ' '~'.. ' . ' ' i Messrs. BeHnriger Bros.' signwriter is doing that'will bear comparison with tlijt in,tiny town in New Zealand. "Cjhijftrcji aijd fools." thev say, "should not see things half done." but, anyone tail s£e' even now that the illuminated" wiriftbw ' for Messrs. Mc- 1 Cluggage and 09. is going to be something special. Not content with gold loaf "and wclf-ehosen colors and shading, the 'iirtist 'is "introducing a couple of landscapes.' -,j 1 Late coijiej;s tto, the- pictures cause much inconvenience and. discomfort to those wlio art "itlrCady watching the pictures.' Phnctutiltoy" is" a virtue, possess it if you cap.-:v.; < •< TARANAKT HARDWARE COMPANY., The Taranaki Hardware. Companv is the successor! tol Messrs. Sidney Ward and Co. Mr. A. E. Remington, the manager, is a man who has had extensive Home and colonial .experience, and seems to have explored every nook and. f crqnny of the hardware and ironmongery blisinoss. With such an intimate knowledge, and backed tip by'.a large and extensive, stock 'of furnishing and . builders' ironmongery, tools, Crockery, brushware, etc., the company is in a position to cater fully for the needs of the district. At present tlifc firm -is advertising in this page its stocks;of rguns and ammunition, and stress is laid on the fact that many a sportsman .sours his temper and loses his bird through • being inadequately equipped. Sportsmen are cordially invited to inspect.