Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 125, 14 October 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From uur Resident Reporter. TOO MUCP TRADE THE TERRITORIALS

It is all very well to train men to fight, but fighting men must be fed. To provide instruction in military cooking has been recognised as the duty of the Defence Department, and the .experiences at encampments a few months ago enforced the opinion that no time was to be lost in setting about the work. The I defence people have awakened to the fact that the cookery department is a department that matters. SergeantMajor Dallinger, attached to the 11th Taranaki Regiment, has had considerable experience as an army cook, and thoroughly understands his work. He is now superintendent of the Department's School of Cookery at Trentham. There are fifty candidates, and tliey are working in a splendid model of a field kitchen, conducted under Sergeant-Major Dallinger's supervision. Modifications of the War Office system have 'had to be made to suit local conditions, and the whole of the equipment is reported to have surprised (?ne and all by its labor-saving and economical methods. With such a system in vogue the Territorials should have no complaint to make about the camp cooking apd food distribution.

PERSONAL ITEMS. On Friday night, upon the invitation of Major Carbery, the officers and noncoms. of the C section of the 4th Field Ambulance Corps farewelled Private H. Priestley. Captain Lampen, area officer, staff-sergeant-majors and non-commis-sioned officers of H Company of the 11th Regiment were present. Major Carbery was in command. A well ordered

attack was made on the capital provisioning of the Royal Supper Rooms, after which the men held a sort of campfire evening, stories and "yarns" going the rounds. Major Carbery expressed the regret of the C section at the loss of &uch an earnest and efficient member

| as Private Priestley, who had been an exemplary Territorial from the day lie had joined. Despite the fact that lie had to keep up his engineering studies, and that he had to obtain leave at least once a'month on account of his work, Private Priestley had qualified, according to the regulations, for his efficiency badge. It was quite contrary to the regulations, of course, to praise a man like this, but he was just using the facts as an example to others. He had completed the whole of his year's training in nine months, having put in thirty-four hour-and-a-half drills, eleven half-day parndes, and seven days in camp. Major Carbery enumerated the j various subjects in which a member of the field ambulance had to become proficient—elementary anatomy and physiology, first aid, minor field surgery, sanitation, duties in hospital, and so on, Every man had to pass his examination, ! and Major Carbery was pleased to say !" that their guest had passed with 70 per cent, of marks, so that lie was a first-class efficient, coming fourth out of twenty who had sat for examination. He believed that all his men had passed first-grade. He concluded by expressing , to Private Priestley the best wishes of the C section in his new sphere of labor. I Private Priestley briefly replied, stating j that he had derived much benefit from his training. Captain Lampen conveyed the good wishes of the 11th Regiment. "Auld Lang Syne" and cheers for . the host (Major Carbery) and the guest concluded the gathering, the hope being expressed that it was fcut the forerunner of many similar functions among the Territorials, but not for the same purpose, for as one officer put it "good men can ill be spared."

'STRAY PARAGRAPHS It is surprising, when you come to think about it, that the average man knows so little about himself. Dr. Carbery mentioned this at Friday night's function. "He knows all about a bicycle, or a motor-bike, or a motor-car. He knows how to take it to pieces and where to oil it, and the names of all the parts. But ask him about his "in' ards," and he knows- nothing about them. He doesn't know where his liver is, and he doesn't even know where his stomach is." Subsequently he stated that elementary physiology was now being taught in the schools, and his experience was that the subject was very well taught. The "sliding scale" is a nuisance. But it is a produce of modern business. The Maori fish-hawker is a modern producn, too, and he has adopted the "slid- ; scale." The motor-car Maoris who re selling whitebait here the other I were charging Is Gd a pint for it. well-known commercial man, in morncoat and shiny bell-topper, made a chase, and was charged sixpence ex- . He protested. The Maori looked his customer, ejaculated, "Oil, you re gitira," and went on selling. If you it concessions in the fish market, put old clothes. it a meeting of the A. & P. executive Friday night the secretary was inucted to write to the authorities ask- ; them for the Government exhibit honey to be displayed at the show. . L. Webster was transferred as stewl from the horse section to the sheep tion, and Mr. A. J. Davey will act light horse steward. Mr. L. Hann 5 appointed steward in the Shorthorn tie section. 'he Territorials in Taranaki intend lg strongly represented in the big itary tournament in Christchureli at ■istmas time. \ 7 hat a different landscape, liow much Ire production there would have been Taranaki had explosives been used for mping operations right on from the nmencement of settlement. The cost stumping by the old method is excessive, and the work laborious. Stumping by modern means, using such an effective as ''Eruptite" is economical and simple. On Friday the Stratford office of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company conducted demonstraf tions at Xgaere and Midhirst, on the farms of Messrs. Hartley and Green, and E. Viekers, respectively. Xot only stumping, but tree-felling, splitting, sinking post holes, and sub-soiling were simply accomplished, and those who witnessed the demonstrations were well satisfied with the explosive, for which the X.Z.L. & M.A. are the district agents.

STRATFORD A. & P. SHOW. The schedule for the Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Association's spring show is now being circulated, and intending exhibitors who have not already received a schedule should communicate with the secretary. Mr. W. B. Fearon, Stratford. The schedule contains classes in cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, dogs, dairy produce, home industries, vehicles, implements, technical classes and school children's exhibits. The whole of the classes are well endowed with prize money, and should attract exhibitors in even "greater numbers than last year, when a record list of entries was received, totalling 2250. This is a record to be proud of, and exceeded only by one or two associations throughout the Dominion. The New Zealand Jersey Breeders' Assciation has allotted two valuable trophies to be competed for in £T eW Zealand, one of the trophies being

presented to the Auckland A. & P. Association and the other to the Stratford Association. Eacn of these trophies is valued in London at £l7 17s. In the Stratford schedule the trophv is allotted to class No.. 9ii, with the following conditions: "Best three Jersey cows or heifers (in milk), property of and bred by one exhibitor. Animals to be entered .or eligible for entry in the N.Z. Jersey Herd Book." With the trophy are also given first, second and third prizes. Silver cups and special money prizes are scheduled in other pedigree cattle classes. Champion gold medals are given in the cattle and horse sections, while numerous special prizes and trophies are given in the sheep, pig, dog and poultry sections. Tn a word, the schedule of this progressive Association is very comprehensive and .well worthy of the attention of exhibitors. Entries close positively on November 21.

BERNARD'S PICTURES

Change of programme to-night at His Majesty's Theatre. Pride of place must ba given to a faithful interpretation of Alexander Dumas' romantic novel, "The Corsican Brothers." The story is brim-, fill of adventure and interest, and all the more acceptable on account of its old-time flavor. Its theme is as unusual as it is exciting, and added spice is given to the picture by the featuring of two duels, the actors in which are manifestly pastnmsters in the fencing line. The tale mainly hinges on a Corsican's mission to Paris to revenge his brother's life, and to rescue 'his fiancee. A drama with a more modern setting is "The Stolen Invention." Important plans were stolen from the inventor, and the hero's love for a girl has much to do with their recovery. The film is excellently got up, and well acted. Another great detective picture, which is always popular, is "The Forgotten Clue," portrayed by Selig. "Spring at San Reno" is a lovely scenic picture. The comic films, which are always readily accepted at the conclusion of the stirring dramas, are on this occasion more sprightly and funny than ever.