Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From Our Resident Reporter. STRATFORD A. & P. ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the executive of the A. & P. Association was held on Tuesday, the president (Mr. \V. I'. Kirkwood) presiding. , . Amongst the general business transacted were minor matters' dealing with last week's very successful show. A letter was received from the W.C.T.I'. (Stratford branch), thanking thi' Association for the rest tent at the show, and for the privilege of selling afternoon tea. .Mr. T. 11. rSevin, of Morningside, Auckland (who is vice-president of the Auckland Kennel C'fub) wrote expressing his gra.iitiule for promptness in returning liis dog exhibits, which arrived at Auckland at !) o'clock on Saturday morning, "in good condition, with clean bedding, etc.. showing that some of tlio country shows can teach some of the larger shows a lesson in cleanliness and despatching." It was decided to recommend ;lo the general committee to hold a gymkhana on Easter Monday on the showgrounds. The secretary was authorised to pay out all prize money. llevuly votes of thanks were passed to the judges and to all who assisted to make the show a success; to all those who donated gifts for the gift auction. The Building Committee was asked to bring down a recommendation as to the best method of utilising Mr. Athol Meredith's donation of 2000 ft. of timber, j It was decided to complete the sheep j pens, according to the plan adopted. *

STRAY PARAGRAPHS The Stratford Municipal Brass Band has offered to give a sacred concert in the hospital grounds on Sunday, in connection with the hospital lOllcotions for meeting liabilities entered into for the equipment of the new isolation ward. The borough overseer has the laugh on certain individuals just now. The idea of driving a. stone-crusher with the steam road roller providing the motive power was smiled at in some quarters. The laugh is on the other side of the mouth now. The crushing is going along splendidly. Our bowlers are endeavoring to have the Waitara-Stnttford banner match | played at Jnglewood. as it is quite im- ' possible for our club to send away a | full team for a whole, day on the Thurs- | day before Christmas. In these days of i keen competition, business must come ; first, bowls later.

Among the many phases of the work falling upon hospital and charitable aid boards, probably none presents more complexity than the matter of dealing with children of indigent people. Just now the Stratford Board is about to send away such a child to a home in another part of the country, and the expense will fall, on the ratepayers, but 7s lid a week is little when spread, over such a number. The matter was very fully discussed at Tuesday's meeting, and Mr. Sidney Ward made quite an eloquent speech concerning the duties of the Board in such cases. He pointed out that, whatever the expense, the Board must in such cases see that the children got a fair chance to grow up into healthy and healthy-minded men and women. He quoled a case in which a little, boy and a little girl, children of an indigent parent, were being brought up in c'neumstanecs that could not be conducive to their well-being in any way. The Board must step in and take those children, placing them in clean, healthy surroundings. He spoke, a good word—many good words—for the conduct of the SaHalion Army homes, and said he was convinced, from personal investigation, that the Army would give every child entrusted to its care the ('uince to be. upright in character, and i lie officers would do their utmost to mould the characters aright of the youngsters entrusted to them. There was always the danger, of course, that the parent or parents might improve in financial position and demand that the children be returned to their care, in which case nil the work done in the homes and al! the money expended would be to some extent wasted. But they had to take that risk, and the Board must do its best to rescue the little ones from unhealthy surroundings, train them aright., and thus prevent the growth of another generation of people who would be a charge upon the State and a menace to it.

BERNARD'S PICTURES. Who lias not heard of the thrilling incidents attending the relief of Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny? At tremendous expense these historic scenes have been re-enacted before the cinematograph, and this great film will be screened to-night at His Majesty's Theatre. Stratford. A recent critic wrote of this great picture: A wave of patriotic sentiment passed over the audience, and many hearts were throbbing witli excitement, when a magnificent picture, representing one of the most stirring incidents in the history of England, was released, in the shape of "The Relief of Lucknow." The gallant defence of Lucknow during the great mutiny of the Sepoys was such that age cannot wither or custom stale its glory, and it lost nothing in being transferred to a film. Its splendor will remain undinvmed. The whole construction and production of the film was a marvellous work of art. The subject of the mutiny was extremely well treated. The earlier portions "gave an idea far plainer than words of the dissatisfaction which arose amongst the native regiments, fostered In- the glib oratory of travelling fakirs, and the battle scenes which came later on were superb. The men figuring in the film had plainly caught on with the spirit of the picture, and they looked ami moved as if they were in earnest. i Without doubt "The Relief of Lucknow" is an historical picture, which should interest young and old alike.