STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 201, 14 January 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

PRIZE ESSAY COMPETITION. Mr. I!. ('■■ Whelter. T:ij-:i ii;tUi TCducalimi liiL-inl's Inspector, who judged the essay* entered for tlif Stratford A. & P. Association's essay competition, has made his award. The subject was the Association's 1!)1'2 spring show. Both boys and girls liave written very good descriptions of the fixture, but, like quite a number of writers in newspapers and elsewhere, have "let themselves go" on the first objects that met their eye

-in this ca;-e the dog* and fowls--and have passed over the grand parade and the stock sections in short order. One or two expressions used show that the schoolchildren of to-day read their newspapers. The results are:

Class A. 14 years or under.—.l. T. Mills CTharaoli". Midhirst (Stratford School). 1; A. Anderson ("Waterloo"). East road, Stratford, 2; V. McAllister (■•Xelson"). Stratford, :i.

Class ]!. lo years or under.— W. IToddcr ("Ferrett"), Marco. Whangamomona, 1; Mary Jamieson ("Preciosa"), Marco, Whangamomona, 2: Marion Saunders ("Weka"), Ngaere, 3. The Association has yet to ascertain, before paying out. tb.it all the competitors complied with the age conditions. Some extracts from the essays follow: "Pharoah," winner of class A. wrote: ''Here we see gigantic bulls, some angrily pawing the ground, and emitting low. rumbling bellows; while others are feediug quietly on the green grass which has been provided for them. . . Ladies and young girls, expert critics in culinary matters, throng around the exhibits, while we. being mere boys who can only tell a cake from a pudding by rating it, have to be content to look on from a distance. . . . We had a game of bowls with a negro, and after losing four shillings we gave the game

up. ... On the way home we ask our parents why shows are held, and wr are told that it is to encourage farmers to breed better stock." •'Why is this show held?" asks "Waterloo." "It is held for the purpost of allowing faxmers to compete with their stock, and thus one who . fails is enabled to find out the faults of his stock. These he can better, and at some future date he will be among those who have been successful." According to this essayist the streets of Stratford resembled a farmyard on the first morning, and on the second day "a street in a large cityj and not merely a road in a farming centre." Then. 'Tast of all came the grand parade, the most interesting of all the events that happened on that memorable day."

"Nelson" was placed third. Ilis introduction was good. "When a traveller first arrives in Stratford," he wrote, '•'the feature that first meets his eye is the beautiful Mount Egmont, which, on a fine day, is distinct and majestic. But even the mountain is forgotten . .

when Stratford celebrates its third annual A. & P. Show. The object of this show is. like all others, to excite competition among the people of the surrounding country, and thus improve and increase the products of the land." A flash of' humor regarding the sideshows followsa review of the dogs and fowls. The writer says. "Most of these were roaring to do a trade, and were doing a roaring trade." He mentions and approves of the creation of the people's stand, and then, "as the sun has readied its zenith." be seeks the shelter of the line trees, and lunches, afterwards visiting the different sections and noting that "the bulls were very large, some being more than a yard across." "Ferret" makes an interesting contribution, seeing the town and the show from the point of view of the backbloeks child. This essay took first place in Class B. "I was very pleased when T heard I could go to the sliow, for I had never been to one before, and it was my first trip in a train." Childlike, he chronicles his sleepless night and the three o'clock rising in order to get away. "Everything was strange to nie." he wrote, "and you may be sure; 1 did not lose sight of my brothers." A student, this, lie chronicles his first train ride, the dash through the Whanga' tunnel, the arrival in Stratford, his impression of the shops and traffic, "rosycheeked babies." and others whose "faces fairly beamed with expectancy and good humor." At the grounds: "People, people, people! I had never seen such a crowd before, and it is a puzzle to me wbere they all ca.me from." Touching on the sheep classes, "Ferret" remarks that "Mr. Cleland. a man of our district, was very successful. ... I was very pleaded, as ... to see a local

man winning so many prizes encourages lis to put in entries ourselves." This little visitor writes intelligently of the advantages of the milking and shearing machines. He had taken interest in the dogs "because my brother had one in which took two first prizes; and the scones, and the sewing, because ''Mother is a dressmaker." adding that "the way the girls had worked in the colored silks was wonderful." As for the poultry, "I intend to put in some myself next vear. . . . T was rather taken in

over the cats, for T though T would see some lovely Persians, of which I have read a great deal." It is interesting to note that •"Ferret" reached the Mangare siding at midnight, and walked five miles home, arriving about one o'clock. Concluding. "My eyes were opened to many things undreamed of before. I shall heartily look forward to the next show, and intend to try and have a few exhibits in myself." And if "Ferret" does not win an essay competition before long it will not be for want of trying.

T''o second' essay in tliis class was wri ;en by a Kohuratahi girl from tlie «ainc school as ■■Ferret." Head this: "Jlcavy rain.' 'she writes, "having done its work tii perfection during the night. I lie morning of People's Day broke bright and beautiful; the birds twittered gaily in the trees, the gentlest of breezes blew, and the softest of vapoury elondlets >!l i| ( .J across the bine heaven's face. away, away." An observer of nature. Later. -lie shows her appreciation of iln* importance of the event.

"At an early hour people in all parts of Taranaki were astir, getting in readiness lo catch the various excursion trains which were to convey them to Stratford." Then the woman instinct come- uppermo.-l. ''Our first impression of the well-dressed throngs of women was the tendency of their gowns towards nicrmaidism. but with a greater wealth of color and beauty." This little lady seems to have "done" all the sideshows, sweet-, -\-.\\U. luncheon and W.C.T.I'. rest tent<. She enumerated the cakes and sauce-, and went into raptures over the n llework. "the plain and fancy sewing, from the homely pincushion to the elegant bedspread, ill commonest cottons and daintiest silks. This section wii'i an education that will not be casilv forgotten, by the girls at least." Pa-s----ing on. I lie essayist declares "This show is one of the best managed in Xcw Zealand, and has made great strides in its short life. Its success is assured should it continue to move forward, keeping the educational a-pect in view, and taking for its motto. •Advance Xew Zealand.'"

"Weka" alone appreciated (he importa nee of "Her Majesty the Cow." and visited the cattle pens first. She was disappointed with the entry of poiiltrv. pleased with ihe dogs, praised the bu'f. )■>)■ fat and casein contest iis n f -special in!crc-t to farmers." and lamented the small entry of pigs. To her mind, the

Jersey, Ayrshire and Ilolstein cattle ' sliowcl up best in 1 In- parade. Then she left "for home and the cows . , . with a determination to sec the nextshow, if possible. STRAY PARAGRAPHS Messrs. Webster. Dohson & Co., tue newest Taranaki firm of auctioneers and stock ami land agents, held an opening sale yesterday at Strathmore Yards. The prices were good. Mr. Will Webster wielded the hammer with all his old time skill. 17c was the recipient of the good wishes of the farmers all along the line, all joining in congratulating liim on the auspicious start of the firm's operations. The windows at Webster, iJolison ft I'o.'s offices in the. Municipal Buildings are not yet out of tin; decorator's hands, but it is already apparent that they will easily eclipse any others along the coast, while, competent critics declare that they are unequalled in the whole Dominion.

At the rifle range next Thursday afternoon the Stratford Rifle Club will fire a match for the Masters Cup. This cup has to be won twice in succession, or three times at intervals, before passing out of the hands of the club. The present holder is Mr. H. H. G oil op.

The Borough Council meets to-morrow evening. Among other matters to he discussed will lie the question of the workmen's wages, upon which subject the Council was deputationised a month

ilmc. Bernard is again to the fore with a generous offer to give the proceeds of a special matinee performance r.ext Saturday in aid of the widow and children of the late Mr. E. A. Smith. Mr. K, Masters left last evening for Patea by motor-car. and goes on to Hunterville to-day, returning this evening and bringing with him his brother, Mr. "Dick" Masters, who has been laid up for some days with a poisoned knee. He has been attended professionally by his old schoolmate, Dr. O. Evans. The Rev. ,1. Pattison, the new minister at St. Andrew's"'Church,'is re-estab-lishing the congregation, his forceful eloquence making the services very attractive.

PERSONAL Hale and hearty, the Rev. J. 11. White arrived in New Plymouth on a visit yesterday, with two of his sons, Messrs. Hubert G. and H. Temple White, the latter of Feilding. BERNARD'S PICTURES A splendid programme of pictures is being screened at His Majesty's Theatre. "The .Missing Finger" is the star film. The story is thrilling, and excellent acting raises it above the level of the ordinary picture. Patrons should not miss this detective drama. A good comedy picture is "A Leap Year Lottery Prize." Other films include "Lessons in Liquid Air," a scientific film of merit, "A Trip to Senegal," showing glimpses of the Soudan, and a drama,' "The Moorish Maid," a reproduction of Alfred Hill's and Youlin Birch's opera. A whole series of hearty.laughs is guaranteed, for the comedy section is, a strong one. ,The orchestra, which is a most enjoyable feature of Bernard's Pictures, will'play incidental music.