STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 8, 28 May 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

FROM OtIR RESIDENT REPORTER. Office and Job Printing Works: Fork Chamber* 'upstairs', Telephone No. 113.

THE SCHOOL RESIDENCE

MR. MASTER'S REPORT TO THE EDUCATION BOARD. The question of the urgent need for repairs to the Stratford school residence formed the subject of a short discussion at the meeting of tho Taranaki Education Board yesterday. The Secretary for Education wrote that ae far ai the Department was aware, the Board had taken no action upon the suggestion that part of the ground now occupied by the headmaster should be resumed for school use. He did not know if the Board intended the «ommrttee'» letter which it forwarded in August last to be taken as an adequate reply to the suggestion, but in a case of this kind it was obviously desirable that the Board itself should have dealt with the Department's proposal. In the absence of any indication that the Boftrd had considered the matter, the Minister postponed decision on the a,pplieatiom until a report from a departmental officer could be obtained. There had not yet been an opportunity to get suck » report. It did not appear that the committee's objection to sections 104 and 185 ought to be accepted as disposing of the Department's suggestion, The ground could probably be filled up and levelled. Further, it did not seem that tho possibility of usingl section IST hid been considered. The whole area at the Board's disposal appeared to be about SVa acres. The chairman stated that directly on receipt of the letter he had forwarded a copy to Stratford to Mr. Masters, and asked for a complete report, which read as follows: —

First is the question of filling In sections 104 and 165. Stratford is peculiarly situated in the mjtt®r of having spare earth for filling in sections. It is exceptionally level, and it is almost impossible to get earth except- from a great distance, and the cost is naturally : very heavy. The Stratford borough engineer, after going over the sections, i estimated that it would take at least | 30Q0 yards, at 4d per yard royalty and j la 9d per yard cartage, so that on a : low estimate it would cost £3'25. The house is about 30 years old and is very much knocked about on account of the number of shifts the building lias had. Tt has, I understand, been removed four times. The timber is woim-eaten, and in many places rotten. The rafters and purlins of the roof are not sound, and nails will not now hold in the timber. The valleys and iron are all rusty and eaten through. The building as it now stands is a ramshackle affair. Each time it has been removed a small addition has been put on to what was originally a four-roomed cottage. The floors are on different levels, and altogether the place is not a fit place for a residence at all, let alone for a residence for the master of a school the size of Stratford. Altogether, it is in a nwft deplorablo condition. The Department bavs that the possibility of using section 127 lias not been considered, but I would point out that th's is not so, as this section is mow, and always' will be. required for a horse-paddock, and this is indispensable to a school that has so many children travelling from a distance. The Induration Department seems to me to Jinve the opinion that if the section is filled in sufficient pinyground would be provided, but I would point out that even .if this were, done (an(l I submit -that it would not meet the case} a very. large amount, would still have to J>e spent in repairs to the residence. Mr. Masters' report was adopted, and a copy of it will be sent to tue Education Department.

A. & P. FINANCES. The balance-sheet submitted at tlic annual genera] meeting of tlie Stratford , A. and P. Association unfortunately j gave no indication of the financial result j ■of the last show. In the first plnee, i the accounts cowed a period of sixteen j months instead of twelve, and then no , separate statement of receipts and ex- | penditnre a,s to the show itself was | given. On the face of the printer! bnl- ( ance-sheet, it appears that the balance j of the previous year was .tIW2 10», while . tlvat at the end of last year was £lfto4 j 15s 10d, an increase of £ll2 Sr. 10J. i but inasmuch a* during the las* year : the gymkhana profits amounted to£2(V3 ' 13s 6d and the gift B3 '° produced £l3l 1 2b Id, ii total of CS34 15s 7<l, it might j he thought that the funds hnd gone j bade over £222. This, however, was j very far from being tlie case. From the ' previous year's balance should be de- : ducted £MB ."is Id in respect of unpaid i accounts, £IOO was paid «fT the purchase. money of the land, anil at least £OO should be nllowed for the extra four months' expenses, making a total of £268, so that 'if all due allowances arc made tlie. financial remit of the year should be close upon better than for tlie previous year. As to the show itself, if the receipts and expenditure which properly belong to the show are taken out, and £'2(lo allowed for the secretary, there appears to be a profit of £2BO. Members' subscriptions are not . taken into account, as they should properly be set against the general expenses of tlie Association, and not those of the show. The rent* received pan out at about six per cent, on the purchase money of tlio land. Members should feel much gratified at the financial success of the Association, and for this result the executive committee ami the retiring secretary deserve create redit.

THE VACANT COUNCILLORSHIP. There are three candidates for the Rfifll mi the Council recently vacated by i Mr, Dingle. The following are. the i names of the candidates an tit heir nom- i r inators:■-Mr. Tlios. Header, nominated j Jl., Mi >-',•* W. W. Hodge. H. .1. Hopkins, ! W. If. Ttalev. W. IT. .lame-. I'. D. Hunter i and J. 11. Hcal.v: Mr Enoch \V. Hancock, n'niiiiiutcd In- Messrs 11. Child--. \V. W. llodoe.*.. K YV. Wliittle, (!. Smart, V. j E. dan:es. 0. Cratmm, I'. i'helaii and 0. Martin: Mr. Alfred Moon, nominated by ; Me-,sv. R. 11. WVit-\ J. \la--tev,v, 1, \V. ( Boon au.-l K. R. F. Sharp. ' Mr Header is an old resident of ,St rat- ! ford and w.is in Ijiimim ss here for some [ years. Mr. Ifoon is comparatively a. ' newcoaier, a keen business man. and at the Fire Brigade Carnival proved a good worker. Mr. Hancock is a clmin]iiou of the claims of lb • -•r-bridye residents.

GENERAL NEWS

Among the speakers at the Salvation Army gathering at the local hall on Tuesday evening were the Revs. Reader and Pattisoh, both of whom bore convincing testimony to the splendid work done by the Army. Songs were rendered by Mesdames Caney (lnglewood) and Richards, Misses Richmond (Eltham), Moon and Brimmorcombe, and Messrs Nelson and Russ (with chorus by Methodist choir). Recitations were given by Mrs. Arthur (Inglcwood), Miss Moon, Mr. W.. Thomas, and Ida and Leslie Rogers, of Inglcwood. \!>. W. Kirkman played the accompaniments. Adjutant Scotney, of 1 the Army Boys' Home, presided, and stated th«t po - bl ■, General Bramwell Booth would next year pay a visit to New Zealand. The first of the series of fortnightly dances held by the Foresters' Lodge wan a complete success. These enjoyable dances make a pleasant break in the round of daily life, and as the mneii: is good, should be largely patronised. The progress of Stratford is being we<l maintained. The only vacant site on the east side of the business portion of Broadway is now being occupied by :i shop which Mr. N. J. King is erecting. It is stated that the new premises have already been leased to a very satisfactory tenant. The frontage is notlargu, but there is a good depth, giving plenty of room for a large business to be carried on. Mr. Tom. Kirkwood', who is one «>f the dog-class stewards at the Hawera Show, has kindly undertaken to look after any canine exhibits owned by residents of the north end of the district, and will be pleased to answer any enquiries 'addressed to him at the County Hotel. In connection with the borough loan proposals, the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood) has lost no time in following j the matter up after the meeting on | Monday night. He has now given notice of motion to have the proposals i he submitted to the meeting considered I by the Council.

James McMeckin, who was found in his room last. ■ Wednesday with his throat out, and was removed to the hospital, has bo far recovered that he will be brought before the S.jvJ. on Friday. The programme of t'he third annual Eoeial of the Stratford branch of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society's social, to be held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, June 3, ha?, now been arranged. ■lt is well calculated to attract a full hotoe, and should prove ! thoroughly enjoyable. The tickets are ! going off very (Satisfactorily. I The local corjM of the Salvation Arm.: | caVbmted its '2l «t anniversary on day night when feveral inter-sating :ri- | (ivi-5-i-r > ere "given. | T'.c t '>wlng bnoks have >,<■ j. » i to ' Public Lilt a f'. "A {Jus tie in BtUnemia.,, (David Whitoaw;. "The Pathway" .(Gertrude Page), ' Die Purple Mists" (Mills Yomig), "The. Fortunate Youth" (William Loci;), "Tlic {kites- of Doom" (R. Sabatim), "Dado the ffaoond" '(E. F. Benson), "Two- Women'' (Max Pwnburton), "When Ovist meets Ghost" (W. De 3l<»rgan), and the Bhu-k Sheep" (E. W. S>-vi.. "Thti Amazing "Partnership" (K. P. OpponJwJm),'"Where 'Bonds wre" (0. W.itson), "The Milky Way" (K. JesMe), ''Tndiscretions of Dr. CtirxlaW (A. l)e 0.), "A Tiand of Brothers'' (0, Turlcy), 'The Red Virgin" (O. Turner), "Fijvnien Hot" (O. TT. flyne), "Th? Son-i'-wrs j (B. (IrimSta).

The new winter clothing for men is attractive m many ways. Wise men will buy now while the variety is big, and they will find '"The Knsh" prices made to suit them. 'For high quality anil low price "Mullen and Marshall easily lead in Stratford. You hardly feel the razor pass over your face when Btan. Sharp handles the shaving operation. Added to tlii« delightful sense rif comfort is the knowledge that every utensil is sterilised, and I'verything is absolutely clean. Next Hi-llringer's, Stratford. Your photograph will please them all -some of youT friends have been expecting one ior a long time—d"n't he satisfied with one taken years ago. Send them a fresh psi'trait, just as you | are to-day, iu your everyday attire, i "Paving your portrait taken is as plea- : as tin informal call on good friends. 'Mike an appointment to-day with Mr i McAllister, Stratford