STRATFORD MEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD MEWS.

(From Ui:r Own ('orrespondent.) For tlic past three years an etl'ort lus bt'un made to establish plumbing classes at the local Technical School without siutow, as it was impossible for tin; students lo pay the co.-( of the material and tuition. This year, through lie; Borough Council giviiig a grant of £l'l, the classes have a.Lrain lieen esl ablishcd, and are going along successfully. Pioneer-Sergeant llaworlh leaves on Saturday for Treiithani to join Ihe reinforcements. 'J lie liltham Patriotic Committee have asked the Stratford Operaiiu Societv to stage the opera "Mc:;ic Jhiglund'' at Eitham, and the society has readily consented to do so, the Kltliam committee making the necessary arrangements. The Operatic Socieiy have staled their willingness to stage the opera anywhere in Taranaki, providing the proceeds are devoted to funds in connection with the war.

The Stratford and Midhirst Dairy Companies are both holding their annual meeting on Monday, .July 2ti. The County Council staff are busy doing much-needed repairs to the Opunakc road, near Cardiff. It seems Ihat no matter how urgent the business is, the. Courthouse cannot be opened before 10 o'clock in the morning. At the inquest this afternoon the coroner and jury suggested adjourning till !) a.m. 011 Wednesday, but Sergeant Dale remarked that, however much lis would like to carry out this suggestion, he feared it would be difficult to get the Courthouse opened at tlfat hour. He said he had been "trapped'' once, and did not want a repetition of the experience, and suggested that the inquest should be adjourned till 10 a.m., when there would be no fear of inconvenience being caused. It seems peculiar tint business men, jurymen, witnesses, etc, should have to put up with this sort of thing simply to suit the convenience of the court officials. This certainly calls for some explanation fron the Justice Department and the Member for the district ought to take the matter in hand. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Friendly Societies' Hospital Association was held at Stratford to-day (Thursday). Mr. F.-Brabant presided.. The report and balance-sheet were submitted, and caused a good deal of discussion, but were finally adopted. Contributions received from members for the year amounted to £1385, and the association paid out to the various hospitals on account of its members £1:180, and abo hold a liability of some 120!) besides. It was found impossible to carry 011 the association 011 a levy of 2s (id per quarter from members, and it was unanimously resolved to increase the levy to lis (id for the next three-quarters, so as to clear all liabilities. It was shown that the r3sociation had been of great benefit to members requiring its assiitianee. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, W. S. Gilbert: vice-president. C. 1). Sole; executive. K. J. Kwans, J. Krabant. It was resolved that all lady members be admittul to the association at a reduced fee of 2s 6d per quarter; that all members in arrears to receive any benefit from the fund; that, lo circumstances which have arisen, private hospitals v.-ill be deleted from the association's list. Over forty delegates were present, rep-v----sentiny the whole of the Taranaki lodges. A motion to reduce the association liability to anv one member to £4O per annum was hist. Bro. Amoore (Eitham) was appointed secretary at an honorarium of .CIO per annum. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to ihe outgoing officers and the Stratford Foresters' Lodge for the use of the lodge room.

INQUEST. Tho railway ported, Hilmore Tudor Johnston, who was run over by a truck at tho I:,lth:im station on Tuesd-r,- and had to have his log amputated," died at tho hospital on Wednesday night. An inquest was opened on Thursday afternoon before Mr. 0. J). So!,-, actin;,' coionei', and a jury. Mr. Percy Thomson represented the relatives. Oscar Johnston, caterer and confer-, tioner, of Wellington, identified tho body as that of his son, who was ±2 years of age and had been in tho railway service, for about lii months. His health was gocd, and his hearing and eyesight of the best. He had never complained to others on the nature of the work 'no was doing. He was strictly temperate. The inquiry was adjourned till Wednesday at 10 a.m.