STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD.

" (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Saturday. The "Dardanelles Market" was again opened this morning, with full stocks of vegetables, flowers, cakes, poultry, etc. The cakes for our boys at the front were displayed. They were nicely daporated, and are sure to be appreciated by the boys. Mesdames Skoglund and D. Johnstone, the ladies in charge of the market, ably assisted by Mrs. Paget, have had a very busy day, and the funds should be considerably enhanced by closing up time this evening. Mrs. Grey (wife of Lieutenant Grey) is promoting a concert in aid of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund, in the Town Hall, on October 12. Valuable assistance has already been promised, and the affair should be most successful. A most successful concert and dance in aid of the School funds, was held in the Methodist Hall last night.

"Your own," through the kindness of Mr. J. D. Healy, architect, was shown over the Municipal Buildings, now in course of erection. Good progress has been made with the work, and the wall of the muncipal offices require only another four feet, when it will be ready to be roofed in. Great difficulty has been experienced by the contractor, Mr. J. L. McMillan, in getting iron for the reinforced concrete, and this has somewhat delayed the work, but ample supplies are now in hand, so no trouble should be experienced in this respect. Given fine weather, the buildings should be finished inside the contract time.

Private A. S. Davis was given a sendoff by the "Cinderella Pantomime Company" and friends last evening. The Deputy Mayor, Cr. I. H. Thompson, presented him with a wristlet watch, as a slight token of esteem. The Bowling Green is now open for play, and the recent work has made a big improvement to the green. Old players say they have never seen the green play so well, and anticipate that the season will be one of the most successful the club has ever had.

What is a postal packet?. This has exercised the minds of more than one since the notice was put up in the posting boxes at the local office. If the notice said that the increased postage was required on all letters and postal packets people would understand it more easily, and save the officials at the counter a lot of time explaining the meaning of postal packet to the public. A meeting of the executive of the Stratford A. and P. Association was held in the rooms on Thursday. A considerably amount of routine work was put through. The schedule is in the hands of the printer, and will be ready for issue in about a week. The Farm Committee reported that the grounds were in splendid order. Messrs H. Johnston and G. Browning were elected members. The various committees are using every effort to make the Show a success.

Recruiting ha 3 been very brisk in Stratford this month, over twenty-one men offering their services for the reinforcements, out of which number only two have failed to pass the medical test. Taranaki's quotas to the expeditionary forces create a record that is a pride and a credit to the district. The Defence Department some time ago issued a statement that Hawera, the headquarters of the Taranaki Group, was the best recruiting district in New Zealand. To maintain this fine record, the quota for the Ninth Reinforcements will number 500 men, who leave early in October. It remains now for the others hundreds who have not yet registered to do so at once, so that the brave fellows who have gone before and are now no more will be avenged and doubly avenged. Taranaki's military motto "Prenui in arnus" is still Nintarnished, and those wl/o can must look to it to add fresh lustre to the escutcheon.—Post.