STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Monday. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the general committee of the A. and P. Association was held on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Robert Masters, president, being in the chair. Before reading the executive committee's report, twenty-nine new members were elected, making 100 members since the current year. • EXECUTIVE OMOCQTTEE REPORT. The president, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated tie committee in securing 100 new members. At present, the membership totalled 900, and he asked them all to make an effort to make the grand total. 1000 before the show. The sub-committee, who nau canvassed for donations, had met with a fine response both from the tradespeople and farming community, and he thought the time was not far distant when they would have to devise other ways and means in providing these dona, tions. They could not, year after year, keep approaching the tradespeople for financial support to keep the association going, and he suggested a scheme of approaching the dairy companies at their annual meetings, and asking the shareholders to give them a donation. If the companies adjacent to Stratford presented £3O apiece, there would be no difficulty in raising a further £l5O and thus the donation list of the association would be assured. The schedule had been distributed to all last year's exhibitors, and it would be found, on going through, that improvements had been made that should materially increase the entries. The sub-committee for the different sections at show time had all been appointed, and he had no doubt all of them would work to make the show a success.

The resolutions passed at a conference of Taranaki Associations held recently at New Plymouth had been endorsed, and would come into operation at the forthcoming shows of the different associations. These resolutions referred to luncheon, and forage privileges ) and admission charges. The association had wired the Hon. W. D. Macdonald, Minister of Agriculture, to visit Stratford, and see for himself the need for a model dairy farm being established for this district.

The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by Mr. H. M. Good. Mr. E. Jackson appealed for entries from the farming community, and said if they would exhibit their stock move freely, the greater would be the success of the coming show. He was certain this district had the animals for show purposes, and it only remained for the farmers to do their part.. Mr. Dingle said the feeding of the slock at show time was getting a costly item, and he had received several promises of hay. Being such a fine season many farmers had hay left over, and they would be glad to hear if anyone who would donate a load or two.

Mr. B. Orr said a farmer at Ngaere had donated a lot of wheat straw, providing the association would see to the carting of same. Mr. Dingle undertook to see to the carting of it. Mr. T. Perry (Mangatokj), suggested that boards should be placed on tho fence in order to prevent horses from pawing at the wire and pulling their shoes off. The president thanked Mr. Perry for his suggestion and saidjiho committee would do all in their power to give effect to same. GENERAL.

To-day i 3 a close holiday. Unfortunately, the weather was unfavorable. The rain that came on last night continued through till about 10 a.m., when the s un again appeared. The rain did not prevent the "sporting" fraternity from attending the Waverley races, one hundred and twenty-five persons leaving here while the train to New Ply-mouth-was also wall patronised

On Saturday afternoon, at the matinee performance of His Majesty's pictures, Mr. F. J, Foley offered a gold medal to the best boy or girl renter. Seventeen competitors toed the line, and the large audience gave their decision in favor of Master Peter Skoglund as first, and Miss Sullivan (Midhirst), as second. Some of the items were really good, but "your own," however, is of opinion that the girls were decidedly better than the boys. The weather cleared up enough for the Bowling Club to have a progressive pairs match this afternoon, when thirtytwo players took part, and after a close game Messrs. McMillan (skip), and Jas. McDonald (lead), were the winners. (The game was rather late in starting, and it would be well if the club made it a rule that players coming after time Should find their own partners, and n»t hang up the afternoon's enjoyment for their convenience.

A meeting of the committee of the Bowling Club was held on Saturday night„ when several new members were elected. The report of the special Wounded Soldiers' Fund Committee was adopted as under:—Mr. J. Masters offers to give a medal to the vluc of £2 to the winners of the O.M. Curtis championship trophy, the entrance fee 3s. to be devoted to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund; the president, Mr. J. W. McMillan, offers to give a pair of trophys to the winner of the beginners' handicap pairs, entrance fee 2s, in aid of the fund. Losers in the buttons and feathers competitions pay 6d to the fund; Mr. F. J. McDonald offers to give a pair of bowls to the winner of a sealed handicap single, entrance fee 2 3 6d in aid of the fund; Mr. McMillan offers to supply supper for a card party, a charge of Is each to be made in aid of the fund.