STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

| "THE DESERT.'? '(Prom Our Own Correspondent.) December "■. The entertainment given in the Town Hall last night by the llaweni Male Choir proved one of the best given nere for many a long day. The chief item, '!The Desert," was quite up to expectations. It abounded in tuneful numbers., and the diorusesv. assisted by the very excellent orchestra, made the building ring with melody. The tenor solo-, by the Rev. Papakura were much appreciated. The soiois.':s assisting ir. the first part of the evening also art-ally pleased the audience with the numbers contributed. It is all top rarely that Stratford folk are treated to an entertainment on the lines given by the Hawera singers, and the batter's work in this direction is greatly appreo'ftied by the Patriotic Committee and other portions of the public. GEXERAI* A committee meeting of the Stnurord Racing Club was held last night, Mr. W. H. H. Young presiding. The chairman and Mr. J. R. L. Stanbvl were appointed to purchase tropins*.--The Borough Council k to be requeued to attend to repairs of certain stre.-ts en route to the racecourse —ll.. S. Pitt was given power to act doiiceraajg the request of trainers for a sand roi'.er.

A very pleasant evening was spent in the Foresters' Hall last night, the oecafi< n being the half-yea :ly meeting of the Stratford Druids.. The effuers installed wc»b:—A.D., 'Bro. i'. Smith; V.A., Bro. J. Sharrock; secretary, Bro. J. W. Jones (re-elected); treasurer, Bro. H. B'jvmester; 1.G., Uro. S. Howard; O.G, l>ro. H. Wlnhi.-.jaon. Sengs and recitations were contributed L-y Bros. S. Sharp, J. Lester. W. Barlow, E. Jones, and E. Pairott (Eli.ham). Visitors were pr-jiMit- from llaweru, New Plymouth, Eltham, and Manaia. Major Toomer and Staff-Captain riiurkcttle visited the hospital yesterday, and treated the patients to several musical items, which were much appreciated.

Messrs. Browne and Sergei, agricultural instructors, are at present at Hiwcra, where several lads from the Technical School are engaged in shearing operations on the Moore Hunter Estate.

There was a great "rally" at the Salration Army Barracks last evening. The ohief speakers were Major Toomer and staff-Captain Thurkettle, of Palmerston N'orth. Both delivered impressive ad-1 Iresses that must have considerably heartened up the members of the local corps. The Army here are conducting 1 Belgian Week Appeal, and hope to secure £IOO before the final closing of the fund on Saturday. To date, Adjutant Cooke lias secured £?1 4s. He has i lonj, way to go to reach the target aimed at, but on Saturday it general •sack" day will be held, and then the collectors will be out for cash of every denomination.

When a northerly breeze happens in Broadway, there i something moving. To-day it was clouds of dust, and the pedestrian had a good diet of grit to carry as ballast. Shopkeepers, especially drapers, were busy—busy with brushes to remove the floating gravel that persisted in resting finally "'on itock, and busy with their tongues wishing the dilatory driver of the town tvater-eart would make his appearance, lust before noon the cart was on the job, but long before that the tempers of those in Broadway had been spoiled for the day. Whilst waiting for the school committee representatives to form a quorum some of those present became reminiscent. One stated that on one occasion a' schoolmaster and his wife were so keen on horticulture that they cultivated an exceptionally good garden. Their success at horticultural shows, instead of stimulating rivalry, created a feeling of antipathy, which became so strong that eventually the committee considerably curtailed the garden space, thereby minimising their usefulness and powers as exhibitors. "Your Own" hastens to state that this did not occur at Stratford. Another representative expressed the opinion that the headmaster's residence should have ample space for a gar den. He thought that if school committees, or boards, saw to it that each school ground allowed the master ample space for his, own garden patch where he could grow a few vegetables, run a cow, etc., they would find the masters men contented. When a lady has', a ticket in an art 'inior she usually keeps a close watch on the drawings. With some men this is ntt so. Eecently in town a man wa« told by a lady that his ticket had won a timepiece. He had no recollection ol having such a ticket, but the fair "barlacker" jogged his memory, and then he confessed that he had secured a ticket, not so much as to what the r ,'isie was as it at he could not resist thi temptation of placing a modest "bob" in the lady's particular art union. Another man landed a cake and wasn't aware of his luck until he was surrounded by a crowd of fellow-workers, glad to wish him goodiuck but more anxious to try their luck or. the confectioner's Masterpiece. Some Stratford folk know, but it is only right that all should know, that we have in our midst one of the most up-to-date jewellery and fancy goods shops in Mr. C. E. James' premises. Call this week, and note the sterling value 3ie is offering in birthday, farewell, and Christmas gifts*