STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Out Own Correspondent.) TAU communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. U. J. Hopkins, booW'ier, vill teceive prompt attention.] Stratford, July 12. Although the nightf was exceptionally wet, a branch of the Second Division League was formed at Cardiff last night. Rain fell continuously, yet a fair number attended to heir *Mr. Skoglund's address on the aims and -rules of the Division. To-night a meeting will be held at Ngaere. A fair amount of interest was shown by competitors and members of the Gun Club in the big competition being field here to-day and Friday. .Some of the bird men have travelled a considerable distances—from Taumarunui and Palmerston North. There was quite an exodus from Stratford this morning. Many were travelling to Wellington to ibid adieu to soldiers there. To-day, I got in touch "with a practical farmer, who not long since had been over the ground recently offered to the Government for settlement of returned soldiers. lie has also had a long acquaintance with dairy lands, and considers Messrs Parkes have given excellent value. He understood the price was £3S per acre, and this should soon rise by another £2O. The intention seems to be to break up the land into sections of 50 acres, and with right men on the land they should do well. At least that is the opinion of the farmer giving the information. The many friends of Mr. A. H. Hillock will be pleased to hear that he is making good progress towards recovery from his operation for appendicitis at the hospital a few days back. The Stratford reading room is a great convenience to many, in that it allows visitors and others a means of having a rest from street parades, and also of seeing the latest reading matter. Today 1 noticed two Taranaki papers had been mutilated, two paragraphs having boon "knifed." Evidently the cost of papers had prevented purchasers in these instances, but probably the culprit wouid have been presented with a copy by the proprietors had they been approached. Removing photographs from illustrated papers is common, but to cut .paragraphs from dailies is a new thing—to Stratford, at least.

Last Saturday T. Lamason's usual sale was held, and poultry and produce generally wa9 in keen demand. We i|note as follows:—Hens Is !M to 2s 3d. roosters Is !>d to Bs, ducks 2s to 2s fid, pumpkins 3s Od to 7s sack, potatoes 13s tki sack, cabbages and cauliflowers 3s to 3s Gd doz.. pollard 17s 0d (200), bran 10s, wheat 7s 3d. Furniture and sundries at usual auction rates. T. Lamason's sale is advertised for ■Saturday, and. in addition to his ordinary sale, he has a line of wheat and a beautiful sideboard for sale. Mr. C. K. James' jewellery shop is still beinir besieged by buyers on the lookout for bargains. A visit to the premises shows Mr. James to he carrying very large stocks, and although the cost of goods lias been soaring of late, the proprietor has been able to place his excellent range of miscellaneous articles before the public at pre-war price*.*