STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) rAH communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. n. Hopkins, bookseller, will leeeive prompt attention.] SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Stratford, July IS. The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs J. V . Boon (chairman), Sanderson, Pinhev, Martin, McDonald, F. J. McDonald, Robinson, Lawn, and 'Smart. Regarding the proposed institution of the Buffalo plan of school libraries, a motion was carried instructing the secretary to obtain further information as to cost per ipupil, etc., and report to future meeting. The concert committee was empowered to arrange a date for the concert to be held in aid of school funds. A resolution was carried urging the Minister of Education to secure the site now under offer for a high school. Messrs A\. McDonald and Martin were appointed a visiting committee for the month.

LADIES' 'PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. There was a large attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Ladies' Patriotic Committee at the Municipal Chambers this afternoon. The Mayor (Mr. J. \V. McMillan) presided. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet he congratulated the committee on the excellent results obtained last year, and trusted they would have a successful twelve months in the period now opening. The finances disclosed a very healthy position. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. On the call for nominations for the position of president, the retiring president (Mrs. Boon) and the Mayoress were nominated. The chairman said he was sorry there had to be a ballot. It was tlie custom throughout New Zealand that the Mayoress (bv virtue of her position) should be invited to accept the position. However, he could only leave it to the ladies. The ballot favored Mrs. Boon, and, in declaring that lady elected, the chairman said lie could only take the result as a deep and premeditated insult to the Mayoress and himself. He then left the meeting. Mrs. Boon returned thanks for her election, and trusted she would receive the whole-hearted support of the ladies to continue the work they had been carrying on during the past tiwo years. The election of other ofiictrs was then proceeded with, and resulted in the following appointments: —Vice-presidents, Mesdames W. J. C-rawshaw and J. B. Hine; committee. Mesdames R. H. Cameron, Curtis, McDonald, J. Falder. H. Good. 11. Dingle. A. Prentis, A. Copping, Tyrer, Reira, W. Robinson. 'Petrie. Paynter. <5. M. Thompson. Mackay, G. Smart, Grant, Middleton, Massev, Howard, Rutherford, L'niaeke. Malone, Lyons, Lawrence, C. Penn, T. White, Campion. H. Abraham. H. Masters, C'. Martin. Cliilds, J. B. Richards, H. L. Bett9. 1\ Dixon, Gray. A. Moon, Thorpe. Freer, Anderson, J. S. Orr: executive, Mesdames Paynter, S. M. Thompson, J. I'alder. Curtis, Good, Prentis, McDonald: shop committee, Mesdames Boon, Paynter, Abraham. Prentis, Curtis, Botts, Cniacke, and T. Coleman; tea committee, Mesdames C'rawshaw, Grant, H. Masters. S. M. Thompson, C. Penn. Rutherford, Dixon, R. 11. Cameron, and Middleton; parcels, Mesdames Boon, W. Robinson, Martin. Middleton, McDonald, and Budge; hold-alls and housewives, Mesdames Boon, Good. McDonald, and Curtis; sewing, Mesdames Smart, Good, Curtis, Thompson. Childs and Orr. entertainment, Mesdamc9 Moon, Massev. Dixon, Riera, and McLaren: secretary. Mrs. A. V. Budge (re-elected). Votes of thanks to the retiring' committee. and also to the Mayor and piesider.t, were recorded and the meeting adjourned.

GEN'ERAL. In order not to clasli with the iinnna! meeting of tlie Midhirst Dairy Company next Monday the Stratford Company has put back the date of Us meeting a week. A lady returning home on the Brecon road one this week 'walked straight against the hind quarters 0 f a horse browsing on the footpath. It is hard to say which was the more surprised—lady or beast. Before the latter could find his heels the lady beat a retreat and took to the road, very much seared and with a palpitating heart, but otherwise unhurt. Probably the owner twill see to it that the horse is turned out later in the night, when the footpaths are free from pedestrians.

A number of residents assembled at Mr. "Dad" Harris's residence, Cordon road, last night. The occasion was one to farewell Mr. and Mrs. S. Clark, who after farming there for several years are removing to Xgaere. Mr. Harris presented the guests of the evening with a handsome travelling rug, accompanying the gift with expressions of appreciation of the neighborly qualities of the departing couple. Mr. Clark suitably acknowledged the gift. The rest of the evening '\vas spent in musical items, contributed by Messrs J. Harris, S. Clark. J, Lister and Flynn. Mrs. J. Lister acted as accompanist, a very pleasant evening resulting. Clearing sales are showing that prices are keeping exceptionally high. Crossbred cows in milk have topped £l7 10s. whilst calves have fetched £5 as. Good prices, and from one hears these figures are likely to foe maintained.

The Stratford Co-operative Dairy Co. intend paying out a further 3d per 11) butter-fat for the year, totalling £17.500 Rs 9d, leaving a balance of £IO.USG 2s 3d, this being sufficient to pay l%d per lb butter-fat and le.ive a 'surplus of £472 5s Od to be carried forward. The average amount of but-ter-fat pavment for the year is Is 7111. During 1915-10 3f1,4fi3,521 lb of milk was received, against 35.105,030 for the past season. The average test i" the previous year was 3.03, and last season 3.91. The "cost of manufacture in the previous year was 1 /KM last season 1.35(1. Information from a reliable source is that a perjury action between parties well-known in this district will be ventilated in the Supreme Court shortly. The local police have been requesting "edestrians to produce enrolment forms. In the majority of instances the forms were not produced, prababh having been left at home against possibility of losing. Whilst speaking on the toll-gate question at the Council meeting, the chairman stated that if the Waimate and Kgmont County Councils were prepared to merge into the Hawera, Eltham, and Taranaki counties, thus forming a community of interest, thev would be prepared to remove the gates. The chairman said that in 1911 Mr. Short placed the estimate of yearly expenditure on the y.in South road as: Waimate £620.

Egmont £230, Hawera £5-10. AVaimate did not favor this assessment, which *ivas afterwards reduced to something like £3OO, but no agreement was made hence the erection of the gate in the Hawera County. The Borough Council is busy experimenting to lighten .Broadway. C. Ji. •Tames is also engaged lightening the long winter nights, and has opened up a huge array of parlor games that should afford pastime and amusement to oldsters and .youngsters. A fine range of reading matter by the most popular authors is also available at lowest prices.* In recognition of the hearty support accorded him during his business term of three years in Stratford, Mr. Ben. J. Peters, who has more than justified his claim as a lirst-elass watchmaker and jeweller, has decided to offer for the period of one month the whole of his high-elass stock of watches, rings, jewellery, and plate at a tangible reduction on present prices. The quality of Mr. reters' stock is well known, and the bargains offering in engagement and diamond rings, watch-bangles, etc., will be very real and will afford opportunities to secure lasting gifts. The date fixed for the commencement of the sale is Saturday, July 21 *