STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.) tAll communications, loiters, etc., left with Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.] Stratford, March 20. The School Committee"met on Tues3ay evening. The headmaster's report ih.nved that there were 804 scholars on the register, with an average attendants 730. Mr. Tyrer also mentioned that Mits Hogg was leaving this month, Miss I.i nnon at Easter, and Miss Peurce in Arri'i The headmaster reported on tho jontinuation classes, and., after some dis;ussicn, the chairman and Mr. Lawn were appointed to confer with Mr. Tyrer (•n the matter. r i'l:e fact of the heavy gale and numerous counter attractions militated against the financial success of the entertainment given in the Town Hall by The Bang Boys (and girls) with the Hawera Ilordette of Savages and Male Choir. The prolamine submitted was really an exceliei t one, whilst the stage gave a very good illustration of trench life. Encores were numerous. the solo items being very p'easing, whilst the choruses were well rbove the average. The dialogue was wiity, and the dancing very effective Lat'.'i on the Bang .Boys will return to Stratford. The ladies all possess very tuneful voices and attractive personalities. their names being Misses C. Riley, E. Kelly, K. Roche, and F. Wylds. April 11 is a few weeks off, but already preparations are in hand for the entertainment to be given in the Town Hail cn behalf of the funds of the Aotea Convalescent Home, Cairo. The returned soldiers, their wives, mothers, sisters, etc, are assisting, whilst Mrs. McLaren la arranging the programme and has already secured the promise of assistanc* free; the best Tarauaki talent. Details will le advertised later on. C'mstfuers "f electricity by jvay of lignt and heating will be interested in the information that prices are risins. Th" rate in future will be Od per ;mil, up t; six with a_ld. discount. Over 2!) units the discount is 2d. Our Mountain House is drawing very satisfactory support from Stratford and ot'-t-r towns, whilst visiters from else, v here are also finding their way up to the Stratford House. A f :id metalled road ■icrmits a c:ir to ma.tc the journey in comfort nowadays. Dc-spite bad weather there was a ver' g.'i>d .attendance of mothers nt soltfiers at t v 'e monthly social in the Town Hah on Tuesday afternoon. Chief interest eenlrid ro'Hxl an address given bv LieutH T,. Snrat.t. Hawero. who made some very appreciative remarks concerning tV good work done by the Aotea Convalescent Home Cairo, mid also complimented tin local brancli of the Women's X«tional Reserve on tlToir work on behfllfT* •he mothers of soidiers at the 1 front. Sevp'nl musical items were contributed, and these, with a bountiful supply o> refreshments, made the afternoon pass pieasantfy for all present. Our band is a;t institution that relies mair-'v for oxistenc" on the practical syinpr/thy of the public, and it aivea "your own'' pleasure to record the donation of .to tov.rds the funds of the M'in'cipal bv Mr. H. V.. Abraham. Delegates ami others arc reminded that tV nuetincy of the >;ift auction <ale committee will be held on Saturduv afternoon The following further donations ■ire lo nand (per seemtarvl: (I. M. unci T. Anderson £2. Tara.naki Daily News £'>. Mi P. Beere, stock inspector, has been busy this week inoculating calves for idaci;lesr. The total uassed thronsh has been 21.000. some -1000 to 50110 more than tor last season. Rough weather did not prevent the adherents of the Methodist Chinch attending the harvest thanksgiving social on Tuesday evening. The Rev. R. Tinslev gave a l>rief address on the Methodist Conference held recently. A very fine programme was submitted, those assisting being Misses M. Hopkins, V. Rowe. Rearee, Mrs- firav. Rev. Tinslev. and Mr. V. Ford- Mr. Sharp's orchestra play*'- three selections, Competitions were held during the eveninj. prizes beinf v. ni by Miss Rowe and 31r. F. Cress-

well. ' Tn South Tamnaki the gale has moderated considerably, :m<l one is able to lake stock of the surroundings. On farm i UssiU hedges lave suffered severely, whilst sheds that were at all old or not j frrnily foundptioned are nil more or less in a wrecked condition. Pound Tariki tlie storm lias levelled nianr trees, and ont at Ratapiko trees are lving across Use !oad. In (lie towns tlie tradespeoj)!a using calico sijrns soon found 1 1 reduced to shreds. and signboards also have been considerably damaged. Persistent showers are falling, and probnl'lv wlien tlie breeze drops tlie rain will become continuous. The weather at first was very warm, but now a big fall in the temperature is apparent. Charges of cruelty to a cow will be heard before t : >e justices here on Friday. A fall of hail on 'Wednesday morning made the temperature (juite wintry. On Tuesdav afternoon two motor cars came into collision. When in Ttroadway and opposite the Courtv Hotel, a car from the right-of-way backed into the other one- A 'broken axle was the result of the collision. ''We can do with a good 48 hours steady downpour.'' remarked a farmer to the writer Others abo want tile rain. The low state of the Patea river has caused jj. little anxiety to the electric lisrlit officials. M;t so far they have come through the dw spell without inconveniencing the public. It will 'be news to many to find that asphalt does not meet with universal approval. At the County Council meeting last SaHnlay, Cr. Hancock stated that ihe asphalt was too sl'pperv for horses to get. a grip. This was bached np by a petition of Pfl farmers who drive their milk carts to the factory (Ngaere), and whose horses experience trouble in keeping their feet. The writer remembers a butcher losing a valuable horse through its falling in Bridge Street, Kit l .]am, on a frosty morning. Perhaps experiments will now be made to overcome this slinperincss. / ' __

T. Lamason's usual weekly auction sale takes place on Satm-'V r . Details will lie found in another column. Easter is close at hand, an.] one wonders what to get for suitable gifts. There ia no need to worry. You can present vour soldier with the Ut-an haircutter, the younj? lady with a bangle or wristlet watch, the maid with a book, .mil the student with a fountain pen. The fretful child will fret no more with a toy, and tired mother will he pleased with some of the Doulton ware, and father will forget to growl if you purchase tobacco, pipes, or ci.2r.rs from C. E, •Tames, the man for the multitude*