STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

[All communications, letters, etc., left with Br u. J. Hopkins, booKaeUer, will recelre prompl illtntlon.} Stratford, 2Cov. 4. There was a very large attendance at tlia Stratford Town Hall yesterday. when a United Thanksgiving service was held to celebrate the surrender of Turkey. In the parade prior to the service was the Municipal band, returned soldiers, fire brigade, territorials, and cadef.3. Key. R. B. Tinsley presided, and there were also on the platform, the Revs. J. J). Madill, C. W Howard and Ensign Campion. Tiie order of service was as follows, the band accompanying the sinigng:—National Anthem, Hymn, "All People That on Earth do Dwell": Pravcr, Rev. R. B. Tinsley; Scripture, Psalm xxxiw. Ensign Campion; Hymns, 'Now Thank We All Our God," '•Praise to Our God'; Prayer, Ensign Campion; Hymn, "Blessed Be Our Everlasting Lord." Short but powerful addresses were given by Revs. Madill and Howard, the benediction being pro* aouneed by Rev R. B. Tinsley. Quite a number of prominent citizens urn at present coniined to their ho:nes owing to influenza. It is understood that a large number of informations for being on licensed premises after hours have been laid land will be held next court day. The Stratford quota of the 4fith Reinforcements, which mobilise on Wednesday, will be farewclled at the post office ftt 8.30 am. TJie Mayor and Ensign Campion will deliver the addresses. During October a total of 14.4S inches 01 rain fell on 21 days." The heaviest fall took place on October "21st, 3.33 Inches, though October 4th, with 3.18 Inches, ran it close. Mr L. W. P. Carter. Warwick Road, Stratford, has received word that his son, Sergeant G. A. Carter, was still dangerously ill. owing to recent wounds, but his condition was improving. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Ladies' Patriotic Committee was fixed to take place to-morrow afternoon, but as the President is ill with •nfiuenza, and the Secretary is absent, from town, the meeting has been postponed until Wednesday, November 13tU-

Stratford. Xov. 5. STRATFOSB SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The School Committee met on Monday~evening, ther.' '/sing p.-esout- Messrs J. W. Boon ichairnian), E U. Foititr, C. IT Lawn, W. Pinliey, E. Tishbon, F. J. Vic-Donald, D. McAldiaa, .end Mrs. T. " V\ hito. The inspector's unnual report showed that at time of the examination 1521 pupil* of the primary school were pre sett. The report on '.ho various subjects ranged from good to very (roixl, whilst the progress shown was excellent, and the order, discipline, and tone of the school was very good. The secondary department had a -oil of KiO, and the various classes hao. made good progress. General satisfaction was expressed by members, and it was resolved to forward a letter of appreciation to the staff. The headmaster (Mr. Tyrcr) reported that, considering the number of changes during the year, the inspector's report was a good one, and the usual number of promotions would take place at {lie end of the year. They had marie a flagpole in anticipation of th? occasion for using ii. Examinations would begin cm Xovoaiber 17 and continue till December, and in view of the importance to tbt> children engaged in them, he stressed the_need for as few interruptions from school work as possible. Ik the case of victories, a holiday was unavoidable, but he would like tiie committee to consider the- question of peace being declares' be'ere Christmas, as three or four days' holidays would greatly unsettle the pupils. It was decided that, irr the r-vent of peace being declared before Christina?, that a holiday be given on V:e day of the announcement and a week be added to the Christmas holidays. Mr. Tyrcr stated that the Department now considered the school was as big as it. should be. and would not allocate anv more funds for the purpose of enlarging it- He. therefore, thought, of appealing to the parents. He was completing his twenty-seventh year in Stratford, and he did not think ilat there was one year that they did not have to a*lc the board, who had always treated them fairly, either for an increase m the buildings or the staff. If they could ni.-c £2OO by means of a fair and donations from parents, ha suggested that amount should be banded to the board, who could be asked to erect a shed that could be used as a play-shed for the girls meantime, and on the disestablishment of the High School could bo converted into an open-air classroom. They would then have a primary school equal to cny in the Dominion On tho erection of the new Technical High Mioo) ISO to •200 senior pupils would be removed, and the present buildings would properly accommodate the primary pupils. Messrs Pinliey, Fisher. McDonald, and Ticlibon w«ri appointed to meet the ■school stalT in connection with the fair.

A. AND P. SHOW. This association has always been noted for the caro and attention which its stewards and officials bestow on all stock forwarded for exhibition. Trains are met, and stock arriving art carefully driven to suitable paddocks, where they are well cared for. After the show the stewards aro pleased to see tliat exhibits are properly trucked and re-eon-signed to their respective owner?. Experienced exhibitors aro well aware of this, and new exhibitors can rely on every assistance being extended to "them. The Stratford show offers the only opportunity of exhibiting this spring, and there can be no doubt that dairy stock shows to best advantage when the eows are at full profit. Intending competitors should lose no time in forwarding their entries to the secretary, and they should remember that entries close on Tuesday, 19th inst. THE MODEL DAIRY FARM. The monthly committee meeting of the Model Dairy /arm was held* on Tuesday, Mr. J. W- Deem presiding. Messrs •T. Faulder and P Wellington were elected members. The secretary was instructed to remind members that the subscriptions for the season 1918-19 are now due. The cropping report was received and adopted. It was Tcsolved that cows be dehorned and that the matter be left in the hands of the Stock Committee, with po'-ver to act. Accounts amounting to £64 Ifis 2d were passed for payment, snd after a generaljliscussion of several matter the meeting closed. GENERAL. Great headway is being made by Mr, j J. W. Boon, contractor, with, Messrs I Masters, Ltd % new building, and it is i anticipated thatj the firm, will he in pos- ] session by the end of the month. 23» Bo« 4 of Governors of St. l^vf'i

Girls' School have decided to erect a school on a section which tjfey have parc.'iased, adjoining the boarding establishment Mr. J. W- Boon, tue successful, tenderer for the building, made t, start with the foundations to-day Influenza is pretty rife in Stratford at present, and a number of businesses are being run With short staffs. Both doctors report a busy time, but the majority of cases ore of a mild type, though a few are- serious, having pneumonia and abdominal .complicationsSteps are being taken to spray the school, and the Picture Theatre is to be i'uiiiigatc-d twice daily. Dr. Paget, who was goisg through to New Plymouth on leave from camp, got off the mail train this evening, and will assist Dr. Gordon to-morrow, and longer if necessary. Private \V. H. Paynter, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Paynter. of East Road, has been awarder', thp Military Medal for gallantry on the field of action. It is understood that the Borough Council and Patriotic Committee are to meet to make arrangements for an appropriate celebrr-tion when peace is declared. The Tahora Patriotic Committee has raised £OS Is in aid of the Red Cross Copper Trail fund. The first prize, an acre of land, was won by the children of Mr. 11. Taylor, of Tahora, Messrs W. O'Connor (Toko) and V. A. Pittams (Tahora) winning tho second and third prizes (unbroken.hacks). Tho butter-fat competition inaugurated hv the Stratford A. and P. Association last year, lha conditions of which provide that the cows can be m'dked in their owners' shed?, promises to foe quite ar. popular this year. Already over 27 entries have been received, cows having Ven entered from the district extending from Hawern. to YVnitara and New Plymonth. Entries close on November 14. Tn this__issue the Stratford County Council invite wnders for several metal contracts.

With :i continuance of ttie present fine weather, there be a laTge crowd on Thursday at jfgsero-. where Me-*-s Lester Bros, have made every preparation for their entertainment- The water chute and other amusements will he in fill l , swing, whilst the afternoon tea will t"> made a feature by the new management. The Allies are continuing their sweeping drive, and the results make pleasant readin" Another sweeniner drive is -being conducted in Stratford, where C. E ■Tames has reduced his prices on many li'its to hpdrork to effect a speedy clearance to permit room for Christmas goods Th ; s is your opportunity to secure Mies' handbarrs bangles, bracelets, toys, stationerr. and tliose who enjoy asmoke will fmd the biggest and best, range of e'ears, tobacco, and pipes in town.— Advt.

WAILS OF DESPAIR, GERMAN SOLDIERS' LETTERS. .UTTER WAR WEARINESS, The note despair predominates in letters to their relatives written by German soldiers, extracts irom v.'liicii are published by the Morning Post- One soldier writes:-—We must light,, alas! but why we don't know. It our fellowcountrymen could see our Avearmess. . . iJut I am glad it must come to an end soon, as we are at the end of our strength. Our reserves are almost exhausted, and our supplies are absolutely bad. Ammunition manufactured for the artillery only a month ago is already being used. I could quote you other instances. I should like to* say something, too, about the French. Tliey are fighting as courageously as we are for their country. Their artillery is far better than ours, and. .besides, mucli stronger Von in the rear cannot imagine our losses. We have at present nearly two and a-half million dead ana seriously wounded. If we do advance a few miles it is only done at the cost of heavy losses. We are conquerors, it is understood, but we are wearing ourselves out in conquering, because of onr losses, and few realise that. Finally, we could have had the peace we want so 'badly two years ago. Scheidemann wanted a peace based on agreqment between the peoples, because he knew exactly that we could not get it by force of arms, as the enemy is as strong as we are. Only the diplomats can get us peace. Another soldier writes:—Once our offensive failed, we were taken in cars to the Marne, where the Frenchmen were squatting and gave it us Every time |we had to go back The Marne seems our destruction, and this time, too, it kept up its reputation. Hitherto all our counter-attacks have failed, and there is not much left of our Tegiment. Now we are in a shell-hole with our machinegun, and who knows what is going to happen? If the French attack to-day or to-morrrow, it is very possible that wc sha'l: b* taken, if we are not first sent to our fathers, for the brutes have quite a lot of artillery. This time our situation is not very brilliant, and I should be glad if we were relieved. Despite all these coming;, and goings, I doubt whether the war will end. I never have teii luck to get wounded, and that is the only way to get out of the mess, even for n short time. The same writer, 5n another letter, points out that, if the French attack he and his comrades will he unable to contain them, and that in that, case I hey will succeed in reaching Paris as prisoners. Says another writer:—lf only I could got back! but. in a division like ours thcro is no hope for it. Let us hope that the cursed show will soon come to an end, for we are all tired of it. It. is only the "bigwigs" and those who have not lined their pockets sufficiently who want to continue.

A soldier in charge o 1 " military dogs writes to his mother: —Men on leave from Oermanr hring biok stories that make; the hair rise from your head, and, if several of them are cxagerated, there tire enough left to make a man blush. The usurers especially arc exceeding all limits, and there is no doubt about th(> sickness being due to famine. The war is drawing to its close,but it is a clow very different from what Fesehner and his friends expected,