STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) »*i. ll letters, etc., left Wilis *Ueaiti«a.^ o*^ 0 *^u W ' Iwolaseller, wiU receive Stratford, Dec. 31-To-day sees the last of 1918, and there are few who will have any regret 3 at the passing of a year that has left many bitter memories and few pleasant. The only pleasing feature is that it marked the shut ting-down of the world-war. For that we are all thankful. In this district the leather since last May has been an abomination, and those farmers who took up land and paid high prices for the same and stock have been sadly disillusioned, caused principally through the bad winter, sliprtage of feed, etc. On top of this the influenza goes down against 1918, and during November there were many "Black Fridays." Under theße circumstances 1918 will'have sad memories with the people, and we ali hope that the new year will hold much better times for all

The holidays are bringing in some fresh faces and also some familiar friends of the years past. One of these, Mr. James Sexton, now residing at Remucm, is looking up old friends, Some changes are now being made in the staff of the Ban!: of Australasia, Mr. L. B. Mace, of the local branch, has been transferred to Morrinsville. His successor here is Mr. H Sherboiirne, now at Manaia, who will be replaced by Mr. E. L. Mason, who was for a long period a member of the Expeditionary Forces. Stratford has lost a useful citizen in Mr. W, M. Bayly, whose future address will be Gisborne, he having left to take up a. position or organising secretary of the Farmers' Association there. Mr. Bayly has been with ns quite a numbeof years, and when he first dropped his portmanteau here to take over the management of the National Bank it was not a daily institution. With his advent it was opened daily and became well established. In 1913 he retired from the bank and opened up business as a [ seed, grain, and produce merchant. Ths ! war following, dislocated business, and eventually it was closed down', Mr. I Bayly, amongst other duties, taking up the work of temporary secretary, pending the return of Mr. Anderson from the front, to the Ridd Milking Machine Company. Mr Bayly will carrv 'with him. the good wishes of many Stratfordites and. others for the best of good luckin his new home.

Under ordinary conditions the Broadway Road improvements should ere this have been well advanced, but persistent rain, the epidemic, and scarcity of labor are factors that upset calculations, and although the Mayor, Mr. J. w! McMillan, would probably desire the work completed during his term of office, it now looks as if he will be fortunate if a portion only of Broadway is treated to a tar surface before the municipal elections in April.

Christmas and New Year buvlntr is generally perplexing to purchaser's. Not f.i> to those who call at C. E. James' Fancy Goods Warehouse. Here one can find a variety of goods i.o suit, ali requirements Everything hnnginaWe will he found here. Gold trinkets, siivmvare, leather goods, Boulton and crockerywan- are all there for the choosin'". Toys, books, etc., for the youthful mind, whilst many articles suitable for Mr Man will be found on C. E. James' premises. Shop early and become a pleased purchaser—Advt.