STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1919, Page 7

STRATFORD.

(All communications, letters, etc., left with ,1b H. 3. Hopkins, bookseller, will twelve prompt mention.) h (From Our Own Correspondent.^ Stratford, July 22. The Catholic Bazaar, in aid of^the Convent School buildings, to which extensive additions are to be made, was opened in very unfavorable weather in the Town Hall yesterday. The lengthy preparations have been marked by great earnestness and enthusiasm, and a great variety Of gifts have been received from Well-wishers. The bazaar is not merely t sale of work, the committee having arranged programmes for the amusement of patrons. Tableaux, dancing, singing and the best orchestral music Were among the means adopted for entertaining patrons. The stalls represented some fine work, and the articles, Which included nearly everything that would appeal to the good taste of visitors, were very numerous. The stalls were named after and were dressed in the colors of the Allies, and those in charge were: England, Misses Monisey; America, Mrs. K. J. Malone; Belgium, Mrs. E. Kelleher; Scotland, Mrs. T, A. Lonergan- Ireland, Mrs. F; P. Uniacke; France (refreshments), Mrs. J. Laverty. In addition • to those in charge, there were about 100 assistants. Mr. 1). Malone presided,, at the opening ceremony, which commenced with a selection r by Mr. Rogers' orchestra, consisting oi Miss and Mr. Rogers (violins), Corp. Kelly (cornet), and Mrs. Bowlei (piano). The Rev. Father Maples expressed regret that the Archbishop, who had been in Stratford on Sunday, had found it impossible to remain and be present to thank the Mayor for the honor he and his colleagues had done them by their presence and patronage. After eulogising the services of the Mayor, the speaker expressed the pleasure it gave him ,to welcome home that gallant soldier M.P., Major Hine, who bnr e on his person the scars of wounds and other lasting proofs of his loyalty and courage, and, if he might say so, his khaki seemed impregnated by the breaths of that land which nil nations in all ages had called the JTolv Land. As their greatest poet had said: "Over whose acres walked those Messed feet, Whbh nineteen* hundred years ago were nailed For our advantage to the bitter Cross." They also felt honored by the presence ci Mr. Masters, whose efforts in the cause of education, as chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, wer*e well known to all. Though they might differ from him in their views of the national secular system of educat'on—-go-called—he was sure that Mr. Masters Would readily bear witness to the sincerity and earnestness of the efforts, which they as Catholics (priests and people) made to support their own schools, and their sacrifices that their I children might' not only be brought up In a Catholic atmosphere, but also at the tame time receive a high-class. instruction in other necessary subjects in order to make them loyal and useful citizens and ,to live and work for what was best in this fair land of ours That their schools did good work there was I abundant testimony. The annual reports of the inspectors testified each | year to the excellent work done. One of them had said to him: "This school always does well." Another said to the children of the standard he was examining: "Well, children, I can only wish that when I was a boy I had had Sister , or as good a teacher to teach mo." Two or three years ago, when the children were being examined for proficiency with the State schoolchildren, one of the local teachers aßked one of the parents: "Who taught those Catholic children? What is her name? They are wonderfully well taught.' Bishop Cleary had said that the church of the future would be the cb'irch which cares for the children to-day. A. Wesieyan preacher once said to him" "Do you know why your church is so alive and progressive? Because it lays itself out for and gets such a hjuld of the children.'' They were sometiaes accused of disloyalty and treason because they were not in favor of the'secular system of education, for which, nevertheless they' bore their burden of taxation. He thought the memorial tablet in their church with fourteen names of those of the congregation alone who had made the supreme sacrifice in the Avar, headed by the name of Colonel Malono (applause), and the presence of other gallant lads that afternoon, who had rewounded and crippled ought to be a sufficient answer to the changes of disloyalty and treason against, the Empire and our Dominion. They were loyal bWuae their religion ta'ught them to be loyal. But the bazaar was a business proposition. ; .Major Hine sai(l it a pleasure to assist, far more so a* the bazaat was in connection with the education of children. He had often thought when passing the Catholic School that he would like.to know what was going on inside, and some day he was going to ask Father Maples if he would permit him to pay a visit. They all recognised that the Catholics were true to their faith, and looked after their children. As Protestants, he tuought .they might well follow the example of the Catholic Church in this respect Th« present secular system of education seemed to be surrounded by a stone wall which apparently could not be broken down, but religious teaching was as necessary as education. The Catholics were doing their best to give religious instruction and the church to which ho belonged was doing the tame thing. It looked as if the time would come when State schools would be wiped out and be replaced by denominational sc.'iools. They should all pull together so as to avoid conflicts.

Mr. R. Masters (chairman of the Education Board), said he felt somewhat in ft minority as the. representative of State education, but he was pleased Indeed to be with them and to express sympathy with their object of facilitating the education of the children. They had different ideas but he held out ,no objection to any church 'educating its children in the way it desired. If the State did not provide the system required it was unfair to pay to any church that they should not have a school own The war impressed on us a duty, as far as the education of the children was concerned. It was the children of to-day that would have to hear :hc greater part of the burden of taxation due to the war, and they had to he fitted for the duties before them. In his opinion the present system of education tended too much towards scholarships. He was looking for the day when their system would dn more in tho direction of building up citizenships, They wanted :"> ,i result of the tr.tininj men who ''' be strong in body and kind in ration.

' r ' •• Mayor, who apnlnniend for thr- nniM'ohbibln ab«rwp nf Mra. McMillan, then declared the bazaar open

After the opening ceremony. Master Winstone McCarthy revealed his remarkable ability as a Scotch comedian. He alono should attract large crowds to (he bazaar. As the produce stall will need to be replenished frequently, well-wishers in a position to do so are requested to send gifts of vegetables, meat, preserves, etc. ......

SOCIAL EVENING. A peace social was held by the Egmont Club on Monday evening, and, despite the wretched weather conditions, was largely attended. The social was for members and their lady friends who were welcomed on behalf of the club by Mr. H. Wilson. The evening was chiefly Bpent in cards, and billiards, and later a good programme of songs and other items was .given. The following contributed items: Miss Phillips, Mrs. Hollands, Messrs. A. D. Bills, P. Coe and G. Sanne, and Sergt.-Major Chapman. Rogers' orchestra, comprising Misses Rogers, I'enn, and Evoriss, played a number of selections. The winners of the' euchre tournament were Mrs. Thompson and Mr. T. Reader, ,the booby prizes going to Mrs. Penn and Mr. Stan. Ward. After supper had been served n dance was held in the Pariah Hall, thn music being supplied by Messrs. C. H, Fox (piano), W. J. Litchwark (violin), and V. Lester (cornet). Messrs. L. Penherthy and S. Ward officiated as M.C.'g. The annual meeting of the Stratford Farmers' Co-op. Association wilt be held in the Town Hall on Monday next. For the five vacancies on the directorate, the following have been nominated: Messrs. F. Ranford, W. H. Were, E. S. Walker, A. H. Huggett, C. A. Lehinann, J. W. Hinton, H. Johnson, and L. E. Hann. PERSONALS. i Captain F. D. Gaffaney, who has recently returned to New Zealand after three and a half years' active service, is settling in Stratford,, having purchased the well-known jewellery business of Mr. Ben J. Peters, Broadway. Captain Gaffaney was in business as a jeweller for ten years prior to going on active service. Advice has been received that Rifleman J. A. Stanford, son of Mr. J. A Stanford and Private Herbert Hancock, husband of Mrs, H. W. Hancock, will reach Wellington by the Giessen ot about August 2nd. Mr. J, Yandle was injured as a Tesult of a collision between two vehicles on the Mountain Road on Friday, and had to be removed to the hospital. He ia reported to be progressing favorably. POSTED DIRECT FOR 2a 6d. One Good Luck Writing Pad,, One Packet Envelopes, One Penholder and Nib, One H.B. Lead Pencil. Send postal note or stamps.—Charles E. James, Box 21, Stratford.—Advt.