STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) (All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. H. J. Hopkins, booiseller, will receive prompt attention.) Stratford, Oct. 13. Some weeks ago Mr. Campbell Jackson offered to donate a trophy valued at 25 guineas for the Friesian classes at the Stratford A. 'and P. Show. Mr. Jackson, who has just sailed for Australia, on the eve of his, departure wrote to the A, and P. Association and amended his offer. He is now giving a trophy (a solid silver rose bowl) valued at 50 guineas, and Messts Stewart, Dawson and Co., with whom he has placed the order, have apparently taken into consideration the purpose for which the trophy is required, and, in a covering letter, state that the actual value of the trophy Mr. Jackson has secured is sixty guineas. The trophy will be awarded for most points in the Friesian classes, and to become the property of the winner it must be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. The trophy is by far the best the association hag yet had to offer. Men bent on wanton destruction did damage which attracted a good deal of attention in Broadway on Sunday night or early on Monday morning. Battens were wrested from picket fences, near Mr. Foster's boot store, and the fence in front of the Post Office was broken in many places! The glass door of a Chinese fruit shop was also broken. A welcome home social was given in the Midhirst Public Hall on Friday to Captain L. C. Mail, N.Z.M.C., and Privates G. Winkie and W. Discorabe. On behalf of the residents, each was presented by Mr. G. P. Harkness (chairman) with an illuminated address. Items were contributed by Miss Kivell, Mrs. Topp, and Mr. Drury. Miss Huse acted as accompanist and provided the music for the dance, extras being played by Mr. Hall. STANLEY ROAD SCHOOL. ROLL OF HONOR UNVEILED. An important ceremony was held in the Stanley Road Schoolroom yesterday, when a handsomely carved roll of honor, in memory of those who served or had lost their lives in the war, was unveiled, in the presence of a large number of people, by the Hon. J. B. Hine, Minister for Internal Affairs. Mr. Wellington, chairman of the School Committee presided, and, in opening the proceedings, said it was very gratifying to tie organisers of the gathering to see such a large number present. The roll of honor had been designed to perpetuate the memory of the men who had served in the war. The roll contained the names of 47 men, and a separate place was given to those who had been killed. After referring to the different theatrps of war and the hardships and sufferings that had to be endured, he specially referred to Colonel Malone as one among many others who had nobly given his life for his country. In conclusion, he enjoined the children to keep in memory the deeds of those whose names were inscribed on the roll, and urged them to form their characters so that should there be again a need < for similar sacrifices they would not be found wanting. The school children then sang the "Hymn of Peace" and a prayer was offered by the Rev. R. B. Tinsley. Captain (Dr.) Gordon said he certainly esteemed it a privilege to represent the New Zealand Medical Corps at the function. He had seen a good deal of the pain and suffering in connection witti the war, but on such an occasion they wanted to dwell on the bright, and not the painful side of the war. He could tell them that all they had heard about the line spirit of the New Zealanders was true. The men were not all saints, but when it came to duty the true man showed up. Major Urquhart said the ceremony was a very good finish to the patriotic work that had been done in the district during the war. The work done for the men had'v been greatly appreciated, and had it not been for the parcels and the supplementing of the regimental funds the men would at times have found it difficult to carry on. In regard to services at the front, he wanted to speak particularly well of the n.c.o. and the private. The man who had gained the greatest credit from generals was the n.c.o. or section leader, who always led the men when fighting had. to be done. They would have noticed that in all actual fighting the British always came out on top, and this was simply a matter of discipline, but, with the British, discipline meant self-effacement, conbined with obedience to authority, while with the Germans it was based on fear. As an officer, he had never felt the least anxiety about the men. He had been very pleased to hear the reference to Colonel Malone. To show the tenacity of the British at that time he might say that 730 went into action and only 50 remained, but they held the position. Concluding, he said that had the British "not been a nation that feared God they would not have come off so well. The Revfl R. B. Tinsley said that, viewing the war from a national point of view, they had much to be thankful for. As a people, they lacked the historic sense. They did not have those things which reminded them of the past. He trusted that upon the foundations laid by our soldiers they would build an edifice that would stand throughout the centuries. Built upon truth and justice, it would be bound to stand. They sympathised with those who had lost relatives at the war. They were laid, many of them, in a foreign grave, but it was a grave that, as Brooks had said, had been made English because it was a grave where Englishmen were buried. The Rev. Howard drew attention to the fact that the roll of honor had been carved by Mr. Evans, of Stratford, who was himself a returned soldier. He thought that, in placing the memorial in the school, they would help to inspire noble thoughts in those who would come after them. The Hon. J. B. Hine then unveiled the roll of honor, which had been covered with the Union Jack, and over which a wreath of laurels had been placed in honor of the dead. Mr. Hine said that to take part in such a ceremony as they were holding was the greatest honor that could be conferred on a returned soldier. At such a time the far-away scenes of the war appeared to he imminent. He could not express himself as he would like in commendation of the way the soldiers had conducted themselves during the war and in making the future of the Empire. From history they knew that great nations had arisen, seen their day, and fallen into decay. They had fallen because they forgot th« God to whom they had shown allegiance in the days of their prosperity. When all went well 'with a nation there was a danger of forgetting the great lesßon of life. Our main purpose in life was to make the w'orld better, and he believed that the purpose of the war just ended was to show the nation thai it fffts going iata a »tat» ri disli&t. God "I

had, by his own methods, revealed what the people could not of themselves see, and had restored the nation to its proper level. The British nation would decay if it tried to force its views on the whole world, but it was the dominant factor among the nations of the world because it stood for freedom and justice for all the people of the world. Concluding, Major Hine referred to the qualities of the soldiers. He said lie had often found (that the "dare devil" kind of man was the man who made the best soldier. Nearly all those who had gone through the war were, he believed, better men than when they left New Zealand. The war may have marred some lives, but it made more than it marred. The war had evidenced the vision of life. One saw good in men where one had not been able to see it before. He urged that, every consideration should be shown for men who had shown weakness since their return. If a man failed once they should,not turn him down, but give him another chance. The school children, under Miss Lilley, with Miss Guppy as accompanist, sang a number of songs suited to the occasion, and songs were also given by Mr. Waters and Mrs. Hollands, of Stratford, Mrs. Thompson pkying the accompaniments. A vote of thanks was carried to Mr. Hine and the other speakers, and to the , singers. A delightful afternoon tea was served. Among those who greatly assisted in organising the function and carrying it out was Mrs. Sangster. Have you had them photographed? The kiddies are growing and changing every day. Have them photographed at McAllister's, Stratford,' and preserve the charm of the present. It will be a source of enjoyment in the future. In these days. of high cost of living it is a relief to find something to purohase at the old pre-war prices. Just now ladies will find at 0. E. James', Broadway, Stratford, a display of Leather Hand Bags at the old value. They are a special purchase, and are selling at one price, 7/ft each.