STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

DAILY NEWS AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for tmblication in the Taranaki Dally News should be left at the office of our local representatative, care Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. •SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERT. November 27. Greater success than ever attended the Sunday night concert in the King’s Theatre last night. The audience almost completely filled the spacious theatre and the programme rendered by the Mardi Gras Symphony Orchestra of eighteen instrumentalists and two soloists was appreciatively received. Under the capable baton of Mr. John Hopkins the cn-ehestra has grown in numbers and the quality of its work lias improved remarkably. At the conclusion of last night’s programme Mr. Hopkins voiced what is evidently the public opinion that the orchestra should not be allowed to lapse when the Mardi Gras carnival has concluded. The soloists, Miss Inez Rigg (Stratford) and Mr. Walter Fennell (Hawera) were in good, voice and each was recalled. In addition to the local performers the following Hawera players assisted the orchestra: Mrs. Quin, Misses Dolan and Baker, Messrs. Saxon-Jones, R. L. Ferguson, F. Ollernshaw, L. Barton, D. Mitchell, and G. W. Taylor. THE MARDI GRAS.

Arrangements are well forward for the conduct of the big Mardi Gras day on Thursday. The band contest, in which five bands are competing, is exciting keen interest, and the procession from the town to the A. and P. grounds should be a memorable sight. Entries for numerous displays are coming in well. Arrangements have been made i to provide a. motor lorry service to the j grounds to cope with the traffic. To-morrow (Tuesday) night the sports committee hold a concert and dance at Huiroa and the 8.8. committee' will conduct a similar function at Cardiff. The final dance, in aid of the country candidate, will be held at Midhirst on Wednesday night. The winners of the guessing competitions at the 8.8. -fair on Saturday were: Tea cosy, Miss Witt; box of chocolates, Mr. Tony .Breen; table centre, Mr. I. Thompson. The cake competitions will be drawn on Wednesday. The Mardi Gras deputation, which waited on the Taranaki Education Board to-day, was successful in securing a holiday for the school children within a twelve miles radius to enable them to attend the Mardi Gras on Thursday. % GENERAL ITEMS. A suggestion that the Sunday night concerts instituted and eo successfully carried out by the Mardi Gras orchestra should be continued in the future, possibly under municipal control, was made by the conductor, Mr. J. Hopkins, at last night’s concert. Music was edifying, Mr. Hopkins said, and from the growing interest of the public in the concerts he believed much healthy enjoyment had been derived from them. He believed a gap in the lives of the music-loving community had been satisfactorily filled.

'The Methodist Sunday School anniversary services were conducted by the Rev. J. F. Martin, of New Plymouth. At the afternoon service the kindergarten scholars were presented,- with prizes won during the year. The anniversary festivities will be continued to-morrow (Tuesday),, a concert and tea having been arranged. The performance of the oratorio “The Messiah” at the Stratford Town Hall on Friday night i? exciting great interest. Already the whole of the seats in the dress circle have been booked and the indications are that the house will be filled to overflowing. Arninr.e-' merits have been made to give the visiting choirs a Mayoral reception at Mr. P. Thomson’s residence on Friday afternoon, and light refreshments will bp provided at the Parish Hall after the performance. The billeting arrangements have been accomplished very satisfactorily, local residents freely offering accommodation for the choristers. The points prize in the Shorthorn section at the Stratford show was won by Mr. J. C. Wright, of Matapu, with 69 points, and in the Ayrshire section by Mr. W. Hall, of Lepperton, with 84 points. That the rest tent instituted by the Plunket Society at the Stratford • show was appreciated by the public was instanced by the fact that its advantages were availed of by 400 mothers. Under the auspices of the Stratford Prohibition League a children’s demonstration will bp held in Broadway on Saturday afternoon, and it is expected about 600 town and country children will participate. Appropriate songs will be given by the massed children. The opening of the Sportsdale Tennis Club’s courts was held on Saturday afternoon when there was a good attendance of enthusiasts.