STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

DAILY NEWS AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news f« publication In the Taranaki Daily 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. MARDI GRAS CARNIVAL. THE CLOSING SCENES. December 1. A fairly large crowd gathered at the Mardi Gras headquarters last night to witness the closing scenes of the carnival queen elections. All vehiei.lar traffic from Regan Street to the Post Office was suspended between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. The figures, as announced at 7 o’clock, caused some surprise, larger voting being expected, but it was soon evident that considerable sums were being held back. Towards the close the figures went up in leaps and bounds, until at 10 o’clock the IJ.B. candidate had reached over 103,000. The majority of the crowd had dispersed when it was found that a mistake had occurred, the 8.8. candidate having been credited with a large number of votes which should have been in favor of the country candidate. When the mistake was rectified the leading candidate dropped back to over 89,000, but she still maintained a substantial lead over the Sports candidate. The country and A.S.A. candidates’ positions were reversed, however. Miss Kivell being finally placed third and Miss Walsh fourth. In view of the difficult times at which the campaign was launched tke result ( £1049) must be considered satisfactory. Further sums are still to come in, the art unions and the crowning ceremonies on Saturday and Monday nights being expected to yield a | considerable amount. Good houses are ; anticipated* to witness the ceremonies at the Town Hall on Saturday and Monday nights, when first class programmes will be submitted. As a result of being placed third in the quickstep contest the Stratford Band has received many congratulations. Being so recently re-formed, after being defunct for some years, it was hardly to be expected the band would get into a place and return the highest points in music. Had more time been available for military practice the band should have given a good account of itself. Only two military practices under Drum-major W. H. Humphrey were held prior to the contest, so that the result must be gratifying to a band which is struggling to regain a footing.

VISITING ’CHORISTERS. The members of the Royal Wellington Choral Society, who are visiting Stratford for the performance of “The Messiah.” arrived by train from the south this afternoon and were met by «a. fleet of motor cars and conveyed to their billets in various parts of the town. They were afterwards motored to Mr. Percy Thomson’s beautiful gardens in Hamlet Street, where afternoon tea was dispensed and a pleasant afternoon was spent. Tennis and croquet were indulged in and the fine grounds, which are now looking their best, were a source of great interest and delight to tflie visitors. The host was assiduous in his attentions to everyone. Speeches of welcome were made by Mr. Thompson, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) and Mr. Robert Masters, M.P. Mr. Wilson (president of the Wellington Society) and Mr. Temple White (conductor) replied on behalf of the visitors. GENERAL ITEMS. •At the Methodist District Synod, hold this week at Wanganui, the Rev. A. L. Witheford, of Midhirst, having passed the tests imposed by the conference, was publicly received as a fully accredited Home missionary of the Methodist Church. The customary presentation of a Bible, suitably inscribed, was made by the Rev. W. Trigg, chairman of the district. A final prohibition rally will be held in the ‘Stratford Town Hall on ’Sunday night at 8.15 p.m., when there will be a meeting of citizens. The speakers will be the Rev. C. W. Howard and Mr. L. M. Moss. A children’s demonstration will be held in Broadway to-mor-row. (Saturday), about 500 children participating. A prohibition song, composed by an Aucklander, will be sung by the massed children. j The boys of the Stratford Technical High School will contest a steeplechase at 3 o’clock on Monday, the route being from th,e school to the hospital, re•turning across the swing bridge and Cloton Road to the school.