STRATFORD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1106, 12 May 1893, Page 22

STRATFORD.

The special train on Sunday last was crowded to overflowing by a sorrowful multitude, anxious to attend the funeral at Wanganui of the late Premier. A large number went on to the train at Stratford. Expressions of regret at the loss the country has sustained by the death of Mr Ballance are general on all sides. The meetings of householders for the election of school committees were so poorly attended that, in some cases, no election could be made. In other cases only just sufficient persons were present to elect a committee. The fact is a great mistake is made in not allowing married women who are living happily with their husbands any voice in educational matters. Mother? take a keen interest in all that concerns children, frequently a keener interest even than the fathers. But if they are not householders, independently of their husbands, women are not allowed to vote for a school committee, nor to sit on one. Evidently the possession of a house has nothing to do with the matter. It would be far more sensible to make every mother eligible to vote for school committees and to be elected members. It is not likely that any would be elected who were not, at least, as well fitted as the male members who now sit, and a number of matters, would be attended to which are now but top often neglected. The boggy place on the Mountain road, south of Patea Bridge, has now been barricaded t 3 prevent persons from attempting to go through it. They have to make.their way up the steep and rugged sides.

The weather is so persistently rainy that very little can as yet be done to remedy this deplorable state of things. This one excessively bad place is the more criticised that so much money has been spent and the whole of the road through the town metalled. A commencement has been made in gravelling the footpaths, but the storms and incessant rains of the 3rd and 4th have delayed progress. The railway stations at Stratford and Ngaire have been repainted, and are looking clean and cheerful in their new dress. The change of a single letter in the Stratford notes recently made a rather important error. It was not the Wanganui but the Manganui Club, which changed its name to the Stratford Football Club.

It is surprising what numbers of brilliant flowers are now flourishing out of doors in those gardens which are lovingly tended. The absence of frosts is probably the reason, rain not seeming to be so injurious to flowers. Barely have we seen such a great variety in flower at this season.

Amongst a number of petty cases tried in the Eesident Magistrate's Court, a man was convicted of supplying a prohibited person with drink. A case of assault was the outcome of too much drink, both parties being described as ' groggy.' The new hotel south of the bridge is to be the grandest building, it is said, in all Stratford. Great efforts are to be made to get it ready before the sitting of the Licensing Committee. A tea-meeting took place at the Ngaire on the 3rd, when, in spite of the drenching weather and muddy roads, there was a large attendance; the chief attraction for the rising generation being the large supply of cakes, jellies and tea, and for the elder ones the lecture on ' Duncan Matheson,' by the Eev Mr Wood, who is very popular ju3t now, and is considered to be a good lecturer as well as an energetic Primitive Methodist. The teameeting was to procure funds in aid of the newly-started Sunday school at Ngaire. A dramatic entertainment was given at Stratford on the 4th, but, owing to the bad weather, the attendance was only sufficient to pay expenses. As the object was to obtain a sum to expend in improving the Pembroke road track up Mount Egmont the performance will probably be given again, when it is hoped there will be a full house.