STRATFORD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 18

STRATFORD.

On Sunday evening the service in Holy Trinity Church was conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon Govett, from New Plymouth, who preached to a crowded congregation! He took the opportunity of presenting the Bishop's license as a lay reader to Mr Kimbell, manager of the Bank of Australasia, who has conducted the services since the departure of the liev. A. English. The Archdeacon said that nothing definite was yet arranged, but he hoped very soon to see another minister residing in Stratford.

A handsome memorial stone has been erected by the Freemasons over the grave of the late Rev J. Mcintosh, M.A., who was chaplain to the Stratford Lodge at the time of his decease.

A very complimentary illuminated address has been presented to Miss Agnes Malone in recognition of her unflagging zeal for the Roman Catholic Church and the school connected with it. The young lady, with her mother and sister, will shortly start on a visit to England. Messrs James and Penn have returned from their mission to Wellington oh the subject of turning Stratford into a borough. The matter having been carefully gone into, it seems likely that the incorporation of the town will not be much longer delayed.

The new Law Court has been gazetted, and cases will be heard there instead of in the Town Hall as hitherto.

The Post Office officials are in the throes of removal to the new Post Office, which is expected to be open for public business next Monday.

At 7-45 p.m. on Monday an earthquake was felt which seemed of longer duration than the shock last week. These quakes, have been rather frequent lately, and have been more severe this year than last. A soiree musicale was held in the Town Hall on the 23rd inst. in aid cf the funds of the Eoman Catholic Church. A gift auction, tableaux vivants and concert all combined to fill the evening very pleasantly and, as the hall was crowded, very profitably for the object in view. The hall was handsomely decorated, the stage especially being profusely ornamented with flowers, ferns, draperies, &c. There was a good show of articles for the gift auction, the sale of which took up considerable time. The Stratford Band was in attendance, and the entertainment was followed by a dance, which was well attended.

Travellers from Stratford to Tnglewood on Wednesday (22nd inst.) found the train exceedingly crowded, and what seemed rather surprising was that almost every second woman held a baby in her lap, the men all standing up outside or between the seats. Some one jocularly remarked that it was a good opportunity to hold a baby show, not aware that this was actually the attraction which made the train look like a creche. Inglewood was celebrating the twenty-first anniversary of its settlement by a variety of gala-doings, included, in which was a baby show, with prizes of twenty shillings each to the prize baby under sis: months and under twelve months. Messrs peters and King fiaxTto award the prizes' among' fourteen babies that were entered; A' procession was formed, headed by the Town Band and followed by a large number of settlers, the lodges, the fire brigade and hundreds of school children. Mr McGuirej M.H.E., and Mrs McGuire were px-esent at

the proceedings. In the afternoon sports were enjoyed in the Recreation Grounds, and in the evening a banquet, concert and dance. Quite a number of Stratford residents joined in these gaieties.