STRATFORD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 18

STRATFORD.

The Library and Free Reading Room was re-opened with considerable improve meats on Monday evening by the chairman of the Town Board, Mr James, in the presence of the Library Committee and members of the Town Board. Tea, coffee and refreshments were provided by the wives of the Library Committee, to whom a vote of thanks was tendered. Mr Watkins will act as librarian for the present, and will be glad to receive donations of books. An entertainment is being got up, the proceeds of which will be in aid of the Library irnids. Professor White gave a lecture on phrenological makers on Tuesday, which

was hardly as well attended as it merited. The Professor intends returning to lecture again in Stratford. A lire took place on Tuesday afternoon by which a dwelling-house was burned to the ground. The house was situated in tho Warwick road and was the property of Mr Noble, and occupied by Mr Mercer, both of Stratford. When the fl lines were observed in Stratford it was too late for the lire engine to bo of U3O, but a me members of the tire brigade went out in a trap, and Wore able to save a shed behind the house. Mr Mercer lost all his furniture, books, musical instruments and music, and was insured only for a small sum. Tho house was insured for £IOO. Tho events which caused so many to look forward to Thursday as they have been doing for weeks past were more or less spoiled by dismal pouring wet weather. The race meeting was put off to Friday, but, numbeis of country rosi dents, who had intended to go in to hear the Hon. J. G. Ward’s political address, were compelled by the stormy weather to remain at home. Mr Ward drove from Hawera to Stratford, and arrived about one o’clock. He was received by a number of gentlemen and presented with an address of welcome, after which he was interviewed by quite a number of deputations upon subjects of local importance, to all of which lie made courteous reply, and, where necessary, promised careful consideration. In the evening the Hon. Mr Ward gave a financial address to a full house, which would have been packed and overflowing but for tho drenching weather. Afterwards a banquet was tendered to Mr Ward at the Cmnty Hotel.

A new arrival was fined os in the S M Court for jumping oil tho train at Stratford before it was brought to a standstill. Young peoplo see this done so frequently at many railway stations that they get to regard it as a matter of course, and are quite surprised when told that it is illegal. Mr Lynch, musician, tobacconist and hairdresser is going to sell off all his business stock in Broadway on Saturday next. Taranaki is naturally extremely indignant at Sir Robert Stout’s proposal *o seize the Taranaki University Reserves for the benefit of Wellington. The very argument used in favour of the proposed Wellington College, that parents are averse to their children going away from Wellington, applies with equal force to Taranaki, which will certainly want all its reserves for its own rapidly multiplying population.