STRATFORD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1267, 11 June 1896, Page 17

STRATFORD.

Tho seventh annual “social” of the Presbyterians was a great success on the 28th ult. The attendance was even larger than usual, yet the abundance of good things provided was more than sufficient fur all. While tea was progressing some good music was given outside the hall by Mr Hughes’ Brass Band. After the tables were cleared the Rev. Mr llut3on took tire chair, and a long and entertaining programme was gone through, comprising songs, musical sclec tutus, ministers’ addressee recitations and items supplied by the Midhurst Choir. Altogether a very pleasant evening was enjoyed by all present. The Town Board is endeavouring to purchase a better site for a cemetery than llio one now in use. Several sites have been offered, but do not appear to be altogether suitable. Jt is not advisable to have the ccuneteiy on the main road, where it is likely to deteriorate the value of good building sites. Mr J. B. Patou, who was for many years a storekeeper in Stratford, Inis given up the position ol m uiagor to the Farmers’ Co-operative Store, and has gone into the hotel business. Mr Ma-sters is now the manager for the Co operative Store. Mr Bucktiiought is exhibiting the electric light in his butcher's shop on Broadway. The light is lit tort up by Mr A. W. Reid, of the Bird road. Mr Adlum, who has for a considerable time managed Mr Wilkinson’s store at Ngaire, was married on Wednesday to Miss Riggs. There was a great demonstration of the Salvationists on Friday night, there being present some “ officers" who had been in gaol in Patea They were already parading the streets early in tho afternoon, and afterwards adjourned to their “ barracks." Last Saturday Mr McGuire, M.11.R , gave a political address at Ngaire to a rather small house. Mr Boon was in tho chair, though he said lie would rather a settler of longer standing had taken it. Mr McGuire spoke for about two hours, accusing the Government individually and collectively of all kindt of mal practices, mat of which nccusitions havo already been answered. He did not, however, make the utterly unfounded and untenable statements, that have been made by oilier Opposition speakers. He approved of the advances to settlers, but thought they should have been made as soon as the money was available, so as to save the country continued expense of

administration He thought if prohibition was to be any good at all, it must bo the absolute prohibition of tho manufacture or impmtation of any liquor whatever in this country. He approved of the referendum, considering the people had a night to decide whether or not any important measure should be passed, lie did now approve of introducing religious instruction in tho schools, as he Lin ught it would endanger the present system, but he would like to see introduced a general uniformity in the books used, so that children obliged to change from one school to another should not be at a disadvantage. lie deplored the dreadful poverty of thoso st ttlers who were going on to land forty-five miles dawn theOhura road, travelling along dangerous and precipitous routes, carrying their babies and young children with scarcely anything belonging to them, and going to a new settlement where tho badness of the road caused all provisions to be sold at famine prices. Ho said he was not there to ask far votes, but to give an account of his 3‘ewaidship. Ho thought it was most unlike'y that he would be able to carry any bill so long as the present Government was in power. He did not wish for a vote of confidence. He would rather that was left for the ballot. He had time to devote to the business of the House, and if the people wanted him, be was willing to give it ; if not, ho was quite independent, and would, perhaps, ho better able to lookafter the interests of his family. Votes of thanks closed the mooting, which was entirely orderly. Mr McGuire was evi dently suffering from a cold, and was very hoarse. Ho hid spoken at a different place every night that week. An inquest on tho body of A. Camp bell was held at Elthain tho day after his death, which was found to have been caused by apoplexy.

Messrs Lovell and Christmas in a letter to the Elthain Dairy Factory Company, from whom they purchased cheeses, i write :—“ Tho quality of your cheese is exceedingly satisfactory, and we have been able to realise more for them than for any that wo have received." Eltham very much wants a church for the Anglican congregation. The subscriptions collected do not nearly come up to the sum required, and Elthain is tempted to go a-borrowing like so many 1 others. But Eltham is pretty sure to be far more populous and affluent in a few years ; meanwhile there is tile Mission Hall. Air and Mr 3 E. S. Curtis and family left Stratford last week en route for a pleasure trip among the South Sea Islands. Some keen speculators are looking out for a suitable site to establish a brewery in Stratford. It is rumoured that Mr B. C. Robbins, of Haweru, will be asked to contest the Egmont seat in the interest of the Prohibitionists. Mr Curnow, local manager of the Bank of Nov/ Zealand, inherits, through the death of a relative, a fortune of 15,000.