LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 84, 22 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Cabinet lias approved of a grant of £765 towards the cost of re-building the Patea School. The annual meeting of the local branch of the W.C.T.G. will be held in the Primitive .Methodist schoolroom to-morrow afternoon. At the School Committee meeting last night arrangements for the annual school sea-side excursion were left in the hands of the chairman and secretary.

At the mooting of the committee of the. Chamber of Commerce last night, Mr. Richards moved a vote of thanks to Mr. ,1. B. Mine for Ids prompt attention to matters brought under Ids notice by the Chamber. He said the Chamber was a non-political body, and they expected their representative to give them the host of Ids services. Mr. Hi no had always done so, and he (Mr. Richards) thought the vote of thanks was only his just cine. .Mr. McMillan seconded the motion, expressing Ids pleasure in doing so. The Chairman (Mr. Masters) supported the motion, stating that not only with the Chamber, but also with the Borough Council, he had always found that Mr. liino had looked after tidings well. The motion was carried unanimously.

A special committee was appointed by the School Committee last night to make arrangements for the visit of the Prime Minister and visitors. Louis S. Robertson, who is now

resident at Ohnra, will visit Stratford on Saturday to meet Stoker Penny on the 27th. The electoral roll has now finally closed, the work in connection with it being finished in the local Registrar’s office about midnight yesterday.

On show night, November 30th, a special fireworks display, by the Crystal I‘alace Fireworks Co., who are making their first appearance in Now Zealand, will bo given in Victoria Park.

The offices of the secretary of the A. and P. Association will remain open till .5 p.m. to-morrow, to receive tiie final entries for the forthcoming Stratford Show. The first steamer of the season to

load at the Waitara roadstead will ho tho N.Z. Shipping Company’s ' Kaikoura, about tho middle of December.

Several Stratford people went to New Plymouth for the Show to-day. To-morrow, however, with tho special train arrangements, there will be a much larger contingent. At the meeting of the School Committee held last evening it was decided to close the school on November 30th to allow the school children an opportunity of attending the Stratford A. and P. Show.

That popular function, the annual school concert, has been definitely fixed for December 14th. The first part of the programme will he a children's entertainment, and “Trial by Jury” will be repeated by the Stratford Operatic Society as the second part. “Do not forget that entries close to-morrow,” is the main message conveyed in this week’s instalment of Luverack’s “Dog Lore,” which will ho found iu another part of this issue. The Skye terrier is also dealt with at length. It was decided at the meeting of the School Committee last night to write to the Education Board to arrange a deputation to interview the Prime Minister on his visit to Stratford, with a view of getting a portion of the brick wall of tho new school altered.

After laying the foundation stone of the new school on November 27th, the Prime Minister will be entertained at a dinner by the School Committee at the County Hotel. The chairman of the Stratford County Council, Mayor and members and officials of the Taranaki Education Board are invited to be present. It is with regret, says the “Eltham Argus,” we learn that Mr. F. E. Hardy is again in had health, and that in all probability it may he necessary for him to be removed to the New Plymouth hospital. Mr. Hardy’s many friends will wish him a speedy recovery. i : ,1

Entries for the Stratford A. and’P. Show still continue to pour into’the secretary’s office, and it is confidently expected that record entries will ho obtained. Mr Edward Jackson 1 , the secretary; has erected a tent on the New Plymouth 'Show grounds for the benefit'of' those desiring-to enter ex- ' hi,bits. ; It is anticipated that he will receive quite a large number while in the north.

Stratford residents have not witnessed a good wrestling match, for a long, time, hut 011 Monday next, November 27th, are promised something out of the usual, when Stoker Penny, of H.M.S. Powerful, who had a great “go” with Louis Robertson, will meet again in a final tussle before Robertson gives up wrestling altogether. AVo afo! sure of a clean and vigorous-con-test, and the match, well deserves support. , •)! 0 •' ■ ■. •

At the School Committee meeting last night it was resolved. that a letter be written to each political candidate in Taranaki, asking him to publicly pledge - himself from the public platform that he would strenuously oppose the spending of the revenue derived from the Opukua reserve for any other purpose than for the benelit‘of the Taranaki children. This reserve has been specially set aside for secondary education in the Taranaki province.

The committee of the Chamber of Commerce decided last night to approach Sir Joseph Ward when ho visits Stratford, regarding the necessity for a now post office and also for improving the look of the railway station as regards blocking out the view of the backs of business premises. Messrs. Masters, Hewitt, Kirkwood, and Richards wore appointed to bring the matters under the notice of the Premier.

Cr Thomson moved at the County Council meeting this morning that leg- , al proceedings be taken against Mr T. Perry, who had been requested to put back a live hedge which encroached on the road and had failed to do so. Cr Anderson gave some of the history of the fence, and after some discussion the matter was left in his hands on the understanding that ho will interview Mr Perry and endeavour to arrange for the removal of the fence.

A visitor from the North, who was delighted with the Wanganui Agricultural Show and its management severally, writes to the “Herald” complaining that he and many others, who attended the Show on the first day, were unable to see the largest section —the dogs. Many people, he says, only attended on the first day, and were grievously disappointed. Ho says that it should not be a difficult matter to provide that visitors should not again suffer disappointment. At the Stratford Show, the dogs will be on view on the afternoon of the first day.

Professor Cardston, who is to conduct a big carnival for the benefit of the Fire Brigade, has just completed a similar carnival in Gisborne, which was tiie means of raising £l6lO. Ho will arrive in Stratford about December 6th. In a letter received by Mr. Grubb from the Professor, Mr. Grubb is requested to choose the necessary dancers, so that an early start can lie made with practices. Mr. Grub I) is deputed to choose the following dancers: —Twenty children from seven to ten years old, twenty from twelve to sixteen, thirty young ladies any age, eight ladies and gentlemen for a special dance, and another set of ladies and gentlemen for a skipping dance. The monthly meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held last night. Present: Messrs J. Masters (in the chair), Hewitt, McMillan, Munro, Young, and Richards (secretary). The secretary reported that ho had approached Mr. Shaw, chairman of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, regarding telephonic communication between Tahora and Tatn, and he had said he would do what ho could in the matter. The secretary of the Inglewood Tradesmen’s Association wrote stating that his association were thinking of forming a Chamber of Commerce, and asking for a copy r f the Chamber's rules. The secretary said he had posted the information as desired.

Tenders are to bo called by the County Council for leasing the Waipuku reserve. S. Rodgers was this morning appointed by tie County Council to tue position of foreman at Douglas. A special meeting of the Stratford Volunteer Dire Brigade will be held at the station on Friday evening next, tho 24th inst,. at 7 o'clock. The following business is set down for hearing at Friday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court:" Thirteen undefended civil cases, four judgment summonses and four informations lor breaches of Borough by-laws. The secretary of the Employers’ Association reports a shortage of _unskil’lod and waterside labour in Napier, whilst but slow progress can be made with building contracts owing to shortage of bricklayers and plasterers. A motion was passed at this morning’s meeting of the County Council placing on record the Council’s appreciation of the able work of the lute chairman (Mr G. A. Marchant) on behalf of the county. In moving the motion Cr Thomson said that Mr Marchant had endeavoured at all times to give everybody a fair and impartial hearing. They all regretted tiiat he was not with them now to give them his assistance. 'Or Smith said he and Mr Marchant had had passages between them, but he had nothing agaipst Mr Marchant. The motion was carried unanimously. At the meeting of the County Council this morning Cr Walter moved ana Cr Smith seconded that Mr Malone be re-appointed the Council’s solicitor. Cr Thomson moved as an amendment that applications be called. Ido said this would stop people saying that they had done something underhand in not giving everybody in practice a chance for the position. Cr Christoifel seconded. Cr Walter said it would be a ■ graceful act on the. part of tne Council to re-appoint Mr Malone, with whom all councillors seemed to be satisfied. Cr Thomson explained that he had no feeling against Mr jVlalone. After a little discussion the original motion was carried.