STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 288, 28 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

THE TERRITORIALS

The Territorials of II Company. 11th Regiment Taramiki Killes, arrived home on Saturday afternoon. Our men were formed up in line on the railway platform, and it must he said that they looked smarter than many of those who perambulated the platform proud in their knowledge of a local girl or two and of the fact that they hailed from a bigger town than ours. There is no doubt whatever that for general physique and bearing the Stratford (Tl Company) men compare favorably, and even more than favorably, with the rest of the regiment. Of course, as News representative, the writer was told a whole story about the reporter who had been the means of creating some excitement in the camp at Oringi as the result of his contributions to the press. He was a member of the B company, and the whole camp wanted to duck him, whereupon the B's said, "Not in these trousers." To have ducked that man would have entailed j ducking every man in B company. Such is esprit de corps, and more power to the men who took up this stand.

iLieutenant-Colonel Malone was caught for a word or two before he drove off to the realms of domesticity. He was enthusiastic concerning the Taranaki Territorials. "We had the best muster in the camp," he said, "and our fellows were the best there. Dannevirke people told me that it was the Taranaki Territorials who most of all- took their eye." So they ought to! • Sons of the soil, well set,up, well accoutred, they looked "just it" as they detrained at Stratford. They were not all pleased with the camp. The News man breasted a pair of country chaps who were quite unknown to him. and to whom he was likewise unknown. . "Feel fit for another week's camp?" he asked. "Not on your life," came the reply. "I wouldn't take on another week at two pounds a day." A question or,two elicited the complaint that they had been badly fed. "There was plenty of tucker, and good tucker, too. But we didn't get it.' More was wasted than ever came near the men. I'll be glad to get home and to have a decent feed." . >

_ Anyhow, we are glad to see the ■ Terriers safe home again. A bank official had a complaint to make on Saturday. He said that whereas he and some of his fellow officers had been working all hours this week in order to make up .for the absence of some members of the staff who had been .taken off to camp, the Government servants hadn't got to vary the well-known Government stroke a .single iota. "Why," he asked, "should the Government servants get off scot free when the Government makes us work like this?" The only answer vouchsafed by the few who heard the complaint was that "the parson doesn't usually put the most in the plate." Chatting over the alleged trouble concerning reporters in ramp, a well-known Territorial officer reckoned that the position was "ugly." Another considered that fights among" the men—bare fisticuffs—were not harmful, and he quoted; Kipling's words to the effect that single men in barracks are not of "the stuff of i which plaster suits are made." STRAY PARAGRAPHS. Xbw that the Territorials are back, football practices will be better attendedThe most interesting feature of the Territorial disembarkation was the motley stack of personal belongings. There were "kits" of all sizes and descriptions, from the humble but useful sack to the portly and stylish portmanteau. The News scribe purposely refrained from mentioning that we had had a whole string of fine days, lest the spell be broken. Another writer risked it rosterday. and it rained before midnight Of course!

At the meeting of the parishioners of Holy Trinity Church on Thursday night the Rev. W. A. Butler mentioned that he had been in communication with the i Bi«hop of the diocese concerning the appointment of a layman to act as assistant clergyman in the parish. He ex- , plained that the gentleman concerned was at present a schoolmaster, but had passed two of the three examinations necessary prior to his ordination. The Bishop has approved of the appointment as a temporary expedient, and on Friday night Mr. Lionel Hawie arrived here to take up his duties. Tt is hoped that with two clergymen the spiritual work of the parish will be advanced. Last year, owing to the work being beyond the capacity of any one man, no great advancement was made, but the Vicar said that in the circumstance* the congregation should be thankful that there had been no falling-off.

Householders are reminded of the annual meeting at the schoolhouse tonight. Some of the candidates for the Council are discreetly "lobbying." and others are being indiscreetly 'lobbied."

FSOM OUR RESIDENT REPORTED Office and Job Printing Works: Next N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co., Broadway. Telephone No. 113.