STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1925, Page 9

STRATFORD NEWS.

MOURNING FOR PREMIER. FLAGS AT HALF-MAST. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, May 11. With flags at half-mast and Government offices closed, Stratford, in common with other towns, to-day mourned the death of the Prime Minister. Schools assembled at the usual time, but after brief addresses by the principals the scholars were dismissed. Messages of condolence and sympathy were forwarded to Mrs. Massey and the late Prime Minister’s family by the Mayor (Mr. J. \V. McMillan), Mr. R. Masters, M.P., Mr. J. B. Richards (on behaJf of the Chamber of Commerce), Mr. L. T. Aylward (on behalf of the Progress League), the Egmont Club executive and Mr. W. T. Kennedy (chairman of the Stratford Reform League). Mr. Masters also telegraphed a sympathetic message to Sir Francis Bell.

The Stratford Borough Council met to-night, and after passing a resolution of sympathy with the late Mr. Massey’s family adjourned out of respect to the memory of deceased. The "Mayor telegraphed to Mrs. Massey: “The people of Stratford beg tender their heartfelt sympathy in your 'bereavement, and w% pray that God will sustain you in your hour of trial. The great loss to our Dominion and the Empire by the parsing away of your dear husband cannot be estimated but we know he •will live in the memory of Nenr Zealand for all time.” A POPULAR OFFICIAL. A representative gathering of citizens to-night farewelled Mr. R. Peebles, late postmaster at Stratford. Mr. Peebles, who has been in Stratford only fourteen months, has been transferred to the position of chief postmaster at Thames. Although his stay in Taranaki has been a short one, he has made many friends, and the extent of his popularity may be gauged by the fact that aboui fifty were present. Mr. G. H. Morrish, of Dargaville, will take over Mr. Peebles’ duties in Stratford. Prior to the commencement of business the gathering stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mr. Massey.

The Mjtyor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), who presided, said they all parted with Mr. Peebles with much regret, for it had not always been their experience to have public servants who knew their job and who were at the same time imbued with common business sense. The public generally liked men in their service to deal with them patiently and sympathetically, and to realise that their own opin ion or that of the department which they represented was not the only viewpoint to be considered. Mr. Peebles had realised that, and the speaker assured him that it was the unanimous opinion of business people of Stratford that he had filled the position of postmaster with credit to himself and with the utmost satisfaction to them. The good discipline of the staff had been noticeable, and it was realised that the postmaster and his assistants had been a happy family. Mr. Peebles was leaving them on promotion, and they begged to extend to him their heartiest congratulations, coupled with the wish that he would rise still higher in the department he had served so faithfully and so well. (Applause). After several other speakers had paid tributes, Mr. Peebles was presented by the Mayor with a handsome suitcase for himself, and a beautiful Dbulton bowl for Mrs. Peebles. Mr. Peebles suitably replied. Earlier in the afternoon Mr. Peebles was farewelled by the staff of the post office, when Mr. L. C. B. Loveridge (telegraph supervisor), on behalf of the staff, presented him with a case of pipes and two hand-painted vases for Mrs. Peebles. PERSONAL. Mr. W. H. Hoskin, of Stratford, was a passenger to Hamilton by this morning’s mail train. Mr. Hoskin expects to be away about a Mr. and Mrs. Bilski, of Kiore, have left that district to reside at Gordon Road.