STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7962, 5 September 1887, Page 3

STRATFORD.

[FROM OOE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Skftkmber 3. — Tho elements were not propitions for the school entertainment last night ; in fact, the weather was not fit for a dog to be out in. There was a fair audience, however, and the proceeds will nett some £4 or £5. " Trying it on"" was gone through with, if anything, more vivacity and spirit than on the former occasion. 'The " Area Belle" waß as great a success as at Ngaire, Mrs. Crowhurst acting with that abandon for which she is now well known. The concert was somewhat shorn of its interest on account of the absence of some of the intending performers, but those who braved the storm were rewarded with a hearty reception, especially oar old friend Mr. Harre, whose re-appearance was hailed with great enthusiasm. The following was the programme : — Mr. Hurre, "Tom Bowling;" Mr. Morton,. "Old England and The New;" Mr. Taylor, "The Days when I was Young ;" Mr. Liardet, "Sailing ;" Miss Butler, recitation, "Mary Queen of Scots;" MißsKing, "The Blue Bells of Scotland ;" Mr. Leech, "I shall put it in the bands of my solicitor." Several encores were demanded, and in moßt cases aoceded to. A danoe, as usual, brought the proceedings to a close. I had occasion to visit the Stratford pound yesterday, and I must say that there ib considerable cause for the dissatisfaction that exists as to the way in which it is kept. To begin with, the pound itself was in a bad state of repair, one of the panels of the fence being down. But this is not the worst of it. The great cause of complaint is this : There is, of coarse , a paddock in connection with the pound — whether gazetted or not I can't say— aud this paddock i=f not securely fenced. ' The consequence is that settlers wishing to look at cattle that have been impounded may have to spend an hour or two in looking for them in the standing bush, or wait while the poundkeeper hunts them up. The Road Board are negleoting their duty ia allowing this ecate of things to continue.

The cattle sale here on Thursday was, as expected, a very large one. It needs no great amount of prescience to foresee that this will eventually be tbe great cattle centre for the bush district.

The school playground has lately been enlarged, and a shelter fence of poplars, and other trees planted.