STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13432, 25 March 1907, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(Fbom Our Resident Agent.) March 22nd. — The programme of i-ork lor Ihe coming winter at the Technical School was submitted to the com.nittec by the superintendent on Wednesday evening. The usual "continuation" classes in secondary subjects will commence on Mondaj', April Bth. A, Aa&s in plumbing is to commence at jnce. Carpentry and joinery, under \ the Board's instructor, will be arranged ror Thursday or Friday evonings. Wood-carving lessons will be given by Mr Dowson, of Wanganui, on a suffiient number of pupils enrolling.. A ■lass in book-keeping and commercial 'aw is already in operation. Dressmaking and cookery will start immediately ifter the Easter vacation. There was a very large gathering of freemasons in the Town Hall last light, the occasion being the installation of Bro. W. J. Morrison as Worshipful Master. The ceremonies were •arried out under 'the direction of Bro. V. K. Smart as installing /officer.'' Sapper was afterwards served on the stage, siiid a most convivial and harmonious evening was spent. A fair number of Stratford people journeyed to Hawera by the special train this afternoon to hear the famous band. There would doubtless have been many more had the weather indications been otherwise. With the approach of the magic 31st there comes news of an increase of activity in Government works in the back blocks. The presumption is, of course, that more men are put on because payment, can now be . postponed until the new financial year has opened. One has heard almost incredible tales this last few weeks of sudden orders from Wellington to discharge all hands and temporarily abandon jobs just commenced, camps just pitched broken up at a day's notice, provisions packed in <*X great expense painfully swagged out again. To a layman the system savours of lunacy, but it is our ignorance of the art of government that gives us this impression. If we were behind'the scenes wo should probably find that considerations of public utility and econdmy that we think of first importance are really of only secondary importance.