STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143670, 14 December 1911, Page 2

STRATFORD.

(From Our Resident Agent.) Dec. 13.—" Big with fate for Cato and for Rome." For Cato read Ward, and for Home read New Zealand, and to-morrow fills the bill. The soothsayers of Stratford are somewhat at variance over the reading of the’omens. Ui the thirty seats in dispute, twenty are to fall "to "Ward and twenty to Massey, whilst everyone agrees that Labour is bound to win several. I shall bo among the prophets on Friday morning, 'the .borough Council’s electric lighting project is makingslow progress. Negotiations with the Government are still being carried on by the Mayor, and possioiy, when some other small matters that are now engaging the attention of Ministers are satisiactorilv settled, some Government money will be available for the £144,000 loan. The A.M.P. Society has been approached, and suggests an application on a 41 per cent, basis, a rate of interest much higher than that on which the calculations were made. • A "sale of work” is not ordinarily a verv successful way of raising money, but the one organised by the ladies of the Church of England and held yesterday, under none too favourable weather conditions, wus one of the exceptions. It will add about £45 to the church funds, .Mr. Hine, M.P.. did the needful in the way of opening ceremony, and remarked that he was pleased that his first public function after his election, was connected with his church.

At the School Committee meeting last night a letter from the chairman of the Education Board disclosed a kindly bit of thoughtfulness on the part of the Prime Minister. Some of the children had been unable to participate in the day's holiday given in honour of the recent stone-laying function because they were in the toils of au ‘•exam.” at tho time. Oil leaving Inglewood after his pre-election speech. Sir Joseph asked the cliaiiman of the board to see that these martyrs to regulation rccom~ pensed with a day off on the first convenient date.