STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144711, 21 June 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD.

FROM OUH RESIDENT AGENT. Juno 19.—Tho Belgian Hag advertised to be sold to-day for tho benefit of tho Wounded Soldiers’ Fund was duly auctioned under must, unpromising conditions as to weather. It would not havo been surprising if tho sale had proved a failure, but, as it turned mu, the untoward elements failed to damn the tiro of patriotism, and the sum of £415 was realised. Mr. C. Bayly was tho ultimate possCv'i'or of the flap;, with a bid of £ll, bub he had, at an early stage of the auction, given £SO for the bit of bunting and had rc-donaiecl it. Next ‘to a carnival queen a gilt-auc-tion scents to be tho readiest way of raising these funds. Tho cheese factories paid out about £10,600 to-day, including substantial instalments of tho “bonus.” 1 hear that the Wellington district, which includes Taranaki, is called upon to find almost a half of the seventh reinforcements, tho system being for tho quota for a district to be -fixed according to tho number volunteering. Thus is all right, and prevents a lot of the tedious waiting ami disappointment experienced by volunteers under tho discarded system of fixing tho quota according to population. There are good reasons why the number of men in the South Island offering their services is considerably lower than in th© North, but the fact that it is so emphasises the selfishness of Otago and Canterbury in retaining their patriotic funds for local needs instead of pooling them in tho National Fund. Wo aro helping them with men and they ought to help us with money. Our Bowling Club appears to hare achieved some little distinction by its decision at tho annual meeting to discountenance tho introduction to the green of tho cup that cheers and occasionally inebriates. For homo years the club’s green was a dry area, but considerations of hospitality prevailed, and for ill© bust two seasons, or perhaps three, “snifters” have boon obtainable. John Barleycorn has been on probation and has boon, after a fair trial, found to bo on tho whole a nuisance. So, exit John, deeply regretted, perhaps, by some few convivial souls, bnt by the majority regarded with indifference.