STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8082, 11 April 1906, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

(From our Own Correspondent.) Mr W, S. Cato, who, -with Mr Little, of New Plymouth, has just completed a short tour of Tasmania and southern portions of Australia, returned to Stratford on Monday night. Mr E. F. Hemingway, our Town Clerk, must feel gratified at the unanimous appreciation of his work. He is probably one of the best in the Colony, and seems to have the Borough finances and inuuieipal law at his fingers' onds. He has recently been voted an increase of £lO per annum, making his salary £2lO.

The Borough foreman lias had his pay increased by a shilling a day. The satisfactory state of the Borough finances is doubtless responsible for the two above items, and also for the painting of the municipal buildings. - Mr T. Lawless has decided to pull down the old stables at the back of the Stratford Hotel, and replace them with a suite of up-to-date samplerooms, which should be a useful acquisition to the house and to Stratford. Mr and Mrs F, W. Wake leave on Thursday for Wellington, from which port thoy sail on Saturday ou a trip to the Old Country.

Mr and Mrs S. M. Porritt, who have lived on the Beaconslield road for a number of years, during which time Mr Porritt has interested himself considerably in public affairs, are leaving this week ou a holiday trip to England. Prior to their departure, they were.made the recipients of a presentation from ilieir fellow settlers. The survey of the Opunake railway route from Strat ford is now progressing. The surveyors' camp is at LV'M', The Stratford Fire Brigade is, I understand, training teams to take part in the big demonstration at Clu'istchureli during exhibition time. Mr Thos. Boyle, teacher at I lie Pembroke road school, received a pleasant surprise the other evening, when lie was presented with a handsome marble •lock from the scholars, ex-pupils, and parents, who wished in this way to show their appreciation of liis kindness to the children and his close application to his duties. Mr Wilson, draughtsman, of Wellington. has joined the local Public Works Department staff. The olllce lias recently been enlarged. The Pembroke road, for so many years a source of continual grievous oniplaiut from settlers, is now in splendid erder, ami has been much used this summer by mountaineering parties.

Funnel's in this district are apparently forsaking Iho hand-milking system. .Several I/iuTi'iire-kenncil) - milking machines have been installed nt Stratford, JN'gairo, and Midhirst, and are reported to he working very satisfactorily. We are very sorry to lose our popu-1 lar Vieur, Eev. C A. li. Watson. During liis slay amongst us he and Mrs Watsou liave made very many friends, besides having greatly improved the linuuces of the ebureh. Our departing friends, who leave here about- June, will be an ae<]uisition to Kcslyn, to which town liev. Watson has been appointed, Messrs Cameron and Brooking are making good progress with their road, making contract at Tututawa. The Public, Works Department has no need for more men on the Omni railway works. It is reported that Messrs Arrowsmith and Faull, of New Plymouth, have purcha.-.ed a (|uarler-aerc of hind on the corner of the Doiiul is ami roads, with the inlenti'M nf erecting an up-to-date accommodation house, with billiard room. Douglas road, or Oruru, as the station is called, is booming. Already there i;re very commodious livery stables, a smithy, bakery, butchery, and a general store business there.

Messrs Boon Bros, are making excellent progress with the erection of the new Stratford hospital, a brick structure,