DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 199, 27 September 1909, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondents.) STRATFORD. The week gone by has been of a quiet kind, with the exception of the visit of the lion. Roderick McKenzie. The hon. gentleman met numerous deputations introduced by the member, Mr. J. R. Uine. One from the land of "sleep a lot," otherwise Jinglewood, complained that the tourist traffic helped to cut up their roads and suggested a Government grant. The Minister pointed out that they had made out a weak case, which the deputation admitted and retired. The County Council, led by their amiable chairman, endeavored to extract a grant for metalling a very urgent work, the east side of the Strath--1 more Saddle. The Minister was sympathetic, and it is to be hoped that the. work will be put in hand at once. The further metalling beyond Puniwhakuu ' will probably get a pound for pound subsidy.

On Friday the party vis'ited the I Stratford-Auckland Trunk Railway, and the Minister and the Engineer-in-Chief (Mr. Holmes) are highly satUlied with the way the work is being pushed on by the engineer in charge, Mr. C. J. MeKcnzie. If the weather keeps good the rails will be laid to th,. Pohoknva tunnel by November. Work has commenced on this tunnel. The opening out and lining will >lart as soon as the mils are laid, and then the owner of the Whanga' pub will gather his harvest. On Saturday the hon. gentleman visited Mount Egmont quarried, but is not at all in love with this work. It would take very little to make the Government close down; but if they would go on to a suitable quarry the trouble -would ; be over, and the local bodies who urged the Government to do this work might be prevailed to deal oil' the State (that is themselves). The flower show is over, and the small knots of enthusiasts who used to gather for the purpose of discnis'sing long and abort trumpets, are decorating their sweet pea plants with various kinds of manures in the endeavor to capture the cup. The Hospital Board met their medical superintendent in reference to the dictum laid down by th Inspector-General—-no more charges for operations in the people's hospital. We all hope the doctor's reply will be favorable and hfa services be retained. Th© same committee had to decide who was in charge of the garden and grounds—the matron or the gardener. TTie race was short, and tfie gardener won with his mouth open. There was little or no money on this event, the gardener being picked as a dead cert.

A friend of mine says that an amusing episode occurred at a county council meeting the other day. A resolution was' submitted that affected tliTee of the members' ridings, and the chairman blandly suggested that they should not vote. They endeavored to express themselves, but failed, and then voted for their side.

The annual flaw examinations will take place at Stratford this year, as 1 hear this hub of the universe sends up 11 candidates against New Plymouth's 4. Why is this thus?

WAITARA. Mr. G. 11. Stubbs, chairman of the Waitara Harbor Board, returned from Wellington on Thursday evening. He had been attending the Harbor Association conference.

The scow Albatross brought down a •large cargo from Onehunga on Thursday, It is evidently up to the Northern Company to put on a better class of boat. The local tradespeople are anything but satisfied with the present service.

A very pleasing ceremony took place at the freezing works on Thursday afternoon, when Mr. P. Allan was presented.with a handsome tea set on the occasion of his marriage. Mr. A. F. Dugdale, chief engineer, in a neat speech said that all the employees had found Mr. Allan a very courteous and obliging official, and he hoped that Mr. and Mrs. Allan would live long to use the teaoJet. Cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. Allan. In replying, Mr. Allan said he was taken completely by surprise, but he was pleased at the goodwill shown towards himself. On that account lie highly appreciated the present, for which he sincerely thanked his fellowemployees. A special meeting of the Waitara Harbor Board was held on Friday afternoon to consider the offer made by the Borough Council, with reference to the rebuilding of the Waitara bridge under certain conditions. The chairman moved that the offer of the council be not accepted and the Board proceed with the preparation of the local Bill drafted on lines previously indicated.—i Mr. Foreman moved as an amendment that the Hoard agree to pay half the revenue | from the endowments in ]>erpetuity to the Waitara Borough Council, provided the Council will take over the bridge liability.—Mr. Jennings, M.P., seconded the motion. —The motion was withdrawn and the amendment carried, the chairman supporting it, In th 0 hope that it will bring matters to a conclusion..