DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 223, 26 October 1909, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

STRATFORD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) His Worship the Mayor called a. public meeting on Friday night to sec if the ratepayers would give the Council » lead o'n the question of resuming tne Electric Supply Co.'s works, but had no proposition to put to them and did not seem to know much about the question. The result was that after a number ot people had traversed a circle they arrived at a decision that brought them tack to the position they were in two yearn ago. It worked out exactly like the man wlio was lost in the bush. They I talked around and around and arrived i owhere. It is a pity the Mayor had not made himself acquainted with the whole of the previous negotiations and explained them to the bewildered audi-en-ie. The resolution of the Stratfuvd County Council to call a meeting of all contributing authorities to discuss the hospital questions shows lamentable weakness. Tf the members would for one meeting sink their individuality an I remember that they represent both the local ratepayer and the general taxpayer and decide that the hospital is a public institution erected and run for the ben.lit of the public the better it would be for all concerned. At the present time thev seem to b c . grappling with the problem'. Was the hospital built for the ben • fit of the doctors or the doctors born fui the benefit of the hospital and paid for their benefit? Anyhow, they have arrived at the stage of saying that they will collect no more fees to pnv their medical superintendent for operations performed. The Fire Brigade held their annual meeting oil Friday and said some niie tilings about themselves and others ami also showed a considerable balance and seemed a very happy and willing lot. Anyhow, they seemed to have done justice to the good things provided at the annual dinner.

A good story is told of a representative of a wholesale wine and spirit merchant's traveller who had just returned from a trip into the. backblocks after doing good business. In the train he gave bis experience of the awful results of sly-grog selling, when an old lady sitting in the corner, who lived out that way, remarked that she had read of Satan r ebuking sin, but it was the first occasion she had travelled in his company. A look of relief came over his face when he heard the guard say: "All passengers change, at, Stratford!"

The dairy factories are in full swing and good cheques gladden the hearts of the suppliers. The cold snap the last, day or tiro sent the supplies down, but as there is abundance of grass, it will bc only temporary. 'the ballast train is now running through Xiore tunnel and block-making for (be one at Pohokura is proceeding apace. An additional service engine is expected shortly, which will greatly facilitate (he work and the line will be laid to Huiakama by the flth November.

A splendid ballast pit has been located at Mt. Egmont, and T trust tlic Clovernmenf will see to the line being extended l« (hi- pit. Then good metal will be produced on the trucks at about ss, and add Is 0.1 for railage, should about fill til:! wants of local bodies.