STRATFORD NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 321, 22 February 1910, Page 8

STRATFORD NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, February 21. j . Shortly after one o'clock on Sunday morning the firebell rang out an alarm. The cause was a fir e at a house oecu-1 pied by Mr. P. Kelly, on East ro.idJ When the brigade arrived the flames, 1 had a good hold, and, despite their ej forts, the building was burnt to the! ground. No sooner had the public got to their beds than another alarm aroused them from their slumbers. It was the same house again, the fire having broken out in another place. This time the brigaide made certain that no sparks remained. There is- one feature about a fire alarm in Stratford—whether it is commendable- or appreciated depends entirely on what time the bell rings and the mood of the hearer—and that is the ' length of time the bell continues ringing. It is not merely a few strokes supplemented! ipossibly in a few minutes 'by several more half-hearted sounds, but a continuous clanging which does not allow the- sleeper to turn over and only imagine hj» heard the bell. On Sunday morning the ringer was in great form, especially on the second occasion. The performance as a ringer was all the more excellent through the fact that at the first alarm the rope broke and the subsequent ringing was carried out whilst the operator clung to the ladder with one hand. A new pasteurising plant has been installed by the Midhirst Dairy Co. Archbishop Redwood conducted a confirmation service at the Roman Catholic Church yesterday, seventy-four communicants' receiving the Sacrament. In the morning the Archbishop consecrated the newly-erected additions to the church building. During his addross the Bishop referred* to the fact that the church was opened free of debt and fo r thirty-six years he had not consecrated a church which, at the very best, .did not have to take up a collection at the conclusion of the ceremony. It is certainly something new, for, as a rule, church debts are like the poor—they are always with us. i Bishop Xeligan preached at the Anglican Church on Sunday evening. The Denbigh School Committee'have decided to join in with the Midhirst Committee in an excursion to New Plymouth next month. The attractions of the breakwater and sea-front are becoming more recognised yearly. ' The Department are preparing '.o. cope with the traffic on the Ongar.-ie-1 Stratford railway. The present ra'.is are to lie replaced with heavier ones,' and it is reported that some of the bridges on the Toko section are to be strengthened'. The recent spell of, fine weather is having a detrimental effect on the roads, which, apart from being dusty, are beginning to cut up. The elimination of dust and mud are two problems that await solution. The oiling so common in many parts of the United States has not proved a success in the few places where it has been tried in Taranald. Anybody who can discover some method of putting on the oil or any other liquid which will bring about the desired effect has an excellent chance of retiring on a comfortable allowance.