STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 373, 26 April 1910, Page 8

STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

(From Our Resident Correspondent.) | StratfA April 2.5. Hie Stratford season: for 1!)0!)-1() has practically closed, and it is worthy ui not,- that imprest Generally has not 'been verv keen. A larr start was made, but at once members appeared to tight .shy of one another, mid this fact i* borne om i n connection with the handicap simile* and doubles, which have been a decided dm- „n the | market, as it were. After the Ji,- S t few weeks it was with the utmost, difficulty that four bowlers could be got to face each other, and there are still a «ood I many matches to be plaved, and of the doubles nearly the whole of them remain unplayed. Further, there are complaints about the management, it is stated that on one oreasion a. match With Hawera was arranged, but because several members wished to attend a function taking .place in town Hie Tamo though the weather wr.s perfect," was declared oil'. When it was plaved the weather was very unpleasant, and the Stratford Club had to make up their rinks with substitutes, in a town of the population of Stratford there should be no difficulty in getting rinks, and the lack of interest is creating considerable comment hi bowling circles. Some bowlers aver that but little is done to attempt to popularise the club, and say that a change is desirable. Mr. R. McK. Morrison will be a candidate for the vacancy on the Borougn Council after the Mavoral election. On Friday a wrestling match between J. Protelmer and Louis Robertson will take .place in the Town Han. It is pro'baible that the Prime Ministev will shortly visit Stratford and doubtless, take advantage of the opportunity of delivering an address. Yesterday and to-day the weather has b"en bitterly cold, and fires have been in great demand.

1 hair that Messrs. Young, Hobbs and Co. contemplate increasing thciir premises to provide for additional office accommodation. The new portion, I understand, will be used in connection 'with the firm's land business. It is only a few months since this firm made substantial additions, and it is a good sign that more room is now needed. There is the green gooseiberry season, the .pumpkin season, the fishing, the shooting season, ami many other seaj sons, all full of records and anecdotes. The present time of year, wnen tin; exI citement of the Mayoral election pervades the air. might well be known as !''the hopeful season." Jinny'an unsophisticated ratepayer whose residence is I situated in -some back street, where wind is .plentiful in winter and foot- [ .paths and street lights unknown, consoles himself with the hope that "a good time is coming." It may be a consolation to reflect that " hope is the best part of.our riches," but in all probability any resident would be prepared to barter philosophy for a decent footipath. Attention to back streets always looms large in Mayoral addresses, (but rarely do candidates explain wow it is to be achieved. However divergent .in other respects their policies and views may be, the two candidates for the Mayoralty agree that the back streets should be attended to, and that the time is not opportune for raising a loan. But neither present a satisfactory solution of how the roading and pathing of the outskirts of the borough is to be accomplished without -a loan. It is perfectly true that a certain proportion of new work can be done yearly out of revenue. If the maintenance of existing roads and footpaths is to be properly looked after, and if. as in the case of Stratford, considerable improvements, as I distinguishing from the maintenance by i remetalling, to the present roads anil footpaths are needed, the amount to he .spent on new work cannot be very great. The present may not be the opportune moment for facing the rat&payeds with a project for raising a loan, from the aspect of having it carried, but I the time is not far distant when 'a I policy embodying a loan for streets and [footpath construction, the extension of I 'drainage \and oftlher improvements tlo the borough must be adopted. Stratford is blessed or cursed, according to where a pereon resides, with many wide roads, and every chain of new work entails an increased charge on the maintenance account. Strafford is on the move, and the stagnant period of depression has been passed. If you ask a Stratfordonian as to the future of Uie town lie will .paint a very rosy picture of the importance that the junction of the main trunk railway line will assume within a few years, lie may be over optimistic—no bad failing, iby the way —but it is generally conceded that Stratford will expand considerably within a few years. All progress means an increased charge on the revenue for maintenance of roads and at the same time an increased revenue, though it has never been found that, the receipts exceed (.lie expenditure. "It is perfectly irue that the rentals from reserves will come as a lucky windfall to the borough exchequer,' but to calculate that thif: increase may be set aside for any special work will only prove a mirage. It would be far preferable to raise"a loan and earmark the increase in revenue to pay the intend. The work could then be done at once, and the benefit enjoyed by the residents affected. The asphalting of Broadwnv—a process which the experience of other towns has proved, in the long run. to be the most economical method of securing a "ood road for the business thoroughfare—pro-' curing a steam roller, taking over the Domain, involving increased exneiiditnrc, ;"'" "" K "fti f "is of a uoliev which must have as its basis p. loan.