Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 194, 14 February 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

ANOTHER TEACUP TORNADO IS BROADWAY CLEAN ENOUGH? A STRONG INDICTMENT. At Monday's Council meeting Cr. Ward ■brought up the matter of giving greater attention to cleaning up the main thoroughfare. During this warm weather the dust and droppings blowing about constituted a nuisance, and the gutters needed attention.

The overseer explained that the sidechannels in Broadway were flushed and cleaned every morning. Cr. Ward said more was required. Cr. Paget agreed. The channels in Central Broadway might be cleaned often enough, but at the southern end, nety the bridge, the water-tables were in a disgusting condition. The drift from the street was piled to" the level of the path, and was blowing on to the path and lodging against the parapet. He could not recollect ever having been in such a dirty town as Stratford had appeared to be in the past few months.

Mention was made that manhole covers in some streets were far above the level of the metalled road.

Cr. Paget said it seemed that, although there was a resolution ordering proper attention being given to street cleaning, the work was neglected until some councillor came along and suggested doing it. The Mayor said he might be blind, for he hadn't seen this filth that councillors complained about. But it would take four or five men to do the work that was being asked. Councillors who were advocating keeping men in Broadway for four or,five days a week were the very men who were fond of complaining about waste of money, but they proposed still more waste.

Cr. Healy agreed that Broadway was in need of a good clean-up, particularly at the bridge. The Mayor said it was ridiculous to suggest sweeping Broadway four or five times a day. The Council passed a resolution instructing the overseer to keep Broadway cleaned up a little more than in the past. Note.—Broadway got an extra clean-up this (Tuesday) morning.

ROLLING STONES IN STREETS. j Cr. Ward suggested that the Works j Committee should have a look at Portia I street and Brecon road, which were in j a very bad state. I Cr. Paget said he had never seen the! streets in such a shocking condition. J There was any amount of stone lying in I the ' streets, but no maintenance metal | on hand. A hole had been allowed to I go untended' in Juliet street for fully six j weeks, and as soon as rain came it J would be a pool a foot deep. There was | enough loose metal kicking about Regan j street and Miranda street crossing to fill} a cart. I

The Mayor: Miranda street? I guar' antee you can't fill a bucket there. j Cr. Paget : Well, it must have been i gathered up to-day. But the Brecon road is shocking, and it hasn't been touched. If you want to see a specimen of something absolutely awful, take a ride up Page street to Brecon road. This - is a new street, laid down in gravel, and it's absolutely in waves.

The overseer aaid that men were unobtainable.

Dr. Paget: I see men patching up asphalt. That could wait.

Cr. Ward considered streets shouldn't' be left till they broke up before being attended to. A big hole in Broadway, opposite His Majesty's Theatre, had been gaping for six weeks. He called the attention of the Works Committee to the fact that the overseer took the permanent men off the street work to work the cemetery and the abattoirs. There was plenty of work for them in town. It was explained that the work at the cemetery could not be let by tender, and the fencing at the abattoirs was so urgent that the Council's regular men were sent out to repair it at once. T-he Mayor said that apparently the Works Committee was considered fair game. It was only natural that with the dry spell the roads should commence to break up. He had seen it a week ago, but it took time to rectify matters. It couldn't 'be done in a day. It was all very well for councillors to growl now because the workmen had been working at the abattoir and the cemetery. Why hadn't they growled at the time? They let the men be taken away, and now, as soon as the streets began to break up, wanted things fixed the first day. The roads would be all right in a month. It was a great pity that councillors were not all on the Works Committee. (AnsweringCr. Paget's interjection): It's a great pity you can't be chairman. I'm not chairman of the committee. The chairman of the Works Committee, Cr. King, was away. "He would talk to j you if he were here," said the Mayor.

Cr. Healy said he had mentioned this matter at the Works Committee meeting, and also advised that maintenance metal should be broken stone and not river shingle, which was wasteful. They hadn't a twelfth of the stone necessary for maintenance. Cr. Morison said the streets'-were-breaking up fast, and immediate attention was imperative. The Council should get sufficient stone now, or they would find themselves in the same position as a few years ago, when Regan street became almost impassable. To those who wanted Broadway stvopt and washed up nicely every morning before breakfast he would point out that there were other streets where ratepayers needed expenditure and attention.

Cr. Paget: Cleanliness is next to godliness. We are not very close to godliness in Broadway. The 'Mayor said the Works Committee was taking good care that at the end of the year councillors would not be able to complain that they had overspent the vote. If they left the committee alone for four or six weeks the streets would he all right. Cr. Paget: I prophesy tliat if we leave the Works Committee alone we will have no streets at all by the winter.

The Mayor: Rut il take no notice at all of your prophesies. Cr. Paget: It would be better for you if you did. Tliey nearly always come true. We have to call your attention, to these neglects. They'ro becoming rather chronic. A report on the state of the streets, etc., is to be presented by the overseer.

STRATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Stratford Borough Council was held on •Monday night. Present: His Worship the (Mayor (Mr. J. Masters), Crs. Lawson, R. McK. Morison, J. D. Healy, S.

* From Our Resident Reporter. '♦ * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. $ * '' * *************'*«********«f#*****

Ward, J. W. Boon, J. McAllister and Dr. T. L. Paget. ABATTOIRS REPORT. The abattoir manager, Mr. A. M. Spilman, reported having taken over the management of the abattoir on January 22 from Mr. P. J. Sheridan, and, found it in p, thoroughly sanitary condition. The forking arrangements inside the abattoir were in first-class working order, and he was pleased to say that they wejre well up to date, and a good deal in advance of many abattoirs in New Zealand. The fences and gates >were all in good repair. He would like to draw the Council's attention to the necessity for having the small bridges replaced in paddocks 2, 3 and 4. These bridges were, he understood, washed away some time ago. At the present time two of the butchers were paying for feed on the south" side of the stream, but did not benefit by it, as sheep would not cross the water. He strongly recommended that this work be commenced at once. The slaughterman carried out his duties in a very satisfactory manner, and the butchers' carts were kept clean and in good order. The stock slaughtered at the Stratford abattoir during January was as follows; 76 cows, 20 heifers, 2 oxen, 8 calves, ,260 sheep, 01 lambs and 28 pigs, and 34 tripes were cleaned. Fees for the month were £SO 6s 9d, paddock rent £l2 10s, sale of blood and offal £4 10s. Stock condemned during the month: Three cows wholly and six partially, for tuberculosis, and two for actinomycosis, a heifer from tuberculosis; n. calf, septic pneumonia; four pigs, from tuberculosis, peritonitis, and arthritis.

BATHS A>T) BUTTER. Mr. N. Fastier, secretary of ,the Stratford Farmers' Co-operative Association, wrote: In the last two Sundays our supply of water has not been available from about il a.m. We are given to understand that this is caused by the amount of water required for filling the baths. ■ We would be obliged if you would make some arrangements whereby the work of the (Stratford dairy) factory would not be held up."—Referred to the Mayor and overseer to arrange. FIRE BRIGADE.

The Fire Brigade asked the Council to grant £5 towards .the expenses of I the brigade's delegate to the United Fire Brigades' Conference at Rotorua. Cr. Paget moved to refer the letter to the Fire Brigade Committee for report. Cr. Boon moved and Cr. Ward seconded that the amount be paid. Cr. 'Boon remarked that the firemen did their work voluntarily. Cr, Ward thought that if the Council contributed in this matter it should insist on an officer of the brigade being the delegate. If there was anything to be learned it wa3 in the interests of the town that the officers should know it and impart it to their men. It was decided, on the motion of Cr. Paget, to refer the matter to the Fire Brigade Committee to expend up to the amount ' requested, councillors agreeing with Cr. Ward's remarks. Cr. iPaget: The motion Wasn't seconded, but that's a mere detail. WORKS COMMITTEE.

Tka Works Committee reported that the chairman and overseer had been requested to report on the amount required for maintenance during the winter months, the report to be discussed to-j gether with the Works and Finance committees' reports re road roller. The clerk had been instructed to draw the attention of the Railway Department to the state of the crossing from Broadway into the station yard. The chairman, Mayor and overseer, together with the representatives of the County Council, inspected Swansea road south, rind as the County Council toas willing to'spend £5 on the road the committee recommended that this Council expend a similar amount, making £lo'in all, the amount to be expended m' the making of a tunnel at the spot required. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

The overseer reported on the progress of works for the past month. The formation on Portia street south had been completed. The Wooden platform in • front of the Fire Brigade station Had been removed, and a' proper entrance , made from the street. Che erection of the firebell tower was almost completed. The sanitary work at the lire Brigade Station had been let to Messrs. Smart Bros., their tender being the lowest. The' work of clearing part of the Koputama Cemetery was well"in hand.' Loose stones were making their appearance on various streets, and he intended to have them raked off as quickly as possible. The overseer further reported that the washout in Romeo street had been caused by the owner of section 805 filling in the old watercourse in his section. Evidently he did not put down pipes large enough to carry storm water during heavy rain; consequently the water flowed on to the footpath at the northern boundary of the section, doing considerable damage to the footpath. He suggested that the owner be compelled to put this matter right. The repairs to the footpath in front of Mr. Davies' property could be done for 30s. He,estimated the cost of public conveniences at £lO7. He estimated that the forming and metalling of Fenton street, front Miranda street to gates at entrance to King Edward Park, a distance of nine chains, would cost £7B; footpath formation and gravelling, £18; culvert, £6 Ms; total £lO2 10s. To form and gravel footpath in Miranda street north, from Seyton street to Mr. H. Brown's properties, a distance of five chains, would be £l4.

Repairs in front of Mr. Davies' were authorised.

The matter of forming and metalling Fenton street, to give access to King Edward Park, was referred back to the Works Committee to devise a less costly scheme.

The matter of Miranda street footpath was referred to the Works Committee for further consideration. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.

Discussing the overseer's estimate of the cost of erecting public conveniences, the Mayor said it didn't seem possible to have public conveniences in Broadway, and if tliev were moved into one of the streets they would not serve the purpose.

Cr. Ward thought such a convenience might be erected at the corner of Broadway and Regan streets. He thought the estimate was too high. They qould be erected in iron at less cost.

Cr. Healy, in seconding Cr. Ward's motion that the Works Committee be asked to choose a site, said the material would be dictated by the site. Iron would be offensive in any central position. Cr. Paget: What's all this about? This sort of thing is always sprung on the Council in this way. I don't know anything about it. A councillor: Cr. Ward's been to Sydney! The Mayor explained that the matter

had been brought up at the ,last meeting, when Cr. Paget was absent. Referred to the Works Committee. , THE TOWN HALL. The Town Hall Committee asked that the time for their report on the Town Hall question be extended till next ordinary meeting, as they had not yet got sufficient information on which to construct a report. 'ln the meantime, the town clerk was writing to Mr. J. C. Williamson and West's Pictures, asking for reasons why the Stratford Town Hall was being excluded from their tours. The request of the committee was granted. . On Cr. Ward's suggestion the committee was also asked 'to report 09 the means of escape from the custodian's bedroom in case of fire. He was told that there were no means of escape. DRAIN AUK Mr. J. Black wrote, in reference to the health inspector's recommendation that a property of his should be connected with the sewers, that he had put in a new receptacle; he considered that was sufficient. —Referred to the overseer, with instructions to the clerk' to sue if nothing was done within a week.

LAWN TENNIS The Stratford Club's team to play Ingle wood on Thursday is as follows: — Don Cameron, V. Crawshaw, R. B. Anderson, E. H.. Young, C. Crawshaw, and another, Misses Black, D. Mackay, O'Brien and Mrs. Rennelf

The Stratford Club is to commence its championship inatches at once. The drawings are as follows J. T; Thompson v. Eedditch; winner to play Don Cameron; C. Crawshaw v. F. N. Fussell; E. H. Young v. R. 33. Anderson; V. Crawshaw Vi L. R. Curtis.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHT. Sir,—Llr. Newton is reported in your Stratford column of to-day to have said that "a lot is being said about the .plant being out of date because the company are running 40 periods instead of some other fancied number of periods to suit the fad of the L person advocating the change." Mr. Newton, the manager, knows well that there are grave objections to a 40-periodicity, He laiows well that there is no other plant of any importance in Australasia running at 40. He also knows the reason why it is so. He thinks that he can blaff the ratepayers with this sort of taik, but both the valuators engaged to value the plant impressed on the council ,in their report that the plant would have to be standardised very 1 shortly, meaning that the periodicity would have to be altered amongst other things, and the only way to standardise the plant is to "scrap" it. That is the sort of bargain our Mayor is trying to thrust on to the ratepayers. -lam, etc., VIGILANT.

ODDFELLOWSHIP THE STRATFORD LODGE. The Stratford Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., received a visit on Monday night from the District Officers, Prov. G.M. Bro. S. G. Burgess, and C.S. Bro. C. E. Bellringer, -who is also Grand Master of the Order in New Zealand. Bro. S. Thompson, N.G., presided, but as an act of courtesy vacated the chair in favor of the Grand Master. The visitors were received with full lodge honors, and in acknowledging the welcome congratulated the lodge on its improved and healthy financial position. A Slight decrease in membership was noticeable, but this could be remedied by individual effort. P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole (secretary of the lodge) and P.G. Bro. T. Lawson >vere elected delegates to the district meeting at New Plymouth. After the lodge had been closed supper was served, Mrs. M. Brooking catering.

GENERAL NEWS Ratepayers are reminded of the Mayor's meeting to be. held on Wednesday night at the Town Hall' to discuss the electric fight question. Mr. P. Skoglund, of Stratford, has been asked to officiate as umpire at the carnival promoted by the Eltham Sports and Pastimes Club. The. Stratford Electrical Supply Co.'s new plant, comprising the Diesel oil engine and generators, arrived here yesterday, and is being discharged to-day. It Alls four trucks. The circus arrived this morning, and children were made late for school thereby. They were intensely interested in the elephants. Mr. D. Brown, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.'s staff, leaves shortly for Hastings. Tie will be entertained at a social on Friday..by the St. Andrew's Tennis Club, of which he has been a most painstaking and capable secretary. Mr. McKenzie, Resident Engineer for the Public Works Department,' left Stratford by the mail train to-day to lay off the Ohakune-Raetihi railway line, in preparation for the ceremony of turning the first sod which takes place at Ohakune on Saturday.