THE LIBRARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 245, 16 April 1912, Page 3

THE LIBRARY.

(Borough Councillors who are looking round for something to suggest should stroll into the reading-room and see how a big slice has been cut out of one of t'he Taranaki papers, and they will doubtless notice, too, that many newspapers have been taken off the files altogether. Much of this nuisance will be obviated when the Council engages a librarian, -whose business it shall be to keep an eye on the conduct of the read-ing-room. When the matter was 'before the Council a few months ago it was shelved, with a view of its consideration after March 31. Well, this is after March 31. ANTIQUATED METHODS. The main street of Stratford is a very broad thoroughfare, and fairly long. The business portion is aJbout 20 chains long, and the roadway 75 feet 'from kerb to kerb. Now, ye who are used to carpet-sweeping, how would you like to sweep up the eleven thousand square feet contained in it? M you had a room as large, you'd be investing in a modern carpet sweeper, to do the work in less than half the time that it takes with the broom. But if you were only a progressive municipality personified, you l wouldn't do anything of the kind. You'd order five men, with brooms and shovels, and two horses and drays, to be out in the early morning and attend to the street cleaning. That's what Stratford does. Visitors who stroll to the front of their hotel for a little sunshine before breakfast admire the spirit of cleanliness, which, someone has made himself famous by saying, is next to godliness. But the antiquated and expensive method of obtaining that cleanliness causes some little amusement, which improves the appetite for breakfast. Has the borough enough cash left, after paying for a steam road roller and scarifier, to invest in labor-saving streetsweeping appliances? If it has, and if' it is decided to invest in one of the many simple and inexpensive machines now on the market, some of those five men, tw-o (horses, two drays and the shovels may be employed *in regular maintenance work.

MODEBff MOTIVE POWER j THE DIESEL OIL ENGINE. 1 'Mr. P. Hill, representative in Xeiwj Zealand of Messrs Mirlecs, Bickerton and Day, Ltd., of Stockport, England, Diesel engine specialists, is at present in Stratford superintending the erection of the Diesel oil engine for the Stratford Electrical Supply Company. He called on me the other day in reference to an article published in the "Daily News" i concerning this engine. Originally writ- ! ten as an appreciation of the engine, the ■ article has apparently been far outstrip- 1 ped by the modern development of the engine, so much so that he asks to make i a few corrections. First, he says that Diesel has now nothing whatever to do I i with the engines. He merely demon- j strated the theory, but it was the Mirlees I people who developed from that theory \ an engine which is a commercial success, and which is, as the article was headed, "the last word" in this class of machinery. First, it should be said, this rival to the turbine has not arisen in the last two years, but has been so long on the market as to be known now as a standard. "Diesel's chief innovation," says the writer of the article, "was to substitute for the ordinary method of firing a jet of compressed a"ir." Mr. Hill says no jet of compressed air is used except for the purpose of pushing the fuel through the pulveriser. That "the oil used has a low flashing point" is incorrect, for it has a very high flash point, so high that even if a wooden building were saturated with it it could not be burned by ordinary means, and it could be used to put out some fires. "The oil used has a high flashing point," says the expert. "Compression takes place through the engine on the downstroke drawing in a quantity of air and compressing it on the upstroke to 4751b on the square inch." the temperature being raised by this compression to about 030 degrees." _ Another statement requiring correction is that "taking present prices as the standard of comparison, the oil engine is said to be 50 per cent, cheaper than steam." Mr. Hill says: "On English prices, we guarantee that it is 75 per cent, cheaper than steam, and we can back the guarantee up 'wherever the engines are installed. Oil. instead of rising in price, as this article suggests, will probably diminish, for the increased demand will stimulate production. We use residual oils, and if (lie Americans put up the price of what we call Texas oils, there is still tar oil. gas oil. and Australian shale oil, whilst' here we purpose to use Taranaki oil. This Texas oil is worth 2%d a gallon in England." I Talking of its adoption for •marine purposes, Mr. Hill showed mo that several vessels in the British navy are fitted with these engines, and there are some in the Japanese navy, whilst there are large numbers in the ■•■■ rcantile marine. As for the statement i.mt "in England the progress of the new system '-as been slower," my inform'ant''declares lint England leads the world in the use oi Diesel engines. There are onlv twe firms on the Continent who are opera t ing in them, and there are two in Eng land. His firm at present holds flu p [ market for commercial purposes. s ( > llk Diesel engine is a greater wonder thai the writer of the article had anv ide; of. ■ .

BERNARD'S PICTURES "U is Never too Ute 'to Mend" is tho title of one of the most sensational, interesting and entertaining pictorial dramas ever screened in New Zealand. Madame liernanl has no reason to he dissatisfied with the public appreciation of her undoubted enterprise in securing for the delectation of Stratford audiences the line .series of dramas now being projected by the new (Jauniont projector at His Majesty's Theatre. Capital as has been the management of -Bernard's Pictures in the year just past, and excellent as have been the results | achieved by skilful manipulation of the | cinematograph and the electrical fluid I derived (from the company's mains, these fade almost into mediocrity as compared with the glorious illumination of the films by the new projector, and the direct current generated by the new ) Westinghouse motor generator. To lum- [ dreds of the picture patrons the enJ trancing and enthralling details of "It I is Never too Late to Mend" are doubtless well known, but to those who have \ not r. ad the hook (lie spool reveals a I story of love and hate, trustfulness and 1 deceit, steadfastness and treachery, that • is perhaps unparalleled, Blackniore'3

fine novel, "Lorna Doone" is also included in the present programme. "Lorna Doone" is a standard work, and the film must rank as a standard film. It is pleasing to see the increasing appreciation of Madame Bernard's enterprise in securing for her patrons the best that is going. A performance is shortly to be given in aid of the East Egmont Mountain House fund. THE BOROUGH AND ITS WORKS REVIEW OF THE YEAR BY THE MAYOR. The retiring Mayor, Mr. J. Masters, submitted a view of the operations of the borough during the past twelve months at to-night's meeting of the Council. In it he noted that the report on the loan scheme to provide improvements to the streets and for the extension of the drainage system would be ready for discussion early this year. The town continued to progress in a solid and stable manner, as was evidenced by the fact that during the year ! building permits to the value of £IB,OOO had been issued. Owing mainly to the building not being used for picture shows, the Town Hall account showed a fallingoff of a'bou't £SO, the loss being £2O last year, compared with £lB for the] previous year. The Mayor went on to i say that the number of stock slaughtered at the abattoirs during the year was as follows:—67s cows, 237 heifers, 216 oxen, 57 calves, 2851 sheep, 646 lambs, 373 pigs. Of this number fi2 had been wholly and 102 partially condemned. Touching upon the library and reading room, Mr. Masters stated that there was a great deal of room for improvement with regard to subscribers. The fire brigade continued to maintain its high state of efficiency. Owing mainly to the fire-bell tower and the cost of uniforms, the expenditure on fire prevention showed an increase of £6O. Proceeding, the Mayor remarked that the uncared for condition of many of the I graves in the old cemetery left decided \ room for improvement, and that applica- I tions for connections with the water supply continued to be made in fairly large numbers. The question of a filtration scheme would be dealt with when the Council considered the proposed loan scheme. It was expected that further expenditure in the direction of. providing street lamps would be requir- j ed during the ensuing year. Dealing with finance, the report "stated that the year closed with a saving on the general j account of £843. This was possible \ owing to the very much smaller expendi-' ture required on the streets during the past year. The overdraft on March 3! last was £l6lß, compared with £2s'; at the close of the previous financial year. It was found necessary last year to strike separate rates for hospital and charitable aid and lighting purposes, but owing to the new valuation just completed, sufficient revenue should be derived from the general rate without the necessity for striking any separate rates. The Council, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, was collecting evidence to place, the claims of Stratford in a favorable light before the Opunake Railway Commission. -Should Stratford be chosen as the junction for this important line, there should be no fear as ' to Stratford's future, especially with the I extension of the railway connecting Stratford with the Main Trunk line. In conclusion, and before taking leave of the Council, the Mayor said he desired to express his appreciation to the various members of the Council's staff for the loyal support accorded him at all times.

COMMERCIAL. NEWTON KING'S STRATFORD REPORT.

At the Haymarket on Saturday there i was a very large attendance and a fair entry of pigs came forward, all of which, with the exception of two pens, being cleared at the hammer. Prices ruling were about the -same as last sale. I quote:—Slips and weaners, 7s Gd to 15&; small and backward sorts, 4s to ss; small stores. 18s fid; medium porkers, .-£1 <M Gd to £1 lfti; boars, £2 as. Horses, £2 to £4 15s. Poultry.-—At the mart a good entry of all classes of birds came to hand, and were quitted at prices in advance of last sale. 1 have a good demand for young birds at present. Killing hens, Is to Is 7d; lucks, Is fid; turkey liens, 3s 3d. Potatoes, 6s Cd to 7s per cwt. Onions, l'/4d per lb. Cabbages, 2s per doz. Furniture and sundries at usual rates. Fruit: About 300 cases came to hand during the week, chiefly pears and apples,

' and some 200 went to auction. Pears, over ripe 2s to 3s fid, better sorts up to 4s 6d; dessert apples, 3s to 5s 6d; cooking apples, 2s fid to 4s, according to. eiz£ of case and quality.

GENERAL NEWS

Miss Connell, who has been pianist at | the Pictures for some months past, and j whose sympathetic treatment of the in- ] cidental music has contributed so greatly towards their success, was married at the Roman Catholic Church today, and a winsome bride she made in hor prettv cream costume and plumed hat. j IPitting arrangements are being made by the Stratford District High School Committee for the reception and entertainment of the Hon. J. A. Hanan, MinJ ister of Education, who is to open the new school building on Thursday. A friend of mine gave me "the correct pea" for the Mayoralty this evening. He claims to know, and he usually does know, Bomething about municipal affairs, and he told me thalt the fight for the Mayoralty would be between Dr. Paget and Mr. James McAllister. Having had no opportunity of ascertaining whether the statement is authentic, I give it for j what it is worth.

A further reminder is given of Mr. R. McK. Morison's address to the burgesses at the Town Hall to-morrow (Tuesday) evening.

Business men are on the grumble tonight because there is no light in the private box lohlby. The. illuminations a night or two ago consisted of sundry candles that were suggestive of a wake. If sonnibody will only wake up the authorities we will be able to read the addresses on our letters.

In connection with the Stratford gymkhana, which will be held on Thursday next, the secretary of the Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Association has arranged for a special train to leave Te Wera at 8.1,5 on Thursday morning, arriving in Stratford at 10 o'clock. A ballast train will run from the Thirtymile Peg to connect with the train.