Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 204, 8 May 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

THE NEW MAYOR'S LOAN SCHEME. SCHEDULE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL. The Mayor has give notice of motion to call a special meeting of the Borough Council on Wednesday, May 15, to consider the following resolutions:— "That the Borough Council take the preliminary and necessary steps to raise a loan of' £15,000 for the forthcoming worlcs, as scheduled, together with the approximate estimates attached:— £ Drainage 6500 Water extension and improvement / 2500 House connections to sewers. 2000 Streets improvements 4000

£15,000 That the water rate to be collected for the ensuing year be only such amount as is sufficient to pay interest on loans. That a report and recommendations be secured from a competent engineer, on the condition of the bridge in Broadway, and that a committee be empowered to employ an engineer to draw up the report. DRAINAGE. The schedule provides for a new septic ( tank. £2000; 52 chains of 12-inch sewer; 20 chains of sewer from Regan street to Radford's; 30 chains from Radford's to Pembroke road; 40 chains in Pembroke road from Swansea road to Broadway; 40 chains in Seyton street from Juliet street to Swansea road; 22 chains in Orlando street from the Vicarage to Pembroke road; 22 chains in Juliet street from Mrs. Tennant's to Pembroke road; 19 chains in Fenton street cast; 9 chains in Pembroke road from Broadway to Mr. S. Ward's; 24 chains in Broadway South from Celia street southwards; 7 chains l in Orlando street from Lear street to Celia street; 7 chains in Juliet street from Lear street to Celia street; four j chains in Page street from present sewer to Opunake road; 19 chains in Regan street to Opunake road; 19 chains in Regan street from Mr. A. Black's to Swansea road; 10 chains in Rosalind street; <>VL> chains in Sylvia street; and 12 chains "in Falstaff street; with the necessary house connections, in all estimated to cost £6458 16s. •STREET IMPROVEMENTS. Kerbing and channelling—Broadway, west side, from Regan street to Flint road, 73 chains; Regan street to Pem- i broke road, on east side of Broadway, J 28 chains; Police Station to Warwick road, along Broadway, 42 chains west side, and 49 chains east side; from Mr. Sangster's along Regan street to Hamlet street, both sides, 171 chains; Opunake road, from Broadway to Mr. Dingle's, 74 chains; total length, 437 chains, estimated to cost £2753 2s. \ Re-forming footpaths, £327 15s. Fill- J ing in hollow in Pembroke road at June- r tion of Ariel street, £150; scarifying, re-j newing metal and rolling. £650; contin-, gencies, £lll 3s; total £4OOO.

MINISTERIAL ADDRESS. There is little need to give a reminder of the Hon. Geo. Laurenson's address at Stratford to-night. There is going to be a good audience, for the Minister is going to "talk straight."

PARENTAL IRRESPONSIBILITY. I FATHER LEAVES FAMILY DESTI- 1 TUTE. Another case of destitution and of the neglect of a husband and father to maintain wife and family came before the Hospital Board at yesterday's meeting. An able-bodied man, living out at Whangamomona, had a wife and six or seven children. His wife, who was not obtaining from him sufficient to adequately maintain the family, moved to New Plymouth, where they became a charge on the local charitable aid board. The secretary wrote to the Stratford Board, stating that the family was quite destitute, living in a cottage where there was no bed clothing (except straw on the floor), and no food until the neighbors provided some. He had given temporary relief, but asked the Board ,to take some steps to make the man realise his responsibilities, adding that "a doctor and nurse, food and clothing, for a woman and six children, cost money." The secretary had written to the delinquent, stating that he had ascertained that the man was in receipt of good wages, and also that he had been doing well for some time past. If this were so, was it not strange that he should allow his family to become destitute? If by Tuesday the Board had not received from him money for the maintenance of the family, the Board would take the proper steps' to deal with such a case. ' Mr. Olu-istoffel endorsed the statement that the man had been earning good money, but he understood that the wife i was one of those unfortunate women ! who had no control over expenditure, j and she would live, up to £IOOO a year if she were allowed. Something, though, I should be done to nvke the man toe the line. I 'Several members were of oni-mon that such a man should be gaoled, as well as being made to keep his family. | It'was pointed out that the man could be proceeded against by the wife for mrinten.n e. but it seemed that the Borrd had little power, although it had to keep the destitute family. The chairman and secretary were empowered to consult the solicitor and take steps to compel the man to contribute to the support of his wife and family.

COMMERCIAL XEWTON KiXfl'S WEEKLY REPORT. At the Ffaymarket on Saturday last T had a large entry of pigs, but there was only a moderate demand, and prices eased somewhat as compared with last sale. I quote slips and weaners as to 14s, small and backward sorts 3s to 4s, small stores 10s (id to l!)s fid, medium do. £< 4s to £1 7s (id, porkers £1 17s fid to £1 18s Gd. A large quantity of harness, tools, etc., met with good demand. At the Mart a good entry of poultry came to hand. Trices ruling were about par with last sale. T have an unlimited demand at present for pullets and all classes of killing birds, and should advise vendors to market their surplus stock. Killing hens Is 3d to Is 9d, killing roosters Is 5d to 2s Id, ducks Is 9d to 2s 7d, chicks Od, potatoes 7s !)d to 8s per cwt, onions 12s fid cwt, cabbages Is fid doz., cauliflowers 3s 6d doz. A large quantity of furniture and sundries sold in favor of buyers. Fruit: About 450 cases came to hand during the week, chiefly apples and pears. Dessert applea

* . * * * * From Our Resident Reporter, * * Broadway North., next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. * * + *******************************

*2s to 6s Cd, cooking apples Is 9d to os 3d, dessert pears 2s Od to 6s 6d, cooking pears 2s 3d to 3s 9d, according to size of case and quality.

STRATFORD HOSPITAL BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday, when there-were present: Messrs. E. Marfell (chairman), J. McAllister, A. Meredith, W. Rogers, J. Christoffcl, E. Hine and J. Smith. The medical superintendent, Dr. Ster ven, reported that during the month of i April there had been ten patients admitted to the hospital, and 13 discharged. There were no deaths. Six operations were performed under anaesthetics. MISCELLANY.

The gardener reported that the vege- i table garden was well stocked, and likely ! to he so for some time. Mr. McAllister paid a tribute to the gardener, for Mr. Officer's whole interest was in the gar-, den, and the most miserable fortnight of his life for the two years past had been during 'his two weeks' holiday.—Other members concurred. Members also expressed their appreciation of Mr. Fred, Gooch, in giving seventeen loads of stable manure for the garden. The sanitary inspector's reports on the inspection of hotels, bakeries, fruit shops and butcheries wore satisfactory. The name of Miss Ann Murphy, of Eiverlea, was placed on the probationers'.

list. The secretary reported that the receipts for the month were £52 7s 3d, of which £26 15s came from patients' fees, and £26 lis 3d from local bodies' contributions. The expenditure amounted to £172 13s on the hospital account, and £45 lis Gd on charitable aid. The credit-balance at the bank on April 1 was was £724 12s 6d, and at present £515 15s 3d. Accounts to pass that day totalled £717, so it would be necessary to get the levies in quickly. The clerk read from departmental correspondence that the rateable capital value of the Stratford hospital and charitable aid district at March 31 was £2,857,812, made up as follows: Stratford Count}', £2,042,517; Whangamomona County, £484,151; Stratford Borough, £331,144. Since then information, has been received that the valuation of, the borough has been increased. The contributions to be levied by the Hospital Board from the local bodies during the current year would be as follows, last year's figures being given in paren- : theses: Stratford County, for capital expenditure £302 2s 4d ( £234 13s), for other than capital expenditure £671 10s! (£655 14s), in monthly payments of £55 19s 2d; Wliangamomona Count'. Council, £7l 12s 2d (£sl 0s 6d), a;i'.i; £159 3s ( £142 10s Cd), in monthly pay-: ments of £l3 5s 3d; Stratford Borough, ; £4B 19s 6d (£37 10s 6d), and £lO7 17s £lO4 17s 3d), in monthly payments of £9 Is sd. The capital expenditures are requited to be paid before May 31. The : local bodies' contributions for the year total £939 10s this year, as against £903 Is Gd last year,'and the capital expenditure totals £422 14s, as against £323 4s last year. i

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL, i "ABSURD!" The Borough Council met last night, to discuss the Local Government Bill. : There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood), and Councillors N. J. King, T. Lawson, R. McK. ■ Morison, J. D. Healy, S. A. Ward, J. W.' Boon, J. McAllister, Geo. Sangster and Paget. Cr. Paget moved, and Cr. King seconded, the adjournment of the Council. This was opposed by the Mayor and several councillors, on the ground that the Mayor had to attend a conference next day to appoint a delegate to represent the Stratford hospital rating area at the conference in Wellington. If the Council adjourned now, the Council's delegate would go to the morrow's conference without .knowledge. Upon the town clerk reading the memorandum from the Hospital Board, and explaining that the delegate to the Wellington conference would be expected to represent Stratford and Whangamomona County Councils and the Borough Council, Cr. Paget said that this was quite absurd, for the borough interests were entirely different to those of the counties. Cr. King agreed that a strong protest should be made. Crs. Sangster and Boon submitted an amendment to go on with the business. The New Plymouth Harbor Board's resolution, protesting against the made-, quate representation and asking that each class of local body should have a delegate, was read. Cr. Paget moved that the Council support the New Plymouth Harbor Board in protesting most strongly against the inadequate representation of bodies having diverse interests. He considered that it would be perfectly useless to spend their time in discussing the provisions of the Bill, .and then leaving the borough's side of the question to be represented by a man who, perhaps, had never lived in a borough, and had no knowledge of municipal government. Cr. Ward: And vice versa. Cr. Paget: Or vice versa, exactly. It would be quite useless to ask me to represent the views of a county council, for I know nothing about county matters. Tt is futile to discuss this measure at all," he continued. "It is too ridiculous for anything; almost too ridiculous for the Government." As far as he could see, the only effective protest the council could make would be to absent itself from Tuesday's conference. .Mr. McAllister, whilst agreeing with Cr. Paget's remarks, said he could not support the amendment. He would support it as a separate motion. To absent themselves would do no good, although it might serve to make them look ridiculous. Tie thought the Council should discuss the Bill, and the members would thus educate themselves. Or. Morison said that the Council should certainly discuss the measure, which was really "fishing for information." Cr. Paget: Sucking our brains! Cr. Morison: Yes, and they're entitled to get our views, and put them into a workable measure. Cr. Paget withdrew ' his amendment, and gave notice that he would move it later. Then the Council went on to discuss, clause by clause, the portions of the Bill which the Mayor bad marked as being of special interest to boroughs. The following resolutions were eventually arrived at:—

"That in the opinion of the Council the setting up of a provincial council is injurious to local government in Taranaki. This Council is also of opinion that to expect a council of men elected for the general purposes of the provincial council to exercise wisely all the functions contained in paragraph 10 of the memo, to the Bill is to expect the unattainable, particularly with regard to hospital and charitable aid, public health, education and harbors." "That this Council is of opinion that boroughs should be exempt from the provisions of the Local Government Bill in that the proposed franchise gives them inadequate representation as between boroughs and counties, and that the possible grouping of boroughs with one representative will lead to inadequate representation of boroughs' interests." "That this Council support the New Plymouth Harbor Board's resolution re the proposed constitution of the conference to be held in Wellington, and this resolution be wired to the Minister." The last resolution was telegraphed to the Minister of Internal Affairs yesterday morning. ' ELECTION OF A DELEGATE. At a meeting of local bodies to elect a .representative of the Stratford and Whangamomona counties and the Stratford Borough at the Wellington, Mr. W. Hathaway, county chairman, was appointed. Mr. Kirkwood, Mayor of Stratford, protested against the further discussion of the measure, on the ground that the delegate already has his instructions, but the delegates discussed many of the clauses.

"WHAT'S IN A NAME?" •THE TERRITORIALS AND TRADITIONS. The Officer-Commanding the- 11th Regiment (Triranaki Rifles) hus received a communication from the War Office at Home, asking as to whether the 11th Regiment still wishes to retain the, title of "11th Regiment, Taranaki Rifles," or to he known as the "11th Taranaki Regiment." To the lay mind the thing seems immaterial, and one that could easily be deckled hv one stroke of the pen. Bnt to the soldier the designation of his regiment is 4i matter of great importance. At Home the rifle regiments, or regiments of the Rifle Brigade, pride themselves as being riflemen, as opposed to infantrymen. A difference crops up in the matter of colors. The rifle regiment* do not carry colors, but have their battle honors attached to the regimental trumpet. Now, the Taranaki Rifles have colors—colors that they are proud of. colors that were, presented to them as far back as 18(11 by the ladies of Taranaki, "as a token of their grateful and affectionate interest and their deep sense of the bravery and devotion displayed by the corps," 'especially on the occasions of the battles of 'Wa'ircka (March 28, I860) and Mahoetahi (November fi, I860). Now, if the regiment is to lose its name of the "Taranaki Rifles," a name which ever reminds us of the gallant band of men who were the first British volunteer corps to become engaged with an enemy

j in the field, then the Taranaki forces are ' to be called upon the sever that link with ? i the past which has been so strongly j forged by the reunions of veterans and J volunteers of recent years, and by tics ( of blood and of memory. The Taranaki j Rifles have traditions, and it is the full I intention of the officers of the 11th Regi- \ ment to make it worthy of those traditions. A colloquialism by LieutenantColonel Malone during the recent encampment occurs to me: "There are to ■ be no flies on the 11th Regiment!" The traditions of the force can be no better expressed than 'by referring to its achievements and to the colors presented in recognition of the gallantry of its officers and men. For this reason, the officers are anxious to retain the name of "The Taranaki Aides," but must they forfeit their right to the colors? Representations have been made to the Home authorities, asking that this regiment be given the unique distinction of being a rifle regiment and still carry its old colors, one ground for Che application being that conferring such distinction will do much to encourage that esprit de corps whiel- is the aim and desire of the officers in command. Captain Lampen informed me that rifle regiments have certain peculiarities in drill, as compared with regiments of the line. They always march at the "train" instead of at the "slope." And when other regiments fix bayonets at> ceremonial parades the rifle regiments present arms with unfixed bayonets. These privileges date from centuries back, when the rifle regiments were honored by these \ concessions. . Captain Lampen made the interesting remark that the 20th Regiment of the Indian Army has the privilege of carrying three colors, and is the only regiment which has this distinction. All veterans will be pleased to see that efforts are being made to retain the old designation and the right to hold and J protect the famous and honored colors. j THE CASUAL CAMP. I It has been found impossible to hold I the casual camp at Stratford, txid it will i be held on the Waverley racecourse from May 24 to May 31. This must not be confused with "the 2nd Mounted Rifles encampment, from May 16 to May 23.

BERNARD'S PICTURES, ] The present programme deserves all the good things that have heen said and ■written about it. On Monday night the Boy Scouts were present by invitation of the management to see the "Boy Scouts' Red-letter Day," a the Boy Scouts by His Majesty the King. Scoutmaster Butler thanked Mme. Bernard for her kindness. This film was splendidly shown, and the lads enjoyed it hugely. "The pageant at Calcutta," one of the scenic films, and t'he star drama, "Enoch Arden," were all heartily , applauded, and the remaining numbers were likewise excellent. To-morrow the great bushranging film, "Dan Morgan," will be shown for the first time.

GENERAL NEWS ] The population of the Stratford hospita district was 9745 at the end of March last. The architect, Mr. J. W. Healy, reported to the Hospital Board yesterday that the new isolation ward would be out of the builders' hands in about four weeks, and ready for occupation about a fortnight later. Two drunks were brought before Mr. C. D. Sole, J.P., at the S.M. Court yesterday, and were convicted and discharged. Owing, it is said, to the Hawera races, the Opunake Railway Commission will not meet at Hawera till next week. Stratford will be reached on the 20th. At the Hon. G. Laurenson's meeting to-night the certificate awarded to Master James Dodd by the Royal Humane Society ior bravery will be presented. . A few weeks ago a sum of money was stolen from Mr. H. Masters' shop, under circumstances which suggested burglary. Yesterday a further sum was stolen, and Mr. Masters suspected a youth who ran errands for him occasionally. He communicated with Sergeant McXeely, who saw the lad, extracted a confession from him, and obtained about seven shillings that remained of the pound. Taxed with the previous theft, the youngster owned up. He will come before the Juvenile Court on Friday next.

The funeral of the late Mr. F. S. Pollock yesterday was well The employees in his late business acted as pall-bearers. An unfortunate incident occurred by the Railway Department's shunting operations holding up the cortege at the Regan street railway crossing for several minutes.

WHY DO THEY COME AGAIN? Como where? To Spence's great relinquishing sale. It is a fact that many can vouch lor—-that thrifty housewives and women generally who know good value when, they see it —are coming again and again 'to. Spence's great relinquishing sale. As before pointed out, and as is again, shown in our advertising columns to-day, the lease of Mr..l3pence's shop expires in June next, and the rent asked for a. I renewal. is more .than Mr. Spence will give,-.' So r he. is selling out the whole of'his siQcki.an.d-the prices, marked are tempting people r not <mly, to buy for immediate requirements but to purchase household drapery and wearing apparel to last them for 'many months to come. This is possible,owing to the stock being so fresh and ne.Ws