STRATFORD. Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 297, 12 June 1912, Page 3

STRATFORD.

Stratford News

From our Resident Reporter. BOROUGH COUNCIL. ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council on Monday night was attended by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood) and Ore. Paget, Sangster, McAllister, J. W. Boon, S. A. Ward, J. D. Heuly, R. Mclv. Morison, T. Lawson and N. J. King.

; STREET LIGHTING. I Discussing the letter from the H«e----i trical Supply Company, notifying the Council of its intention to charge sixpence a unit for current used in street lighting, the Mayor said that there was no written agreement between the Council and the company. He understood that the new arrangement would increase the price of street lights from £2 5s to over £5 per lamp: per annum. . Cr. Hoaly said that the prjee -assessed was vfor lighting up, to the. hour-.of midnight, the light used, after that hour being at the expense of the company, owing to there being no switch to shut it off without cutting oil all the private lights. ;':■■•'. Cr!. Ward wanted to know, who was going to control the, meter?.: He was of opinion that the'".. meter should be locked, and ppened only in the presence of officers of the Council and the company. . . ' Cr. King: Does Cr. Ward think that the; company-is going to tamper with the (meter?. " '...'...' Cr. Ward: I think nothing;, it's a matter bf business. . r ' .'. Cr. King pointed but tija.tj'the nieiers were all approved by -tie JBpar.d of Trade, and' Sealed. : • : .':,.■'.■' - '• ' Cr. Ward: Yes,, .once. You're a shareholder, in .the company— — ■; ■'. Cr. McAllister:- And-/therefore'-" more entitled to . - -

A motiom>as submitted, referring the matter to -fher Lighting Committee. Or. McAllister asked di; the- Gouhcil would give the committee a guide.. Was ■it tfi'Qgosed. >.. shut off all, the street lighting. at midnight? and was answered in the affirmative. ',.,.,. Cr. ■ Morison Reckoned he. could' give the committee, a-,guide., He'recommended that oil ihV-sireet lights'-should be cut off. forthwith,, and expressed th,e view that it wpujd be .profitable to buy an up-to-date lantern:for^use r wlieri people went J out'at niglj.W jjf": '\ i . ',-.-' -,' V ■ . . The ma.Upr'w t ei\t.pihe lighting. Committee for, ponsideratipri repov t. town lighting;. The Council f passec[. a resolution pro' testing,against the decision of the'Electric'. 'to charge sevenpence per f ;u»jt" for.Tpwn..,suli' lighting. The-May or. poinjejj put that 'tlie company was quite fwrong [in saying thii,t..the Council had leased the, ( ha]l to'.Messrs. Mercer and, prak."e,'.for,th.ejf •agreement was distinptly. a- day-to-day. arrangement. -THE ,POST OfliilCEi ~ The Secretary of the P'ps'taJ Depart-< ment wrote tlidt it was hot considered ; necessity to erect a'new post .office in Stratford, 'and . that- siiifcaMei additions ' were. t6 be" made 'to the -fisting structure:' : ' "''■'"■ ' ■ ~ <'•■>": :'.:•.. ■ : Cr. Ward; asked if anyone knew the nature of the proposed additions. Was it' proposed to add another ished for bikesf Someone said that it was understood that the- postmaster's room was to be thrown into the public office, a hew 'room erected for the postmaster, whilst the front elevation was to be improved. Cr. Healy: There's a vacant section over the bridge for the post office when the bridge is evidenced—(Laughter)— hence the temporary arrangements. Cr. King: There's any amount of vacant sections over "there. MORE ELECTRICITY. Speaking to the clause' in the Works Committee's report regarding the permission asked by the Electrical' Supply Company to run a private telephone line across the street, Cr.' Paget said that m view of the Electric Xight Company's extraordinary claims from time to time they should be • extremely careful 'how J they granted anything, to that company. They (the company) were apt to claim what they had no right; to, and the Council should be very chary, indeed in granting them anything. ,He would move that permission be: granted, made tenable for six months, to be renewed at the pleasure -of the Council, at £2 per annum. he, would, gladly give permission to: anyone: else without taking precautions", but he -would be very chary with this company. • , Cr. McAllister sa.id.it wasisimply a case' of the Council making itself look ridiculous. He did not think the Council should do anything so paltry as Cr. Paget suggested, when it \vasffjuite:possible to safeguard the Council by granting permission during the pleasure of the Courier!. .''""' • . Cr. King said he 3iad -never seen anything so palfry as the motion presented by Cr. Paget for, the" express purpose of making trouble between the! two bodies. The relations were.strained enough now, surely.. Cr..Paget..evidently fpTgot'tliat the company had. put up'with a good deal from-members of the Council, and if ; they did not retaliate they were not the men he took them, to be. Crs. Boon and Healy- said that there was no need for the charge. Cr. Paget, replying, said he had quite expected the bitter personal attack from Cr. King, who showed his usual extremely kad. taste in saying anything whilst' he.was a guarantor of the company. Cr. King: You,ought to talk about bad taste. , ._ Cr. Paget continued, that. Or. King had made just the .speech tlv \ councillors could expect from him.. "',l am not trying to hurt the company, but I am simply trying to safeguard the ratepayers of this borough against the Electric Light Company. It's not safe to treat them in the way you would treat other | people. However, if £2 to that company is too much—£2 to that-company is a good deal—l will make it five shillings— nc; I'll make it half-a-crown; but I think a contract you must have. If you give them this'without a contract they will claim the 'right for ever you bet!" Cr. Morison said that the motion was ridiculous. "Make it during the pleasure of the Council, if you like; but to make a charge is too silly—too ridiculous." The Mayor thought it quite sufficient to pass a resolution limiting the permission during the pleasure of the Council. Cr. Paget: Ha!f-a-crown won't hurt them. I'll give them the half-crown myself the first year. There you are, Cr. King. I don't want to take advantage of them. They'd take a worm from a blind hen! Cr. Paget pushed a half-crown piece | across the table to Cr. King, who replied with some show of scorn, "Keep all the money you've got. When I want half-a-crown I won't ask you for it." The permission was granted, the line to remain during the pleasure of the Council. MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. f Cr. Paget moved that this Council expresses the opinion that as all the reI mits passed by municipal conferences had been ignored by the Government— The Mayor:'No; not all. I Cr. Paget. Well, most of them ' The Mayor: No; not most

ICr. Paget: What? Certainly most. I'm sure they have. Or. Paget then went on to move that as most of these recommendations of the conference had been ignored, the Council considered it quite useless to do anything further in regard to municipal conferences until a change of government had taken place. The Mayor suggested the deletion of the latter clause, but Cr. Paget said he wanted that to stand. Cr. King moved that the Mayor represent the Council at the conference. He Urged that these conferences were most useful, and thought it would be a good thing for the Mayor to attend and learn all that could be learned about municipal government. Cr. Paget: Send him down to educate him? Cr. Ward thought that the town clerk should go. Cr. P.Tg:t T:> educate him? Question: Who wants the education most? The Mayor will go. MISCELLANY. An application for the extension of water, drainage and footpath in Ariel street, from Celia street, was referred to the Works Committee for report. _ Several residents petitioned the Council to have a decent footpath made in Seyton street, from Orlando street to Cordelia street; for the erection of a street light, and for the opening of the streets for vehicular traffic—Footpath referred' to the Works Committee, with power to act, and the street light to the Lighting Committ.ee for report; the rest of the requirements to be dealt with when loan work is being scheduled. Another request for footpath access from properties in Hamlet to Regan street was referred to the Works Committee for consideration..

COUNCILLORS' RESIGNATIONS. j In moving that the Council accept with I regret the resignation of Dr. Paget as la borough councillor, the Mayor on Monday night said lie was not surprised to learn that Dr. Paget :had decided to discontinue making the great personal sacrifice which the duties entailed. His Worship emphasised the fact that Cr. Paget had always taken the course which he believed to be right, and had acted and spoken fearlessly, without consideration for popularity. ' Several councillors who spoke subsequently referred to the frequency of their "brushes" with the medico-councillor, but all paid' a tribute to his sincerity and fearlessness. Cr. King claimed to have had the most brushes With Cr. Paget; 'and said He was really sorry that the 'resignation had come in. He hoped'that some, day Dr. Paget would-re-enter municipal-life, and that they would have ["another spar or two."' The stress'laid upon the fact that the retiring councillor had'always spoken for what;he;deemei.to.l)6 right seemed to suggest-that such ,a thing was unusual.' The' Mayor and councillor also expressed sincere regret at 'losing 1 the services of Cr. Sangster", ex-Mayor- and ; ex-contrac-tor, whose practical /(knowledge had always been, of the. utmost value to 'the Council.. Cr. Paget fsai'd he 'was gratified to hear, as he hid known,'of course, without councillors saying So, that no illfeeling'had been .engendered' by the "brushes." His opposition, had not interfered with his personal relations with Cr.'King or any other councillor, and he hoped they would always be on excellent terms. Cr. Sang&te'r; dri replying, said that his business interests took him out) of Stratford, too,much.to permit of hislgiving the requisite time to municipal matters. ;..■;■•

FOOTBALL. For the-first time for years past the Stratford Football Club has a good first junior team this year. Should they beat Clifton on Thursday they will be well in the running for the north end championship. They are quite,capable of giving a good exhibition oh' Thursday, and spectators shouldbe numerous. Thursday's teams are:— ''. ;■! * -' i Seniors v.' Toko:;and • Te Wera, at Toko (leave-Stratford ,1.30 p.m,):—Kivelly Surgenor, Cuwshaw, Cl Stewart, Dud Cameron, Anderson", Wood, Fearon (3), Sujlivari, Yoiingj .'■' Whittipgton, Boon, Bonner. • ' " ,-, ■:-,,- Juniors v» Clifton at Stratford Show Grounds,'at 3'p.m..:—F,. Collins, Kilpatrick; James, '-Bowler, ; Brown (2), Hancock (2),»LoVetidge, Osborne, Jones, Watkins, Callaghan.,' /Masters,, Bayly. Second Juniors >. -Eltham, at Stratford Show Grounds, .at IJIS p.m.:—Marchant (2), Rogers''(2'j/ : Cbllins (2), Sheahaii (2), Peared, Misher; Tanner, Carroll-, Law/Croßson'; emergency, Prentic"e. . . •■, ..,% r p . ~. .

PERSONAt . Mr. T. G. FobkeV, Jbo'rough solicitor, wrote to the Council .all; Monday night's meeting, intimating ~that. he was, under medical advice, taking a prolonged holiday fpr some; f our \vedks 'or more from the end of thfs We£k.-»Tlie ordinary routine of his office worth! in .the 1 meantime ■proceed as u»ual,,'under'thf control of his managing clerk, Mr. E. H. YQung, and he had, subject to 'the approval of the Council, arranged with Mr] W. G. Malone to act on His behalf in any advisory matters, so far ■af the Council was cdncerned. The Council gave the necessary, leave of absence,,and by resolution expressed regret' at his illness, together with the hope that Mr. Fookes would -be benefited by the- holiday. , Miss Fryday,-assistant in.the town clerk's office, has • resigned her appointment. The resignation was accepted at last night's meeting, arid the town clerk was authorised; to furnish her with a testimonial. '■ ■ . W. A. Rennell, of the Bank of New Zealand staff, leaves to-day on a fortnight's holiday. ' Mr. J. Cherry, of Petofte, is relieving. • • The nanfe of -Mr. Joe McCluggage is mentioned as a candidate for one of the vacancies on the Borough Council.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS. At Monday night's meeting of the Borough Council, Cr. Paget expressed his sympathy with the proposal of the Gisborne Borough Council to increase publicans' license fees, and moved that the Council support it, on the ground that licensees should pay more, considering the value of the monopoly given.—Cr. Sangstcr seconded, and the motion was carried, ncm. con. 'So far the valuation rolls of the borough have not arrived from the Valuation Department. It is usual for the rate-cards to be issued from the town clerk's oflice at the beginning of July, but this year it will be hardly practicable. The Council has empowered the Mayor to engage extra clerical assistance, if required, when the rolls come to hand. A new motto for borough councils: "We're here to <lo business on business lines."—What a lot of people do not know it, and how hard to get people to believe it. The remark emanated from Cr. Paget at Monday night's meeting. The perennial subject of the speed of motor-cars enure up at last night's Borough Council meeting, and not ineptly, either, for shortly before the hour of meeting a motor-car flashed down Broadway at a speed that was certainly "other than a walking pace." A motion by Cr. Piget was adopted, instructing the preparation of a by-law to compel motorcars to carry two side-lights and a tail I light, or one of the side-lights showing to the Tear.

Messrs. Watson and Rawles have taken one of Mr. J. W. Brayshaw's five shops, and will shortly open their drapery business there. The shop was formerly occupied by Mr. J. f{. Haggie. New Plymouth people who were in Stratford to-day wore grumbling about the temperature. Stratforditcs are a hardy race. A bachelors' ball and a tennis leap year ball are en tapis.