Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 321, 10 July 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

THE NEW COUNCILLORS. MAKE '-MAIDEN" SPEECHES. In welcoming Councillors Dingle and Thompson to tlie Borough Council table on Monday night, the Mayor, Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, said that in the case of Cr. Dingle it was like an old war-horse returning to the fray. Cr. Dingle was ! now, lie thought, senior councillor, he having sat on the second council that J Stratford had possessed. He was at that time recognised as one of the ablest members of the council. He brought with him to-day a ma tare judgment, and was, above all things, a practical man. The Mayor said he had worked with Mr. Dingle on several semi-public bodies, and he would not ask to work with a more energetic man, or one more willing to cooperate in any scheme for the general good. His Worship went on to welcome Cr. Thompson, introducing him as a "level-headed business man, who has yet to win his spurs," adding that no doubt before the next election Mr. Thompson would have proved himself worthy of the spurs. Cr. Dingle, in reply, grew reminiscent, and stated that in Mayor Tatton's time councillors had just lively times as had been experienced during the past few years. (Audible smiles.) He said he would try and do his best for the good of the borough as a whole, which, he took it.what all the councillors ■""•r" there for. (Hear, hear.) He would do what was right, irrespective of the north, the south, the east, or the wpst. Cr. Thompson spoke in a similar vein. He could only say, as ihe had said previously, that he was interested in all matters that pertained to the welfare and prosperity of the borough as a whole. Each councillor concluded his "maiden"' effort amidst applause. ■' Subsequently Cr. Thompson , was appointed to the . library arid abattoirs committee, and Cr. Dingle to the abattoirs and works committees. It may be noted that neither of the new councillors belongs to tho "silent member" coterie.

STRATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL. MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Stratford Borough Council ;was held on Monday evening. Present: His.fWorship. the Mayor, Mr. \V. P.: Kkkwood, and Crs. R."MeK. Morison, J. I). Healy, ,J. McAllister, J. W. Boon, g. Ward; j. H. Thompson, T. Lawson, R. Dingle,, and H. •. J. King. " ! WORKS COMMITT.EE. ... ~ ? \ ■ The Works Committed reported that J Mr, C., Wright's" request' for some sCtten- J tion to the footpath on the noVth side of | Fenton street from Cortlefia street to j Orlando street, had been referred tt> the ■ overseer for a report"; tTis overseer had , been instructed to have the -footpath in 1 Pembroke road east beyond Swansea') road put fn order, and the residents in J the locality'" had-been/asked-;by the town i clerk to report to: the council : any .per- 1 son using tke path for aity purpose other, that 'foot traffic;, the committer recommended that prices be obtained for a iiflushing tank to be installed i» the -drain behind the railway station; and that an Avery's weighbridge be obtained at a. /cost of £l3O (estimated /cost' fitted; £215), with a capacity o,f eight' ions The council decided- it'<?o»U".n.ot,'accede ' to Mr. Wright's request for a footpath in Fenton street, councillors stating that therp- were footbaths .itt : .th,e '"dutskirts more needed; the tender/of Messrs. McMillan and Fredric for flashing tank, at £fi ss, be accepted; the matter 'of' the ' weighbridge was deferred. THE MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS. . Mr. J. D. Healy, architect, reported on the condition of the municipal, buildings. He had found by examination that the foundations under the ' thrae. -partitions, carrying the alpper floors-requiufed .attenthe sleeper plates being-only two , inches clear of the ground, wera_ decaying; piles were'rotting; and-causing the sleepers to rot over each pile. " >ll n re- -/ commended that concrete foundations with -necessary dampeourse be' put jii under, the', three- - Alost of the ' joists and sleepers ..were in fair condi-' tion. Various mijior . exterior repairs were required, and the woodwork' needed re-painting, ceilings of t-Jie 'first floor needed. repairing ai}a,',this portion, needed -re-papering. Tlte roof ,of' that ( portion of the building >at -tlift rear of d Mr. SpeijceY needed, support bv' statid- - ards. He also reported on' the cost'm certain 'improvements qskefl for -'by Mr. Spenee.—jAll 'repairs (e^(?e l pti% 'exterior ■' painting)- will be .done forthwith. , RUBBISH REMOVAL. - - I A special'committee reported' rtn - the I l'Aibbish .contract, which frould 'expire •'OnAugust' 31., They recommended ail extension of the area tO ta'kd- Trial! that part of the borough.lro'ni Pembroke road ' to Warwick road, Excluding 1 Warwick' road, east, arid from Hamlet '6treet: to Swansea s r'oad, houses 'on- both sides ©£;; these'stfbbts'to be included;* also --that?' tendt>rs"be called forthwith; for'- the iHsyr,. contract; ' s :: , " Cr.' Ward moved- that:tfie report be', referral ! bac-k to'the committee, r so that.; they,, could 'report on the-' advisability of , the rubbish removal service being '..tftfeea ' over by the- borough council. The' present .service, he said, was iiaost imsatisfactory, and an unduly severe tax • on ' business, men. Gr.' McAllister - also ex- '■ pressed his disappointment at the iconitents of the report. He' ; said he had .! expected that the committee would: have j. dealt: with the possibilities- =of -a municipal service. Cr. Thompson characterised the present service as, tjftfeedown." Cr. Ward the, attack, and said that the charges _ should : .be revised-. and a charge made.; at .so ' much per box instead of at .PQ much, pei? , cubic yard. The Mfcvqr. -who, didn'tseem" to "get 'the drift",, c-pf-. the .«jP9pel\« Ssked "Will you dqfine.it?" Or. Moi-ison': "Oh. he's only talking rub-. ! j bish." Cr. Ward mov«l d<ha,t;a miniumI.charge of fid per box be.wade,., Cr.,-King. | said'"he had fiever heard such ,a foolish 'proposal.—The report was'adopted wj,th- < out amendment. • , " i ■ TTTE STREET TJGTTTS- .

TV fouiicil spent sonic time in. discussi'iip: tlie' street liglitinjj.—jCr. brim; anxious for n- eotvferew with the . KU'r-tric T.-shtMi" Owmnv >vith a view | of arr.»>»'n.!r -for « m-Vcflit .-.service>I stead of Hie fill-niirlit service, and 'for.ft ° lnr<_f(» number of extra liorht-s. TTe. considered the council would bo-phle to save- : £l5O per annum on the midjiiffht ser|vico and expend this : money, erecting new lam lis in tlie outlying portions of til" borough. where there; wa-s neither footpath nor metalled .road, and therefore all the (jreater necessity for efficient ■ street Hjrhtine. Several councillor* objected to any siiffsestion to interfere with the present arrangements, expressi Jnir a fear that, the company miplif-, "turn rusty" and adhere to the meter charges. 'Others lirjpcd that the directors were reasonable men, and would treat the whole thin2 as an ordinary business deal between the two bodies. Cr. Thompson. I who was up till recently secretary of I the company, sent councillors-' earsi up '. with a click when he said the company was "out for the dollars." \Tpon Cr. j Kin? protesting ncainst the term* Or.' Thompson said he did not mean to sug- | pest that the company was actuated by < nnv other than honest business prin- • cipels. TTe said he didn't want the ideato pet abroad that he was elected either because he favored the company or was antagonistic towards them. Cr. Dingle,

replying to the arguments adduced, said he could understand that an all-night service might be very pleasant, but what of the people who as yet had no street lights at all? People who were out after midnight should provide their own light; and people out after two o'clock would need two liglits. (Laughter.) As the outcome of a very irregular discussion, the Mayor and Crs. Ward, Morison, Dingle and Thompson were appointed to interview the company on the matter. GENERAL.

Mr. A. Spence wrote accepting the council's offer to temporarily rent to him his shops in : the municipal buildings for £7 a week, but under protest, as he considered the rent excessive.—The council had no power to reduce the rent until twelve months had expired from the date on which the lease had been put up for auction. .The council, after discussion in committee, passed a resolution regretting it could make 710 alteration in the terms suggested to the skating rink, syndicate for release from the Town Hall contract. Cr. Boon moved, and Cr. Dingle seconded, that the Reserves Committee be asked to report upon the advisability of cutting up the old cemetery reserve for leasing.—Carried. Cr. Dingle complained of the very unsatisfactory state of the footpath in Opunake road, and Cr. Thompson complained of the very bad state of the footpath in Juliet street north on the west side, opposite the private hospital.—To be attended to. Construction, of footpaths tfas authorised in Ariel street from Lear street to Celia street, and in Hamlet street from llegan street to the bridge on the west tide.

STRATFORD IN POLITICS. LIBERAL-LABOR. RESOLUTION. At a .meeting of the Liberal-Labor party held at Stratford on Monday evening the following resolutions were carried unanimously,, and a copy directed to be forwarded to the Hon. T. Mackenzie: "This meßtirig heartily congratulates the Hon. T. Mackenzie and ihis colleagues on the manly, and straightforward way they suffered defeat, under such trying circumstances,' and also desire to place on record their appreciation of the Labor members who supported the Prime Minister in the .no-confidence debate, and their disgust of -those old "Liberals," especially the Hon. J. A. Millar and the Hon. R. MeK.ell7.ie, who deserted their leader at such a critical moment, knowing full well,, as they did, what the result of their' actions froiuld be. However, we have no doubt that when the jdissolution • arrives ~thc Liberal party j will be returned stronger than ever, and 1 we for our part Will dff o'ur best to keep I the old flag flying here."

t STRAY PARAGRAPHS. ] .The Stratford meat supply for June ,i consisted of 06 cqws> 5 oxen, 229 sheep, 130 pigsy;and 15 heifers. The form of reI port from the, ,ai)J>atojr manager is'unj kind 'to .the purveyors -of "prime steer beef," but the mail TVhO boasts of his 1 "hogget" mutton is j3h.elte-r.ed by the /lumping of. old .ewes,-hoggets, broken--1 rfiouthed wethers' under the style and 1 title of "sheep." -Several councillors, when the above particulars were' gleaned from the - abattoir. Tepijrt- at Mo»day riigl\t's ijieeiing, referred to the fact that several of tli6 butchers seemed" to kill no beef but did dairy cows, and reckoned' the names of ,tb'e bullock' butchers should be, published.,. Certainly; {it advertising rates. ' , " ■ The number'-bf instating} electric light' '.failures topped'the" round" half-dozen last 'evening, between, fiye.ajjd half-past five o'clock.' People" topic, it quite quietly.. One business man'-stuck a fag-end of lighted, candle- in. "his window adorned with the legend, "Stratford by night." During the discussion on ..the. electric light v failur'e's on" Monday sfeveral 5 boro.ugh councillors said <tliey were sorry for the" corßpany ajiid its officers, who were greatly worried by the untoward turn -that affairs wfre taking, find were doing their utmost' to obtain good results. The 'trouble appeared to be that the old- and/n<rtv were not working harmoniously.together. , At. the l'olice Cotfrt'yesterday Frank jl'Qowell -was -Mn&rided' to -.Eltham to' answer a, charge-oi.ialse. prete.pces. , " •'After, a glimpse of, dry, weather we, are having another soalcer. ' '.The secretary'of ,the Stratford branch . 'o,f the New ' Zeftland Jersey Breeders' ■ Association ..forwards: a; complimentary . . ticket for, tjie dinner yliic-h the local. i . Jersey men are tendering to visiting , of " the association who will • j gather here on-Wednesday next for the; annual meeting of tl)(? Association. Mr,. Wm., Eld«; -h'i|.S the ,catering. AVhat- doesl' ''in 1 committee" meant' ' "poes it the" commiteecieliber,atio'ns r shall: not, be.' reported in, Vilie public?/ press? „ .Evidently it bears. •; tfliat construction in,?ert'ain circles,, and " there wilV'be said a"bout it at Monday nights special meeting «f the': 'borough council.. - .. The New Loan and Mercan- ! tile. Agency Co. advertise particulars of i;he cleariiig sale bf"Mr/John Neal, at his farih). on.--.tlte -Monmouth road, onr Monday, 'the.fCOWS'Jo be offer- • ed* are and are ' expected''to : 'cialve "it 'August and Sep- . Member. • These and avbull,. "young sto'efc • and furm pnndvie?. will -all be offered without reserve.'. * . , . A team of ladies'; from- the Hawera Golf Club visited- Stratford l to-day and', ■ pndeterr.ed:. by.' the weather 'conditions, match on the Stratford links. Xlje team yon five games, lost threte;and-drew-one, winning the match: by"r 5%: games- tb 3%. ..... ' r V ■" • "'