Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 323, 12 July 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

I Mora cut Resident importer. BOROUGH COUNCILLORS—OF SORTS. 1 There are all sorts of borough councillors, because all sorts of men in all sorts of businesses and occupations and many and various walks of life are entitled to covet and attain to the honor of a seat on a borough council. That's ' fact. There are good borough councillors and bad borough councillors. Another fact. A bad borough councillor is a nuisance, and a sore for ever—till ' he's kicked out. Borough councillors j differ in the first place because no two of them possess the same qualifications. The word "dill'cr" is not meant in reference to differences of opinion at the council table, but differences in their conception of the duties appertaining to the position. One man knows all about roads—or he thinks he does, which is much the same thing in a borough council—and he reckons the borough engineer knows nothing about roads or anything else, except when to draw his salary. The councillor who knows nothing 'at all about roads, but still thinks he does, has the same opinion about the borough engineer as his know-all colleague. So these great minds think alike. Of course, the man who knows all about roads—in his own mind, mark you—is entitled to speak at length at the council meetings, and thus air°his knowledge for the benefit of the ratepayers, if the reporters are listening. Then the other chap, who knows nothing about roads, except in his own mind, insists on making just as lengthy speeches about road matters. The only way to make him sit down is for the ! reporters to start filling their pipes or sharpening their pencils in .readiness for next day's wok. Strange how such a trivial a thing will dry up the talkative ; councillor's wells of loquacity sometimes. But every mother's son of them —the phrase is borrowed from the Hon. Roddy McKenzie—will deny it instanter. ■ Those are two sorts of men who sit lon borough councils. To enumerate I every one of the several species would entail too much writing. But about duty? What is the duty of a borough ! councillor in reference to street matters? Should he. or should he not, know every, street and footpath and culvert and bridge and lamp-post and gutter in the borough? Or should he expect the engineer 0 to know all this? Should he have to draw attention in the council U.. every place that wants a-shovelful of • -,.-'/' ■• "■■• •> suggestion ito me engineer quitu, about it? Or, should he" write a letter to the papers nlfout' it? Should he be expected to know the state of and the requirements of every'road in the borough, or only in ! reeard'-to the street in which he,, apsides? Not so very long ago a sage member of the Stratford civic fathers rose in his place and said, "Some say I've come here because I have, got an axe to grind." He wasn't at all indignant about it. but he was very honest. ' "So I have," he boldly admitted. The type is not uncommon. It's another ■ "sort" in the all sorts, and conditions of ; men who .sit'oh ] o cal bodies. At last i meeting'of the borough council a coun- ; cillor"said he intended to visit every street in the borough in the next few i weeks, and learn the requirements. Another member capped this by saying he' had dorfe this identical'pilgrimage within the previous fortnight, if a: few more follow his example there will.be no need ih the future for a -recurrence of the debate on the question as to whether So-and-So's house is onthe-west or. .the east side of 'Miranda street! A third councillor has told me that he knows every road and path arid section in the borough.. But, these,all sorts and 'conditions of men are entitled to the thank's 'of their ; : fauo\y burgesses. There are more"kicks-than'lia'-pence in the billet of "borough councillor. These men have to' turn out to meetings in all sorts of weather and stay'out till all sorts of ■is largely the fault df their . tarkative selves or their too" lenient presiding j officer: They have to know a. good lot about all sorts of things, and they .have , to come up smiling every time, even f when an irate ratepayer .with. an..axe to j grind calls them nincompoops,,-, and J dunderheads. Well, well. Such is life. |

; OUR POST OFFICE. , ' l'< The-, proposed alterations ( to tTio nost office will provide a greater amount ol counter accommodation, and it will then be possible,to:.put. r on.a third, or even'a fourth., clerk to "attend to the public'.' The present counter ■ accommodation is wretcjiedly insufficient «ite'ptrof ; eoiirs£ ■when there' is nothing' to'' do."'' TlieTo "iviU'be a new.counter at right angles to 'the. present" cine., takingHrp' now allotted' to the' postmastftrV room; IA new office will be ■£r'wte'fl : ft>r him:«n the ■street.nfrantage: By .jfoese,.. alterations ■;■■ the:,)strong r00m,,• ,jjie 'ing'f % . easily (accessible 'possible.;now- to j;each" it r Ith'e ;pt)&t-master£.'office;: ;4i,r^tiri'ng ;( i'p t ,pnir 'is aisor :tft'3>o ; pWv.jdeav f oar j the. . "exchange* stan,,a -jC<mven.isnc.3. tlrai,jw}ll,-: : be as, 'lsary.'i If tlie-|)epartment.-w r . jlittle, ■■approve* .(the- plaoSji, i awt. i gje.^ ;) .on 5 ... •Svith the-work's it--w»iKbr,a,. , .g004.-.wpji;k -'indeM.V-We Would rather, have,, a. ne^Y. ; !post" office,* but €vid6rrtly, the.. Dominion, , .exchequer' w-On'fe-stamd'' - ,j,> ,'„..

••:■•'V- COMMERCIAL. v Zc ;-,.,: j ';' .' ~T; LAMASOX'S ftEBQRJL,^-'■.'..!-) ' ' '-"Las't-Satiirday-1 ijly sale at-tlie' ; mar,t, -Avkftnh-tiif"}.- fijllDw-jnjf ■ '{lines were submitted-: A-m'o(ier*te entrj.*.; :}of poultry; was catalogued, but prices ..{were highly satisfactory: .-liquet* ag.-fob, ;i lows ens, Is 3d ro'< 2b 3d.; morel's, : ; i'ls.Sd'to 2s; roosters, 2s; pullets (small)*!. ; 11s 6d to '3s; pumpkihs>7s"Gd':peifsaek; , icabbage, about' 2s' 6d' per sack', carrots-, f j3s to 3s Cd per sack;' caulifloweu, 2s 3dj ito 3s' Cd per doz.' One'buggy arid- a'jspring trap also sold'at very satisfactory l ! )prices'.' Furniture, etc., a"t-usual- auction!' "> rates. ." ''' : '. ' '' "' ■ '' ?

■j ..STRAY PARAGRAPHS • ■' - • i; .] A Stratford man was'travelling'in a' strain the other day v and. ii constable in". ''•; plain clothes entered' 'the* Carriage.I'lliev knew one another well-,' and were • i conversing quietly when, at-one of the; j stations south of Xew-Plymouth. an- i( ■ other constable came on the scene. They/ Nvere both going to Xew Plymouth.; ''What more natural than-that he should' ' sit down alongside Constable X and his 'friend? The latter now had, a "bobby", on eacli side of him, and when the I guard came through he merely noddedto the constables, and made no effort j to collect a ticket from the man whom, I thev appeared to have in charge. He' ' bin-died red as a peony rose. A man is judged by the company l'e keeps, i A man named Charles Conn, with a, "record." appeared before Messrs. Hun-; tcr and Black. .T.P.'s, yesterday morning, and pleaded guilty to a charge of theft at Whnucramnmona. Evidence was I adduced to show that the man took a razor from "Mr. L. TClee's hnirdressing| f saloon, and promptly "liquidated" it in" order to obtain the price of some drink. I The presiding justices gave the accused j the top-notch sentence —three months' i "hard." I At Toko the other evening "Mr. and i Mrs. E. Fclleher, liicrhlv respected resi- - dents, were farcwellc& and presented with a silver tea service on an oak trav, the gift of their Toko friends. The,

Kellehers are old residents, and Mr. Kellcher was the Crown Dairy Co.'s first supplier at the Toko factory. He is one of the "good old pioneers," who have by shear hard work acquired a competency and who have always had a shilling or two and a kind word to spare.

The news that a play-off is necessary between Stratford and Clifton to decide the championship of the Northern Thursday Division is already evoking great interest liere, and there is certain to be a huge gathering of Stratford supporters at Inglewood on Thursday next, as the train which leaves here shortly before one o'clock for New Plymouth suits the public here splendidly. The annua] meeting of the Taranaki Master Tailors' Association was held at Stratford yesterday. Mr. H. R. Cattley, president, was in the chair. He was reelected president. Mr. A. R. Southam was elected secretary, and Mr. Waddle auditor. Vice-presidents were elected as follows:—Messrs. T. W. Rolston (Tnglew.ood), W. IT. Beslev (Stratford). J. Stubbs (Eltliam), H. Rodgers (Hawera), and Lonergan (Waitara).

1 EVERY DAIRY FARMER. | IS INTERESTED IN THIS MATTER. [ Mr. W. S. Coombridge, the wellknown veterinary chemist of Eltham, who needs no introduction to farmers in the district surrounding Opunake on account of his successful treatment, of stock there, has arranged with Messrs. IT. Masters and Son to handle his "Special After Calving Drench" (Grocott's formula) in the Stratford district. A word or two on drenches is in good season. The "Special After Calving Drench" is no new-fangled thing. It is a drench that has made' an excellent name for itself, and one that complies with all the requirements of modern thought and science and investigation. It has found favor with Mr. T. 0. Hodgson, for instance, one of the best-known dairy farmers in the Eltham district, and chairman of directors of the Eltham Dairy Company. He describes the drench as "very satisfactory, and the correct thing for the purpose for which they are made." Mr. T. W. Corbett, a director of the same company, writes of the drench: "I have derived the utmost satisfaction from it." Mr. C. 11. Sharp, of Inaha, sa(ys: "It is the best drench I hare eVer used, and I have tried a lot of other makes at various times. It does the work in an entirely satisfactory manner, and I can honestly recommend" all farmers to use it." Mr. J. J. Patterson, another big South Taranaki farmer, says: ,"J)uring the past season I used a large quantity of your perfect 'After Calving Drench' on my several herds (we are milking GOO cows in. all), and experienced great success. I certainly think that a drench specially prepared for cleansing purposes only is what is required for after-catving use, and as yours lias proved itself to do the work claimed for it I intend to use it again- this, year, .and. can-honestly recommend others . to do likewise;"

Mr 11. H. Baber, formerly a chemist .in Eltham, and .now .{("dairy farmer at Ngaere, says: "I have no 'hesitation in thoroughly Tecommendlng it' to' 'all farmers. • In-preparing a Special AfterCalving Drench the faci has certainly been grasped that it is impossible to supply a single drench that will meet the rcnuirements -of r both before and after calving." ..: i, ■ ■ Other testimonials from fanners of standing praise the "Special After Calvimr Drench" most highly. Mr. Coombridge has appointed agent's throughout Taranaki, and a list" of'agents between Stratford. New Plymouth,, and Opunake is published jn his advertisement on pasre 8 of this issue. A very useful pamphlet on cattle diseases and the method of treatment is being larsrely circulated by this enterprising chemist.