Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 74, 14 August 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

Front oar Resident Reporter. THE EARLY BIRD KK3SB HORSES IN THE STREETS. A deputation of livery stable keepers, carriers and horse-owners waited on the Borough Council on Monday, and paid a tribute to the vigilance of the borough inspector, whose early rising and strict enforcement of the by-hnvs .. ; making their lives unbearable. Tlv; !■;<'•] that the strictness in enforcing the by-law in regard to driving loose ',i:.rscs should be relaxed.

Mr. Davey asked that the by-law regarding the driving of the loose horses through the streets be amended so as to enable the horse-owners to "dodge the ranger." They suggested that they be allowed to drive them in elm rife of one ni:t" only before snv> :s > .'<•!« j, -,i

the morning. After that hour, two should be employed, or the offenders fined. They were quite willing to lead the horses from the stables to the paddock at night, but it was impossible to catch the horses in the morning. The principal hardship in the present strict interpretation of the by-law was that it was insisted that a man should precede the horses as well as the one following them. •Mr. J. A. Thompson said hie man had been fined for driving horses loose before seven o'clock. His fines amounted to £6 7s. He considered that heavy horses were safer driven loo.se than littered together. He had two horses that wouid defy anyone to catch them in the paddock. The whole of the deputation, and the whole of the councillors as well, wouldn't be able to catch them. His own horses were heavy horses, which would 'not travel at an excessive pace. Councillors were of opinion that the stablekcepers were entitled to be treated fairly, and not hardly. Cr. King said, though, that the stablekeepers should give an undertaking to keep their horses off the footpaths. It was not a fair thing that they should, as had been reported to-night, destroy the footpaths. The inspector (Mr. Barlow) said he had not reported any cases which had occurred .before seven o'clock, provided there were two men in charge.

The Mayor and others considered there could be no danger to the public from driving horses before seven o'clock in the morning, and it was decided to allow the horses to be driven from the paddock to the stable before seven o'clock in the morning with only one mail in charge, instead of one before and one behind ae previously insisted on. Cr. Dingle wanted to know whether, in tL' ovent of an accident occurring, and the offending horse-owner not in a position to pay damages, the council would be liable for damages, seeing that a resolution had been passed which practically over-rode the by-law. —Several councillors gave legal opinions without fee.

BOROUGH COUNCIL The ordinary monthly meeting of the ■Borough Council was held on Monday evining. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirk wood), and Crs. N. .T. King, E. Dingle, T. Lawson, J. H. Thompson,' S. A. Ward, J. W. Boon, J. McAllister, J. D. Healy, and R. McK. Mori son. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

Upon the reading of the overseer's report, Cr. McAllister drew attention to the fact that a footpath authorised near the junction of Ariel and Seyton streets had not been touched.—Cr. King, chairman of the Works Committee, explained that, acting on his instructions, the staff had not undertaken any new work pending the improvement of the weather, for in the very wet weather of late it would have been impossible to carry out such work to the best advantage of the borough. With the better weather now prevailing the work would be put in Land.

THE TOWN HALL. Captain F. Lampen, Messrs. Geo. Tiond, Thos. Grubb, X. F. Dunlop and F. H. Wilkie. as representing the Stratford Operatic and Dramatic Societies, have written to the Borough Council calling attention to the poor state of the scenery on the stage at the Town Hall. The scenery itself, they point out, is in a very dilapidated condition, and there are 110 appurtenances for setting it. About ,C2O, it was estimated, would bring the existing scenery up to present day requirements, and this would include the necessary paraphernalia for striking and setting it. —Referred to the Town Hall Committee for report. Cr. Lawson complained of the inadequate seating accommodation in the pit, which, rejoined Cr. McAllister, was the theatrical companies' own fault, for they took the pit seats and "jambed them in as orchestral stalls." MOTUROA-TE EOT I RAILWAY.

The Taranaki County Council asked the council to endorse its resolutions regarding the Opunake railway to bring under i.he notice of the Government the urpyiit Hi eessil v of giving effect to the recommendations of the railway commission; flie necessity for the enactment of a Railway Authorisation Bill for the eon-! ; ioi of a railway line from Moturoa to Te IV i- and that instructions be at once issued to the proper authorities to proceed with the surveys of the route, and the starting of all necessary preliminary work, so that there shall be no delay in commencing the const] Met ion of the work at the Moturoa and Te Roti ends of the proposed lines. Tin Mayor said he was not greatly

:r fa • or <if readv-madc resolutions, and moved: "That this council urges on the rnwriim- nt tlio immediate! construction of tin' railway line from Stratford to Ka;i ,; and Manaia, and emphasising in .-iiiiport thereof the fact that the Comrs unanimously found that Moturoa was clearly the best port for "Tar.i-:i.-Hid therefore the line urged lathis council would give; the quickest and -I direct eomniunicntion with the deep sea port. It would also efficiently provide the needed relief to the roads of south- '.-est Taranaki."

(V. T.awson seconded this motion, and it was carried without discussion. WOIiKS CO MM ITT HE'S RKI'ORT. The recommendations of the Works (W.miMen were adopted as follows: That an application from Messrs. Kerby and Pamford for a footpath from Celia street n-vthward to their residence in Cord dia street be acceded to; that Mr. ("iconic Hall's request for water to be la id on in Craig street be not acceded.to until the en d ion of further houses causes a grealcr demand for a Water supnly: that Mr. ('. R. Walsh be per- , mitted io remove a peat valve from the walir councct'o;! to his shop in BroadI way. providi"-; the work is done by a i licensed plumber and the footpath left in a proper state of repair; that a I nick loan of !l n. and (iin. concrete pipes be obtained, part of the pipes to be used, in d:vcr!in:; water into the Miranda street, drain and the balance to be used for ctilvvt iiMi-pascs: that Mr. IT. "Perm I)e -m .:i notice to have the trees growing on t : t.i-np,,| v and shading the road 1 Mi:- ». nioval of the trees being ii to pi-ven" ! i"irv to the road. THAT r.'MDRE. '"-vr wis granted permission to v.! 1 in' ■' 'lie sneeial nice ting hii ■ ■ ' r : iii> th" council's resolu-

tion at last meeting to place on I lie loan schedule a. proposal to widen the Victoria bridge in Broadway to the full width of the street. MISCELLANEOUS. A letter from Mr. Gorton, secretary of the Fire Brigade, in reference to the reel required for the brigade, was referred to the Fire Brigade Committee, with power to act. Messrs. R. Currin and E. Read wrote with reference to the footpath in front of their places on the Pembroke road, complaining that the footpath was being used as a roadway by a certain carrying firm. The road was passable only for bullock traction, but they were prepared to put up with this if the footpath were kept in order, so that they could walk on it without risk of breaking their necks.—The footpath had been attended to. The council agreed to determine Messrs. Mercer and Drakes lease of the Town Hall, at their, request. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. Mr. W. G. Malone has offered to become a life member of the Stratford A. and P. Association, with a view of assisting the association to finance the erection of the people's stand. Life membership privileges are granted on payment of £lO, and anyone with a fair prospect of longevity can make a sound investment lor himself in this way, besides helping an association which deserves to be helped. The secretary, Mr. W. B. Fearon, has received promises of a pedigree Ayrshire bull and a pedigree pig from Mr. Thos. Webb for the gift auction to be held 1 in connection with this fund, and Mr. W. Saywell, of Midhirst, well known among Jersey men, will also donate an animal. Gifts are invited.

STRATFORD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the Stratford Horticultural Society decided to renew the affiliation with the Royal Horticultural Society. A resolution was minuted welcoming the formation of the Stratford Beautifying Society, and promising co-operation in fostering its aims. Messrs. Thomson, Wilkie and Cato were appointed a schedule committee for the spring show on September 26, and it was decided, in view of the very satisfactory arrangements last year, to again request the ladies of the society to undertake the management of tile afternoon tea.

Mr. F. Westbury, of the Hutt, was elected a life member.

A letter was read from the Kaponga Society stating that Mr. Robert Gibson, who won the Stratford Society's Daffodil Cup, had offered to give them the cup for competition, included in the "conditions being a proviso that three Stratford members should compete before it could' be won by Stratford, the class being for twenty-four varieties.—The opinion was expressed that the number of varieties was rather large, and Mr. Cato suggested that the Kaponga Society.-be asked to make the conditions the same as at Stratford, whilst Mr. Reader thought it was too much to ask for three Stratford competitors. He moved that a reply be sent that the conditions were too severe, and suggesting that the conditions, be made the same as at Stratford. —This motion was carried.

The society having now to replace the Daffodil Cup, the matter was referred to the committee.

The president donated 'half-a-guinea as a points -prize in the cut flowers section at the spring show.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patrons, Messrs. J. B. Hine, M.P., W. P. Kirkwood, J. McCluggage, P. F. Ralfe, A. W. Reid, R. Spence, J. Masters, and W. H. 11. Young; president, Mr. P. Thomson; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. Westbury, R. McK. Morison, T. Reader, Stanton, Arden, D. Henry, Don Cameron, G. Hollard, T. A. Lees, F. W. Sandford, C. Goodson, .T. Petrie, J. B. Richards, Dr. Carbery, Dr. Steven, Mesdames Marchant-, McKay, Arden, Petrie, Bernard, and Prentis; ladies' committee, Mesdames Aagaard, Reader, Arden, Mills, Morison, Riera, G. T. James, McKay, Prentis, and Spence, and Misses -Dingle and M. McKay.

Reference was made to the excellent services tendered to the society by the retiring president (Mr. T. Reader) and Mrs. Reader, and by the secretary, Mr. W. S. Cato. Resolutions of thanks were carried and recorded on the minutes.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS. The team to represent the Egmont Club Parliament against the New Plymouth Brotherhood! Debating Society consists of the Rev. Reader and Messrs. J. Staples, R. Masters, J. Boon, and C. D. Sole as emergency. The debate will be held at New Plymouth on August 29 or the following Thursday. The subject will be "Leasehold v. Freehold," the Stratford team advocating leasehold. The Stratford Club has decided to ask Mr. J. B. Roy to act as referee.

BERNARD'S PICTURES. The present programme will have run its course at the end of to-night's entertainment. It has been well up to the standard, and patrons have been gladdened thereby. Those who have not seen the fine films included in it should certainly visit "His Majesty's" to-night and enjoy themselves.

SHOP WINDOW DISPLAY. The few fine spring-like days have tempted the Egmont Clothing Co.'s window dresser to put in a showing of spring-wear for men. The display is unique and attractive. A plant, of toi toi plumes and vases and stands of spring blooms, judiciously used, make an excellent setting for a capital display of new boaters and panamas, and new spring neck-wear, whilst to emphasise the show card, "Spring now jusl out," there is- a clutch of day-old chicks in a straw nest. The floor of the window is covered with a warm spring green, and the effect is heightened at night by green shaded electric bulbs. Altogether it is a splendid window.