STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 204, 17 January 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

| (i-Our Ih'niilcni j{c],orter). fx'kATFjUD BOEGUGH COUNCIL 'Y' I'U .-I;',;, (II- ]:ii sl(l(-t! over U t.'diii'sday s meeting of l ], e Borough Council. Councillors Din-de. Lawson Thompson, War.l, Boon, and Healv wen' also present. DISTRICT ELECTORS' ROLL. Tlii' .Mayor brought up the matter of revising the district electors' roll, and suggested that the Town Clerk be empoweied to employ assistance to make a house-to-house canvass with a view of enrolling those eligible {im j purging the roll of names w |,idi should not he there. At pies, iit it was a most incomplete record. Cr. Ward objected to spending' the. raL<'p:uels money in enrolling these iiqiiratepaycrs. who knew they were entitled to have their names on' the roll, and to vote. The Council decided not to go to any extra expense in the preparation of the roll. WANTED—EARTH. Mr. A. V. Burrell. contractor for the erection of the new Public Work,, Offices, asked for permission to remove earth from a reserve next Dr. Cameron's for the purpose of filling in the site for the office. He understood that the earth had been oftered to the Department previously. Cr. I lealy objected to letting the earth go. ]f the loan were carried the Council would want every yard of earth to make the fillings in the bridge-wideniii"-scheme. °

Xotic-e of motion was given to rescind J the previous motion on 'the matter, the ] Council now being averse to disposing i of the earth. ° THE FIRE BRIGADE. i Mr. E. A. Drake, secretary of the Stratford Fire Brigade, wrote that unless seen to the bell-tower at the south station would probably collapse.—The old windmill from the abattoirs is to replace the present structure. The Brigade secretary also forwarded the letter received from the Domain Board granting permission to place a plug and lay a main into Victoria Park north, and the Brigade asked the Council to make provision for this work in the next year's estimates.—The Mayor said that arrangements had been made for levelling a practice ground south of the bridge, and the Brigade had been promised that the money for the newpractice ground in the Park would be placed on the coming year's estimates. DISEASED STOCK PADDOCK. The secretary of the Stratford Hospital' Board presented the petition of residents protesting against the use of the section in the south end of the Boroirjli as a holding paddock for diseased stock. The Council will forward the petition to the Minister of Public Health with a strong recommendation for immediate action in the matter. CLUB HOTEL, STABLES. r J he District Health Officer wrote witli regard to the Club Hotel .Stables. Cr. Mealy moved that the letter be received, Ho said there was not a livery stable in Stratford with a concrete floor, They had earth floors. Better ventilation and a concrete channel might 'be advisable. There were stables in the city of Wellington no better than these. Cr. Ward said that the requirements of the Department would put the owner to a lot of unnecessary expense. These stables were not used for horses standing all night, but merely for a few hours a day.' But the man who recommended concrete floors for horses to stand on did not know much about horses. These stables were spotlessly clean. But the Departmental officers had to earn their wages somehow. In a previous instance the health authorities had required impossible things to be done, but they had taken the inspector around, showed him the livery stables, and compared them with private stable*, which were an absolute disgrace. lie believed that some of these still existed, but 110 notice was tak' ,1 of them. Cr. JTealy maintained that the stables were not inimical to the public health, and only a concrete channel and better ventilation and a I'.-w new repairs wore required. The Council decided to inform the Health ,Officer that it sees no reason to alter its previous decision, except that it recognised the need for better ventilation. NOXIOL'S WEEDS. Mr. (!. D. Hunter, secretary of the Domain Board, drew attention to the growth of ox-eye daisy on a Borough reserve in the south end of the Borough. Cr. Dingle spoke strongly of the necessity for keeping the weeds down, and said the overseer should see that this was done. —The tenant will be written to, and iiir-tructions were given to the overseer that the reserves and streets be kept clean of weeds. THE WORKMEN. 'The Council discussed at very great length the request of the workmen to be put 011 a better footing, their grievance being that at present they lost much time owing to bad weatker. A return presented by the clerk from the overseer's records showed that in eleven months one of the men bad worked 04'/s hours' overtime above his ordinary time, and another O 1 hours over; whilst three others had worked 13, 37'/o, and 90 hours respectively, short of full time. The Mayor thought the men would r cognise the justice of the arrangement that they .should be paid for the actual time worked. Cr. Healv considered that the Council should pay for 48 hours a week, but the men should work only 47 hours. Cr. Morrison doubted if this custom was as general as Cr. ITealy denied to think. (Thompson drew attention to the fac' that the man who made most time wa- a single man. The Engineer .-aid this man was "the handy man." and a very reliable man. who worked a good deal of overtime on the water and drainage works. He acted as turncock. Cr. Dingle, whilst not wishing to allege favouritism, considered the work might be more fairly allocated. The overseer said lie had to pick out thp best men for certain works, and get the best results for the Council. The man who had lost mo»i lime had not lost it all through wet weather. Cr. ITealy moved that Hie men be paid only for the time they worked, and that 47 hours constitute a week's work. Cr. Morison did not think the Councillors would be wise in bothering about: comparison between the hours worked by the different men. That should be left to the Engineer, and if he were not competent to manage that properly he was not a competent foreman. Ile, however, believed in Mr. Sullivan's competency. The speaker believed in paying fls a day for eight hours. Cr. Dingle asked if it were true that the Council did not allow its workmen to work for other people in their own time. He knew that a borough workman who had been working on the croquet ground had had to stop it on the overseer's instruct ions. The overseer said that was so. He thought if a man worked all day for the Council he should have had enough work for one day. Then the Council decided to go into committee to further discuss the matter. Resuming. Cr. Thompson moved an amendment that the workmen be paid h-tlf-pnv on wet days.—No seconder. Or. Boon moved that the men be paid for the time tlicv worked, at the follow-

lug rates:—Spreading metal !• 2d an hour, ordinary street work )s I ;;i:d Is 3d an hour for tunnel work anil d.-uu work where thc-r> v. .is any - ( i>.i 11.. So seconder. Cr. Diiiglo moved .in amer lnH nt I:,.. 1 the men be pair, r- i.-u wet ::■;.! dry. This, hj- thought, wouid prove acceptable to the men. Seconded bv Cr. Ward. It was pointed out that under such a scheme the men would earn lest; than now, while the Mayor ruled that to alter the rate of pay notice of motion would bo necessary. Cr. Healy's motion was lost, and the matter remains "as you were." . It was decided to sell live yards of crushed metal to Mr. J. Martin, at 5s a yard. Applications for Quctioneers' licenses were received from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Messrs. Wcbster< Dobson. and Co., T. L. Lamason, and Newton King.—Granted. Mr. \Y. L. Kennedy asked the Council to remove a bank of earth at the corner of Romeo street and Broadway as it was unsightly, and a harbor for blackberry. which had spread 011 his section. —Referred to the Works Committee. Mr. S. .1. Pivac asked for certain alterations to his fruit shop and diningrooms in the Municipal Buildings leased from the Council.—The Council has 110 objection to Mr. Pivac making alter- I ations. work to be approved by the | Council. N

Mr. W. E. Clemow complained of damage to Brecon Road South by bullock traffic.—Referred to the Works Committer with power to act . The overseer reported on various works undertaken during the month. The cost, of crushing 3iil yards of metal and j shingle was 2s !)d per yard, and the average output was f>2 yards per day, actual | working time. Concrete pipes were required for replacing various decayed wooden culverts. He recommended that Broadway South, Broadway from the bridge to Pembroke Road, Opnnake Road and Regan street should be scarified and rolled down when the crushing was finished. A MUSICAL TREAT Mrs. Morant Bayly entertained a large number of friends at a musical afternoon on Tuesday, and a very enjoyable time was spent. Miss Best, of Auckland, a singer of considerable talent, contributed several vocal numbers, as did Miss Butler and Miss Dorothy Bayly, of Stratford. whilst Mrs. ,T. Mackay gave a recitation. A dainty afternoon tea was served in the drawing-room. Amongst those present were: Mesdames ITall, Dingle, Curtis, ,1. B. Tline, Chas. Bayly, T. C. Pookes, Young, Penn, Mackay. Hudson, Copping, Munro, W. G. Malone, Craws-haw. Munro, Wilson, Wake. I'irie- | Cameron. White (Auckland), Steven, Grant. Budge, Stubbs. Lonergan, W. D. Anderson, Misses Anderson (Auckland), Best (Auckland), Keigel, D. Trimble, Dingle, Harding, Butler (2), Steven (Oamaru), Curtis, Lulu and Dorothy Hine. Uae liayly (Wanganui) and Anderson. PERSONAL Mr. ]•:. Burgess, an old resident of Stratford, but for the last nine years of Hamilton, is on a visit here, and'is stay-1 ing with his son, Mr. Geo. Burgess. Mr. -Sidney Ward on Wednesday evening wa.i granted leave of absence for three months from the Stratford Borough Council. The Mayor expressed his regret that Mr. Ward was severing his connection with the Council, for he had proved a very good Councillor and a very good citizen. As a member of the Council, Mr. Ward had not hesitated to express his opinions freely, and when he did not see eye to eye with the. other members he had been able to confine those differences of opinion to the Council Chamber. 'Mr. Ward had done good service on several institutions, and altogether had been a very energetic man. His Worship wished Mr. Ward a successful future. Cr. Tlealy concurred. Mr. Ward stated that he regretted exceedingly his severance with the, Council. Twelve years had elapsed since he first took his seat at the. Council table. During that time the Councillors had been a fairly happy family, and -although they had differences of opinion the members l had always remained friends. In thanking the Mayor and his fellow Councillors for their courtesy and kindness to him. Mr. Ward said he would ever remember with pleasure his term as a Stratford Borough Councillor. STRAY PARAGRAPHS. A benefit matinee will be held in His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday afternoon in aid of the widow and family of the late Mr. E. Smith, who are in necessitous circumstances. 'lt is a deserving'case, and the Stratford public may be relied upon 1o lend a helping hand in a. time of need. There was unloaded at the Eltham railway station on Wednesday, to the order of the Eltham County Council, direct from Home, an Aitken patent pneumatic tar-sprayer, to be used in surfacespraying the metalled roads. It has double-acting pumps, driven by chain and sprocket oil' the back axle. Tts capacity is 300 gallons of tar, and it has a patent hoist for lifting the barrels. There is a self-contained furnace for heating the tar. 300 gallons of which are sufficient to surface-spray 20 chains of road fifteen feet wide. The sprayer-is drawn by two horses. Tile Eltham County Council is going in for the latest scientific road construction methods, and relies on the advice of Mr. F. Basham, its enterprising and clever engineer. Some people, say he is going ahead of the times, but they said that about his steam road rollers.

Dr. Cray Hass.ill, superintendent of tin? Porinm Mental Hospital, accompanied by .Mrs. llassall and nieeo, spent Tuesday evening in Stratford, having motored through from Wellington to Wanganui, and then on to Stratford. Dr. Has sail visited the Electrical Supply Company's Diesel engine station during the evening, and was much interested in the company's splendid plant. The party left next morning for Ingle wood. on route to the Kgniunt mountain hostelry. C'r. Walter, of the Stratford Countv Council, takes a keen interest in the iinanoe of the north riding, as well as his own. On Wednesday he was giving the chairman (,i north riding representative) some advice. The chairman replied that this year their rating power was a third bigger than last year's. ''Yes," replied the financial critic, "but when the 31st of March comes you will find you are in a worst position than ever." "I hope not," answered Cr. Hathaway. "At *ny rate our roads will be in a better condition.'' To which Cr. Walter replied that it was as well to have something to show for money spent. Later lie returned to the attack, thus: "It is of no use disgusing the fact that your riding is getting into a bad way financially, in spite of the heavy rating. We expect the chairman to take cognisance of these tilings, and lead the way." NEW PICTURE SHOW Hayward's Picture have concluded negotiations with the Borough Council for a learie of the Stratford Town Hall, and will open there as soon as their plant is released from the Eltham Town Hall by the installation of the municipal plant there. , BERNARD'S PICTURES The current programme at His Majesty's Theatre comprises a superb col-

i lection of films from the best American | companies it ml others. Pride of place i must he given to ;t powerful dramatic > subject. "Tested by Wireless." It is it detective ftorv. ijni 1 -■ out of the ordinary . | it: 1 !, invi>lv:;r'_i a clii.--' acro-.s the ocean, ! . am! a max.' of in, unite sitimfiimi in ■ which aerograms play ail important part. . The picture was excellently photographed and splendidly «ru-<!. v.liilc some of the scenics '• were unusually; : T.eautiful. In short, it ig one of the best. 1 Interest also centred on "The Little . Keeper of the Light," a, sterling lighthouse romance. Amongst a batch of other good films is a topical film showing Hie Vaniiiman airship disaster.