STRATFORD MEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 220, 5 February 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD MEWS.

(From 1 ; ur ilci-ident H'porter). LOAH MATTERS Monday a J Soioiiy!r Council meeting reminded one a little of tlie palmy days of tin: civic fathers from a copy-produc-ing point of view. Whilst not a partieul:ir 1 v < l ii!it; 1;*<".iidebale, the ou <jr. Morisoii's moiion (by notice) lo lesdnd a former resolution was guilty of some rapid interjections and personal reflections that lifted it above the dull monotony of the usual Borough Council meeting." (Jr. Morison moved to rescind the n solui ion. carried on the casting vole of the Mayor, lo submit the loan ]>] oposals in Jour is-ues. The success of the motion was never in sight. Councillors have voted in parties for some time, and ou this motion, which involved the necessity or otherwise of the new l'atea bridge," it was not thought even possible that any of the northern members would veer round to Cr. Morison's point of view. As it turned out, Cr. Dingle refused to support the sollthenders in the attempt to upset a previous decision, so now the Council really decides by six votes to four that the loan proposals go forward under four heads. During the discussion, Cr. Morison inferred that the Mayor was unfair in giving his casting vote in favor of his own motion at the previous meeting. seeing thai, he was opposed to the bridge .-eiienie and that this casting vote enabled him to so place the scheme before the people as to ensure its defeat—or words to that cll'ect. The Mayor protested, but nothing was withdrawn. Then (Jr. Morison complained that Cr. Ward, who was on the eve of leaving Stratford, should register liis vote ou this important matter. Of course, there were "wigs on the green' when Cr. Ward rose to speak. He asserted that Cr. J] orison had endeavored to persuade hiin to stay away from the meeting, and that on the New Plymouth bowlinggreen last week Cr. Morison had requested a quarter of an hour's conversation on the matter. This the councillor concerned indignantly denied, and Cr. Ward suggested that Cr. Morison had a very bad memory. Cr. King referred also to this matter, and twitted the mover of the motion with having hoped Cr. Ward would, be away, and the only chance of gettng the motion through. Crs. llealy and Dingle put up a plea for better treatment of the South End. and for the submission of the whole loan scheme in one issue to the ratepayers, so that all would benefit from the borrowed money instead of only certain sections if only certain proposals were carried. .Special arguments were used in favor of re-erecting and widening the l'atea bridge in IJroadway, owing to its being too narrow to carry the trallic constantly flowing to Stratford from the southern districts. An appeal was made to the north-enders not to use their preponderating voting power to kill the schemes likely to benefit the South End.

Tim loan scheme will probably be put before the ratepayers in four or live weeks' time.

The estimate for a steel and jarrah bridge at Cordelia street, to cost £737, was considered, the Mayor stating that in the event of the i'atea bridge being dismantled the overseer intended using the material ill the Swansea road bridge. A motion by the Mayor and Cr. King, "That the Council canuot see its way to place a trallic bridge across the river at Cordelia street," was lost. Cr. Dingle seconded Cr. Ward's motion to make provision for a footbridge across the river, bet ween Juliet and Cordelia streets, and at Brecon road. Cr. Thompson submitted an amendment, seconded by Cr. Lawson, to provide for a £IOO footbridge at Cordelia street. Both the motion and the amendment were lost.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS Oi.iy routine business at the Hospital Board yesterday. Dr. Steven was granted a month's leave of absence. Dr. Carbery will act as medical superintendent during Dr. Steven's absence. Mr. Sidney Ward leaves by Thursday morning's train for Auckland, and will catch the Malieno for Sydney next Monday. Owing to'the increasing number of patients, the Hospital Board has decided to engage an additional fully-qualified nurse for the Stratford Hospital. Matters in connection with the erection of workers' homes at Stratford are progressing. The plans of the buildings were approved by tlie Borough Council on Monday. They will probably be placed on a site oil the Swansea road, near the bridge. The addition of thirteen or fourteen new houses would tend to make (lie cost of living a little more reasonable.

The Church of England preparatory high school opened yesterday.

Tlie need for a resident medical man in the district about Whaiigaiiioniona is evidenced in the report of the sanitary inspector of the Stratford Hospital Board. A doctor had informed him that the death of a child recently was due to sheer neglect. Then he gives his version of the stale of all'aii'- existing in a house out there from where scarlet fever had been notified. "Isolation of the patients is impossible in the small Louse. When I arrived the two f-onval- < - u; patients were running about with liitrir bare feet'on the wet ground, with three healthy children. I warned the parent.-, of the consequent dangers of a relap-e. and advised ihem to keep the patients dry and warm, ; :id isolate them a- much as possible froie the other ehildM n, and on no aecor , to let them sleep in the s.nne rooi as those who have not. got the eisea-;. Previous to my isit (lie patients were eping with cbi: jvn who had not go ihe fever." Owing to tin di-tancc tl visit of a doctor would cos; J!)'tcimi ; 'ucas. Is it lor thi- that men and ■ ■men go out 11» ! in' V. ! I i]' 1 (<[ { : luisli ?

BERNARD'S PIC- JRES • To-night will sue tin: 1 ust opportunity oi wil tin 1 current sensational |)io; innniii' iit. ili- Majesty's Pictures. "A Prisoner or War." of which Napoleon I Jin Mia | >;i it <• i- ii:e central figure, is nn11oilideilly n triumph. It deals with tho latter year- of Xapoleon. who in ISO 4 was at Ihe height of his power and .slory—Knipi'i or of France, virtually ruler of Kurope. and (hen. a few short years hit' r. a gloomy anil broken man. exiled oil a barren rock, a prisoner of war. From the time of his last farewell to France, oil the deck of 11.M.5. Beller''l''l on, (•' i'ii' io:n■ hllln pntho- of his lonely death in mid-Atlantic, this production point l ays Napoleon's life, his friend-; and counsellors, his jjuarcK passionate anirer. and his frenzied efforts to escape. The scenery in the film consists of the ntjrinjr sea. the precipitous clill>. the I only mountain passes-far from tin- scenes of poliiical activity, whei'" Ihe hero of France had once conHlll 'leil and lost. Xapoleon is seen dvinj*, broken in body and spirit, yet littering, as his last words, ''France," "the army?' and ''Josephine."