STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 233, 20 February 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

I (From ()ur Resident Reporter). I CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETIISu OF EXECUTIVE. At a meeting of the executive of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening the president (Mr. S. 11. James) presided. There were also present: Messrs. W. P. Kirk wood, W. 11. 11. Young, P. Thompson, J. W. McMillan, E. Jackson and ,1. 15. Richards (secretary). THE RAILWAY VXD THE SET'I'LEUS. The secretary of the Kotare Progressive Committee wrote again with reference to the necessity for making the Papakino road to enable the Kotare people to obtain access to the StratfordTe Koura railway. On the motion of Messrs. Kirkwood and Thompson it was , decided to cooperate with the Kotare settlers, and to ask them to send a delegate or delegates to join a Stratford deputation to bring this matter before the Prime Minister" ami the Minister of Public Works duriiif their promised visit to Taranaki. " THAT POST OFFICE. The Mayor (Mr. Kirkwood) moved that the Chamber make representations to the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works concerning the necessity for a new post office at Stratford. The president: Would you go further, and suggest a site? Mr. Jackson: The present site is the best available.

Mr. Thompson was of opinion that the present site was unrivalled, providing the building were two-storeyed. The president said that what the Chamber must avoid was the foisting of another makeshift on the town. Mr. Kirkwood said the present buildin" was but a makeshift, and no Government could in reason refused to give them an adequate building. The present post office was quite unfitted for the volume of business done. There was room for only one person to be attended to at 'the postal and telegraph counter, and only three (at the most) at the money order and saving*; counter. There was no room, but very evident need, for more attendants.

The president: They have a very strong answer to us: that this Government was put in to spend money in the country and not in the towns. Mr. Jackson: Tsut country towns arc the country. Mr. McMilan: AYc don't want them to squander money.

J It was generally conceded that tho j present post office was quite inadequate, and the motion was carried. DISAPPEAPJXG MEKC'TJAXWSE. Tlie secretary mentioned, on lielialf of Mr. Masters, ilie inconvenience caused to local business men and to the settlers in tilt* district by pilfering of goods from the section of railway and tram to Wliancnmomorm. Mr. Masters had suggested that a regular service should be instituted between Poliokura and Whangamoinona. so that consignees would know when to meet their goods. Referred to the president and secretary to' make enquires.

WEEKEND EXCiJRSiqxs. Pome discussion took place on the proposal of the Xew Plymouth Tourist and ■Expansion League that week-end excursion tickets to Xew Plymouth be granted flu the Hawera-XW Plymouth section of railway. 'Mr. McMillan said that these would doubtless be availed of. for a Week-end at the seaside would become very popular. Most of the members were of a like opinion, but Mr. Thompson objected to the proposal, on the ground that the claims of the churches should be recognised. Eventually it was decided to write to the Minister' of Pailways to the effect that the concession would be appreciated locally. Upon the question Jicing raised that' similar concessions should be granted from XVw Plymouth southwards, the president said that some years ago there used to be quite a number of Xew Plymouth visitors to Stratford "for a breath of mountain air." but presumably they now went to the mountain.

AITCKLAXD EXTTTTUT.OX. 'Ah-. Kirkwood brought up th<> matter of tlie Auckland exhibition, and thp arranging of a Taranaki court. He considered that Stratford slionld assist in making ihi s ro i:rt, for it would bo a splendidadvertisement for the province. But all Taranaki should co-operate. TTp mentionpd that he had received an invitation to attpnd a meeting of thp Taranaki Chamber of Commerce committee on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Holmes representing the exhibition, had also communicated with him.

Hie president said that at the Auckland Exhibition some twenty rears n" 0 there was a Stratford exhibit—a pyramid representing (he amount of butter made in the Stratford district in one day. An exhibit designed for the same purpose to-day would bring i„.f nrP the thousands of outside people the ~T e at possibilities of Taranaki as a dairvin." country. Mr. Kirkwood was appointed to represent the Chamber at Xew Plymouth OEXERAT, ' It was decided to urge on (he fiovemment the necessity f„r establishing a branch of the Stamp Office at Stratford XrCTtT OF MKFTIXO Vr. R. Masters wrote resi OT iim- ],;, wit on thp ~\-m , t;V (, , (Uv i n „. (i ; (1|( , regular meeting clashing with another meeting i„ w bi,-l, he was interested - The president said the Chamber could hardlv afford, to lose a representative l'u>;i-'ss man like Mr. Masters, and sun-. SesU'd altering <]„. date of n „, executive •»''<*»»* Mr. McMillan .ag,,,.,1. s ., vin!l that the present fixture was inconvenient for him also.-]I was decided to meet ui future on the se.-nd Tuesdax in the month.

STRAY PARAGRAPH /'Th\ letter is marked V ■ ' krntial.' '"' 11 lorters will please no|, " ~.,;,] (] IP at Tuesday's Cham! ,f Commerce meeting. -T],,. report ■■. will not note, with an emphasis ,-■: in e "not" chimed in Mr. Thompson. Tlic Stratford Can C'li. . holds the third match of the Ballistic- t'np series to-day. A Slralford sportsman asks me to congratulate the Tarannki Acclimatisation Society on deciding to try and get an open season this year, and he says tliere should be a good demand from here for licenses. Tie reckons game is verv plentiful, and that the worst way of protecting it is to stop legitimate shooting. The steam road roller was sent out, over some of the bv-roads on Tuesday and Wednesday. Their wet state enabled the roller to push the loose stones out of sight—a boon to cyclists and motorists. Two splendidly grown Holstein bulls, -even months old. but looking easily yearlings, were landed here for Messrs. Tichbon Bros, on Tuesday evening. Mr. R. Masters leaves this morning for Wellington on a business trip, returning on Saturday. The Stratford County Council yesterday declined to support the Bruce County Council's resolution, "That this Council is of opinion that contributions to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards should be made from the Consolidated Funds in lieu of the present system of making levies on public bodies." Instead the Council carried one disagreeing with the proposal, on the ground that it would lead to waste and extravagance in hospital administration. j The mover was the Chairman, and he made it "Corruption and oxtravaganee,"

Lan oft-used couplet in a wider political sphere, but ho accepted the suggestion ! to say "waste." The secretary of Ihe Slr;>tfon! A. ami P. Association "(Mr. 11. l'Varon) forwarded fullv a hundred Si nil ford onirics for the Tarauaki Autumn Show at New Plymouth. Of' these, Mr. Tom Kirkwood gathered twenty-five—dogs, of course. BERNARD'S PICTURES-TO-NIGHT There was something to please all tastes in last night's change of programme at His Majesty's Theatre. In "Master and Pupil" (an Edison drama), which featured Harry Kumiss, some extremely clever sketch work was introduced,' illustrating several of Dickens's works. This was only incidental to a eleverlv-conceived theme. The A. B. Company .was to the fore with a heartthrobbiiig drama. ■'Two Daughters of Eve." A powerfully cast drama was provided in the shape of "The Ranchman's Trust," which resulted in a pleasing plav on the emotions of the audience. "The Amateur Iceman" was a good Luhin drama. In the industrial section there was much to interest. Herring fishing by steam trawlers off the coast of Norway was croatlv instructive, and the same can be said'of the film which showed the Prince of Monica and Company engaged in the whale-harpooning industry. Additional variety was lent by a bird's-eye view of Paris from a military aeroplane, and some superb views of Palestine. Of the comics toe much cannot be said in their praise.