STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 174, 22 January 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

SIDE-TRACKIKG TARANAKI. PROTEST FROM STUA'LTOU.D. A matter of con-idcrable importance to Taranaki as a whole, and to the whoKs of tin; district northward of Waiiganui, j was branched at tlic .Stratford Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday nij:ht liy .Mr Percy Thomson, who is" to bo commended for bringing the mutter forward. Jt is one of the matters which is not parochial, but all'eets a very large number of people in a very big district. Mr Thomson referred to the fact that the ferry-steamer from Lyttclton to Wellington frequently failed to connect with the \Yollington-\Vanganui-Xew Plymouth express. Thin, not only were passengers from the South Island to Taranaki forced to occupy an extra day on the journey, oftimes'at very great inconvenience &\ving to the absolute u.i----expectedne.-s of the delay ; but there was an annoying delay of correspondence and other mail matter which, instead of arriving in Stratford by the evening ex-pre-s, reached here on the following afternoon from Wamranui. It was apparent that since, the Main Trunk Railway had been opem.il Taranaki had been practically side-tracked. He would liiie to see these conditions altered, and said that there seemed no reason why .such steamers as the .Maori and the VVakiue should not make the connection regularly. On his motion, it was decided \o urge on the Government to cudeaior to arrange with the Union Steam Ship Company to expedite the LytteltonWellington ferry service, so that the steamers may connect regularly with the Taranaki express trains, for convenifnjj of _P ilsSE «gers and the mail cervices.

The other Chambers of Commerce n Taranaki are to be asked to co-operate, and it is to be hoped that that co-oper.i-tion will be forthcoming. Mr Thomson appears to have correcty sized up the position, which is one that the public of Taranaki should not tolerate. Apart from the fact that the non-arrival of the steamers tends to make this route unpopular as a through route to Auckland, there is often a distinct local inconvenience, which- it is possible to remove, and which should be removed.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE The School Committee held its usual meeting on Tuesday night, when the.-e were present: Messrs. V. Skoglund (chairman), T. C. Fookes, E. W. Hancock, G. Smart, and J. Staple:?. _ Mr P. S. Whitcombe. secretary to the Education Board, wrote Kiat 'the Department had declined to grant a subsidy on the sum of £5 contributed by the Stratford Swimming Club towards the committee's funds. The Deparlme.lt had drawn his attention to 'ts previous refusal to make a grant on a similar contribution. The Hoard notified that Mr .lames Cresswcll had been appointed a probationer at the school, and the following pupil teachers:—Misses. Rosalie James (second year), Bertha Palmer (second year), Annie Kelleher (second year), Veta Corney (first year). The appointments would date from F .-binary ] ISR ■-.Mi.Meliii

THE SEASIDE PICNIC Arrangements were made i'or the ; -'aside' picnic on Thursday, 2Sth instant. The usual supply of fresh milk, fruit, sugar, tea, etc., etc., will he. procured. The East End Batliing Committee will he asked to erect their marque? on the hunch. The chairman notified that Mr R. B. Anderson had consented to sell the tickets, as he did last year, inquiries will be made as to the possibility of obtaining boating on the river. The Tradesmen's Association will be asked to declare picnic day a full holiday. The chairman stated that the Tradesmen's Association was applying to the Railway Department for the right for adults, in th-j event of an ovsr-sale of adults' tickets, being allowed to travel by the excursion trains at excursion rates. Under the regulations the number of adult ticket:, must not exceed the number of children's tickets sold, else the committee will he c! urged' the f ill ordinary fare for the surplus of adults. The Department has also written that any person other than a teacher or a senior scholar travelling on a teacher's ticket will be made to pay the full sec-ond-class return fare.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MOXTHIA' MEETIXG. "| At the Chamber of Commerce Executive meeting, on Tuesday night, there were present:—Messrs. j. 15. Richards (president), A. V. Grant, W. L. Kennedy, P. Thomson, D. J. Malone, R.\ Masters, AV. I'. Kirkwood, an I \y. A. Hewitt (secretary). THROUGH THE BU9II COUNTRY. A letter was read from the .Stratford Borough Council, to the cU'cct that it would have a representative in theOhura picnic party. The president mentioned that an invitation bad been received from the Taranaki Chamber to join with its picnic to the Ohura, starting next Sunday. The itinerary provided a trip up the coast and a ride through to .Kotarc— Mr Jackson thought it just as well to adhere to the original programme, and go on with the Stralfonl-to-Ohura trv, via Whangamomona.— Mr Richards was in favor of co-operation, for the interests of Stratford and New Plymouth in the Ohura were practically identical. But, whilst he would like to" see all the Taranaki towns joining i:i tlii-= trip, the | notice received from New Plymouth was j I too short.—On the motion of Messn. Jackson and Kennedy, it was decided to notify the Taranaki Chamber that it was unfortunately impossible to join in its forthcoming trip. Reverting to the trip being arranged by the Stratford Chamber, Messrs.' E. Jackson, Kennedy, and Young were appointed, with power to add to their number, to make further arrangements with regard to the picntc. Tn fixing the date of (he picnic the Chamber bad to avoid clashing with various race meetings, the Toko Show.

FROM OUR REiSID ENT REPORTER. Office and Job Printing Works: York Chambers (upstairs), y«l9fhoae No. 111.

j the Fire Brigade carnival, and other fixture.-; but eventually it tvas decided that the trip should be' started on February 1!). Those wishing to visit the Toko Show could "do" that fixture en route, and others would leave by the later train. The trip from Whangamoinonu to Olnira would' be made on -Mr Moore's line of coaches next dav; ■Saturday would be spent in Olmra. the return trip made to Whauga.' on Sunday, and "home" on Monday. IT IK TATU TELEPHONE. Regarding the refu.-.il o£ the Government to extend the telephone service from Tahora to Tain, the president said i that the Department seemed still to J misunderstand the position, though he failed to see how thee could misunderstand it iu view- of the Chamber's ex- I planato'ry letter. The Department insisted that a metallic .rircuit would have to be installed, but he failed to see why. > If the service were, extended, as desired ] by the settlers, it would bo 'possible to I get messages through.—Mr Kennedy said .' that a single private wire to Tal'u had | cost only £.l a mile, and it was quite possible to get messages through to Stratford. The Tahora-Tatu extension, j of ab»nt 20 miles, should cost no more than ±\> a mile.—On the motion of Mr j Hewitt, it was decided to communicate l again with the Department, and to defer further action regarding the extension of the Ohnra mail service till after the Chamber's visit tb re. GEOLOGICAL iCUVKV.

Mr Thomson suggested application being made to the <love:'nmeiit for a geological survey of the Stratford and YVhangamoniona districts, to show the whole topography of the district, and U indicate the presence of minerals, oil, coal, or any other valuable deposits. He moved iu that direction.—ll r K'ivkwood seconded.—Mr Richards supported. They knew there were huge coal deposits, and a geological survey might lead to their development.—Mr Kennedy said that there was a great shortage of clay ; n this district, and the survey might indicate where supplies could l.i obtained.— The motion was carried.

MOTOR CYCLISTS MEETING. A meeting of motor cyclists interested in forming a motoring club in Stratford will be held in Mr. Fearon's ollice tonight. A motoring club can <lo much to provide interest and enjoyment lor its members, ami, as Stratford is now the residence of motorists whose numbers run into three figures, a good meeting should be secured. Mr. Fearou has secured copies of the rules of the I'ainierston North Club, and has much information to lay before the meeting. TERROR OF THE TOLL-GATE THREATENED AT .STRATEORI).

Motor traffic, the bug-bear of local body members, stepped ;i lively dance, and for a few moments enlivened the proceedings of the Strut ford County Council oji Wednesday. The subject was introduced hy a side wind. The state of the Te Popo bridge, north of Midhirst, was lieing discussed. This ( is a wooden bridge, erected on concrete piers, and the whole of the superstrue- J ,ture needs renewing. At present that ! portion of the comity beyond the Te ; Popo stream is cut off from the benefits derivable from the comity roadrolling plant because the bridge is not lit to carry the machinery over. This ' matter was being mentioned when some Councillor interjected that this bridge, being on the main road, had to carry a great body of outside traffic, including ' very considerable motor traffic, none of which contributed at all to the county , revenne. The chairman replied that "The Government hasn't got pluck enough to institute a motor-tax. It's a question of votes." Cr. Thomson said that the matter was one of great importance, and he had noticed at. Home that .strenuous ell'orts were being made . to cope with the difficulty. The motor ears were railing the' roads by sucking out the sand from between the metal. Hut how could the motor cars from outside the county be made to contribute to the upkeep of, the roads? .Someone suggested toll-gates, and to the surprise of most ..the suggestion fell , upon greedy ears. The chairman mid Cr. Christofi'el would support toll-gates, and so would Cr. Walters, with a view of forcing legislation to tax ■nrotor cars. Cr. Thomson said it appeared that move rates would have to be collected, but the chairman <iaid that already the rate was up to 3d in the £l. Or. Christoll'el would not favor any additional burden on the ratepayers". Cr. | Walter suggested that the toll revenue Lfrom one race, meeting at Xew IMyhnouth would pay for the erection of the gate. Cr. Smith hoped .that the Council would exhaust all other schemes of finance before it tried "the obsolete system of toll-gates,'' but Cr. Anderson immediately joined issue with him, stating that he had held a similar opinion until he had seen the beneficial effects of the Kltham toll-gates. A little discussion took place with regard to the hardship likely to be inflicted upon tho settlers in the vicinity of the toll-gate, but it was thought that some means could be devised of easing the charges on dairy suppliers' traffic, mid collectbig on a stiller scale from motor traffic. JJiscussiug the financial position of the north riding, it was shown that the year's revenue was about £3OOO, and the expenditure could be estimated at £4OOO. The position was improving, but still something would have to be done to raise money by some means other than out of the rates. The riding, the chairman was afraid, would have to shorten hands. Fortunately, the roads were in a bolter condition thai) lie had ever seen diem. The Council will fully discuss the Te Popo bridge and the toll-gate iplestion at the February meeting. ,

STRAY PARAGRAPHS The accounts passed at (he County Council meeting exceeded :C-T>So the largest amount for some time past, at least, and possibly a record. Mr. F. H. Wilkie. teller at the Stratford branch of the Bank of Australasia, and in hia spare time secretary of the Operatic Society, and a comic singer and reciter, is under transfer to Wanganui, ,