STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 292, 13 May 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

PROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER

Telephone No. 113.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held on Monday night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood),Crs. King, Morison, Richards, Frcdric, Boon, Masters and Thompson. An apology for absence was received from Or. Ardcn.

J OORRESPCOTEXCE, Mr. J. H. Ohilds wrote drawing attention to the dangerous state of the road leading to his house in Juliet street south, it being impassible for carts during wet weather, and asking that it be attended to as soon as possible.—On the motion of Cr. Morison, the matter was referred to the Works Committee for their report. Mr. C. J. Reakes, Director of the Live Stock and Meat Division of the Agricultural Department, wrote pointing out that the inspectors and managers at public abattoirs were at a disadvantage as regards superannuation owing to the salary paid by the local bodies not being taken into consideration with that paid by the .Government, and suggesting that the difficulty could be overcome by the ; loeal body paying into the public ac- j count the salary due for the managerial duties. He asked for the Council's views on the matter.—The Mayor saw no ob- ] jection to the proposal, which was generally approved by the Council, the only j point raised being as to the house al- I j lowance.—Cr. Richards considered that

j the Council should be satisfied as to its legal position in paying over the money to the Department.—Cr. Morison moved that the Council consent to the proposed arrangement.—Cr. Fredric moved that the £ls house allowance be not included in the amount paid to the Department, but the amendment was not seconded.—The Mayor said he regarded i the houso allowance as part of the sal- ] ary.—The motion was carried. !

I The District Engineer of Railways j wrote stating that instructions had been given to make up the footpath on each side of the line in Seyton street as, far as the 'boundary.—Received. The District Health Officer reported defects in the drainage at a house in Regan street, and recommended notice being served on the owner to have the wooden drain under the house abolished, both wastcpipes made to discharge over gully-trap of earthenware drain, and the drain made to discharge into a soakpit well removed from the house.—The town clerk reported that the work had been done.

The Health Officer also reported, in •onnection with a case of infantile paralysis in Page street, recommending the abolition of wooden drains, and properlytrapped earthenware drains installed. He also pointed out that the bath drain must not be laid under the house.

The Health Officer further reported defective drainage at a house in Miranda street, and recommended notice being given to carry out certain improvements. —The Mayor moved that the water and drainage by-laws be strictly carried out, and that notieeg (be given where necessary.

The secretary of the Hospital Board wrote formally notifying the Council that iti monthly payment to the Board had been fixed at £ls 8s sd.—Received. Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen wrote asking that the lease of the property lately held by Mr. A. E. Burgess might be transferred to Mr. Jones direct, instead of to them.—Dealt with by the WoTkg Committee.

A letter from Mr. Cecil Wright relative to t new lease of certain sections .was referred to the Reserves Committee.

The gecretary of the Municipal Asportation wrote stating that the biennial conference of delegates' would be held in July, and asking that remits should be sent forward as soon as convenient.— The town clerk stated that a remit already passed was relative to empowering abattoir managers to grade meat Or. Fredrie moved that a remit be forwarded advocating- the Government to obtain expert evidence as to road-mak-ing, with a view to placing the information at the service of local 'bodies.—Cr. Richards strongly urged that the Government should obtain the services of an expert on the matter.—Cr. Boon pointed out that every district had different material available and would have to make the best of what was available.—The motion was lost by 4to

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. T. D. Sullivan) reported:—The footpath on Broadway North between Regan and Seyton street has been completed; the work of level; kerbing and channelling in Regan street has ben completed;!the work of kerbing and channelling on Fenton street is in hand and will be proceeded with when weather permits; pipes have been laid to connect concrete channels ' with Regan street; a concrete sump has been constructed in Regan street near the Loan and Mercantile Co.'a, and concrete pipes laid therefrom to the tunnel; metal patching has been done in I Broadway Xorth and Cloton road: a crossing lias [been made to the Public Works section of Orlando stregt central. Tlie following water-tables have been attended to: Broadway South, between Page and Celia streets; Broadway North, opposite section 101, and Juliet street central. The authorised work on Flint road has been carried, the distance I treated being 3fl -chains (cost £SB 14s 3d); 204 cubic yards of shingle have been carted from the river and put through the crusher (cost, '2s 5d per | cubic yard). Mews Sharrock Bros, are not progressing with the boulder eontract. The total quantity delivered to date is approximately 1071) cubic yards, 960 yds of which have been crushed. Their contract expires on the 20th of the present month. 1 would be glad to have your Council's instructions as to how to proceed in this matter. I would ask the Council to fix a price at per cubic yard for screenings, crushed metal and erushed shingle. Re drains in Hamlet street south, Romeo street and Orlando Btreet south: The above drains were in existence before I took charge of the borough works, therefore II am unable to say when they were eon- | structed. Evidently they were put ' there for the purpose of draining the , properties which they Ifrout. These | drains can be put right when footpaths are being formed on the streets where tley exist. According to instructions, I have inspected the drainage at a house in Juliet street and have to report fli.it ' it is in a very unsatisfacton- c™<t : <! n. A drain is laid under the floor of tlic building to carry off waste from bath and sink. 1 would suggest that the owner be asked to have the above drain put right without delay. Or. King moved that the owner of the louse in Juliet street be notified to

Office and Job Printing Works: York Chambers (upstairs),

i have the drainage put in order without del*y. Some discussion took place over the . non-completion of Sharrock Bros.' contract, and on the motion of Cr. King the matter was left in the hands of the Works Committee, with power to act, the Mayor pointing out that the com- - mittce must meet without delay, as the matter was extremely urgent. j After some discussion it was decided j that the charges for. crushed metal be , 8s per cubic yard, for crushed shingle 7s, and for screenings 10s. | Cr. Fredrie moved that a notice be

I placed at every corner warning drivers not to injure the kerbing.—Carried. LIGHTING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Committee reported recommending:—The Hon. Minister of Public Work* be advised as follows: That the Stratjford Borough Council unanimously oppose the issue of the proposed license to the Stratford Electrical Supply Co. for reasons which were placed before'the I Hon. Minister by deputation, and the .Council now emphasises that the issue , of such license would be a fhgiant in- • fringement of the rights of the burIgesses. The Company and Council a,re j both bound by a deed of covenant, the terms of which should be sacred, but (the issue of the proposed license would , be a flotation of same in,favour of the Company. The Council is unanimously i

I of opinion that the great majority of l burgesses are opposed' to the license and [that the issue of same would be en uni pardonaSble injustice. The Council again urges the Hon. Minister to definitely give ihis assurance that the Government will not issue the license. With reference to the petition advised in yours of 6th ulto., it is quite possible that a number of the signatures thereto are shareholders in the Company, but without their names the council cannot definitely speak on this matter. The town was certainly canvassed for signatures to the petition by the secretary of the Electrical Supply Co. If necessary a much larger petition against the license would be easily obtained. That the member for the district be advised that the Borough Council unanimously opposes the issue of a license to the Stratford Electrical Supply Co., as a flagrant infringement of the rights of the burgesses, and an unpardonable injustice, and urges him to oppose same.

Cr. Richards, in moving the adoption of the report emphasised the necessity of the Government being made aware 4hat the council unanimously opposed the license, and that the member for Ihe district should oppose the granting of the license. The report was adopted. THE TOWN HALL.

The committee reported:— We have considered the question of paying the- late lessee of the Town Hall for the and recommend that his request be agreed to. Re booking.—As the council has again resumed full control of the Town Hall the town dork will do i':e booking as usual. ABATTOIRS. Hie manager at the abaters reported that tlie improved water supply had been commenced, and that the timber for the race was on the ground. He recommended that a large supply of good posts be obtained, asi the rimu posts were continually 'breaking. There was over Iwo miles of fencing, and the present rimu posts had seen 10 years' scrvi t 'o. He suggested that small lengths should be renewed at intervals as funds would permit The Mayor moved that a hot water service be installed at the abattoirs cottage, and that matter be referred to the abattoir committee—The moti"n: was carried.

The abattoir committee waa tjrcpowi.red to obtain 100 posts—the maicriul bo ing Mt to their discretion.

COMMITTEES. The following committees were appointed:— Works.--Ob. Masters, Morisoji, Boon and Richards. Library.—Clrs. King, Morisoa and Arden

Lighting.—Ore. Richards, Thompson and Boon.

Reserves.—*Crs. Masters, King a.nd Thompson Town Hall.—Crs. King, Boon ind Mden.

Abattoirs.—Crs. Frudric and Thomj. .son.

Band.—O. Morison. Finance.—The chairmen of all the other committees. GENERAL.

I On the motion of the mayor, it was | decided that the question of obtaining a complete map of the borough, copies of which would l)c available for sale to anyone requiring same, be referred to Cr. King and the nwxver. Mr. (_'. IT. Milncr was appointed poundkeeper. Cr. Fredric, pursuant to notice, moved that the adoption, of that pant v of the works committee's report of 2nd June, 1013, recommending that £26 be spent on Juliet street, south of Warwick road, be rescinded.—Carried. The council went into committee over {he Town Hall. On resuming it was resolved that Mr. Diamond 1m offered a lease of the Town Hal! at £7 10s per week, and failing his acceptance of the, offer that the council consider the quee-| tion of running picture entertainments. | POST OFFICE. | The MayOT moved: "That in view of, the totally inadequate provision in the i local post office for carrying on the several divisions of post office business in Stratford, a communication be sent to the Government asking when it is intended to erect a new post office suitable to the requirements of the town. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was decided that a copy of the resolution 1m forwarded to the manlier 1 for the district.

Accounts were passed for payment, and tin' conned adjourned till Monday next tor ':i> purpose of considering the estimates.

FOOTBALL. The following players have l>ecn selected to represent the Stratford seniors against Tnglcwiood, .at Jnglewood, on Saturday:—Bonner, ' Woods, Fearon. (Stewart. Cameron, Bowler, Young, Brown, Whittington, Wood, Higginson. Smith Alf., Dewar, Read, Kullivan. Emergencies: Mvers, Kennedy; hacks. Spratt and Olliver. Referee, Mr. P. Spurdle. | The following players will represent the juniors against Inglewood, at Strat-1 iOrtll on ■Thursday, at 3 o'clock sharp:— (!. Kivell. Rogers, V. Collins, Okey, Stew- 1 art, (Spratt. Olliver, Jones, Kennedy, James, Myers, Crighton, Curtis, Marfell, Bergiri. Emergencies: Rubs, Cameron, Collins, Morris, Anderson. Referee. Mr. J. 11. Thompson