STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Yesterday. The fortnightly meeting of the above Association was held this morning. Present: Messrs J. E. Wilson (chairman), Bcckbessinger (North Taranaki), Tinsley (Opunafce), Crump (Eltham). Kirkwood (Stratford), Dunn (Farmers' Cnion), Hemmingway (Patea), Winfield (fnglewood), and J. McMillan (secretary).

The permanent secretary, Mr. W. Power, was introduced by tlie chairman to the delegates. Mr. Beekbessinger reported on the case of a returned soldier, discussed at the last meeting. The soldier had spread reports that money that was his by right had been held back, and Mr. Beekbessinger wanted to make it clear that such was not the ease. He was satisfied the man was trading 011 public sympathy.—Mr. Beckbessinger's action was confirmed.

In regard to Mr. R. H. Nolan's application for a grant towards the soldiers' hostels in England, the chairman reported that the Advisory Board had decided to grant £IBOO per month, so that Mr. Nolan's application had been included in the amount sent. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Faimers' Union for their donation of £6O to the Association's funds.

Mr. Dunn, in returning thanks, said the money was subscribed by the delegates at the recent conference. The chairman reported on the proceedings of the Advisory Board recently held in Wellington. The secretary reported that the local committees had the following funds in hand: Inglewood £432 ss, Manaia.-£ISJ4 10s 3d, Hawera £7504 14s 2d, Herald £2439, l'atea £3033 lis Id, Eltham £3719 3s 10d,- Egmont £1332. Xnrtli Taraaaki' £3500, Stratford £7198 0s 3d. Hawera lias also £215 worth of postdate cheques in hand.

The chairman said they had £'20,000 either uninvested or deposited in the post office savings bank. They would luivo to consider whether they should invest the money or make other arrangements. In answer to a delegate, the chairman said the New Plymouth Committee had £IO,OOO in the post office savings bank, and two separate sums of £IOOO each invested in the Taranaki Building Society, and the New Plymouth Investment Society, both sums at 5 per cent, for one year, and both sums would mature shortly. The Herald had £IOOO in the Savings Bank, and two sums totalling £'2500 with the Bank of New Zealand, for one year and two years. Patea had £3OOO at call bringing in 6 per cent. Seeing the amount of money at call, they could easily invest £20.000 for two years.

A long discussion took place as to investing the funds to the best advantage, and eventually it was decided that a committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs Kirkwood and Crump report on the matter at the next meeting, and ill the meantime they were given power to invest the general balance at call. A motion was carried placing on record the Association's appreciation of tlie work done by Mr. J. W. McMillan, as honorary secretary, since the inception of the Association.

Messrs Wilson, Kirkwood, and Crump were appointed a finance committee to report at each meeting on the amounts available for investment. The chairman referred to the remarks of Mr.' Andrews at the meeting held at Okato, and published in Wednesday's Daily 'News. He took exception to the statement that "a returned man had applied to the Taranaki Committee and had been loaned £2." The Association were only too pleased to have cases of relief brought under their notice, and every claim would be given full consideration. If cases did not come before either the local Committee or the Association it was purely the fault of those who knew the circumstances and did not take the trouble to notify the Association. H"! was thoroughly acquainted with the ease referred to by Mr. Andrews, and could produce receipts for at least £5 for the man's board, and they had lent him £3. Cases like these created bad impressions, and he wished to give them a, public denial. The meeting then adjourned.

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the above Council was held to-day. Present: Crs. Hathaway (chairman), Were, Walters, Worthington, Smith, Anderson,_ Christoffcl, Coleman and Baskin. CORRESPONDENCE, From Egmont Mountain Club (Kaponga) asking that the dips adjacent to the old mill, on the Manaia Road, be graded, also that the boulders projecting on the road in front of Mr. Mann's property be removed, both these places being a source of danger to the public. —To be attended to in the coming summer. D. McDonald (Puniwhakau), wrote enqW'ing if the Council would lease the s tore adjoining the Council's cottage at Puniwlmkau.—Referred to chairman and Cr. Worthington and engineer with jiower to act. F. W. Bredon (Douglas) offered to trect the two bridges required for the new road he i s opening, and to hand same over to the Council when completed in concrete, providing the Council's staff would carry out the work. The chairman said that evidently Mr. Bredon wanted the Council to pay for the work, but it could not legally do so. If Sir. Bredon declined to put in concrete, the Council at a later stage could decline to take over the road as a county road. Cr. Andreson moved that Mr. Bredon he informed that the Council is not building any bridges except in concrete or hardwood, and that unless he is prepared to build the bridges in concrete, the Council will consider the matter ol taking over the road, when completed. The motion was carried. The Chief Surveyor notified that the land through Section 109, Block 2, Ngaire, had Deen taken for road puroses and gazetted a county road. Six ratepayers on the Climie Road West wrote objecting to the Council remetalling this road from the riding boundary towards the Opunake Road. They considered the road was in good, order, and that the money would be tetter spcnft- in giving attention to that part of the road near Messrs, Gable md Belcher's property.—Received. W. H. Sproull (Omona), wrote asking permission to erect a guard fence on the road facing his property in order to protect the hedge plants, and also asking that the sheep yards and cross fences be* removed from the road. —Referred to Cr, Coleman and the engineer to report apon at next meeting. "

J. C. Murphy, of Monmouth Road, wrote asking the Council to put in a pipe culvert and metal same at the entrance to his property, and agreeing to pay the cost of same.—Granted. 1 DEPUTATIONS. Mr. Lohmaim and six other ratepayers waited on the Council regarding the 'state of the Brooks Road. .Some money was already 011 the estimates for the A'oad, but tlie amount was quite inadequate to do the whole of the work required, and in order to make one contract they were prepared to assist the Council either by rating themselves or giving a lump sum to have the road put in proper order.

It was decided that the engineer report at next meeting 011 the cost of the work asked for by the deputation. Mr. Baker waited on tfle Council in regard to tlie bad state of the Manganui Road at Midhirsf;.—The Council decided that sufficient surface damage had been paid for, and regretted that they eonld do nothing further in the matter, Mr. 11. Gray, senr.,. waited 011 the Council regarding the impassable state of the Monmouth Road East. He could not get out with his milk, and it was causing him considerable inconvenience.About five chains of metal was required, and lie offered to give £1 per chain towards the cost.—Mr. Gray's offer was accepted, and the engineer was instructed to get the work completed. GENERAL. / On the motion of Cr. Were, it was decided that 50 yards of shell rock be procured at once for the Gordon Road. The chairman moved that the thanks of the Council be accorded Mr. Evan Jones for lending a horse free of charge to the Council. It was decided to have verandahs erected on the Council's cottages at Toko and Douglas. The matter of removing part of the building at Puniivhakau to Tututawa was left in the hands of Cr. Worthington and the engineer, with power to act.

The Auditor-Gcnei'Sl returned the bal-ance-sheet duly audited, but with a tag that Cr. Smith had been paid travelling expenses, to which he was not entitled. He bad, however, since refunded the amount.

Cr. .Smith said that the moment the Auditor-General 'had written him he had refunded the amount; at the same time he did not consider it right that he should pay his own expenses in going about the county on business connected with the Council.

The! engineer was instructed to call tenders for contracts submitted by him, and the chairman, Crs. Were, Smith, and ChristofTel were appointed a committee to open and deal with asme. Accounts amounting to £I7OO 3s 7d were passed for payment.