STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISE

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Saturday, Jan. 8. The progress of Stratford during the past twenty years or so has been brought about mainly by the persistence of its business people in keeping the wants of the town in the forefront. Their persistence lias reaped the reward in that Stratford is now one of the busiest towns in the Taranaki province. Principally, the success lies to the credit of the farmers, who have secured Uie latest atid most scientific aids to getting the best results from the ground. The farmer lias,' however, received generous assistance from the business man, and, it is the business .aspect that is now Un der review.

In setting out the township of Stratford, the early pioneers recognised the value of plenty of air space. Consequently our streets are of a greater width than any other borough in the province. Good wide streets are a pleasure, and an additional guarantee of safety by providing ample space for vehicular traffic. Wide streets, unfortunately, have disadvantages also, and

that is the upkeep becomes very expensive at times. In the summer months, dspite the frequent appearance of the water-cart, the dust nuisance renders street-walking anything but a pleasure, whilst the damage done to drapers' and similar traders' goods must amount to a considerable amount in a twelvemonth. The question has been asked: Why is it that Stratford does not , asphalt the Broadway Street, and mini- ] mise the dust niusance? Those asking the question point to the fact that Kltham, Xew Plymouth, and Hawera ( all possess asphalt roads and paths in i the main thoroughfares. Why not i Stratford V In the past there was a 1 stumbling-block—the electric light com- , panv was <a private coujpnv, and pos- : sessed certain legal privileges that . might have proved troublesome in break- . ing up the roads, kerbing, etc. Now the ( light is under municipal control, and ' those vitally interested desire the borough authorities to move in the matter of asphalting Broadway. The question was mentioned to Mr. Sullivan, the borough engineer, who willingly gave all information at his disposal. He expressed the opinion that the asphalting of Broadway, from the

I New Zealand J-oan corner to the National Bank corner, would be good policy. The cost of material and labor, owing to the war, might raise the total from £'2ooo to £3OOO, but it would be monev well spent. At present the method adopted by the Council of patching up the roadway was like renting a house —you were paying something all the time, and at the end of many years were no better, ofi. Certainly the cost of asphalting such a wide street would be expensive, but a town possessing such enterprising and optimistic tradespeople would not turn down a loan proopsal for improving the street, admitted by all as very necessary. Eltham struck a special rate when laying down the asphalt, and the extra tax was willingly met by ratepayers, who may have found it difficult to get from their own starved back street to the main thoroughfare. The wisdom of the Council in erecting theh Municipal Buildings is proved by the fact that all the shops-iwe tenanted. The purchase of the Electric Light Company's plant only requires time to show that the Council and ratepayers did the correct thing in securing control. On top of this, to bring the town into importance with other localities, we must havu the asphalt road. The borough engineer has done remarkably well, and our roads compare very favorably with other towns, but asphalt is an improvement, and Stratford wants the latest and ,best. Hence the desire of many that we shall have tarred roads and a minimum of . dust, instead of rolled metal and clouds oi grit each breezy day.

The new officers to succeed Adjutant Cooke here are Captain and Mrs. Campion. They are expected to take up their duties on the ISth inst.. Adjutant Cooke leaving 011 the 17th for Xapier.

An Australian transport has arrived in Australia with 32 New Zealand soldiers on board. The only Taianaki man aboard is Sergeant S. M. .James, of Stratford.

Tradespeople generally are settling down to work again. Each morning the railway platform is crowded with passengers, an indication that the holidays are nearly over.

Evidently December was a very quiet month here in the building trade. The permits applied for totalled £64. At the Magistrate's Court hearing of the charges against young Barlow, one of the witnesses, Katwright, raised a pinile with a statement that after being shown the locality where Barlow had placed the whisky, he (witness) visited the paddock again that night and found two bottles of whisky. It was holiday time, and, not liking' to disturb the rest of the police, he waited three days before notifying the police. The plea of showing consideration for the police was a novel one, particularly when Katwright had heard that whisky and cigars had been taken from vhe Empire Hotel. To his credit it should be stated that Katwright (a prohibited man) did not break the bottles or disturb the contents but handed over the whisky to the police. Saturday was a very fine day, but the number of visitors to town was hardly as large as usual. Probably those, engaged on the land are too bu r ; y just now to pfford the necessary time to visit Stratford. The paragraph regarding the lack of moisture in North Taranaki it also, in a lesser degree, noticeable lure. Water :« not altogether a minus quantity, but a steady rain will benefit many of those who have their hay stacked. " The public are continually being reminded that they should !)'■ cautious, now the war is on. Good advice, too; and all Stratford will exercise the right Lrand of cautiousness if they make their purchases at C. K. James' jewellery Store. Good value goes wit!: every line purchased."