STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

1 IAR-SEAUNG ROADS. (From Our Own Corresnondent). Wednesday, Jan. 24. The discussion at the last meeting of the Stratford County Council on the improvement of' the Mountain Road should prove interesting to those who travel over the main county road. The introduction of the toll-gate "\vaa resented at first, but now "those paying can see beneficial results, the growls will become le.ss frequent. Revenue received lias been very satisfactory, but, ns some Councillors believe, the excessive speed at which some cars travel would destroy the best of roads if they (the roads) were not kept in a good state of repair. According to tho chairman, the toll-gate at Waipuku ii only there till the roads lvave been brought to a good state of repair, and when this is effected the toll-gate will be removed, and the road kept up to requirements out of ordinary rates. If, this is so, some of those faying rates jilong the Mountain Road in the locality mentioned will hope that the road will never reach that degree of "(inis" that will mark the good-bye to the man whn exacts toll. Cr. Walter believed that the rates paid should be set aside for the present, and the road brought to a standard of efficiency by tolls. Later on, wlien the toll was removed, the Council would have a nest-egg to start maintenance work with. This sounded reasonable, but Cr. Smith believed that any surplus money raised should be placed to making roads off the main route more substantial and lasting. This cannot be brought- about, a3 ratepayers would certainly object to moneys raised in one portion being spent in another part of the country. The tar-sealing, however, will be gone on with, the County having large supplies of material to commence operations in the southern division. The money available, however, will allow less than a mile to be completed, but it is . start, and that is something. Probably this division will move the Stratford Borough Council to go into ways and means about the Ursealing of the main thoroughfare. It may not be as costly as many imagine. The municipal elections will shortly engage the attention of burgesses, and probably the improvement of Broadway will form one of the planksi of the Mayor's new policy. In tihe meantime the County Council has given the borough officials a lead in the matter, and who knows the day may not bo far distant when one may motor from J Ngaere to Waipuku with every comI fort—good level road, and no inud or j dust.

There was a good attendance of the public at the Army Barracks last evening, the Rev. J. Mad ill presiding. A very pleasant evening was spent, the occasion being the welcoming of StatfCaptain and Mrs, Campion to Stratford. An address of .velcorne was made by the -chairman, to vvhk'h the newcomers replied, hoping their stay here would be beneficial to aii concerned, both also thanking the chairman for his generous remarks. Several recitations, etc., were contributed by Miss Moon and Messrs Milton and Buckley, and a duet, " Larboard Watch," by Mcisrs. Barker and Foster

Mr. J. B. Richards, chairman of the Ohamber of Commerce, has received notice from the authorities in Wellington that the requirements of Stratford in regard to the purchase of hides and sheepskins would receive every consideration. /Twelve carriages, besides vans, were packed with Bawera pleasure-seekers to New Plymouth to-day There must have been sOO or 000 aboard. They represented the Presbyterian and Methodist denominations. Another 100 from the Clospel Church travelled to Xgaere. Hawera must have been deserted toda.

Considerable interest ywis taken in ilio to-day. Attention was not foeusscd on the war, buit the bowling tournament. Four Stratford rinks are engaged, and at the close of the day's

play we had a team that won all their games, and another four that failed to head their opponents. Thus we have two teams at each end of the poll, so perhaps they are conspiring to make both ends meet. McMillan lias a young team, a,nd if he can keep a tight grip of the leading position he will do well. Perhaps Thursday's News will tell a different tale.