STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

{All communications, letters, etc., left | tnth Mr. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will re-1 ceive prompt attention.] | tEwun Our Own Correspondent). BOROUGH COUNCIL. Stratford, March 13. The monthly meeting was held in the Council Chambers last evening. 'Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. 'Boon) and Crs. Walsh, S. B. Hunter, T. Lawson, J. H .Thompson, A. D. Stanley, W. H. Young and Rutherfurd. COKRES'BOXDENCI!. Mr. Wni. Pot,-or, secretary of the Taranaki War Relief Association, requested permission to erect a business sign at the entrance to the Municipal Buildings.—Granted. Messrs A. X. Haylock and T. Botten requested the Council to form a footpath at the top end of Page street to the corner of Brecon roacl, a distance of four chains. —'Die Works Committee recommended granting the application. The Stratford Beautifying Society requested the Council to allow borough officials to attend to watering, etc., of the grass plots at the railway station. They also requested that a rubbish receptacle be placed on the telephone post at the top of the station entrance so as to remind those who throw rubbish on the grass plots that there is a receptacle handy for their needs. —Letter referred to the Works Committee. ELECTRIC LIGHT CHARGES. Mr. J. H. Ford wrote protesting against undue hardship regarding electric light charges.—The Lighting Committee reported that they had no recommendation to make. LIGHTING COMMITTE3. The Lighting Committee recommended that the light in Hamlet street, opposite Mr. Green's residence, be removed to Olivia street; that lights at corner of Craig and Warwick streets be .".Veered to throw a better light on the main road; thai the borough solicitor be asked to frame necessary by-laws. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported that the engineer had been instructed to prepare estimate of cost of Mr. R. Master'? application for a water service. The application for a 2in water service to the theatre lr.d been granted.—Received. ABATTOIR REPORT. The manager reported that 91 cattle, 224 sheep and 42 pigs had been r.'.aagiiduring the month. 'Slaughtering fees were £i-Q lis 3d. Post and rait fence at the works had been completed and meial for the race was now' required.—Received. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector reported that during the montit three head of stock had been impounded. Notices to cut hedges had been served on owners, and "i.v'most cases this had been done. The Town Hall had been used on two occasions.'— Received. SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS. The Mayor moved—"That the District Electors' List of 1017-19 be approved.—Carried. The Mayer also moved that outstanding rates, £2 Is lOd for l.'H-t-10, and £3 Is (id for i; j i's-iu, be written oii'.—Carried. The Mayor also mover—That under the provision of the Municipal Corporations Act, .1008, section 96, the Stratford Borough Council borrow by way of overdraft £SOOO, being the uncollected revenue for the year ending March 31. Carried. r/is:,nx.G under difficulties. A good caal of comment has been occasioned r.t times at the slowness of the Government's action re settling soldiers on the land. A "taihoa" policy i"n this particular instance may not altogether prove unsatisfactory. It is all very well for the unthinking portion of the community to ra'iso the cry that there are millions of acres waiting for settlement, ir :i that this is the opportunity for the returned cok'iiers. Bringing the .wilderness to r. state of productivity means a severe stra : n on the vitality of the pioneer. Our returned soldiers may have the years of age in their favor, but the returned invalid is not keen on tackling anything approaching virgin bush. In fact, tha task is a severe one for the man blersed with the best of health, and this wa- brought home to the writer in a conversation with a farmer who lias been on the land for years. He had a great deal to sav that was convincing that many of those who are interesting themselves in settling returned soldiers on the land do not thoroughly understand the position. He gave an instance of where a man was breaking in the land to the dairying. The milk had to be separated at home, and then carted on horseoack eight miles to a creamery. That journey of eight miles return absorbed a whole day. At the creamery the, separator's product is converted ir.to biitter, and then conveyed 3.1 miles to the factory, which in turn had to forward it another 30 miles before it reached the railway. Dairying under these conditions is nob very pleasant to those occupied in these pursuits, and clearly demonstrate that a returned soldier will require a big heart and plenty of muscle to stick it out. Of course this is probably an isolated case, but clearly proves that those with little cash have a hard task ahead in getting on to the lar.d in virgin country. ITEMS. Councillor? were evidently in a good mood at last meeting. A large amount of business was transacted, and was put through expeditiously. Evidently the near approach' of the termination of the Council as at present constitutd has tended to make councillors hardly as critical as usual. The, taking over of the electric light has added considerably to the volume of business submitted at each meeting, but matters are running very smoothly and betoken a good understanding that indicate a harmonious future, provided the new Council constitutes a majority of the present members. The following men go into camp as members of the 27tb Reinforcements on March 20:— H. Bnt-cn. R. O. Bun-ell, W. 11. Clark, 11. (.>■ilinu- - 'ood, A. Flynn, C. T. Fo'.ej, V\ :v ! *[\ \ Lineham. G. J2. O'CY.nn I ', .u. :. i, Sullivan, R. A. Robinson. - W. Ross, \V. .Swami,* •> / '. -. Goldtip and -1 Jensen ( ''an and A. Tl. Perv (\ and W. Jones .(MiiuUi..

The Hospital Board met on Tuesday. The chairman (Mr J. McAllister) presided, whilst other members present were Messrs C. D. Sole, W. Rogers, E. Walter and R. MeK. Morison. Mr E. Marfill, Tolco, forwarded a donation to the hospital funds as a mark of appreciation of the Board's action in not, charging patients for operations performed to allow men to qualify for military service. Mrs A. Old, district nurse, Wliangamomona, reported that she had attended six cases during the month. The hospital report showed that ten patients had been received sfnee last report, and 14 patients discharged. One death had occurred. .Two cases of diphtheria were reported by the health inspector (Mr A. Gray), who had also warned a baker for forwarding bread by rail without being sufficiently covered. During the year the number of infectious diseases reported in the Hawcra borough totalled 17, Stratford 7, Eltham 10, and Patea 12.

Some comment was made at the Borough Council mcet'ng at the action of some of the hypnotised ''"patients" at the Town Hall. Cr Lawson stated that boys had clambered over and jumped on the piano, endeavoured to climb up the curtailis, etc., ar.d otherwise may have damaged the property. He thought these exhibitions should not be allowed, and also commented on the pedalling exhilvtion already referred to in these columns. The Mayor concurred, but said the caretaker of the Town Hall would see that no damage was done.

I understand that a local farmer has had an information laid against him for supplying watered milk to a milk vendor, whose samples had been taken by the health inspector. Municipal matters are "in the air." Some ratepayers are keen on obtaining the services of Mr J. Masters at the •council table, and others are desirous of seeing Mr. N. J. Iving taking an active part in "local politics." Mr Masters informs me that he has not given the matter any thought, whilst Mr King considers the present Mayor and councillors have done very well, and should bo given a further trial. Personally he would not stand just now at any rate.

The fall of Bagdad has proved a welcome topic of news lately. Another welcome item is the fall in prices m'ade at G. E. .James' jewellery and fancy goods store. Here prices are so small that it is scarcely noticeable, . but the discerning public are purchasing freely, showing wisdom and obtaining good value.

•Corporal Adam R. Madill, who was 1 "e----ported missing in a casualty list, published on Friday, is the fifth son of Mr. W. H. Madill',. of Hamilton. He was an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church, and at the time he enlisted was in charge of the Whakataae district. He felt it his duty to go as a combatant, and, though offered a chaplaincy, enlisted as a private, and has been raised to corporal since he left New Zealand. He was educated at the pukekohe school, and tcok the theological course at the Otago University, being ordained about five year; ago. He was about 34 years of age. One of his brothers is the Rev. J. IX C. Madill, of the Stratford Presbyterian Church.

The public are usually keen judges of value, hence it is no surprise to record that there has been a steady demand for the ladies' handbags now being offered at C. E James' fancy goods warehouse. Low prices and good quality leather is a combination hard to beat.