STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.! Ml! communications, letters etc., loft ivith Mr. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will revive prompt attention.] Stratford, April in. | • Considerable Merest was aroused in .-■luaeipnl iMtrerr to-day. when the noMaticr.* for the Mayoralty and count?'" a:!S0I1 »« !d «V <1»" town Jle U. mere v.-,l! be contests in both instance* lor the Mayoralty the prP5 . mt Mayor (Mr. J. W. Boon; will bo opposed by Mr. J. W. McMillan, whilst tor the council of nine no fewer than tiiirtecn have been nominated. Included in the list are five of the. present cour.ciUrs and Mr. ,7. Masters, who has had previous experience. Reverting to (no Mayoralty, it is pleasing to note that the ratepayers have two'gentlemen prepared to do their best for the town. Under ihc guida:::e of the present Mayor it must be admitted that generally resets have been satisfactory, hut evidently there are burgesses who'believe thr.t further progress will be-increased by a change. As in the past, one of the features of the. elections will turn on the electric light. Hitherto the disturbing element was whether the light should be under municipal management or run by a company. The present council has the honor of municipalising works, but unfortunately the initiation of a minimum charge has been the n-.eans of causing dissension, and has brought nominations rri-r.i. ratepayers who, otherwise, would probably prefer to abstain from attempting to onto, public life. If the introduction of the minimum charge has only been the means of awakening and sustaining a keen interest in borough affairs, it lias filled a good purpose. There is nothing like a contest to revive interest in publie matters. A strong council can be formed from amongst those nominated. The nominations are:— MAYOR: J. W. Boon.—Nominated by Messrs T. White, G. Smith, P.. C. Boil. J. W. McAllister, J. H. Harston, E. Kellehw. H. "Edgecombe, C. D. Sole, J. B. Richards, S. If. .Tames; J. W. McMillan.-Nominntod by W. Lauder, G. Graham, G. Hall, L. Reira. COUNCIL (!)). W. 11. H. Youngl—Nominated by Messrs I!. H. Cameron and \Y. H. Cameron. C. B. Walsh.—Nominated by T. I. Lamason... J. Hale, A. J. Walters, F.. Foley. J." H. Thompson.—Nominated hv Messrs W. K. Jones, W. Holmes, T. C. Grubb, J. McCluggage. Geo. Smith.—Nominated by Messrs G. Ford. .T. McAllister, J. McCluggage. S. J. Ward, P. Lamason, E. Kellehor. T. Lawson. —Nominated by Messrs T. C. Grubb, D. Butchart, E.' G. Foster, C. D. Sole, R. Wilson, T. Nicholson. C. Jackson.—Nominated by J. McCluggage, N. J. King, T. D. Colson. if. B. Hunter.—Nominated by Messrs R. Masters. H. Edgoeomb° J. H. Ford.—Nominated bv McssrC. D. Sole, J. McCluggage. D. J. Malone.—Nominated by Messrs J. Masters, W. J. McDonald,' A. W. Bridge. ' J. Masters.—Nominated by Messrs D. J. Malone, W. McDonald, T. C. Fookes. A. Coleman.—Nominated by Messrs J. Masters, W. P. Kirk Wood, A. W. Bridge, J. R. Stanford, C. 15. Wilson. W. McDonald.—Nominated, by Messrs D. J. Malone, J. Masters, A. W. Bridge, H. Wilson.—Nominated by Messrs E, Kelleher, J. McCluggage, J. H. Thompson. HOSPITAL' BOARD. Messrs J. McAllister (chairman) and C. D. Sole, who retired by efl'lixion of time from the Hospital and Charitable [ Aid Board, were the only candidates nominated, and consequently are returned unopposed. j GENERAL. At the last Mayoral election the voting was: J. AV.'Boon, 37ti; R. Melt. Morison, 122, COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting was held this morniiig. Present: C'rs. J. Hatha way (chairman), W. H. Were, T. Coleman, J. ChristolTcl, T. Anderson, J. Smith, E. Walter, H. Worthington, F. J. Baskin. ENGINEER'S REPORT. W. J, Lopdell, engineer, reported as follows: North Riding.—Owing to a breakdown with the Acme crusher, the metalling of the North Mountain road has been at a standstill for the greater part of the month. The plant Will, however, be in revenue again this week. The cutting on the. Beaconsfield road has been attended to. Kent Terrace.—l cannot recommend the side track, but would advocate widening the road by three feet on either side. Kelly Street and Denmark Terrace.— The only cure for the water now lodged at the outlet of the culvert is to have the fall brought up .from the back of the school, and a few loads of boulders dumped in at the outlet to prevent . further scour. Paikau Ford.—This work could bo done at very little cost, as the track' is partly formed. Permission woulct have to be obtained from the Railway Department to have a swing gate erected under the bridge, otherwise there is nothing to prevent stock from getting over ..on to private land. South Riding.—The tar-spraying plant was sent to complete the tar-sealing of the Ngacro work, but owing to the spell of wet weather, we have been unable to get on with this work. The Nash road crossing is noaring completion. When finished it will be n great improvement to this crossing which was a dangerous one, ■ Fast Riding.—The rcgrading of the hills on the Beaconsfield road is nearing completion, the wet weather preventing the metalling of same. The corner on the Strathmore saddle is being attended to. The Standish road proved too I soft to carry the roller. West Riding-—The Collett crusher will arrive from the Mangaelm Riding this week, when a start will be made with the Finnerty road. Most of the roads in this riding have been clay blindeu this month. It is my intention to have the metal on the Opunakc No. 2 crushed as soon as the Finnerty road contract is completed. The plan for a ferro-concrete span of 30 feet has been completed for the Konini stream on the Barclay road. Mangaelm Riding.—The Collett plant has completed all the shell-rock crushing in this riding, which will provide ample

inaintenar.ee for 'ho year. The bridge gang have finished ITodder's bridge, and are going on v , itii MeC'ools suspension, the understruls of the faurakawa bridge, and the relninin" \v:iil at the washout. Huiroa Riding-Most r,f th, month liar, been ia kin un cleaning out ditches and general surface work. ' General.-Tendf.V3 have been called lor the siipji] v of 1000 cubic yards o>' shell-rc-k for the Stanley road 'in,! cubic yards for the Brooks' road and 200 cuh.e yard.-, for the Rowan *m,\ Re road sweeper.—T have ordered and taken delivery of n Barnard f'as'insiveencr. which is in every particular a well finished machine, and should "ive every satisfaction. ° If pipe moulds were obtained it would keep our permanent men employed during wet'weather .—Report received. GENERAL. Messrs. Rutherford, MacAUislw and Coleman, solicitor, forwarded a letter in reference to access /to Section (5, block VII.. Omor.na S.D., on behalf of W A. Hewitt-. The latter had occupied the land since May, 1016, and had paid .€75 in County rales. They desired the Council to clear up and open the section of road to the Waitiri trig and to put the work in hand at the earliest possible moment. The chairman thought that the matter should be referred to ihe Land Board—Resolved that the wiiters be informed that the road was not a County roafl. . ■ J H. C. Koeh, district engineer, stated that the matter of providing extra siding accommodation at Midhirst wouldhave to stand over for the time bein".— Received. ° Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board intimated that the amount of the levy on the Council was £1124 2s, The capital ratable value of the County was .-C2.o4S.23n.—Received. The Public ,Wrrks Department forwarded copy of draft license which is proposed to bo issued to the Stratford Borough Council authorising it to use water for ..generating electricity. The County Council was protected in that the Borough Council cannot erect any lines in the country except as agreed upon by the County Council.—Received. The New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers forwarded circular letter expressing its. willingness to advise councils with regard to applicants for positions of engineer.—Received. Cr. Baskin gave notice to move: "That the engineer be. instructed not to use the council's car when it requires lighting, and that he shall not use the car except for County purposes.'' Accounts totalling £2027 were passed for payment and the Council rose. TENDERS. Tenders were opened for supply of shell-rock, boulders, etc.. and tile' following tenders accepted:—looyds boulders, Chard Bros.; 1000vd* shed-rock, Roberts anil 8011. Wc learn on good authority that the manufacture of gold jewellery ; a jj e ; ns j stopped at Home during the war, and in j consequence such lines will be hard to | get. _. E. James, of Stratford, has a large stock, and wishing to quit same is holding a nine days" nine carat gold sale, discounts from 5s in the pound. See window.