STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent)

[All communications, letters, etc., left frith Mr. 11. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.] WHAXUAMOMO.YA COUNTY COUNCIL .Stratford, Dec. 3. Cr. \V. A. McCutchan (chairman) iircsidod at the lirst niouthlv meeting of the council, held last week, others present being Crs. C. R. Einncrtv, D. M. Piteaithley, IT. McLeod, J. Rent'oul, N. R. Clelantl, and M. Grever. The engineer (Mr. Robinson) reported that in the Strathmorc riding Mounsey's bridge had 'been completed.' Surfacing and repair work had Ibeen carried out on several roads, which were now in very f.iir condition—The Pohokiira riding wa's in n»ed of a regular surfaceman ", and casual labor had to be employed. The main road in the riding was in fair order, hut the surface in parts was very rough. Roads in the Central riding were generally in good order. Repairs are about to he made to the Tangarakau river suspension bridge. Mainly surfacing work had been carried out in the Tahora riding. The engineer suggested that the new council should make the wages of the men 12.s per day, and also stated it was important, that thev should have a permanent man in the Makalm district, whilst it dop?nded upon what the council decided in the Pohokura ridin" whether thev required a permanent hewf. Financial and other reasons had held up certain works.

It was deeided that the Knhi road be opened up for light wheel traffic between Rentoul's and Tnohang-a, bridge, at a cost -f -CfiO, to be charged to the Kohi road thirds.—ATen to be paid 12« per di.y of eight actual working hours, wet or dry.— The grader to be used on Oliurn. road. The question of rebuilding a bridge- on the upper Mangaehu road was deferred for a month.

The engineer was instructed to interview the Public Works DcpirM:ent re the Talimiarcu bridge, to attend to the cuting of scrub on road saddles, and attend to planking at Whangamomona road bridgs.

The question of tlio Tahimaroa road bridge attnctod some attention,' and eventually the following motion v.'a« carried: "That this council view; with the greatest concern tlir. fact that, the Co-,-, ernmcnt is proposing in effect repairs to the Whansa. stream kr ! <l?e. Tohimaroa road, with tlio ohiect of handing same ever to the council, nnd desires to point, out that.as =ueh improvements ran at best only prolong the life of this structure by a very short period, t.lie council will then he faeed with the eost of a ne-w l>rid?*. at. an nnpi-oximrito eost. of ?2(inn, to eope wijh the development ind future requirements of the district."

The attention of the fields division of lh« TVnnr'tmenr of Agriculture is to lie directed to the "'rimiing manner in which hn-liorrv (Tipj-bcris Vulgaris) is sprendin" from nntrimmed hedges, nrd risking that it he declared a novieus Weed.

Annlieation is to he ma''" for !he £Z() n subsidy on the Thitikifunn road, and Ihe ntlention of the Government is drawn (o the fart (hat. the l"in of ,Ci"'lo had been expen-'ed. A fori her annlieation i« to he mn-le for the f.'OO subsidy on Tirewer road. After Tinsing ae-ourts totalling £~>3~ 4s lid the eouneil adjourned GEXF.RAT,. This afternoon the Mayor (Mr. .1". W. McMillan) and Crs. J. Masters and C. Jackson (Works Committee) and the engineer (Mr. Sullivan 1 visited Conleiia street and other localities east of Uroadway. so as to .gather information respiting the petition recently nlaeed before the council to have a bridge erected over the Patca river. At present there are two bridges .spanning the river (Broadway and Swansea), art! the petitioners desire a third. Choice wii! probably be narrowed down to Cordelia and Ariel streets, and if it is for school children that the bridge is desired, then Ariel street should pain the day. Whichever is chosen will, besides lessening the distance; do away with crossirg way line, always a source of anxiety to parents.

The li«r'iit<* nf Stratford arc not particularly brilliant just now, hut as water and oil arc both hard to obtain, on.? hn« reason to be more th.tn satisfied that limy arc not worse. The dam shows little depth, and since the failure of the New Plymouth oil works to ''snout,'' the engineer has had to look further h>'<- supplies. These have Leon comisis In.m Australia, but, unfortunately, the strike and other labor troubles have dclavcd the shipment that should have be<-n liere some time back. Under these circumstances the Stratford business, people and others must possess thsir *ouls in patience.

Mr\ Stanton, postmaster, informs me that the births for Vovsmbev trailed 11. deaths 3. and marriages 1. Messrs C. D.-fiole and" S. 15. Hunter, •T»P., occupied the bench »n Saturday, when a soldier who overstayed Ms leave struck trouble. The defendant, Edward Hansen, had to answer two charges of (1) using obscene and indecent language m Tiroadway on November 30! and (5) drunkenness. Accused elected to be dealt with summarily. .Sergeant Dale repr sented the police. After evidence, Hansen was convicted and fined £;> on the first charge, and convicted and ordered to be handed over to the military intimities at ITawera on the second eh a -gov

The Methodist Sundav School anniversaries were hold yesterday, there boinj' three services, the Rev. H. B Tinsley copdncting all. At each meeting Mr. Tnsley deliverer! verv appropriate nddr.ses that could not'fail to be of serrn t. to his hearers in their, future work. A feature of the anniversary was the singing of the children, under th? training of Mr. ,T. MeAllister, and with Miss R._ Hopkins at the organ. The services will he continued on Tuesday evening. At Tatiki a, heavy shower of several minutes' duration occurred this afternoon, Tt was verv welcome, and would have been more beneficial had it been continuous and covered a larger area. A second division man who went up for examination here states that the percentage of passes was poor, and that ?ome who were called up were obviously over the'age. One of those who ep*ne under the over-age category was Hiighic Hood, who used tp move round in shorts and wear an amber and h'ack jersey in tl'e earlv nineties. A rugbv representative nearly .1(1 vears back can hardlv "xPr'ct to be. within the age limit of the present struggle. "Your Own" had a look over the prem- ■ <-es of Mr. 0. E. iTimes. and was vrrp"-

'ibli- surprised at ihe larcre an-1 sn'eivlid varictv of "oods opened un t" r Christmas and tfew Venr Trad". The " ! "bf Presented is a most T>losiv" ore. tliem bein? a bewilderment "f "Ift s ipornnr'ate to the season. ThWrrs or articles dear to the feminine mind arc. to be had,

father and the lfllT baby are displayed alongside articles suitable for the yoimg man in the ti'enches and the "flapper" of 17, whilst mother and others are not forgotten.

Evidently the Waitara freezing works are about to open. To-day a train uf 1!) trucks, containing sheep and lambs, passed through Stratford.. Mr. L. 0. Hooker, secretary uf the tlawera Winter Shuw, was in Stratford on Saturday. His visit was principally to secure the suppurl of the. teachers of Taranaki in connection with the next show, at which education will be a special feature. Mr. A. V. Sims. Neaere, was chairman. Mr. Hooker carefully explained what was proposed, and his suggestions werr< very favorably received. A general meeting of the branch of the Educational Institute was held on Saturday. The Director of Education notified that no teacher could retire on superannuation during the war without the consent of the Minister of Education. Votes of sympathy were passed to Messrs C. A. Strack and F. .T. Cumberworth on the loss of sons at the fr.ont. Tt was decided to select the S"cond Thursday in March for the Taranaki school sports. Ladies visiting the Stratford show are all invited to took through C. E. .Tames' stock of hand-bags. They range from 3/fi to G;>/-. Watch his windows as they and his shop are bristling with new goods from now on, and every article is suitable for a seasonable present.—-Advt.