STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Oivn Correspondent.) lAII communications, letters, etc., loft with Mr. 11. J. Hopkiiu, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.]

Stratford, March It). BOROUGH COUNCIL. The moiitlily meeting was held last livening. Present: T|ic Mayor (Cr. J. VV. McMillan), anil Crs. \V. McDonald, C. Ji. Walsh, S. B. Hunter, C. Jackson, J. 11. ■Thompson, 1). J. Malone, and J. .Masters. An apology for non-attendance wag received from Cr- Lawson.

CORRESPONDENCE. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., notified the council that he agreed that the pre'mt :onditions re special trains was \ury unsatisfactory. Races should either be abolished during the war or the country should run its trains to carry the traffic when races are on.—Received.

Auckland' City Council forwarded resolution advocating the retention of rainoa, and asking the council's support of same.—Endorsed. The State Advonees Oflice notified that the resolution regarding; a special rate as security for tht £15,000 loan for : icconstructing streets had been gazetted.

Stratford Retailers Association requested the council to make provision in the by-laws for substantial license fees being paid by persons coming to town for the purpose of holding ari auction sale of any class of goods, and that the fees be not less than one year's rates pn whatever shop or place taken. Temporary merchants and hawkers to be treated in the same manner.—lt was pointed out that the new by-laws make provision for the licensing of itinerant vendors.

The Minister of Finance wrote asking the council to give all .pcssible support in the raising of the war loan of £9,300,000. —Received, it being recognised by all that the council should give tvery assistance in the direction quiredJ. H. Ford, Stratford, desired the council, in view of the steady depletion of population through the disastrous war, to use every means in its power to further the birth-rate of the Dominion. He also suggested a petition to the Government to appoint a controller of the prices of commoditie?, and that the council give its heartiest support towards the suggested erection of maternity wards in the district hospital.—Councillors generally were sympathetic, but it •.•as held to be more a matter for the Hospital Heard, and the letter is to be forwarded to the board. GENERAL. The engineer is to attend to a drain complained of by Mr. E. Wil=on. The question of erecting boards notifying the speed of motor-cars through the borough was brought forward. Eventually it was decided to place boards in certain parts of the town notifying that the speed must not exceed lj miles an hour. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The committee reported recommending that the parking of motor cars be allowed .on the following streets: Fenton (west of Miranda Street) and Regan r-treets, and in Miranda Street between Fenton and Regan* Streets. That the corner of Regan Street and Broadway, eolith-western side, would be a suitable place for a public convenience. That satisfactory arrangements had been made with Mr. Sturrcck to report on the question of street improvements Report adopted. I RESERVES COMMITTEE REPORT. The committee reported recommending that the present arrangement witii Mrs. Simmons as caretaker of the municipal buildings be continued for the present. The committee had instructed the town clerk to see what arrangement could be made with the town hall custoilian to be in attendance at the municipal buildings during the lunch hour, Thursday afternoons and every evening. -' Adopted. GENERAL' COMMITTEE REPORT. The committee reported having purchased ten cases of benzine for use of the fire brigade, and recommended that the Tire plug indicators be attended to; also that a patent device had been fitted to the chairs in the town hall which will considerably strengthen them, 100 chairs being done at a cost of £8. —Adopted. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. Sullivan reported: During the month 170 cubic yards of metal have been crushed, making a total of 3378 yards crushed to date. Miranda Street, from Seyton Street to the County Hotel right-of-way has been scarified, remetalled and rolled down. Broadway central has had the usual attention during the month. Water-tables on the following streets have been cleaned out: Broadway south, from Romeo Street to Warwick Road, on west side of Page Street, and Opunake Road from Hamlet Street, also stone gutters in Broadway south. Edges of footpaths have been cleaned off in the following streets: Craig Street on south side, Page Street and Opunake Road. Footpath has been repaired on Opunake Road near Mr. T. H. Pcnn's residence. The drain complained of by Mr. King, Juliet Street, has been attended to. Sixty cubic yards of shingle 'have been carted from the river. Sixty-six cubic yards of sand have been carted from the electric light weir for tar and sanding purposes. Patching has been done on Broadway and Fenton Street. A wash-house, tubs, and sink has been erected on reserve occupied by Mr. Richleben, Broadway south. A 2700 gallon concrete tank for storing oil has been built at the Deisel station. A crossing "has been put in front of Mr. Thompson's residence, Fenton Street east- All tram rails have been removed off Fenton Street to the new crusher site. A truck of coal has been carted to the shed. A considerable amount of stripping thas been done at the gravel pit. I am having the Juliet Street crossings put right during the present month. The 8-h.p. portable engine purchased from Collett and Son., Ltd., has arrived in .good order. On the 22nd of last month the engine-driver drew my attention to the fact that the differential gear, etc., of the roller,was not working satisfactorily. I immediately had it examined and found it necessary to have new brushes put in to replace the worn ones, also other repairs. One of the bearings at some time or other had been allowed to heat through wo"t of proper lubrication, consequently the shaft and bearings became scarred, this being neglect on the, dxiyer't part, wboww he may h*r^b*r>.

f am satisfied in my own mind that it hasnt occurred during the present driver's charge, as ho is a very careful man. The work of tarring and sanding' will be put in hand as soon as the engine "Is finished. Appended is a list of drainage plan-; whicii Mr- llcaly quoted. The information will be very valuable to the council.—Adoiited.

UIUUTNG COMMITTEE REPORT. The committee reported having pur- j chased a, new l''ord car for the engineer at a cost of i'i!lo. The question of a house for the engineer was still in abeyance, the committee awaiting information as to finance. They recommended that a. hedge be planted on the Cloton end Swansea Koad frontages, also that the works committee be asked to report on cost of having the open drain at Cloton Road piped and filled in. They further recommended the purchase of instruments for the power station and meter testing, at a cost of £l2O. In view of the increasing cost of materials and the new work to be undertaken, it was recommended that the charges for electric energy in future be as follows: — For lighting, 0 unit 3 and under Dd per unit with no discount; from 7 to 29 units. 9d per unit, with Id per unit discount; :10 units and over, 9d, with 2d per unit discount. For power, 4d per unit, with Id per unit discount, with a minimum charge of 4s per horse-power per month, the engineer to have meters installed where possible, the faulty ones to he repaired and tested as soon as testing equipment arrives. . —Adopted. A 'house-to'liouse inspection of meters and to collect data to compile a. complete record of lighting and heating points in the borough will be started shortly. ,

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS REPORT.. Mr. E. Holland reported as under: A »tart was made with the dam, which was emptied each day to allow silt to be removed and repairs to weir and intake. A considerable amount of silt has been removed, also several hundred empty benzine tins. He asked that the public be notified to refrain from throwing empty tins into the river. An examination of the tunnel resulted in finding the inner gratings required renewing. The new grating has been made and will be put in. The weir has been repaired in oevoral places, and a section of decking re-timbered. The condition of the structure gce'nrally is poor and cannot bo relied on. The question of a new weir built on modern lines should be considered before next summer". The overhaul of turbines, etc., I intend to stare as soon as two flanges are made for fluming which requires to be altered. The Diesel set is running well. The concrete tank when erected will help in economising fuel oil A new junction pole with link cut-outs hns berm erected between the Diesel and hydro stations, to allow of disconnecting each station for overhaul, etc., without interfering with the supply of energy. There •ire points where our lines cr<s*s the railway, and the district engineer lias ordered eacii of them to bo "re-designed to comply with regulations. Two of these crossings I intend to cut out altogether, being able to feed in another way. 'This matter is now being dealt with and a ■start made on Lear Street crossing. The lines crossing over the railway in Lear Street will be taken down, and the lines joined up from Cordelia Street south. Already, several poles have been erected for this change over, and a "'/.kilowatt transformer for bouse service and a 1 kilowatt for street lighting have been installed on the lower end of Lear Street, By this alteration a considerable amount of copper will be reclaimed, and it will relieve the load on the transformer in front of the courthouse. I hope to be able to interview the district engineer with a view to a compromise in the height required for the lines at several of the crossings, otherwise it may mean prdering several 32ft. poles. Eleven meter,? have been installed during the month, replacing faulty ones.

USE OP TOWN HALL. Cr. Jackson moved that the resolution of September 17 prohibiting the use of the town hall to the Protestant Political Association be "rescinded, and the motion was briefly seconded by Cr. Masters.

The Mayor and Cr. McDonald were averse to opening the matter again, and were opposed to any rescinding of the resolution, but on going to the vote Cr. Jackson's motion was carriedAfter passing accounts the c ouncil adjourned.

GENERAL.

There was a great crowd at the railway station last night to welcome homo Lieut. Bob Woods. He was given a. great round of cheers as he stepepd olf the train, and then carried shoulder high to the County Hotel, where he was treated to a dinner by a host of admiring friends. Although only lasting a few minutes, it was a very pleasing and thoughtful recognition of one of Stratford's heroes.

At the time of writing the weather looks decidedly unfavorable for the entertainment to be given in the town hall to-night. Red Triangle Day is being held here on Saturday, and on Thursday it will be given a set-off hy the concert and dance being held in the town hall. A list of performers has already been published, indicating that the best possible talent available has been secured. Tickets have been selling freely, and with a fine night the entertainment promises to bo one of the most successful held in the hall. Mr. Sharp's orchestra will also contribute opening items on Thursday night.

Easter is close at hand, and one wonders what to get for suitable gifts. There is no need to worry. You can present your soldier with the Dean haircutter, the young lady with a bangle or wristlet watch, the maid with a book,, and the student with'a fountain pen. The fretful child will fret no more with a toy, and tired mother will be pleased with some of the Doulton ware, and father will forget to growl if you purchase tobacco, pipes, or cigars from C. E. James, the man for the multitude*