STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) [All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseiicr, will rcccivu tn'uuil't attention.] Stratford, April 10. BOROUGH COUNCIL. ' The monthly meeting was held last evening. Present: Tile .Mayor aim Crs. J. -Masters, V D. j. Malonc, J. 11. Thompson, C. Jackson, T. Lawson, S. 15. Hunter, C. 11- Walsh, and W. McDonaldThe Taranaki branch ol' the New Zealand Educational Institute brought under the council's notice a circular from tlie Institute, requesting the serious consideration of members to the need for improvements in the educational system of the Dominion.—Received, and consideration deferred.. C. H. Kea, secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association, applied for refund of the fee for hire of the town hall on the occasion of their social and dance 011 taster .Monday.—To be given the same consideration as patriotic societies Kiglit employees of the council forwarded a petition requesting rise in wages owing to the increased cost of living.—The council eou'd npt see its way to grant the request. Stratford Hospital .Board notified intention of making a levy of Is per £IOO on Stratford borough (£263 las 2d) Received.

Mr. A. Coleman forwarded his resignation on the council, having been appointed a director of the Kvening Post. — Resignation accepted with regret. Mr. T. D. Sullivan, boiough engineer, reported on work done during the month. Ilcadvi9ed that the work or tar-sealing be discontinued until the summer months, because' the work cannot l>o done as cheaply or as well at this time ot the year During tlio recent heavy rains a pretty bad wash-out occurred near St. Mary's School, Broadway North, and smaller ones in other places, n. t ' water overflowing the roads in various localities. Immediate steps are being taken to, repair the damage.—Pveport Adopted. Mr. p. Hollands, electrical engineer, reported: During the gale of 19th March seeeral sections of the transmission and distribution lines became entangled, and put- the system out of action. The trouble in most cases was due to bearer wires twisting up. These wires are a source of danger, and steps are being taken to have them removed as time permits. With the co-operation of the staff, most of the damage was repaired by 10.30 a.m. and the current, was available by 10.3.-1 a.m. At 3.30 a.m. 011 the 20th further faults occurred on the lines, and on examination several sections in Broadway south were found to have heen entangled, also at Cloto h fioad, Regan Street west, Flint :fnd .Swansea Roads. An early start was made and the faults removed by ft 30 a.m. At 7 p.m. on llie 20th other faults developed through the high wind, and these were cleared by 11.15 p.m. On Sundav. March 24. the current was off for 'the purpose of making necessary alterations 011 tho transmission lines leading from the

Diesel station to C'loton Road. This soc'ion became badly twisted up dunns'tl.c Sale, ciasng a lot of trouble. Nearer wires have been removed and new lines run. The condition of most of the lines is all but fa.-r, and in some eases drastic alteration will be necessary. Nothing further has been done with alterations of lines over railway crossings, as the ftali" have been fully occupied on more urgent work. Some 1.50 meters have been tested and sealed, and eight meters installed in place of faulty ones. The department lias been handicapped durin" the past month, while several of the men have been away on annual military training. Stock was taken on March The report wa's adopted. | Ihe Lighting Committee reported having insured the motor car for .€l5O. They recommended payment of men while attending territorial camps. adopted.

The Works Committee reported recommending consent to Mr. Xewton King's application to remove water trough, 'subject to engineer's approval. Mr. Ross, abattoir manager, reported that the figures for March were: Cows 01, heifers 20, oxe n 1, calves in, sheep 213, lambs 34, pigs 31, tripes cleaned 1). The fees earned amounted to £4S 14s. One cow was condemned.—Coal is to be procured, the interior of the abattoirs is to he whitewashed, and attention given to the road as requested by the manager-

Cr. Jackson moved that the resolution of March 18, 1918, adopting clause fi of the Lighting Committee's report, be rescinded, and that the charge for lighting be 9d per unit, with Id per unit- dis° count if paid on or before the 10th of the month. —This was seconded bv Cr. Lawson.—After discussion Cr. Malone moved an amendment that 9d and Id discount be replaced by lOd and 2d. and this was agreed to by Cr. Jackson and curried.

The question of increasing the salary A the abattoir manager is to be considered when the next estimates are being prepared.

Fiv« applications were received for the position of borough ranger, and the final selection wfis left to the Woiks C'ommit toe. The clergy are to be requested to hold a service at the various churches on April 23, in commemoration of Anzac Day. C'r. D. .T. Malone was appointed to the vacancy on the Finance Committee caused by the resignation of Cr. A. Colemaa The Mayor vras voted the usual honorarium of £SO, and eulogistic references were made by councillors to Mr. McMillan s good work during his twelve months' term of office. METHODISM. The Stratford Methodist Circuit quarterly meeting was held in Stratford last Thursday, and, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, 'a fair number of members of the quarterly board attended, including one lady. The balancesheet presented by the circuit, stewards showed that the receipts for the quarter were in excess of the expenditure. A lie Rev. R. B. Tinslev, who had recently returned from the' Methodist Conference, explained to (he llonrd the reason why conference had relieved the Stratford circuit to man the pulpits on RunSomething like thirty six of the ministers and home missions ires had volunteered and been accepted for work at the front, leaving thirty-three stations without ministers. To assist the Stratford circuit to man the pulpils on Sundays the Rev. Mr. Richards, of Inglewood, and the Rev. Mr. Harris, of Eltlmm, have kindly offered to take three Sunday services each during the quar-

ler. an offer which win gratefully accepted. I(. was directed that a 'letter he Font to Mrs. Ilnsic ami Mrs. TTall, expressing tiie sympathy of the Board in their sad bereavement, also that a letter of appreciation be sent to the Rev. (J. II- Bridgeman for the good work done by Mm during his ministry at Midhirst.

The reports from the different Sunday schools and Christian Endeavor Society Mere very satisfactory. Good work had been done by ministers and local preachers, and altogether the circuit is in a nourishing condition. Mr. C. H. Lawn, after many years service, rendered gratuitously, has resigned as inr ilictor of the choir. Mr. Spurdle having now accepted the comlnctorship. The Strai-, ford circuit as a whole is very much' indebted to Mr. I.awn for the good work he has done and the manner in which he has conducted the choir, not only in the Stratford church, but also for the assistance he has given to the church ')i the outer parts of the circuit when anything of a special nature lias required him. GENERAL. Mrs. A. McQueen, of the Skinner Road, has be?n notified that her sou. Private D. McQueen, is now in an English hospital suffering from gunshot wound inllicted on April 8. Young McQueen enlisted at Whangarei ir« 1916. There were quite a number of New Plymouth sports on the mail train ithis morning. At Stratford several more joined the excursionists, whose venue was Palmerston iNorth to see the Desert Gold —Biplane contest. Al .1 meeting of hoel<«y enthusiasts recently it was resolved to form a combination to be known as the Stratford Hockey Club. Officers were elected as follows: Patron, Captain J. B, Hinc, M.P.; president, J. W. McMillan; vicepresidents, C. Jackson, W. Power, H. E. Abraham, C. Martin, T. Crubb, B. B. Anderson, S. Sharp. R. Masters, If. Masters. O. B .Tames, .T. R. Stanford, D. J. Malon», P. Skoglund. and F. Edwards; (aptain, A. Smart; vice-captain R. Cnrcommittee, A. Smart, R. Curtis, W. Rett*. V? Rivell, F C. Elgar, D. S. Cameron, 1? Muir; selection committee, Smart, Curtis, and Betts; secretary, W. Botts Colors to be black jerseys anl white pants. Eleven members were enrolled at the meeting, and the secretary was instructed to make o.n effort to secure the northern end of the recreation ground for play.

Don't spoil that picture or photograph for want of a frame. Rather onhance its value by purchasing a photograph frame at C- E. James' fancy goods warehouse He will fit all sizes so don't hesitate to make enquiries. Have you seen the Ucan Haireutter. Cuts to any degree of length. Just "the thing for the soldier in the trench, and for the home.