STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent ) [All communicatioiis, letters, etc., left with Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will reoeive prompt attention.] Stratford, May 21. BOROUGH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting was held last night. 'Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Millan) and Crs. M'Donald, Walsh, Hunter, f.awson, Jackson, Thompson, Cameron, Malone, and Masters. CORRESPONDENCE. Alfred Drake requested a street lamp to be placed in Juliet street Soutli ; just below Mrs. Hancock's residence. There was only ohe place to cross this street, and only a Ift trade to save people from a swamp on one side and a bank on the other. —Lighting Committee recommended that the request be acceded to, and this was adopted by the council. [ The Hawera Borough Council wrote thanking the council for the appreciatory letter forwarded re Mr. Sturrock's services in regard Stratford street improvements, and also notified that they were willing that Mr. J. Rowe should do certain work for the Stratford Council.— Received, and Hawera Council to be thanked.

The Post and Tflegraph Department stated that the council's request to erect notice-boards re speed limit for motors on telegraph-posts at the corner of Regan street and Broadway and Fenton street and Broadway, had been granted. The Department would not hold itself responsible for any accident arising therefrom—Received, and letter to be forwarded thanking the department for permission granted. The General Manager of Railways (Mr. E. ft- Hilev) notified that louder-sound-ing bells would be provided at Stratford as soon as the existing bells could be replaced.—Received.. The Stratford County Council notified "that they cannot legally recompense the poundkeeper (Mr. Lane) for loss on stock impounded by the county ranger." —Received, and Works Committee to interview the County Council re pound. C. G. Reira, for the Plunket Society, asked for information as to rent, lighting?, etc., of room in the Municipal Building, lately occupied by Mr. Webster.— Resolved that a charge of 10s per month be made, and heating and lighting to be by meter. "M. Laverty, librarian, reported that the number of books issued for the month was 1009, returned 907, new ibooks added 10, new subscribers 18, subscriptions received £l2 8s 6d. —Received. K. Ross, abattoir manager, reported that W head of cattle, 21 calves, 204 ftheep, 8 lambs, and 60 pigs had been slaughteered. Two cows, two sheep, and two pigs had been condemned. Fees earned were £6l 13a.—Recei+ed. GENERAL,

Comment was made on the cattle graying in the borough, and the ranger's attention is to be directed to the nuisance. The borough engineer was instructed to examine the roof of the Town Hall and submit estimate of cost of painting same. Letters of sympathy were ordered to be sent to the town clerk (Mr. Skoglund), on the death of his father, and also to Mr- E. Bickerton, a council employee, who sustained a broken ankle through slipping from a ladder whilst engaged on electrical work. Owing to bereavement, Mr. Skoglund was granted a fortnight's leave of absence, and Mr. W. Power appointed act-ing-town clerk and treasurer. The Taranaki Provincial War Relief Association forwarded a resolution thanking the council for the use of the Council Chambers for their annual meeting. and also for the use of offices in the Municipal Buildings, rent free, during the year.—Received. It'was resolved to increase the salary of Mr. K. Ross, abattoir manager by £'ls a year, as from April 1, 1918. The Domain Board are to be' requested to abate a reported nuisance existing through letting their reserve in Orlando street as an accommodation paddock. The Mayor moved—"That a charge of |sd flat rate to the Picture Theatre be Te*scinded, and that the Picture Theatre | be charged 3d net for power and 8d net for lighting, to take effect from June 1" —Seconded by Cr. Thompson and carried. COMMITTEES. Cr. Cameron was appointed to take Mr. Coleman's place on the Works Committee, and also on the Electric Light Committee, and the Mayor succeeds Cr. Cameron on the Finance Committee. Cr. Masters was re-appointed chairman of the Works Committee. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

T. D. Sullivan, borough engineer, reported that footpaths had been regravelled in various parts of the borough. and crossings inserted in Ariel south, Broadway north (3), and culverts put in at Cloton road (2), Juliet street, and also Cordelia, Romeo, Fenton, and Miranda streets. Water-taibles had been cleaned "out and also tunnels, and outlets to culverts, and metal patching undertaken on Cloton and Swansea road. Decking of Victoria and Swansea road [bridge has Wen repaired. Fireplug dis-tance-plates had been placed in position. He had not had time to take the bridge timber down at Inglewood.—Received^ ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'S REPORT. E- F. Hollands, electrical engineer, reported progress in every direction. The plants at the'hydro and Diesel station* were running well, although minor troubles at the latter had developed. The cast side of Broadway was not lit up, 22' brackets had been fixed, and the extension of the light to Flint road W»« progressing favorably.—Adopted.

MEETING OF CR®DITOtS. The Deputy-Official Assignee (Mr. 3. S. S. Medley) presided over a meeting of creditors in the estate of Lewis H. Rayner, farmer, of Strathmore. There was not a large attendance of creditorsBankrupt was represented by Mr- S. Spence. In his statement, Bayner said he had a property at Masterton.but sold It IS years ago for £ 1500, and with this purchased leasehold (2) and freehold properties »t Waverley. Later on he exchanged some of these properties for house property in Hawera, and thai ]ea«ed property In Hastings. Up to this period he was financial, but he lost at Hastings through droughts. In Jane, 1916, he exchanged property he had secured at Feilding for the Strathmore land. On taWng this over he was enabled to stook the place up to £3OOO by Mr. Newton Kin?. He also secured sums from time to time from his brothtrs, and In June, 1917, the latter enterei! into possession, paying bankrupt a salary of £2 per week. He attributed bis

bankruptcy to his losses in Hawke's Bay and too frequent exchange of properties, also to lack of capital to stock the farms. Debts to unsecured creditors amounted to £O4O 14s lOd, secured creditors £9225; total, £9555 14s lOd. On the credit side, the items were:—Furniture £•2O, property £3057; total, £5677, leaving a deficiency of £llBB 14s 10d. Unsecured creditors: D. M. Pickhard £Bl 4s, Adlam £2O, J. Muir £5, ,1. L. Iteere £S, Duffy and Williams £2O, W. Ifawke £G, Rawles and Rawles £2, M. Aagawl £-2. Co-op. Storo £7, Hannah mid Co. £2, Drake £2, Evening Post £2, F. Whittle £2, K.Z. Clothing Co. £l, County Council £!it It* JOd irai.es), F. Webb (Douglas) £«, A. Meredith (Sfval.hmore) £lO. Other amounts owing outside Stratford brought the total to £O-10 14s lOd. Secured creditors: F. J. Stowfirt- (New Plymouth) £3125, A. 10 .'(u-iSoi 1 U'almr-rston North) i'ollO, KruH's. estate (Wanganui), £l5O, National M.I. Association £2SOO, B. R. Ravncr (Mastcrton) £2500; total, £!>22.3. Bankrupt was represented by his solicitor (Mr. S. Spence). The Deputy- • Official Assignee said the position was < that £O4O was owing to unsecured creditors, and there was nothing available to : pay them. in reply to questions, bankrupt said ht, wae & nutrnett .man with four children. He could make no offer to his creditors, and would have to work for wages. As there appeared little prospect of the estate yielding a dividend, the matter was left to the Deputy Official As- , signee to make further inquiries and call a meeting if circumstances warranted it. GENERAL. A fareweil evening, "to take, the form ot a smoke concert, is to be tendered Mr. P,. S. Brewer by his Stratford Mid district friends early in June. Mr. Brewer has beer, fanning for many years, and avound Makahu he and Mrs. Brewer have made themselves very popular, by assisting at patriotic functions and generally taking a hand at everything thai led to the advancement or progress of the district. Red Cross funds have benefited by £4, forwarded from Tahora, as a result of a dance, to the Ladies' Patriotic Commit-, tee, who also acknowledge three dozen pairs bootlaces from Mr. Hannah and a dozen tooth-brushes from Mr. C. E. James. Recent donations to the Y-M.C.A, funds include £2 10s from Mr. T. E. Bell, £lO from the Stratford Racing Club, 5s from Mr. J. G. Smith, and 3s 6d from a Friend.

The long winter evenings are to hand. So those who find time tedious will bo pleased to learn that Mr. C. E. .Tames has just opened up some fine winter pastimes—games that will instruct the child and interest the parent. Those who enioy a good book can obtain great variety here, whilst if in search of a holiday, wedding, or christening gift, you will certainly find same amongst the many thousands of articles on sale a,t 0. E. James's warehouse.—Advt,