STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) [AH communications, letters, etc., left with Mr a. j. Hopkins, boolsaelier, will receive Drowpt attention.] FARMERS' "CROCKS. 11 June 17. At the County Council nice ting on Saturday, Cr. J. Masters, chairman of the Vvorks Committee of the Borough Council, waited on the Council regarding a request from Air. Lane, borougli poundkeeper, that the County Council should pay him £1 per month as salary as he was losing cash under the present system. Cr. Masters said from Mr. Lane's letter it was apparent that the poundkeeper had lost £ls through horses impounded on the county roads and placed in the borough pound, not reaching a figure to pay expenses of feeding, advertising, driving fees, etc. Unless there was some arrangement in the matter "between the councils the poundkeeper might throw up the work. The chairman stated that some of the 'horses impounded were not run in by the the County ranger, but by others. Cr. Master -aid they must reorganise as it was ~ry hard that the poundkeeper should be put out of pocket over these "erodes." The County ranger said he had this position about three years, and from his own knowledge had only brought in four during that period, and the poundkeeper would have to keep them a long time to make the expenses £ls. Cr. Masters said the trouble was with the "crocks." The loss of a valuable horse was immediately noted and the owner made inquiries and prevented it going up to auction. There were few "crocks" in the borough itself. The County ranger .said he knew of one instance where the owner of one horse said if he paid the cost of the shoes he could have the animal. The chairman said he thought the County on the whole was a source of revenue to the poundkeeper. After further discussion a motion was .earried "That the County ranger bring down a report of horses sold at a loss during his term of office." BLOCKED "DRAINAGE. Some little time was taken up in a iliscussion of drainage from Harkness' store at the County meeting on Saturday. This place is higher than the Midhirst factory, and the pipes laid to ..•any away the water give considerable trouble in stormy weather At the last meeting of the council the company said they would lay the pipes if the council would giant them a few of 9 inches. At Saturday's meeting the company wished to know when these would be available. Cr. Baskin said the present pipes were unsatisfactory, and the 9-inch pipes should be granted. The chairman remarked that the pre«(nt pipes were in use for years and now Cr. Baskin complained. Cr. Maekay said the damage of the floods of six or seven weeks' back would have been avoided by using 9-inch pipes. Cr. Harvey said the factory was on a, bad site, and several feet below the level of the road. Cr. Were said the present pipes were i-vidently placed there at the request of the Midhirst people, probably to permit filling an open culvert. They had been allowed to become blocked, but if cleared out mi?lit quite well fulfil the purposes. Cr. Baskin admitted that might be uo, but they wanted an improvement now. What was good years ago would not apply now. It was resolved to defer sending the pipes till the council saw how the present pipes acted after being cleaned out.

People in the vicinity of the Ngaere railway station, on Saturday, experienced a thrill much akin to a film picture, when a motor-car collision occurred. Mr. C. Kidd, Huiroa, was approaching the Ngaere station, and, to get Hhere, had to cross over to his wrong side. Whilst in the act of so doing, Mr. W. Free, of Eltham, in a (Dodge car, suddenly came over the brow of the hill and descended. Both cars were moving, and Free evidently thought if he could keep well over to the left (his right side), he would avoid trouble. Kidd's car, however, still had a little momentum, with the result that Free's car struck Kidd's a glancing Wow. The impact brought both cars to an abrurpt standstill, but, fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Fhe same cannot toe said of the cars, iboth showing visible signs of contact, and will require several repairs to tyres, bonnet, guards, etc. One of our photographers, Mr. TV. W. Hodge, was smartly on the scene, and to-day had an excellent picture of the collision on view In bis windoWß.

Another of those very popular Catholic socials will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening. A very fine selection of Irish national songs and dances wHI be contributed by popular performers, whilst the committee will give particular attention to the floor, music, and supper. An advertisement concerning the function appears on the first page. Tie Ladies' iPatriotie Committee had a yery fair day at their rooms on Saturday. He tea rooms, controlled by Mesdames Boon and Good, netted £6 Bs, and the mart (Mrs. Pctrie) £9 10s. Mrs. Curtis will have the mart next Saturday, but the names of the ladies in the tea Tooms are not yet availaMe. "I was there alt the time of the flood!" remarked a county councillor on Saturday. "I quite beiiwe it," remarked another, who was getting tired of the firstmentioned talking so much. However, the former meant the Midhirst flood, not Noah's expedition, and the point, liko soap in a tramp's pocked, was missingThe eyes of the world are centred on the great German offensive, but the eyes of t#U thrifty wife are focussed on the good goods at small prices being offered by Mr. C- E. James. His premises are replete with the useful and ornamental. Gold ware, silverware, oopperware, and erockerywa.ro are to be found on the shelves and in packages. Mr. Man is also catered for, and be can smoke the fragrant weed, carry a walking-stick, and in his pocket choice reading matter, all procured at lowest prices from C. E. James.