STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) [All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will recelr* turns: itteatioß.l BOROUGH COUNCIL. Stratfoni, Dec. 17. The usual monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. Present: His Worship,the Mayor (J. W. MeMilfon* and Crs. McDonald, Walsh, Hunter, Lawson, Jackson, Thompson, Cameron, iMalona, and Masters. CORRESPONDENCE. Dargaville Borough Council desired support to a resolution that the colonies captured by the Allies should net under any consideration be handed back to Germany.—Received Mrs. Simmons wrote, resigning the position of caTetaker of the Municipal Chambers owing to the death of her mother by influenza.. —Received with regret. Auckland City Council desired co-oper-ation in amending section 111 of the Public. Health Act, 1908. They pointed out that the dual control by the council and the Public Health Department was undesirable. This was in reference to the influenza epidemic, and the amendment wag to enable municipalities to license all dwellings and ensure that, they are fit for habitation from a structural nnd sanitary point of view.—Resolved, "That thin council supports the Auckland Council regarding wider powers for municipalities with regard, to public health." The Waihi Health. Committee wrote suggesting that all Christmas and New Year race meetings be postponed far a month. —Received. Alexandra Borough Council protested against the practice of the medical profession sending tuberculosis patients to favorably-situated country districts.— Le,tter referred to the Hospital Eoard. Permission was granted the Picture Company to show a programme on Christmas night. The Works Committee's report dealin? with i. few 'ruinc*r matters wa« adopted. EMPLOYEES ANT) EPIDEMIC. Cr. Hunter reported on the work of the electrical staff and the work done during the influenza epidemic period. Crs. Hunter and Lawson mqyed—"That, owing to the exceptional circumstances, the power-house men who were ill during the epidemic be paid full wages, and the town staff half-time." This view was hardly acceptable to the councillors, who thought tha motion should be more comprenensive, and ii was ultimately resolved that {he electrical and borough engineers and all others should be paid half-time wages for the period lost. A complaint that E. Bickerton, of the electrical staff, had refused to take a ld.ift at the hydro station was referred to the Lighting Committee to report uponGENERAL. Mr. A. W Budge, whose hedge encroaches on the public tnoroughfart, is to be notified to have it cut'back to the fence line by March 1, 1919Mr Aasaard's tender for dog collars was accepted. Ten per cent, additional is to be charged on rates outstanding by January 31, 19W. Dog registration fees .were fixed at 10s greyhound, os each other dogs, with (he exception of eatile dogs, which was fixed at 2s (id.

The town clerk (Mr. P. Skoglundl -was granted two week's' holidays from January "' The Mayor, C'rs, Malone, Lawson ,and Cameron were appointed a committee, with power to act, to meet th« Fire Brigade in an endeavor to place the brigade on a satisfactory working basis. An application by St. Mary's School for an extension of the sewer whs referred to the Works Committee. Votes of sympathy were passed to the Rowell and Simmons' families in their recent bereavements through the epidemic. SWANSEA ROAD BRIDGE. An application was made by t!-e contractor, Mr. Brooking, for an extension of time in which to complete his contract. It \va3 suggested that the council should consider tSe question in committee, but eventually it was decided that the matter be tlife;ned out in open council, on the motion of (jrs. Jackson and Thompson. The essence of these councillors' remarks was to the effect that the contractor had experienced considerable difficulty hi getting the ironbark piles, and although the timber was not here, it was either on tlia water or in the Dominion.-This delay, which was unavoidable, prevented other work on the construction proceeding. On top of this the recent epidemic has also considerably upset things, the contractor and his staff being all sulTercrs in this respect. Wilder these circumstances, the council li>ok a much more favorable view of ''in situation; and a resolution was carried grantinn an extension until the 31st March, .1919, the Mayor being the only dissentient. ..;.. THE POST OFFICE. Our post offlea has long becoms antique and an eyesore to the progressive spirit of citizens, and it was only natural that the following resolution should be carried unanimously:—"That the Minister for Public Works and Taranaki members ,of Parliament be written to with regard to tit* crectioK of a ncv post office in the borough, and that the Mayor and Cr. Masters be appointed to attend to the matter." This was moved bv the Mayor, who said the tim* was opportune to insist on an expenditure for this purnose. Excepting the Public Works •bivild'intr. they had not a decent flovernment building erected during the pa«t 10 years- The. sum of £4fHW was on the Estimates this year, and they should make an effort to get something moving, otherwise they would be left "cold" as usual. _ "Everybody knows that the mulding ■is unsuitable," stated Cr. Malone, in seconding the motion, and was a miserable, insignificant place, quite inadequate for the purpose'for which it was used. Cr- Thompson said the Minister for Railways had promised to have something definite to announce, but up to the present there bad been "nothing doing." The motion was then carried. flie Mayor then wished all the compliments of the season, to which a councillor wondered if they would all ibe sitting in the Chambers again next December, with an election intervening." THE EPIDEMIC. THE MAYOR'S APPRECIATION.' In referring to the influenza epidemic, and expressing his appreciation of the tev

proposed a hearty vote of appreciation to :be accorded to the doctors who worked so hard arid devotedly and did everything that was humanly possible in battling with the disease, and to the Defence Department for the services of Dr. Paget, to whom must be given the credit for so efficiently organising both in town and country; to ihe nurses and ladies who worked night and day in the hospitals nursing, etc., and for the. good work amongst their neighbors; to the gentlemen who did liosnjtal work and never flinched from any duty asked of them; to the business men who willingly sacrificed their businesses to succor the afflicted, and wiiosc work wjisjnvaluable in checking the scourge; to tlio Hospital Board and the ladies and gentlemen associated with 'them; to the gentlemen who came forward with their motor-cars, without which it is hard to conceive how the work could possibly have been carried out; to the Post and Telegraph staff, and especially the telephone operators, who wore most obliging; to the Public Works staff out Whanga way who made a name for themselves amongst the backblock settlers; and to a few young ladies who did excellent work." His Worship regretted the visitation had left behind a trail of such sorrow and sadness,but it had also secured a better understanding amongst all, whihe must prove for the betterment of mankind. He was proud of.the work of all and of Mayor during such a trying period. :| had been taught their lesson and sir be all the better'for it. A better kiir.i. ledge of first-aid- and niirsing'was nee- - sary, and he regretted it was his belief that some lives were lost through want of that knowledge. Cr. Lawson briefly seconded the resolution, which was carried.