STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

{From Our Own Correspondent.) j, (All communications, letters, etc, left vriA Mr H. ]. Hopkins, bookseller, will recaire prenpt s attention.) b BOROUGH COUNCIL. ii Stratford, Feb. 18. j The monthly mooting of the Borough 0 Council was held last night, when there t were present: The Mayor (Mr. J. \V. t McMillan) and Crs. McDonald, Walsh, s Hunter, Lawson, Jackson, Cameron, Ma- j loue and Masters. j Messrs. Lyons, North, Thorpe and Orr j asked for an extension of the drainage a system to their respective properties in t Page and Hamlet Streets.—The works j committee will report on the cost. , Mr. H. E. Lawrence presented a petition praying that the council take the necessary steps k> gain control of Victoria Park.—lt was resolved that a com- J mittee consisting of the Mayor, Crs. Cameron and Hunter meet the Domain Board ' with a view to obtaining control of the Domain, and to report to the council. j Mr. J. Sturroek (consulting engineer) ( wrote explaining at length the reasons ' that had induced him to adopt the pres- * ent camber in Broadway. —The council * will meet Mr. Sturroek and discuss the matter. • ' He works committee reported that ' they had considered the matter of the i sanitary contract, and recommended that 1 a weekly system be instituted from April i 1. This would necessitate an increased sanitation fee, but, in the interests of : public health, was justifiable. Arrange- ; raents were made to have 1000 yards of j boulders delivered at 7s per yard. They recommended that Mr. Sturroek be asked i to report to the council in connection with a destructor.—Adopted. j The engineer reported on work done during the month. The lighting committee reported re- , commending that the application of the < residents of Pembroke Road West for a supply of electricity be deferred for con- ■ sideration until the poll for the proposed : loan be taken. They also recommended that CO barrels be ordered, and that the , electrical engineer be given £25 as payment for extra work done during the past year, and that an increase in salary be favorably considered when estimates for ' next financial year are being prepared. ' It was resolved to grant the engineer an increase of salary of £SO from April 1, and with this alteration the report was ' adopted. The electrical engineer reported that the plant at the hydro and Diesel stations were running well. Tenders had been called for the proposed new plant The new high tension line from Broadway down Fenton street to Ariel street was now connected up, but was not completed. The new high tension line, transformer and 25-h.p. motor for loan works have been completed. The Minister of Defence notified that every endeavor was being made to ensure that the conditions under which troops are repatriated are as favorable as possible, and for the comfort and health of the soldiers who made the journey. The Mayor for the next term was appointed the council's delegate at the town-planning conference. The district health officer reported on various requirements to certain premises , in Broadway. Notice is to be served on the owner, and the engineer is to see that the health officer's instructions are complied with. The Stratford Domain Board drew attention to the fact that the Borough Council was not adhering to its agreement as to the disposal of crushed metal on public streets, and asked that the crushed metal partially obstructing Fenton and Hamlet Streets be removed. —To be attended to. The council decided to support the Riccarton Borough Council's resolution re administration of epidemic relief funds. The abattoirs manager reported that during January 65 cows, 30 heifers, 2 oxen, 5 calves, 200 sheep, 118 lambs, and 20 pigs had been killed, and 25 tripes I prepared. Fees earned totalled £53 13s 3d. One cow was condemned. He also ' mentioned various repairs required to cattle yards, road, etc.—An estimate of painting and necessary repairs is to be obtained. The town clerk was instructed to gain further information relative to the superannuation scheme as outlined in the' circular received from the National Provident Fund. On the recommendation of the reserves committee, Mr. W. Brown was appointed caretaker for the municipal buildings. The electrical engineer was granted a week's leave of absence. fn accordance with notice, Cr. Jackson moved that all workmen who have been continuously in the employ of the council for five years be placed on the permanent staff at a fixed wage, a month's notice on either side to be necessary to terminate engagement. This was seconded, pro forma, by Mr. Masters, and lost. STRATFORD A. AND P. SHOW. Indications all point to the Seventh | Show under the auspices of the Stratford A. and P- Association being one of the most successful ever held in Stratford. The members of the various sub- | committees have thrown themselves enthusiastically into the task cl achieving success, and given fine weather conditions their hopes will be realised. Splendid entries in all classes have been received, included in the list being a num<j hor of new competitors, and also some J who have been absent from the show BS ring for a year or two. The scene at B9 the station where exhibits were received, „ and at the show grounds was a busy one to-day, an energetic band of workers putting final touches to the arrangeth ments, which are now practically eo.'n io nlete. The Stratford Band will coniu tribute a programme of music that id "houid add to the success For the it- People's Dav (Thursday) suitable train srrangMwnta have been made, the M«".ial mirhlav train for New Phmouth st » leavingf'jn hoar earlier, viz., 10.50 a.m. >•• \V GENERAL, rs. ~-i . ,j. The progress made in the completion tft the Stratford-Ohaktikura railway was referred to at the meeting of th< 0 ,1 I'ovough Council last night by the to, Mayor, who considered that it was time fh. Tiiranaki made a move i:i the matter. ,ot He thought that a conference of local us bodies in Stratford should he held, with Hi? idea of later obtaining united action by all Taranalti local bodies. Councillors agreed that something should he )N done and, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Lawson. it was resolved that a meeting of all local bodies in the ,D. Stratford district he called with the ob8. iect of urging upon the Government the necessity for a more vigorous prosecu- — (ion of the work of completing the Strat-ford-Ohakukura line from the Taranaki ill end. »t Mr W. H. Tippina. of Miro has reeeirib- »(? word from the New Zealand Jersey it- Cattle Breeders' Association tllat his 5R four-year-o'd cow Pearlie Maid had proJlduced 515 lbs. of butter fat in 899 days

under semi-official test This record has f only been beaten on one occasion by cow between 4 and 5 years of age. Mr E. Griffiths' Ijaddy Peggy and Pearlie Maid wins the bronze medal, having produced 166.33 lb. of butter-fat above the standard required to qualify. Slio failed by less than 9 lb. to 'win tlic silver medal. <

The Stratford Borough Council at its meeting last night received a letter from Mr Gow, chairman of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce, inviting them to attend a publia meeting to be held at Eltham for the purpose of considering the establishment of a hydro-electric scheme for tho district. He also asked if a report made by Mr Climie on the possibilities of the Patea River would he available for the meeting. It was resolved that the Electric Light Committee and Engineer attend the meeting and Mr Gow is to be informed that the report is not available, the Mayor stating that the report cost the Straford BorougYt about £IOO and the Eltham Chamber of Commerce could not expect to get it for nothing.

Out of the two applications forwarded by the Board, Miss B. E. Plimaoll, of Christekurch, and formerly of Hawera, has been recommended by the Stratford School Committea for the position of sixth assistant.

Mr W. J- Lopdell, Engineer to the Stratford County Council for th« past 4* years, left for New Plymouth this morning ca route to Oneimngs, where he takes up the position of Engineer to the Mamikau County Council.

Ths Stratford School Committee has appointed Messrs McDonald and Pinhey a sub-committee to make arrangements in connection with the 'Friendly Society's picnio to New Plymouth in March, in which the school will participate.

Mr J. A. Johmson has arrived in Stratford in order to take up the position of Assistant-Engineer to the Public Works Department. Prior to going into camp. Mr Johnson was engaged on the Otira tunnel works.

Messrs Hopkins, Grubb. and Moon, booksellers, stationers and fancy goods dealers forwarded the Borough Council a petition to the Minister of Labor asking that the hours of closing ho gazetted as 5.30 p.m. with the exception of Saturdays, at S p.m. Thursdays at noon The week preceding Christmas and New Year's eve to be as heretofore The. Council resolved to certify that petitioners represented a majority of the trade referred to and to attach the Council's seal to tho petition. Mr F. L. Spurdle forwarded to the Borough Council his resignation of his position as bandmaster owing to having accepted a position as bandmaster to the Hastings Band. In his report he stated that greater interest had been exhibited in practices by members and as a result there was a general improvement in the playing. The bv.d had given no lesn than 43 public v.nlonnaees, the patriotic work had been very consistent and strenuous but members had cheerfully given their time and services, feeling it v.as a duty to themselves, the town and the cause of patnotsm. The committee had purchased two new instruments as well as an assortment of new music. There were now 28 members, but it was hoped tho number would soon increase until the town had a band that would be a credit to it. The resignation was accepted with regret. The examination for the Junior National Scholarship will take place on Thursday and Friday in the Technical School," the Rev. C. W- Howard acting n,, supervisor.

Whilst Messrs Buchanan, Matthewson rtr.d McKenzie were motoring from Palmerston to Stratford to-day, they had one or two rather exciting experiences. On one occasion at a narrow part of the road thoy had to run into a fence to avoid collision with a ear that was travelling on its wrong side of the road. Nearing Eltham they were frantically hailed by a passing motorist and pulling up found that the hood and cover was on fire and blazing furiously and after 'ome trouble the blaze was extinguished, the damage fceng confined to the hood and cover.