STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) (AH communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention). August 19. The application by the Egmont Club to carry their present building up another storey in timber and corrugated iron was again before the Borough Council on Monday evening. When the present building was erected provision was made for an additional storey, should an enlargement ever become necessary. The by-laws governing the brick area did not then exist. Some time ago the Returned Soldiers' Association approached the Egmont Club with a view to having accommodation provided fer them in the club buildings, This could only be done by enlarging the present building, and in view of the fact that the additions, were to be made solely for the purpose of accommodating the returned soldiers, who have no rooms of their own, it was hoped that the council would agree to waive the by-law. There was strong opposition on the part of the Mayor and Cr. Thompson as well as some other councillors to the granting of any concessions in a mutter of such importance, and as it was understood at the time that the owner of the adjoining section (Mr. Thompson) was willing to treat with the club on the most favorable terms for sufficient land for the necessary brick wall the application was held over till the club executive had had an opportunity of consulting with him. At Monday night's meeting the club executive wrote to the council stating ■that they could not entertain Mr. Thompson's offer and renewing their ap- j plication to make the addition in wood and iron. The application was decisively J turned down, and if the position is as j represented by Cr. Campbell Jackson,, who fought hard in favor of the club, I the additions will not be made. Cr. Cameron was prepared _to move that the club be permitted to make the additions as desired upon an undertaking being given that ihey would bear half the cost of a brick wall at any time the adjoining owner on the south side may decide to build, the council waiving the by-law in respect to the north side, -which adjoias a section occupied by the fire brigade station, but he was cut short by Or. Jackson, who said that the club could not entertain such an offer. The muster is one over which th%re has heen very strong feeling The councillors j without exception expressed sympathy w ; *h +l ie object the club had in view, but the majority regarded the by-law as too j iin-'i.-iii'tt to bo set aside even for the returned soldiers.

There w«3 a fairly warm discussion at the Borough Council's meeting last evening on n notice of motion moved by Cr. Thompson that the meeting of

f'm ("Jpucrnl Piu'iKtses Committee bo abandoned. About three montliß ago the General Purposes Committee, which consists of the whole council, was formed. The committee meets on Monday evening a week before the ordinary monthly meeting of the council, 'and dpal.s with the reports, correspondence, etc. The press representatives are admitted, "but are not permitted to report discussions. When the reports of the committees come before them the members have already exercised their privilege to discuss the various questions in all their aspects, and the business is almost wholly confined to the adoption (If reports and resolutions. The advantages do not seem to include, so far, any shortening if the hours which have to be devoted by members to council business, and this seems to have been the main object in view; but there was a general feeling that the present system has not had a fair trial, and that it is too soon yet to speak oh -making a change. The motion was seconded by Cr. Jackson, and received some support from Cra. Lawson and Cameron, but when put to the vote the mover and seconder stood alone. Those who supported the motion urged that with the present system sufficient publicity was not given to what took place at the council table, and they seemed to lose sight of the fact that any matter embodied in the reports of the committees can he re-discussed at the ordinary council meeting, when the press representatives have no restrictions placed upon them.

According to Mr. Campbell Jackson boxthorn hedges are a complete failure in the Stratford district. The Borough Council authorised at its meeting on Monday night the planting of live hedges and fencing at the abattoirs, estimated ta cost £l3O. A price was also received for new shelving and a counter for the public library, the amount being £23 12s. It was decided to hold the question of shelving over till there had been a meeting of subscribers, and the Library Committee were authorised to have the counter put in. The Mayor referred to the success of the peace celebrations at Stratford, and votes of thanks were passed to the town clerk (Mr. Skoglund) and the electrical engineer (Mr. Holland) for the assistance they had given: also to Mesdames Skoglund, McMillan, arid Holland, who had helped in the decoration of cars, etc. The Mayor reported that he expected to hear from the General Manager of Railways in reference to the post office Bite on the following day (Tuesday). A roll of honor, which has the distinction of being original and is quite a work of art, has just been completed for the Stanley Road School. The roll, with the symbols, figures, and nn.tnes carved in relief, is of solid oak, measuring 7ft. by 3ft., and was designed and executed by a returned soldier (Mr. Evans). On one side is a. trooper mounted, representing victory, and holding aloft a scroll on which has been carved the word"!.- "On the roll of honor." Close to the horse is a cannon, and below peace is represented by a palm. The two Taranaki badges are worked in—the Mounted Rifles and Infantry—and on the side apposite the mounted trooper panels representing the different countries in which the New Zealand Division hns fought have been .carved. About fifty names of those who left the district for active service are inscribed in the panels in the centre of the board, and below appear the words: "A remembrance of patriotism." Then come the dates showing the period of the war, 1011-18, and lastly, "Ake, ake, kia Italia." The design is most appropriate, and the whole of the work has been faultlessly done. The surface of the roll has been beautifully polished, and the figures and names stand out clearly. All lettering has been covered with gilt, and this greatly improves the good effect. The trooper and his horse arc undoubtedly a fine exposition of the carver's art, and in the design much of historical interest has been epitomised. The roll of honor will be on view to-day in Hallenstein Bros' shop window. Mr. W. Power has "been appointed bos, Moratory to the Stratferd Reintri-

ation Committee, in place of Mr. E. H. Young, resignod. Mr. T. 1). Sullivan, 'borough engineer, is in receipt of advice that his sons, Sergt, Tim Sullivan nnd Acting-Sergt. Dan Sullivan, are returning to New Zealand by the transport Hororata, due about September 20. At a meeting of the Whangamomona Medical Association on Monday evening, Mr. Geever presiding, the resignation of •Mr. L. L. Kason was received with regret, and Mr. Grant was appointed secretary in his stead. A letter was received from the Stratfor;! Hospital Board asking that a deputation be sent to the next meeting of the board iu Stratford. It was resolved (bat, as the statements made by Mr. Sole, as reported in the press, were in the main incorrect, a strong deputation be sent to Stratford to place the requirements of Whangamomona before the board, and Messrs Geever (chairman), Bovis, Gill, and Marsh were deputed to attend at Stratford on the 20th inst.

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