STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.) (All communications, letters, etc., left "'J- 1 ' Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.) Stratford, Oct. 31. MAGISTRATE'S COURT. At the Juvenile Court, before Mr. T A. B. Bailey, S.M., a boy aged 9 years, who was charged with breaking into a dwelling and stealing a bottle of opals, valued at £7 10s, was admonished and discharged. An application for a maintenance order against Michael Joseph O'Keefe by his wife on her o>wn behalf was dismissed, the Magistrate intimating that the proper course for applicant was not to apply for an order for her own maintenance, but for a variation of the present order in favor of the children, four ot whom were under 15 years. Judgment wfc9 given for plaintiff by default, with costs, in each of the following civil cases: J. J. Arthur (Mr. Moss) v. J. H. MeParland, £lB 18s; A. Manoy (Mr. Young) v. F. Peterson, £l6 9s 6d; Sanderson and Judd (Mr. Tyrer) v. A. Lonergan, £lO 6s 6d. Rawles and Rawles (Mr. Stanford) applied for an order against F. Fiveash on a judgment summons for £8 16s 3d. An order was made for payment forthwith; in default nine days' imprisonment. F. N. Fussell (Mr. Young) claimed from D. Maxwell £5 14s 6d for dental services to defendant's daughter, who, [at the time the work was dene, was a minor. Defendant repudiated liability, and said he had taken steps to prevent anyone pledging his credit. He denied having admitted the debt to Mr. Fussell. The daughter who had incurred the debt had since been married. The Magistrate said that cither defendant Bhould pay I or Ills daughter, and granted an adjournment ao that the husband of the latter could be communicated with. BREACHES OF LICENSING ACT. I On Monday, October 13, damaged I fences and a broken shop door evidenced very bad behavior on the part of one or more persons in Broadway, Stratford, late on the previous Sunday evening. The police believed they had, in the number of a motor car which passed through the town, something to work on, and Constable Townsend, in following up this clue, gathered sufficient, details of quite a different affair to ensure the conviction of four young men for breaches of the Licensing Act, also the conviction of the licensee of the hotel and her son. Before Mr. Bailey, S.M., yesterday, James O'Neill, James Slade, Reginald Curd, and Ernest Oswald Fisher were charged' with having been found in the Egmont Hotel; Midhirst, on Sunday, October 12, and they were each, also, charged with treating. The licensee, Catherine Enwright, was charged with having kept the house open for the sale of liquor on October 12, and with the sale of liquor on the same date. Maurice Enwright, who acted as barman, was charged with having sold liquor oil a Sunday. From the statement made by the police, Constable Townsend, in trying to learn from the four young first-named men, who he knew had been for a motor ride on October 12, something of their movements, with a view to discovering whether they were in any way connected with the damage to property in Strati ford, drew from them the whole story of a visit to the Egmont Hotel and the' treating that took place. All excepting O'Neill gave the police signed statements. With these in their possession, Constable Townsend and Sergeant Dale visited the Egmont Hotel, and.obtained a very candid statement of the facts from Maurice Enwright. Each of the four visitors had, in turn, treated the others, and, when leaving, six bottles of beer were taken away. Mr. Coleman, who appeared for most of the accused, stated that just before arriving at Midhirst one of the tyres was punctured, and the driver, in repairing it, got very dusty. The car was pulled up at the hotel, and the driver went in and asked for the use of a brush. He went to a room upstairs, and when he returned he found that his companions were in the hotel, and he joined them. He pointed out that there had been no bad behavior, and that, with the exception of O'Neill and Mrs. Enwright, nothing was known against any of the defendants. The charge against Mrs. Enwright of having kept open the hotel for the sale of liquor and the charge of treating against Fisher were dismissed. On the charge of being on licensed premises, Slade, Curd, and Fisher were each fined 10s and O'Neill, who had previously been convicted, was fined 20s; for treating, each, with the exception of Fisher, was fined 40s. Catherine Enwright was fined 20s on each of two charges (selling liquor on the premises and selling liquor to take away), and Maurice Enwright was fined £5 for selling liquor on the premises, and £2 for selling liquor in bottles. The police intimated that they were quite satisfied that the damage done to Stratford property was not done by either of the young men before the Court, but they were on the track of those who did the damage. t THE COUNTY LOAN, The trend of public opinion is that a more progressive policy in connection with the roads of the Stratford County should Ibe adopted. The roads generally throughout the county are in a weak state. Since the advent of rubber tyred vehicles the wear and tear have increased enormously- That motor cars and motor lorries have not only come to stay but that the number is increasing every day no one can gainsay. In the days of iron-tyred vehicles an ordinary macadam road would stand quite a number of years' traffic, with a reasonable amount of maintenance. Conditions have changed to such an extent that the old class of road cannot possibly be kept in order, even with constant attention. This does not apply only to New Zealand roads; the same trouble Is experienced all over the world. In America in order to cope with the problem they have gone in for concrete roads. While these roads may be quite a success under certain conditions, it cannot be taken for granted that the same conditions are maintained everywhere. The primary. cost ot concrete weife* varies mainly

in accordance with their proximity to tne material required, whilst the quality of the material used has a very import, ant effect on the wearing surface. Particularly does this apply to road work. The general opinion of engineers is that the life of a concrete road is not nearly as great as people imagine, and, in order to preserve the road surface, a cushion of tar and sand has to be applied, this cushion having to be renewed from time to time. Under the circumstances is it reasonable to expect local bodies to go in for concrete at such an enormous coat? The cost of tar sealing, if carried out on the water bound road, can be put down at at least a quarter that of Concrete.

After giving the matter of road maintenance every consideration the Stratford County Council cannot see they can do better than follow the lines of neighboring counties, whom tarred roads have been standing the t. ..ffic well for some eight or ten years. Where records have been carefully kept of the cost of maintenance work, it has been found that the upkeep of the tarred roads is 60 per cent, lower than it was on the same roads before the tar coating was put on. It has been found by all local bodies who have attempted 'to maintain their roads out of revenue that they are up •vjninst an impossible proposition. This is clearly demonstrated in the Stratford County. Those ridings where tarred roads have been put down have financially gone back, showing the impossibility of carrying out this work out of general Tates. To put the position plainly, it has come to a point now where general rates must,either be very considerably raised or a loan gone in for. To raLe the general rate sufficiently to systematically carry out the proposed' work would be out of all reason. The argument, which seems perfectly souiid, is to borrow £20,000 the first year, £15,000 for the four succeeding years, and £IO,OOO the sixth year, making a total of £90,000. During the time Che w °rks as scheduled by the Council are carried out the maintenance will be greatly reduced, and there is every reason to believe that under the circumstances the general rate will be reduced. The above statement is not purely surmise, but has actually been the experience of other counties whAe the piimie are getting the benefit of good roads without increased taxation. Only those acquainted with the inside working of the Council are aware of the amount of time and labor put into the loan proposals by the members. On Tuesday next, November 4, the ratepayers will be given an opportunity of showing both their appreciation of the efforts of the Council and supporting loan proposals that must bring about a new era in the history of the Stratford district. It is inconceivable that anyone will east an adverse vote, 'for the rejection of the proposals must result in increased rates and bad roads. GENERAL.

The A. and P. Association held a working bee yesterday for the purpose of clearing up the grounds in readiness for the show. Another bee will be held next Thursday. T. I. Lamason's usual weekly auction at the Mart will be held to-day. Details will be found on page 8. "STELLA MARIS." AN ARTCRAFT SPECIAL ATTRACTION. At the King's Cinema Theatre, Stratford, next Thursday and Friday, a special programme of superb pictures and music is advertised. "The star item on the bill is Mary Pickford in "Stella Maris," an Artcraft special. Too much cannot |be said of Mary Piekford's work in I "Stella Maris." We are given an opporI tunity to see her versatility, and as a sensitive, beautiful, and sympathetic Stella Maris she displays acting abilities of marvellous appeal, sincerity, and depth. It is easy for her to make Stella Maris sweet and beautiful—she has only to be natural—but her Unity Blake is a wonderful bit of character drawing. Through remarkable photography, both characters are shown on the screen at the same time, and effects are obtained which have never heretofore been successfully attempted. In these days of high cost of living it is a relief to find something to purchase at the old pre-war prices. Just now ladies will find at C. E. James', Broadway, Stratf«rd, a display of Leather Hand Bags at the old value. They are a special purchase, and are selling ftt one price, 7/6 each. ~ Don't tfust pictures you value to travellers and strangers. If you want any photograph copied or enlarged send it to McAllister, Stratford. The result will be the best possib>e, and you save the canvasser's commission. Reduce the depreciation in your motor car by taking it to C. D. Mathews, Stratford, and if it is mechanically Bound he will return it looking as well as when you first bought it, at a very small cost. The best paints and varnishes, and workmen who know their trade. | i , i J . ; I [ j i