STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in tte Taranaki Daily News should be left at' the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with them. BOROUGH COUNCIL. March 21. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Stratford Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), and Cns. A. Stewart, J. H. Thompson, C. Jackson, T. Lawson, W. J. Newton, C. B,< Walsh, W. H. H. Young, R. H. Cameron. POSITION OF ENGINEER. Mr. J. Sturroek, of Hawera, wrote at length in reply to the council’s negotiations regarding his acceptance of the position of borough engineer. Mr. Sturroek agreed to accept the position for *6l per cent of the amount expended, plus travelling expenses. He stated that the expenditure during the first two years (£3*000) would return him only £325' per annum, which was too small to warrant him living in Stratford. In the discussion that followed, Cr. Thompson moved that the council call for applications for a resident engineer at a salary of £450. This was seconded by Cr. Young. Cr. Jackson moved an amendment that no engineer be appointed, and this was seconded by Cr. Stewart and supported by Ors. Lawson and Walsh. The Mayor moved a further amendment that Mr. Sturroek be engaged in terms of his letter, and. this was seconded by Cr. Cameron. The Mayor’s amendment was lost, and Cr. Jackson’s amendment with the stipulation that the appointment be deferred until the council was certain of obtaining the loan money, was carried on the voices. THE LIBRARY. The general committee submitted a statement of/ receipts and expenditure in connection with the library. The subscriptions for the year amounted to £159 and the expenditure to £lBl, the excess of expenditure being £22 and the expenditure on the reading room £42. The Mayor said the statement showed that the lending department was being run at a loss and he believed it should be self-supporting. As far as the reading room was concerned, as it .was provided for the convenience of the public, he thought the ratepayers should bear the cost, but the lending department should be paid for by those who used it.

Ci 1 .. Jackson disagreed with this view and moved that the existing subscription rates amounting to 10s per annum for one book at a time should stand. He maintained that there was no loss on the library. Cr. Lawson seconded. The Mayor moved as an amendment that an increase of 5s per annum be made. lie saw no reason why the ratepayer pay for the convenience of individual subscribers. Cr. Thompson seconded the amendment and pointed out that if the recent increase in salary granted to the librarian was taken into consideration, it would be seen that the ratepayers would have to bear a loss of £1 a week, unless the was increased. ™ After further discussion the Mayor's amendment was carried, Crs. Jackson, Stewart and Lawson voting against it. e GENERAL. A deputation from the Stratford plumbers, consisting of Messrs. G. Smart, Sanderson aipl Judd, Waited on the council with reference to the bylaws relating to plumbing. The deputation stated that prior to the by-laws coming into operation U-inch waste pipes for sinks, etc., were permitted, and in consequence they still had stocks on hand. The by-laws now provided for the use of 2-inch wastes, and they asked that they be allowed to use up their present stocks and that several jobs where these pipes had already been used should be approved by the council.— The council agreed to the request provided the present stocks be evenly distributed among the plumbers and that they be used up as quickly as possible.

The committee of the St. Patrick’s Day social wrote asking if the council would grant a reduction in the amount of the rent of the Town Hall on St. Patrick’s night, on account of the inconvenience caused through the electric light not being available.—ln reply to a question the town clerk said the rent charged was £3 15s. After discussion the council agreed to reduce the rent to £2. The borough workmen wrote stating that they considered the wage of fifteen shillings a day decided on by the council was inadequate. —The letter was received without discussion. It was decided to remove the German gun from its present position to Victoria Park. CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG WOMAN. At a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Stratford this morning, before Messrs. J. W. McMillan and G. E. Wilson, J.P.’s, Florence Conza was charged with the theft, on or about February 23, of the sum of £ll, the property of Alma Rosa Willing. Mt. A. Coleman appeared on behalf of the accused. Alma Rofca Willing gave evidence that she assisted her two brothers on a farm at Kaupokonui. Accused came to the farm on February 17 and remained about a week. When accused was leaving witness gave her £1 and told her to buy certain goods at Manaia and forward to witness, accused to be allowed to keep the change (about 10s). On February 19 witness received ten single £1 notes from her brother and accused saw her put the money in her room. From something witness heard at Manaia, she became suspicious and inspected her/box. After putting in the £lO there should have been £2O in the box, but she found only £9. Before accused left she said she had only 2s, 6d to take her' to Stratford. William James Anderson, taxi-driver, said that on February 23 he met accused on the road between Kaupokonui and Manaia, picked her up and agreed to take her to. Stratford for £2 10s, which she paid. Sergeant Dale gave evidence, tlia* on February 2'B he interviewed accused and questioned her about the loss of the money. The only answer he could get from her was that he could do his best. The hearing at this stage was adjourned till to-morrow at Eltham. AN EXPLANATION. ’’’The Mayor stated at last night’s sn«tiu.’, of th» Cauatf Jhjrt a

few hofirs after the sale of the Broadway leases on Saturday people were saying that the council had turned a returned, soldier out of his shop. As far as he was concerned there was no truth in the statement, as he had spoken to the tenant of the premises (Mr. Davis) before the sale, and Mr. Davis had said the lease was no good to him. After the sale Mr. Davis said he had also stated that he was going to bid the upset price £75, but he (the Mayor) had not heard remark. If he had heard it he would not have run the bidding up. Under the circumstances, he asked the council to agree to allow Mr. Davis to have the' section at the price ( £92) that the council paid for it, A motion to this effect was carried. ACCIDENT AT TOKO. Mrs. Worthington, wife of Mr. H. B. Worthingtoft, of Puniwhakau, met with a painful accident at Sangster’s hill (near Toko) this morning. She was travelling from Stratford to Puniwhakau in a together with Mr. Worthington and their daughter, and the horses took fright when passing a motor lorry and capsized the buggy. Mrs. Worthington received a number of injuries and had to be taken to the Stratford hospital, and the little girt also received several bruises. Mr. Worthington speaks in high praise of the manner in which the drivers of the lorry assisted him.

Redeem the long-standing promise and have the photograph taken at McAllister’s Studio. We are always ready, day or night; no delay; no waiting either .in taking or finishing, at this studio. Ring 25, Stratford, Your stationery requirements are well catered for by Wilson Bros., Stratford, who have a comprehensive stock of all office requisites and typewriter supplies. Here are a few good commercial -lines: Pilot letter files, 3/6 each; wire document baskets, 4/6 each; desk blotting pads, 4/9 and 6/-; first-grade typewriter carbon, foolscap size, 15/- box. Don’t forget to call or write. —Advt.