STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 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, ‘Vilson Bros., Broadwa?, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left wit£ them. BOROUGH COUNCIL. June 21. The Stratford Borough Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), Councillors R. H. Cameron, S. Ward, C. Jackson, A. Stewart, W. Mclnness, T. Lawson, S. B. Hunter, C. B. Walsh and S. Rutherfurd ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT. The statement of accounts of the electric light department for the year ending March 31, 1921, was as follows: Revenue Account. —The gross profit for the year is £1716, as against £2OBB for the year ending March 31, 1920. Revenue from sale of current shows an increase of £849 over last year’s figures and the working expenses have increased by £1224. The chief items accounting for the increase in expenditure are: Wages £295, fuel £243, lines maintenance £409. 1 The net profit for the year is £5l. . The trading account shows a profit of , £lBl, a loss of £l3O being made on sale of current. An addition of £478 was made to the capital account during the /Car, and the total capital expenditure now stands at £17,573. The percentage of working expenses to revenue is 72.11 per cent., as against 50.57 per cent, for the previous year, an increase of 11.54 per cent. IMPROVEMENT OF DOMAINS. A request received from the Stratford Ladies’ Hockey Club that the council should take steps to put the hockey grounds in order evoked a general discussion on the control and maintenance of the Stratford domains. Cr. Jackson said it was' time that some effort was made by the council for the improvement of the grounds, especially the Victoria Park football grounds. He said these grounds were in a disgraceful condition, and while the council was merely “drifting to thp dark ages” the grounds were going to ruin. The council should endeavor to raise ' money to expend on the grounds. He suggested that the council confer with the sports bodies with a view to formulating a‘ scheme, possibly something in the nature of a bazaar, for raising, say £ 100, to put the grounds in order. I The proposal was deferred for further consideration. HYDRO-ELECTRICITY. As a result of the discussion on hydroelectric licenses at the meeting of the Strutford County Council on Saturday, the Mayor said lie wanted a report brought down on the position generally, showing especially what steps had been taken to secure power from*New Plymouth. —It was decided to obtain a report accordingly. BOROUGH ENGINEER. APPOINTMENT TO STRATFORD. A question that has aroused consider able interest in Stratford, the appointment of a borough engineer, was decided at Monday night's meeting of the council, when Mr. Sturrock (of Hawera) was* appointd to the position on a percentage basis (6% per cent, on moneys expended) and travelling expenses. Since the electrical engineer (Mr. Hollands) left Stratford some months ago the borough has been without an engineer, carrying on under the direction of a foreman. • In moving the appointment of Mr. Sturrock. the Mayor said that as the borough had a considerable amount of money to spend on water, drainage and general works, the necessity for an efficient engineer was apparent. He thought it would be wise to appoint Mr. Sturrock at a remuneration of 6i per cent on moneys expended and travelling expenses, with a right to terminate the engagement at any time. Cr. Campbell Jackson opposed the appointment of Mr. Sturrock. He said that Stratford was a town of sufficient importance to warrant an engineer of its own, and that it would be an injustice to the town to pay a non-resident engineer on a 6% per cent, basis, when 1 a resident engineer could be secured at about the same cost. Cr. Cameron did not agree with Cr. . Jackson. He said they required a com- ; patent man and such could not be obtained at a cost similar to that charged by Mr. Sturrock. Cr. Hunter supported the appointment of Mr. Sturrock. He said that if they employed an engineer of their own at a low salary they would be training a new man and he would practice on them“At the same time,” he said, “I should like to see Mr. Sturrock’s fees reduced i some.” Cr. Ward favored a resident engineer, pointing out that, if they engaged Mr. ; Sturrock a foreman at a salary of not ; less than £6 10s per week would be also : required. 1 Cr. Rutherfurd suggested that they ■ ask Mr. Sturrock to reduce the fees he > proposed to charge. < A division was called on the Mayor’s i motion that Mr. Sturrock be appointed • and an equal vote was returned —five for i and five against —the Mayor giving his ] casting vote in favor of the motion, ■ which was thus carried. < Cr. Jackson: “That casting vote of yours again, your Worship.” The Mayor: “I’m sorry that it should displease you.” WADDING. 1 At the Methodist Church this morn- ' ing a quiet and pretty wedding was cele- j brated" the contracting parties being Mr. Carrington Garlick, of Hastie Road, 1 and Miss Lily McCracken, of New Plymouth. Mr. A. J. Garlick acted as best man and Miss O. M. McCracken as bridesmaid. The Rev. L. B. Neale per- . formed the ceremony. The happy couple left by the mail train on their * honeymoon. . ] n 1 Your stationery requirements are well ] catered for by Wilson Bros.. Stratford, who have a comprehensive stock of all c office requisites and typew iter supplies. f Here are a few good commercial lines: Pilot letter files, 3/6 each; wire docu- f ment baskets, 4/6 each; desk blotting d pads, 4/9 and 6/-; first-grade typewriter i carbon, foolscap size, 15/- box. Don t 2 forget to call or write.—Advt. c