STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in tbe 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. HOSPITAL BOARD. August 9. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held this morning. Present,—Messrs. C. D. Sole (chairman), R. McK. Morrison, P. Thompson, E. Maa-fell, J. O'Neill. J. T. Belcher, G. P. Harkness and C. R. Finnerty. A letter from the Hawera Board, asking for support in a movement to get an increase in the travelling expenses for members of boards, was received. Dr. Sowerby, acting medical superintendent, reported that, during July, 34 patients were admitted and 28 discharged, leaving 27 in the hospital. There were no deaths. Eight operations were performed, and there was an outpatient attendance of eight civilians and one soldier. There were six eases of scarlet fever in isolation. The work of the nursing staff had been comparatively light on the surgical side, but heavier on the medical side owing to the large number of pneumonia and scar.et fever cases. Th? matron (Miss Beedle) reported as follows:—Nurse Dawbin was successful in the State examination held in June: Nur;-.* Smart passed in her anatomy and phys.ology examination last month: Pronat oner Nurse McGuinness has completed her probation period ot rionth,, and is recommended for further training: Miss.!’. Symes joined the stall' on July 20 as probationer. Messrs. T.nmipson and Finnerty were appointed to import on the probable cost of closing Portia Street South, from Celia Strevv t< Romeo Street, in order to increase the hospital grounds. In reply to a question, by Air. Finnerty, the chairman said that rumors to the effect that the X-ray plant was not working satisfactorily were quite incorrect. The plant was giving every satisfaction. NEW POST OFFICE. M.P. REPLIES TO CRITICS. At the monthly meeting of the Strafford Chamber of Commerce, held last week, members of the executive criticised the action of Mr. R. Masters. M.P., in allowing letters which were sent through him to the chamber to be published in the Press before handing them to the Chamber. It was contended that a letter sent through him to the Cham- I her referring to th? building of a new I Post Office, and which he had given to

rhe Press, would have a detrimental effect on tenders for the 'building. The letter referred to is one from the Hon. J. G. Coates /Minister of Public Works), which was published on July 1?9, and stated -that the plans and specifications for the building of the new post, office were practically finished, and tenders would be invited with a view to ascertaining at what price a building eoiihl be erected, though no guarantee could be given that a tender would be accepted. Air. Masters stated to-day that the letter had been sent to him in reply to personal representations made by him to the authorities. The matter of a new u<>st office had been under consideration for a long time. On November 20 he received a communication from the Postmaster-General (Hon. J. G. Coates) to the effect that plans for the new building had been approved of, and that tenders wo-.’d be invited for the erection of the building. This information was passed on in the, usual way to the chamber. In response to a request. from the chamber, he wrote and also sent a telegram to the Minister, asking for a definite statement as to when tenders would be called, and he advised the chamber in July that no answer had been received from the Minister. Whilst in Wellington later in July, lie interviewed the authorities regarding a new post office, and made strong representa-

tions in the matter of having tenders called immediately, and a few days later he received the letter which he had published. To anyone who had read the letter it should have been quite clear that the Minister was writing to him privately, for the letter says, ‘ln reply to your representations,” and does not in any way refer to the representations made on behalf of the chamber. In his letter to the chamber (in which he .sent a copy of the Minister’s letter as a matter of courtesy), no reference was made to the .Minister’s reply being a repl/ to the chamber’s correspondence, lie Thought that in the interests of the public of Stratford, the attitude of the Postmaster-General should be made known as soon as possible, and as the letter was one to himself, surely he was entitled to make what use of it he thought best. FIRE AT AWATUNA. Sparks flying from a - ’ chimney caused the total loss of a home at Awatuna last Thursday, when the residence of Mr. J. R. Jones was burned to the ground. Whilst the family were at dinner a roaring sound was heard, and on investigation the roof of the house was found to be in flames. Within fifteen minutes the entire residence had been razed to the ground, and all that was : saved was a few clothes. The outbreak I was caused by sparks from the chim- | ney, which was built fairly low, being j caught in the gale and swept under the ; eaves, BOROUGH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Air. J. AV. McMillan), and Councillors Cameron, Ward, Stewart, Me Innes, Jackson, Lawson, Hunter, Walsh and Rutherfurd. The Mayor stated that the very unsatisfactory state of the light during the past two months was due to a large extent to the staff not working in harmony. It was decided to give the electrical engineer and the. chairman of the committee power to deal with the matter. Referring to the. statement in the J electric light committee’s report that ; the inspector for the Fire Insurance Un-i derwriters’ Association had condemned several installations, the Mayor said • that, though the installations were out of date, they were quite adequate. It was resolved that the matter should be held over until a report had been received from the council’s own engineer. Cr. Ward moved that the. inspector be instructed to keep a- special watch on the traffic round White’s corner at Regan Street and prosecute drivers exceeding the limit or travelling on the wrong side of the road. The motion was carried. The abattoir manager (Mr. K. Ross)

I reported that the stock slaughtered in July was:—Cattle 117, sheep 418, pigs 26. In reply to a letter from the Public Works Engineer, it was resolved that the council should formally agree to pay three-fourths of the cost of the erection of Victoria bridge. Councillor Cameron ws last night elected as the representative to the Taranaki Progress League, in place of the Mayor, who occupied the position of president. The new Stratford borough engineer, Mr. J. W. Roche, was welcomed by the Mayor J at. the Council meeting last evening. Envelopes. —Thousands of them, at cut prices: Buff Alanilla, commercial size, 8/6 box of 500, 16/- 1000: Azure Altinilla, small size for accounts 4/- box of 250, 15/- 1000. Call or write and get a supply. —Wilson Bros., printers and stationers, Stratford.