STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 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. Or tiers for papers may also be left with them. BOROUGH COUNCIL. October 11. The monthly meeting of the Progress Committee of the Stratford Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), Crs. E. S. Rutherfurd, C. B. Walsh, S. B. Hunter, T. Lawson, C. Jackson, A. Stewart, S. Ward and R. H. Cameron. SUPPLY OF METAL. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., sent a copy of a comparison of costs as between Mt. Egmont metal and that to be got from Te Wera, which he had obtained from the Minister of Public Works. The comparison showed that, assuming a plant of 25,000 cubic yards capacity is installed, the following would be the cost per cubic yard for varying quantities (Mt. Egmont being mentioned first: 60,000 cubic yards: 13s 6d; 7s 6d. 45,000 cubic yards: 14s; 8s 4d. 30,000 cubic yards: 16s 3d; 9s Id. 25,000 cubic yards: 18s; 9s 6d. • 20,000 cubic yards: 20s; 10s 4d. 15,000 cubic yards: 235; Ils 6d. If a plant for 60,000 cubic yards were installed in Te Wera the cost for varying annual output would be: 60,000 cubic yards: 7s 6d. 45,000 cubic yards: Bs. 30,000 cubic yards: 10s 9d. 20,000 cubic yards: Ils 9d. 15,000 cubic yards: 13s 3d. The quantity of stone available at Te Wera was ascertained by boring to be about 625,000 cubic yards, but from indications there is no doubt that a much greater quantity than this is available.” The matter of obtaining stone from Te Wera was referred to the works committee to report to the next meeting. STREET WORKS. The borough engineer (Mr. J. W. Roche) reported that the work on the Cordelia Street sewer has been completed at a cost of £74 17s Id. Tar-sealing for various streets would cost £5BB 10s. Fenton and Regan Streets required work on them, which would cost £825. The cost of preparing and tar-sealing Regan Street from the railway crossing to Swansea Road would be about £7OO. The cost of forming and metalling Seyton Street, from Orlando Street to Ariel Street, would be about £127. The cost of laying sewers in Ariel Street, and Orlando Street and Juliet Street South would be £5OO. PLAGUE PREVENTION.

The works committee reported as follows : Precaution Against Plague.—The Health Department has asked that a ‘•clean-' )" week be instituted. We recommend that a thorough inspection be made of all premises, and that, where necessary, steps be taken to have accumulations of refuse removed. “I think that if we are going to do anything we should do something worth while,” said the Mayor, “and I think that we shall be doing a great injustice to the town if we don’t do something.” He moved that a “clean-up” week should be instituted by the works committee immediately.—Carried. A DISSATISFIED COUNCILLOR. Cr. Ward asked if the architect for the borough houses was also the contractor, and what remuneration was paid for the work. The Mayor replied that Mr. Healy assumed both positions, and was paid at the rate of 6A per cent, on each house. “Since I have been a councillor, sir, I_ have seen no report from the housing committee, whatsoever,” said Cr. Ward, “and I think that it calls for an explanation from the committee. We are spending about £lO,OOO. He continued that in one borough house which had been built a chimney had been put in which had smoked, and an extra six feet had to be* built on to it. He thought that this called for an explanation from Mr. Healey. He thought the minutes and correspondence of the committee should be placed before the council. He regretted to say it, but three tenants had told him that only one member of the housing committee had been to see the houses. Cr. Hunter said that he was a member of the housing committee, but had never had notice of any meetings., “NO COMPLAINTS.”

Cr. Jackson said that he had seen tenants who had had no complaints’’ and he did not see why Cr. Ward should pass the remarks he had passed. It was quite a common thing for chimneys to smoke. Mr. Healy had come to the rescue when the council could not get a tender which they could look at. Mr. Healy built a house at the cemetery, which was entirely satisfactory. Mr. Healy was still building the same houses, but other contractors who had previously turned the council down were now clamoring for work. He thought Cr. Ward’s remarks made a mountain out of a mole-hill. He had heard three of the tenants express satisfaction with the houses.

The Mayor said that the housing committee did not want to do things on their own. After calling twice for tenders they had asked Mr. Healy to build a cottage, and as they were quite satisfied with it had asked him to go on with the building. It was not fair to call Mr. Healy a contractor, as he did not get any profit over and above the 6 A per cent., and it would not pay him to put shoddy stuff into the houses. It was not the council’s money they were spending, but the tenants' money, and if the people who were paying were satisfied they were all who needed to be so. If the legal fees were £25 the council would deal with the matter. He did not think the complaints were well founded. Cr. Ward said that he wanted to make it perfectly clear that the complaints emanated from the tenants and not from him. The Mayor pointed out that the matter of building houses had been left in the hands of the building committ It was decided that the housing committee should report monthly to the council. It was decided that the council should place on record its appreciation of the visit of the War Trophies Exhibition to Stratford, and of the work of SergeantMajor Dawson, who was in charge of the exhibition. HOSPITAL BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held yesterday. Pres ent: Messrs. C. D. Sole (chairman), P. Thompson, C. R. Finnerty, G. P. Harkness and E. Mar fell The matron (Miss Beedle) reported that Nurse Grant had returned to duty, and Nurse Wood was at present on annual leave. Leave was requested to replenish iLe siock af am fl and wud there

being no reserve to draw on. The request was left in the hands of the chairman and the secretary. The acting medical superintendent (Dr. Sowerby) reported that for the month of September 18 patients were admitted and 18 were discharged, leaving 19 in hospital. There were three deaths and four cases of isolation. District Nurse Myers reported that in the Whangamoinona district during August she had attended eight medical and fourteen surgical cases. Notification was received from the Health Department that the board was authorised to overdraw at the bank to the extent of £3OO. It would be necessary to have Ministerial authority if a further overdraft were required. PERSONAL. Mr. C. D. Sole, chairman of the Hospital Board, will go into hospital again tomorrow to undergo a further operation. Messrs. C. Jackson and A. J. Barr will represent the Stratford Agricultural and Pastoral Association at the Palmerston Show. GENERAL. i The annual meeting of the Taranaki Land Agents’ Association was held in the municipal chambers yesterday, there being an attendance of about 20. Mr. A. M. Robson was elected president, and Messrs. Lynskey, Hignett and Nolan were elected vice-presidents. The same executive as acted last year was re-elected, and Mr. E. L. Humphries was re-elected secretary. A vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr. J. Clarke, late president of the association, was passed. It was decided to hold a dinner in Stratford on October 27. Dancing enthusiasms are reminded that the dance to be held at Midhirst will be on Wednesday, October 19, not to-morrow, as previously stated. The large number of satisfied users of the Corona Portable' Typewriter is the best advertisement the machine could have. It is ideal for secretaries, ministers and all business men. A. special discount of ten per cent, off all machines is offered this month at Wilson Bros., Printers and Stationers, Stratford.