STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives. Wilson Bios., Broadway, Stratford. Or . ders for papers may also be left with th ecu'' BOROUGH COUNCIL February 14. The monthly meeting of the general purposes committee of the Stratford Borough Council was held on Monday night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), Crs. R. H. Cameron, S. Ward, A. Stewart, C. Jackson, T. Lawson, A. B. Hunter, C. B. Walsh. Cr. E. S. Rutherfurd was granted, a month’s leave of absence, as he Was in hospital. An apology for absence was received from Cr. Mclnnes. Engineer’s Report. The engineer reported that tar-sealing work had been pushed on vigorously since the beginning of the year. The following streets had been tar-sealed:— Pembroke Road, from borough boundary to Hamlet Street; Broadway North footpath, Seyton Street to Regan Street; Regan Street, East Swansea Road, to Orlando Street; Opunake Road, Brecon Road, to Hamlet Street. The costs were:—Pembroke Road, £23 14s; Broadway North footpath, £BO 7s 2d; Regan Street East, £l7l 12s 6d; Opunake Road, £123 Is 3d. The water-tables and footpaths had been cleaned out. Patching had been done in vkrious streets, and banking done in Broadway South. The cost of the two traffic domes had been approximately £29 6s 3d. Electrical Engineer’s Report, The electrical engineer reported that during the month the hydro station had worked very satisfactorily. No. 1 engine in the Diesel station bad been dismantled fir overhaul. Several service connections had been renewed mainly in Cordelia Street to comply with the Government regulations. It was resolved that a letter of sympathy should be sent to Mr. J. Butcher, who had a finger crushed, and that he be paid full w’ages during the time he was not working. The report was adopted. / Cr. Hunter said that something should be done in connection with the electric installations. All the fire underwriters’ inspector wanted was what was reasonable. He did not want total rewiring, but only reasonable alterations. Cr. Lawson supported Cr. Hunter. The Mayor opposed Cr. Hunter’s view. He thought it would be unwise to take action. After discussion, no action was taken. Special Report. j The electrical engineer reported on the Town Hall lighting. He recommended that the whole installation be put in order and a new’ switchboard erected, at an approximate cost of £l5O. It was decided to hold the matter over until next Monday night. The Fire Brigade Controversy. The following letter was received from the secretary of the Stratford Volunteer Fire Brigade: —“As secretary of the local brigade I have been instructed by them to write to you asking that the deputy-Mayor, councillor Jackson, be asked to apologise publicly for remarks passed by him to Superintendent Grubb and the members of the brigade at the recent fire in the council’s yard on January 6, 1922, and during such time as Superintendent Grubb and the brigade had charge of such fire. If aforesaid apology is not forthcoming within ten days from date, the members of the brigade have decided to take further action.”

The Mayor said that he had told the brigade that they should have asked Cr. Jackson personally for the satisfaction they wanted. They said he had broken a by-law, but no charge had been made. It appeared that before the council could take any action they must make a charge showing that a by-law had been broken. The council could not ask a councillor to apologise. The brigade must make a specific charge showing what by-law had been broken, and then an enquiry could be made into all the circumstances. He m'dved that the brigade be. written to to this effect Cr. Jackson favored an enquiry. If the ‘brigade wanted one they should have asked for it. There had been a lot of street talk and paper talk, and the 'thing was simply a joke. It seemed that there were some busybodies who were pushing the thing along. He had nothing against Mr. Grubb, who wanted to dion lihe matter.

Cr. Lawson asked what sort of a charge the council wanted. The brigade was holding a meeting the following night, and if the council wanted a charge they should know what sort of charge was wanted.

Cr. Cameron moved an amendment that a committee be appointed to meat the Fire Brigade and endeavor to come to some agreement. After discussion the amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and the Mayor’s motion was carried. General. Jas. W. Boon applied for leave to I "e over for a term of years a portion of unused road opposite his fatcory, in Juliet Street He undertook to metal and improve the road provided the Council would pay back the cost in case it again took over the road.—The -Mayor moved that the applicaion should be turned down. It would be creating a very dangerous precedent. —Carried. The Minister of Public Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) wrote urging increased efforts in the exterminating of rats—The Mayor said they had already done all tha< was possible. He thought they might offer a reward for catching rats—say 3d a head. “Penny-halfpenny each, one and six a dozen, that’s the old rate,” said Cr. Walsh. It was decided that 3d per head should be offered for all rats caught. William Sharrock wrote, asking the council to lower the footpath on the corner of Ariel Street and Pembroke Road to its permanent level, as he wished to erect a concrete cobble-stone fence round his property. The works committee advised that Mr. Sharrock should be advised that the work asked for would be attended tp when sufficient money was available. — The recommendation was adopted. A letter from the State Advances Office, stating that the consent of the Governor-General had been obtaned for the electric light extension loan of £7OO, was received. The librarian reported that 1640 books books had been issued, and six new books added during the month. Five new subscribers were enrolled, bringing the total to IJJ*

HOSPITAL BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held to-day. The medical superintendent (Dr. D. Steven) reported that during January 32 patients were admitted and 22 discharged, leaving 16 in hospital at the end of the month. There were three deaths. Ten operations were performed. The Whangamomona Medical Association district nurse (Nurse M. Myers) reported that during January she had attended 7 medical and surgical cases, and had received £1 7s in fees, leaving £1 8s 3d in fees unpaid. The matron (Miss S. G. Beedle) reported that she had received several applications by ’phone for probations. Probationer D. Black left the hospital on February 9. It was decided that Mr. R. Richardson should have the hospital paddocks at a rental of £6 10s per year. The chairman said the occasion was favorable to place on record the board’s appreciation of Dr. Sowerby’s work as acting medical superintendent. Mr. Harkness moved a motion expressing the board’s appreciation of Dr. Sowerby’s good work while relieving Dr. Steven at the hospital. The motion was carried unanimously. On behalf of the board the chairman tendered a hearty welcome back to Dr. Steven, and hoped he had had a very enjoyable holiday. They noticed that he had improved himself, and congratulated him on the examinations he had passed. They had very great pleasure in welcoming him back as medical superintendent of the hospital. Dr. Steven thanked the board sincerely for the privilege they had given him to take a year’s leave, and for their welcome. JERSEY BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION. At a meeting of the committee of the Stratford branch of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders’ Association, held on Monday evening, arrangements were discussed in connection with the annual field day and demonstration. Mr. H. E. B. Watson, the Jersey breeders’ official demonstrator, having notified his willingness to demonstrate in the Stratford district on Wednesday, March 1, it was decided to hold this year’s function on Mr. G. T. Gibbons’ farm, Cheat Road, Ngaere. Acting on Mr. Watson’s suggestion, the committee is extending -the lines followed on former occasions by combining the demonstration with an address on a subject of interest to all breeders and farmers generally. Taking advantage of Mr. Watson’s visit, it was. also decided to hold the annual smoke concert on the evening of March 1, getting Mr. Watson to continue his lecture given in the afternoon at the demonstration. The secretary reported that entries for the Stratford Jersey Cattle Futurity Stakes were coming in very satisfactorily; it is expected that by the time entries close on March 15 to have representatives of the breed from every part of Taranaki. BABY SHOW. The baby show to be held by the Stratford branch of the Plunket Society in Mr. H. E. Abraham’s grounds on February 21 will be a unique event in Stratford. The competition is open to all babies under two years, who will be classed into subdivisions according to age. Prizes have been donated by sympathetic citizens. Given good weather, a fine outing is assured for both mothers and babies. School stationery can be bought at reasonable prices at Wilson Bros.’ agency of the Daily News in Stratford. School [pages, 3 for 2/6 ;exercise books, 80 ruled pages for 7d each. Also commercial stationery of all kinds at Wilson Bros., 1 Broadway, Stratford,