STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Adv'-'tisements and items of news -ur publication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Op dem for papers may also be left with thecD BOROUGH COUNCIL. Feb. 21. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) and Crs. R. H. Cameron, S. Ward, A. Stewart, W. Mclnnes, C. Jackson, T. Lawson, S. B. Hunter and C. B. Walsh. The Inspector of Health (Mr. A. Gray) reported having inspected the borough rubbish tip, and recommended the draining of stagnant pools into the river, the burning or burial of rubbish which has been tipped on the flat near the river, and the tipping of offensive matter, such as fish refuse and decayed fruit, into one place to be immediately covered with earth.—The Mayor said he had seen the inspector, who had said that there was nothing to object to; and he would like to emphasise, for the benefit of the county council, that there was nothing to object to. He did not think that it was very nice treatment for the county council to take the steps they did in connection with the pit. The letter was received. I A further letter, giving the Fire Brigade’s version of the occurrence at the fire at the Borough Council’s yard, which resulted in the brigade requesting an apology from Cr. Jackson, was received. After a brief discussion it was decided to consider the letter in committee. It was decided to hold an enquiry at a special meeting of the council on February 27. Cr. Hunter raised the question of the matter of the recent valuations which had been made of the town.

The Mayor said that there had been a good deal of comment about these valuations. Most people thought they were too high. A lot of people had the idea that because the valuations had gone up their rates were going up in proportion. That would not be so. His own opinion was th it the valuations to-day were on the high side. He thought they should put in an objection from the council to the department, saying that the valuations were too high. He had seen the valuer, and told him he was going to move in this direction, and ask for lower valuations. The trouble was that the properties had been valued a year ago, and the valuations had only just come out. Values had changed. He would like to move also that the ratepayers should be asked to send in objections in support of the council. Cr. Jackson said the general opinion was that they should call a public meeting. He was proceeding to discuss the valuations when the Mayor said that he thought it was not advisable to put forward arguments which might prejudice the decisions of the public meeting it was intended to call. Cr. Jackson contended that the valuations would have an effect on the rates. The Mayor said they would have some effect. Cr. Jackson said he thought they should move to do the best they possibly could to get the valuations reduced. They were 50 per cent, too high. After a brief discussion the motion was carried. The Mayor said that the council should immediately proceed with the improvement of the town’s water supply. He moved that the works committee and the engineer should go into the matter of the expenditure of loan money for the purpose of improving the water supply. He referred to the danger from fire, through the pressure of the water not being greater than it is at present. The motion was carried.

OBITUARY. Very general regret was expressed by all sections of the community, especially in the Marton and Stratford districts, at the sudden death of Mr. W. J. Simpson last week. Born and brought up in Bristol, upon leaving school he was apprenticed to the drapery, afterwards becoming a traveller in North Devon. In the early twenties he came to New Zealand to his uncle, the late Hon. R. K. Simpson, of Marton, with whom he lived and learned farming, afterwards taking up a bush section in the Hunterville district. About 25 years ago he married a daughter of Mr. McConnell, a pioneer of New Plymouth, who was then a teacher under the Wanganui Board. Thirteen years ago he sold his farm and bought one at the Tututawa, where be worked hard for everything pertaining to ; the advancement of the district, and during the war did all he could for patriotic and Red Cross work. He was for many years ’ chairman and secretary of the School Committee. Hall Committee, Domain Board, and a director of the local factory and a J.P. He was mainly instrumental in getting Mr. Perry’s estate cut up for returned soldiers, being one who went to Wellington to interview the Minister of Lands in connection with it. He also worked very hard in the interests of prohibition. During the epidemic he had a slight attack of influenza, and nine months later another, which left him so weak that he found himI self unable to carry on his farm, which he sold to the Government for returned soldiers. Twelve months ago he came to Fitzroy, where he has since been living very quietly. Besides his widow he leaves one daughter, a teacher under the Taranaki Education Board. P.P.A. MEETING. At tl .* Town Hall last night the Rev. Howard Elliott, nation il organiser of the Protestant Political Association, delivered an address to a fair attendance of Stratford people. Mr. J. B. Hine was in the chair. Mr. Elliott commented on the fact that during the past year the membership of the P.P.A. had increased in the Stratford district by 600. If the electors stick to the association this year, which was election year, it -might be possible to save New Zealand from some of the evils which had overtaken Australia. Mr. Elliott then spoke of his impressions recently gained in Australia, with particular reference to the failure of the Labor Governments. There were four tests by which any Government should be content to be judged—finance, legislation, social results and moral results. Judged by any of these tests the Governments of Queensland and New South Wales were shown to be failures. The speaker went on to quote instances of cases in which Labor Governments had failed. When electors realised fully that the “Reds’’ were the enemies of the British Empire they would need no further urging to join the P.P.A. Mr. Elliott then referred to the Ligouri ease, telling of his interview with Miss Partridge, who would come to New Zealand to lecture to women. At the conclusion of the address the Rev. A. L. Witheford proposed a vote of thanks to the. lecturer, which was carried by acclamation. DOMAIN BOARD. The Borough Council sat last night as the Domain Pr’Mrd, All the council-

lors excepting Cr. E. S'. Rutherfurd, who is ill, were present. The Mayor welcomed Mr. Percy Thomson as a member of the board, and referred to the very valuable work which Mr. Thomson had done in the direction of beautifying the town. Mr. Thomson briefly responded, and expressed the hope that the council would soon be able to raise a large enough loan to make big improvements.

The Mayor stated that necessary works in King Edward Park had been carried out. He deprecated the action of citizens who wrote to the papers pointing out work which should be done in the park. In many cases the work had been done by the time the letters were published. Mr. Thomson drew attention to the fact that the gates and bridge were too narrow for perambulators. He moved that, wire-netting should be secured for bridges. —Carried. Mr. C. Jackson said that the fliueiests of athletics were being neglected, and a better sports ground should be provided. The council should get\ to work and do something. It was decided that the members of the board should pay a visit of inspection to Victoria Park on March 3. TO RAISE £lOOO. The Stratford Retailers’ Association decided to-night, to raise the sum of £lOOO for the improvement of the school grounds of the new Stratford Technical High School. Messrs. R. Masters, M.P., and W. Pinhey waited on the executive of the association and placed before them a scheme by which it was hoped the money could be raised. The scheme outlined by Mr. Masters is one which raised many hundreds of pounds during the war, and is an effort to sell 20,000 envelopes for Is each, each envelope containing a number. The buyer will secure a prize with a number corresponding to that in the envelope. It was decided to call a public meeting next Monday night and to put the scheme in operation at once.

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., Broadway, Stratford.