STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 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 representatative, Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. METAL FOR TAHORA. April 5. A meeting of the executive of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held last night. Present: Messrs. J. B. Richards (chairman), W. P. Kirkwood, J. W. McMillan, S. Maealister, E. H. Young, W. McDonald, P. Thomson, W. Mclnnis, and C. Martin. An apology was received from Mr. D. J. Malone. Before proceeding with the business, the chairman welcomed Mr. E. H. Young to the executive, Mr. Young having recently been appointed. The chairman also introduced Mr. Kerr, secretary of the Tahora Settlers’ Association, who attended the meeting with a view to placing before the chamber the position in regard to the metal proolem in the Tahora district. The chairman explained to Mr. Kerr that the chamber had taken action regarding the metalling of the Tangarakau Gorge, a committee having been set up for the purpose, having in view the urgency of this road being included in the route of the main North Island highway. Mr. Richards read reports on the metal on Kerr and Gwilliam’s estate, the Government geologist forwarding a very favorable report, while the Public Works engineer’s rd-, port was less favorable.

Mr. Kerr thanked the chamber for their cordial welcome. Regarding the question of metal on Kerr and Gwilliam’s property, Mr. Kerr reported having, on his visit to Wellington, proved to the Minister of Public Works that the engineer who had reported the metal to be of inferior quality had never visited the pit. On instructions from the Minister the Public Works engineer (Mr. Murray) had visited the pit with him .(Mr. Kerr) and reported the metal as of good quality. Mr. Kerr did not profess to know anything about the metal, but he believed practical men whd said it would make a perfect road. The Tahora metal could be put on the road at half the cost of the Te Wera metal. The Minister had said when at Tahora that if they found the metal the department would put it on the road. They now had a road to the metal quarry, but no bridges. The department was now going to spend £BOO on a. bridge three feet wide, which was of no use for carting metal. He wished the chamber would go out and view the position, and they could also note the waste that was going on. Mr. Morgan had told him that he could see at the present time enough metal to do 500* miles o-f road, and believed the supply was limitless. His association had asked him to press the urgency of metalling the Tangarakau Gorge road. It had been suggested that Kerr and Gwilliam had an axe to grind in urging the use of the metal on their land, but this was not so, as no royalty would be asked for on any metal procured from their land.

Mr. P. Thomson said if the 3ft. bridge would cost £BOO, what was the estimate of a bridge sufficiently wide lor a traffic bridge ? Mr. Kerr said the traffic bridge was estimated to cost £l2OO. There was a scheme now mooted to deviate the main Ohura road round the Moki Saddle, and if this was done it would take the road within a stone’s throw of the metal.

Mr. Richards suggested that, in view of the additional information received from Mr. Kerr, the matter of securing metal from Kerr and G william’s property, and the metalling of the Tangarakau Gorge, be again urged upon the Minister. A resolution to this eifect was carried. TATU-TAHORA TELEPHONE. Regarding the proposal to bridge the gap between Tatu and Tahora with telephone lines, Mr. Kirkwood reported having interviewed Mr. Cumming, who had stated that the cost of the ordinary telephone line between these two places would be about £2OOO. If the money could be obtained the department would push on with the erection of the line. Mr. Cumming was not favorable to the proposed installation of wireless, said Mr. Kirkwood, and the whole interview had proved unsatisfactory. Mr. Richards said the excuses put forward by the department for delaying the erection of the line were such that they could not be accepted. On the motion of Mr. Thomson it was decided to again urge upon the Postmaster-General the necessity of erecting the line, and to embody in the communication mention of the estimated cost ( £2000), which was looked upon by members as wide of the mark. TRAIN SERVICES. Mr. Richards said that members nt the chamber had interviewed Mr. Mitch- ' ell, the newly-appointed district traffic manager, who had readily concerted that the train service, as recently adopted, was a great disadvantage to the school children attending the Stratford schools from the north, and he had promised to make representations to the Minister. GENERAL. It was resolved to write to the Weenie Preservation Board urging the advisability of setting aside areas on each side o-f the. Tangarakau Gorge road, and to send a copy of the letter to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. It was decided to leave the reply to the Waitara Chamber’s letter regarding the Stratford-Ongarue railway in the hands of the chairman and Mr. Kirkwood. THE STRATFORD SEAT. With the general elections drawing nearer speculation is naturally rife as to who will be brought forward in opposition to Mr. Masters* for the Stratford seat. Several names of probable candidates have been mentioned in support of the Reform Party, among them being that of Mr. E. S. Rutherfurd, who has no intention of standing. To date no definite announcement has been made

LABOR PARTY LECTURE. Mr. Moses Ayrton, national secretary to the New Zealand Labor Party, addressed a fairly well attended meeting in the Parish Hall last night, Mr. H. Johnson presiding. Mr. Ayrton explained the policy of the party in New Zealand, and urged the workers to vote so that the party would get the balance of control of the country. The Tories, he said, looxed after the landed interests and the Liberals after the commercial interests, but the Labor Party stood for human interests. In responding to a vote of thanks, Mr. Ayrton said the best method of showing appreciation was to form a branch of the Labor Party. The party did not impose candidates on the constituencies. but supported the candidates recommended by the local branches. GENERAL ITEMS. Stratford shops will be closed for the Easter holidays on Gooa Friday, Saturday and Monday, but will remain open, with the exception of the grocers, until 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, which day will be as the usual Saturday. The grocers are compelled by law to close at 12 o’clock on Thursday. In view of these arrangements, the public will be well advised to shop early in the week. Bread will be obtainable on Easter Saturday. Special attractions have been arranged by shop-keepers for Thursday.

As a conclusion to the retailers’ creditable effort in raising over £BOO for the improvement of the Technical High School grounds, an entertainment will be held at the Medina tea rooms, when the money will be handed over to the Taranaki Education Board. Mr. P. J. H. White (chairman) will represent the board. The following names of pupils of the Stratford primary school have been forwarded to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association for the issue of certificates: —Proficiency: H. Wellington 900yds, L. Lilley 900yds. H. Davis 880yds, T. Fowler 500yds, Joan McCluggage 325yds, Masie Judd 330 yds, Les. Hill 300yds, W. Conza . 220 yds, L. Rudings 220yds, L. Robertson •220yds. Learners: Joyce Whitmill «50 yds. And. Milne 75yds. The following rinks of bowlers will represent Stratford in a game against Manaia on the Manaia green to-day (cars leave the post office 12.30 sharp): Finlay, Carryer. Sanderson, W. McDonald (s) ; Young. Woodhead, Hillock, Lyons (s); White, Hunt, Sangster, A. Thompson (s); Butcher, Carman, Boyd, J. S. McDonald (s). Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Boon, of Stratford, are spending a three months’ ‘holiday in the porth. In the Stratford Football Club district there is a total of 195 players in the union competitions for this season. The district comprises Tariki, Midhirst, ’Toko, Stratford, Cardiff, Ngaere, and the Stratford school teams, those from Ngaere and Cardiff having entered the competitions this year as first juniors. The Stratford Musical Society, of 40 ’voices, will give a concert in the Ngaere Gardens on Good Friday, this being the last of the big holiday attractions arranged for this season at this popular resort. Country subscribers not receiving their Daily News regularly are asked to immediately notify our circulation manager, care Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Stratford. Complaints will receive prompt attention. A number of good second-hand typewriters, in first-class condition, for sale: Remington, Smith Premier, Monarch Yost. Barlock, Royal, Remington Junior and Oliver. Prices from £7 7s to £25. Typewriter supplies and repairs.—W. H. Humpnrey, Daily News office, Stratford.