STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 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 BOROUGH COUNCIL. July 11. A -general meeting of the Stratford Borough Council vw held last night. The Public Trustee, Wellington, advised that the Investment Board had agreed to advance a loan of £-8750 at six per cent, plus two per cent, sinking fund, for a term of *2O years for extinguishing the Council’s antecedent liability—lt was decided to urge the Public Trustee to make the term 10 years instead of 20. The Stratford Musical Society applied for the terms for the hire of the Town Hall for rehearsal purposes.—The Mayor said the society should be encouraged, and it was decided to the hall for 5s per night. C. Moore, builder, Stratford, applied for a reduction in the cost of electric power supplied to his factory, stating that the cost was two-thirds more than at New Plymouth or anywhere else in New Zealand. Evidently the Council did not intend to encourage local industry.—The Mayor said it was known that the price was too high for commercial purposes, but that could not be helped. The letter was received.

The work being dpne by relief workers vn Miranda Street was discussed. It was made a recommendation to the works committee to have the knoll in the street levelled before the street is metalled. The Taranaki Education Board wrote stating that it could not see what bearing the resolution passed by the Council had upon the Board’s request to have the 'overhead wires removed from the Board’s property at the Technical School. The Board had no funds to share the cost of their removal. —It was decided to proceed at once with the erection of new lines. Cr. Ward brought up the matter of the safety of public buildings in the town in the event of fire.—The superintendent of the fire brigade is to be asked to report on the state of the public buildings. It was decided to obtain a report from the custodian of the Town Hall regarding complaints that the fire escape doors were kept locked. The librarian, Miss Laverty, reported that 1914 books had been issued, eighteen books had been added and thirteen new subscribers were enrolled, making the total 190. The borough inspector reported having taken 14 head of stock off the roads. Ten convictions were recorded against offenders during the month. The abattoirs manager reported that the following stock had been slaughtered during the month for local consumption:—Cows 53, heifers 32, oxen 57. calves 5, sheep 346, pigs 77.

HOSPITAL BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held to-day. The Director-General of Health forwarded the first intimation that hospital boards would in future receive no porton of land agents’ license-fees as hitherto, in consequence of tHe Land Agents Act of 1921-22. The Taranaki Hospital Board sought support to a resolution protesting against the regulations. On the motion of the chairman, a resolution was passed protesting against the action of the Government in withdrawing land agents’ fees from -hospital boards.' A copy of the resolution will be forwarded to Mr. R. Masters, M.P. The chairman said the board had a right to the fees for this year, as the estimates had been fixed in anticipation of receivi >g laud agents’ fees. The Public Trust Office acknowledged receipt of the board’s application for a loan of £5500 for the erection of a maternity hospital. The matter had been referred to the Public Trustee for a reply. Mr. R. Masters, M.P.. forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Public Trustee with reference to the proposed maternityblock. The plans for the building had not been approved by the Health Department, nor had the necessary consent of the Minister to the raising of the loan been obtained. The Public Trustee intimated that State Advances loans could not he granted without the consent of the Minister and the approval of the plans by the department. The medical superintendent (Dr. D. Steven) reported that 24 patients were admitted during the month, 22 were discharged, and 29 remained in the institution at the end of the period. Nine operations were performed and there was one death. The Whangamomona district nurse reported that during the month she had attended 22 medical and surgical cases, and one midwifery case. The fees receiv'd were £2 6s 6d. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. R. Masters, M.P., for his activities in connection with the Government subsidy on hospital boards’ capital expenditure. A resolution was passed congratulating the superintendent, matron and nurses on the success attained at the recent examinations.

JERSEY CATTLE CLUB. The annual meeting of the Stratford Jersey Cattle Club was held to-day, the president, Mr. Frank Ranford, presiding. The annual report stated, inter alia,: It will be seen from a perusal of the balance sheet that the amount standing to the credit of the club is £5 10s, as against £4 12s 4d at the commencement of the financial year. This, in view of the fact that the expenses for this year’s annual smoke concert have been paid out of last year’s revenue, must be considered fairly satisfactory. Ten new’ members were elected during the year. The subscriptions received amounted to £42, as against £36 15s in 1921. There are, however, a considerable number outstanding, which we trust will be paid at an early date. The holding-back of subscriptions of necessity curtails the usefulness of the club and retards progress. The Stratford Jersey Futurity Stakes, inaugurated last year the club, jjMi oyer gag?

nations. When the scheme was originally mooted it was hoped and expected that the number would be considerably larger. However, in view of the change which has taken, place meanwhile in financial matters, the result is satisfactory. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the president »e--ferred to the recent sale of pedigree cattle held at the A. & P. grounds, under the auspices of the club. He regretted that many cattle of poor quality had come forward, detrimentally affecting the sale. The fact that low prices w'ere realised and the demand was not keen, however, was an indication that the buyers wanted betterclass cattle —not pedigrees alone, but stock with individuality and good backing. He hoped that in the future more stringent measures would be taken to exclude stodc of inferior quality from the sales. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow’: President, Mr. F. Ranford (reelected) ; vice-president, Mr. Dan O’Sullivan; committee, Messrs. E. Linneil, D. O’Sullivan, R. Dagg, D. Malone, W. Pollock, G. Gibbons and H. Hunt. Messrs. G. J. Bell, Tuna, and W. Crossby (Croydon Road), were elected members of the society, and Messrs. R. T. B. Mellow and —. Quarrell tendered their resignations, which were accepted with regret. The matter of the poor quality stock submitted for sale at- the club’s sale at the A. & P. grounds was discussed, members stressing the necessity of more stringent regulations and enforcing guarantees being given by vendors. It was pointed out that only a very small percentage of the stock offered at the recent sale was of good quality, and it was questionable whether the sale had not done the breed and the club considerable harm. It was suggested that the breeders of high-class cattle should club together and establish a good sale. It was stated, however, that the poor-quality cattle offered did not come from members of the club, but from outsiders desirous of getting rid of cattle and taking advantage of the club’s sale. It was decided to close entries for the Futurity Stakes on July 25. • The secretary was granted the usual honorarium of £2O.

GENERAL ITEMS. A warning against fast motor-driving was issued to certain medical practitioners in Stratford in a report presented to last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. It was stated that complaints had been received regarding speeding by the doctors, and that they w’ould be notified that the by-laws must be complied with. Reporting on the operations of the electric generating plant for the past month, at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, the engineer stated that the following units had been generated, the figures for the corresponding month of last year being given in parentheses: Hydro, 27.500 (24,498); Diesel, 16,568 (15,737); totals, 44,068 (40,235). This output was stated to be a record for any month since the commencement of the service.

An indication of the amount of labor available at the present time is exemplified by the number of applications (12 and 46, respectively) received by the Stratford Borough Council for the positions of electrical engineer and domain caretaker.

Councillor S. B. Walsh was absent from last night’s meeting of the Borough Council on account of illness. The Mayor remarked that this was the first time Councillor Walsh had missed a meeting for eight years. The rainstorm of last night caused a high flood in the Patea River. Considerable damage was done at the site of the new bridge in Broadway, the excavation work being washed out. A quantity of timber, tools and several wheelbarrows were washed away by the flood-water, and these have not yet been recovered. The Stratford Plunket Society has decided to hold a horticultural show in February next. This decision was arrived at at a preliminary meeting held to-day. A further meeting will be held in a fortnight’s time to advance arrangements.

Have you seen the latest thing in Portable Typewriters? Call at W. H. Humphrey’s and see the new Portable Remington. No folding and unfolding. You simply open the case and the machine is ready for use. For private correspondence it cannot be beaten, neither can the price, £l9 10s. English magazines, Fashion Books., etc., posted to any address.

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.