STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

DAILY NEWS AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication In the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatative, care Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. HOSPITAL BOARD. THE MONTHLY MEETING. .Sept. 12. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held to-day. Present: Messrs. C. D. Sole (chairman), P. Thomson, W. H. Were, C*. R. Finnerty, E. Marfell and C. P. Harkness. With a view to securing a Government subsidy of one-half of the inter* est and principal of loans raised for hospital buildings, etc., instead of only 12 3d in the £ as at present, Mr. R. Masters. M.P.,- has been negotiating with the department for some time. Mr. Masters forwarded copies of letters received from the Minister of Health, one of which stated: <c With reference to your letter asking that the Government should make the board a cash grant of half the loan moneys outstanding, I have to state that I cannot see my way to do this, as it would form a precedent which every other board would have a rigtyt to expect should be extended to it. If a grant of half the total loans outstanding to hospital boards were made by the Government it would probably mean that an item would have to be placed on the Estimates amounting to some hundreds of thousands of pounds. The whole matter is being- borne in mind with a view to favorable consideration by the Government to the question of interest on loan money being counted capita] expenditure for the matter of subsidy when an amendment td the Hospitals Act is brought down, but I do not see the slightest possibility of such an amendment this session.”

The chairman said the. board had to keep faith with the local bodies with regard to loans raised for additions to the hospital. If the Government would not make a cash grant they should find a full half of the interest and principal. If they did not do this the Government was not keeping faith, and the hoard would be penaFsed to the extent of 7s 9d in the £. This was a question of simple justice, and the Minister had admitted that the position at present was unfair.

The Maternity Block. With regard to the board's application to borrow £6OOO for the purpose of building a maternity block at the hospital, the Health Department wrote stating that without very good reason being adduced the Minister would not be prepared to agree to a loan for a term of 361 years, nor for a term of more than 21 years The Hospitals Commission had recommended that loans on non-permanently constructed buildings should be repaid in 10 years, whereas on buildings constructed with permanent material, the term might bp extended to 20 years. The Minister would be glad if the board would review the matter.

The chairman said the building they proposed to build would he good for a hundred years. Why should not posterity help to pay the cost? He could not see why the present generation should stand »the whole cost, while the generations to come reaped part of the benefits.

It was decided to point out to the department that the contributing local bodies had been given to understand that the term of the loan was to be 36 1 ,? years, and the other reasons why it was desired that the term should be for that period. The chairman said that all the local bodies to which the plans for the proposed maternity hospital had been submitted had unanimously approved of the building, and had expressed the wish that it should be proceeded with at once. General. Plans for the addition of seven rooms to the nurses’ home were submitted to the board. With minor alterations the plans were tentatively approved. The chairman stated that it would not be necessary to incur any expenditure this year. The medical superintendent (Dr. D. ’Steven) reported for the month that 35 patients were admitted to the hospital, 23 were discharged, and there were five deaths. Twenty-nine remained in the institution at the end of the month. Eleven operations were performed.

The Whangamomona district nurse reported that during the month she had attended 18 medical and surgical cases. The fees received amounted to £2 2s 6d.

TROUBLE AT POWER STATION. The state of a Diesel unit at the power station came in for some discussion at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. The electrical engineer reported on the subject as follows: “The No. 4 Diesel will require a thorough overhaul before the dry weather comes on, and. as this will take about four or five 'weeks, it is evident that this should be commenced as soon as possible. I would recommend that during this overhaul the bed plate of this engine be cut out of its grout and lifted away, so that we can make good the holding down bolts, which at present are not •serving the purpose intended, viz., to secure" the bed plate to the concrete block. The whole engine and bed plate are being strained when this movement takes place, and. if allowed to continue, it may result in a broken bed plate, with serious damage to the plant. The probable cost of making these bolts good to the existing block and re-grouting the bed plate would be about £lOO if done during the engine overhaul, and about double that amount if a special job is made of this alone, as the whole engine has to he dismantled to remove, the bed plate.” % The report was adopted. Cr Ward then moved that the electric light committee hold an inquiry into the matter and report to the next meeting. —Carried.

municipal matters. The following reports were presented <to the Borough Council at its meeting I ' 3 "•*»«««• £JWt«4

| the following stock had been slaughtered I for local consumption: Cows 61, heifers 30, oxen 73, calves 1, sheep 3'61, pigs 33. The slaughtering fees amounted to £77 16s 9d. The librarian reported that 1937 books had been issued and 2010 had been returned. Odd books issued numbered 371 and odd books returned 4G4. Thirtyfour new books were added and four new subscribers had been enrolled, making a total of 200. Subscriptions received amounted to £l7 15s Gd. The borough inspector reported that he had taken 7 head of cattle, 4 horses and 3 cows from the roads. Two conyctions were secured for leaving motor ears without lights. BREACHES <?F BY-LAWS. On the motion of Cr. Ward, it was decided at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council to instruct the borough inspector to prosecute in cases of breaches of the boropgh by-laws. Cr. Ward complained that in many instances the verandah spoutings were leaking on to the footpaths. Strong disapproval was also expressed with reference to disregard of the speed Jaws by motorists, the opening of exhausts, and the improper lighting of vehicles. Some time ago a resolution had been passed authorising the inspector to take action, yet glaring breaches of the by-laws were taking place every day. ST. ANDREW’S BULB SHOW. Despite the very unfavorable weather conditions, the flower show held in tne St. Andrew’s Hall to-day was a very successful one, and some very fine exhibits of spring bulbs were displayed. The season has been a good one for spring flowers. With little wind to disturb the growth. Exhibits of flowers were entered from as far -away as New Plvmouth and Hawera. With its tastefully arranged tables the interior of the hall presented a beautiful scene. Some of the most attractive exhibits of flowers were not entered in the competitive classes, one exhibit of note being shown 'by Mrs. P. Thomson. Afternoon tea 'was dispensed, and a cake and sweet stall did brisk business. The proceeds j will go to aid the church funds.

Following are the results of the competitive classes:— Decorated vase.—Mrs. McKenzie 1 and special. Mr. Besley (New Plymouth) 2. Mrs. Bain 3. Decorated mantelpiece.—Mrs. McCallum 1. Bowl of pansies.—Mrs. Fraser. Primroses.-f-Mrs. Fraser 1. Miss I Rawles 2. Daffodils.—Mr. C. Goodson (Hawera) 1. Mr. Besley 2, Miss Bawles 3. Anemonies.—Mr. Besley 1, Miss I Bawles 2. I Variety of flowers. —Mr. Besley 1, I Miss Fraser 2. Mrs. ,T. Petrie 3. • Collection of bulbs.—Mrs. Bain 1. ! The afternoon tea was managed by I Mrs. Hann. Mrs. Thompson and assistants. and the cake stall by the Misses North. The sweets were in the charge iof the Bible Class girls. For the con- ' duet of the show Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Petrie • and assistants are deserving of praise.

GENERAL ITEMS. Before commencing the business at last ni slit’s meeting of the Borough Council, the Mayor referred to the death of the late Mr. Jas. Mulree./which had occurred that day. Mr. Mulree was a respected resident and a member of the old Town Board before the inception of the borough. The Mayor also referred to Mr. Coley’s (a borough employee) bereavement by the loss of his son. A resolution of sympathy, moved by the Mayor, was carried in the customary manner. For the purpose of building dwellings for the electrical engineer and the borough foreman the Borough Council decided last night to make application for the necessary loan money.

At the meeting of the Borough Council last night. Cr. E. S. Rutherfurd was appointed the council’s representative on the Stratford Technical High School Board.

Are you interested in wireless? If yob. are, call and see W. H. Humphrey, Broadway. Stratford. All parts stocked. Marconi V 24 valves, condensers, wire, terminals, mica, tinfoil, celuloid sheets, aluminium, etc., etc. Sets made up to order. Broadcasting is coming. Get in early and be ready for it.