STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 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. VV. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. THE DOMAIN BOARD. VICTORIA PARK GROUNDS. Sept. 19. The monthly meeting of the Domain Board was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. \V. McMillan), and Messrs. E. S. Rutherfurd, S. Ward, S. Stewart, W. Mclnnes, C. Jackson, T. Lawson, S. B. Hunter, P. Thomson, and R. H. Cameron. Plans for the proposed football grounds in Victoria Park were submitted by the borough foreman, disclosing a comprehensive scheme for laying out a double football ground, excavated from the field to a depth of several feet, and terraced at the sides.

Discussing the proposed football grounds, the Mayor said he was under the impression that the formation of the grounds would only cost about £lOOO, but Mr. Forbes’ estimate ran into over £2OOO. It would therefore

Ibe necessary to raise about £l5OO over I and above the Rugby Union’s loan of £5OO, as he had anticipated under the former scheme. He was afraid the board ( would not be able to do anything until ■ they had canvassed the town with a j view to inducing the townspeople to i take up debentures. He was prepared to take up 100 debentures himself.

Mr. C. Jackson said he had not expected the grounds would cost less than £2OOO, and he thought that at that price the grounds, according to Mr. Forbes’ plan, would be cheap. It was i going to he a beautiful ground. i Mr. Rutherfurd suggested they might j undertake the work in stages, so that it could be used for matches in the mean-

, while. 1 Mr. Cirmeron moved that alternate . tenders be called for levelling the ground, and also for carrying out the

I complete scheme. I Mr. T. Law-on said if they levelled 1 * the ground only at first the public I I might see that money was needed, and 1 ! accordingly “come to light.” I Messrs. Ward and Thomson quest: on- | ed whether the grounds would cost more I if done in stages. I Mr. Forbes said that if the ground ? was first only levelled much of the top soil would he wasted. and this was wanted for the terrace*. It would be necessarv to excavate IS 000 yards of earth. He thought they should undertake the work by day labor. which would be better than contract under the circumstances. If the board decided to do the work by day labor he was prepared to make a rush job of it, and he thought he could do it as well as a contractor. By so doing they could use the top soil as they went along. Mr. Jackson said that in view of the good work being done by Mr. Forbes he was satisfied that his suggestion was the best one. ✓ The Mayor said before they decided to go on with the work piecemeal they should first find out what money was available. He would like the board-to go on with the work on the plan submitted by Mr. Forbes. He spoke of the value of the natural grandstand as provided for. If they went in for a separate grandstand it would cost about £2OOO. Mr. D. J. Malone, who waited on the _• board in connection with the grounds. . hoped the town and the district would : support the project, which would bo- | come one of the finest assets in the | town. He suggested that they might | combine the grounds with a war i memorial. He had been told that the ' public was waiting for some kind .of a ' memorial. The good work recently done j in Orlando Street would set off memorial : gates to the grounds. If these gates I cost. say. £3OO or .£4OO. it should not I be beyond the people of the town and , district to raise £2400 by debentures , for the grounds and the memorial gates lif a prompt appeal were made. He was ' personally prepared to spend a week in canvassing for support. I Mr. McTnnes moved as an amendment ■ that a d?c ; sion be deferred for throe . weeks, or less if the funds became availi able, and to make a. public appeal through the Press, the Mayor being asked to report progress. | The motion was carried. . Th? matter of canvassing for support was left to the Mayor and Messrs. Malone and Thomson, with power to add to I their number. i The Mayor: It is up to you all to i boost this thing for all it is worth. He I said the matter of combining a war memorial with the ground.? would have to be left to a public meeting, but he agreed that this would be an excellent I site for a memorial. General.

! On the motion of Mr. Thomson it I was decided to ask the school commit- : tee to allow the use of the glasshouse . at the primary school for nursery pur- | poses. I The caretaker was authorised to fence ■ off a section of a quarter of an acre on I the site near the crusher site in Portia j Street for a nursery, providing satisfac- | tory arrangements could be made. Mr. Thomson brought up the matter of providing garden seats in the park. He drew attention to the fact that a number of seats had been donated to the Hawera Park by the citizens. It was decided to secure quotations for seats. THE POWER STATION. TROUBLE ABOUT DIESEL. J At last week’s meeting of the Borough Council there was considerable discussion on the subject of a Diesel engine at the power station. The engine had moved on its bed and had fallen into a bad state, of repair. It was decided that the electric light committee should hold an enquiry into the matter, with th? object of ■ ascertaining who or what was respons'bler for the trouble. The enquiry was held in camera on Friday night, and the comniiti tee reported as follows to last night’s meelI ing of the council: • (1) That the evidence establishes p fact that the engine was vibrating .‘urn

the time it first started to run, and that Mr. Vicary should have noticed this fact and reported it to the council. (2) The committee is satisfied from the evidence adduced that the cement grouting was not strong enough and crumbled, and this caused the engine to become loose on its foundations. (3) That the damage to the bearings was caused through using dirty lubricating oil; that filtration was not sufficient to take the carbon from the oil and purify it sufficiently to make it fit for use again. (4) That there has never been the necessary co-operation between Mr. Vicary and Mr. Windeler, which was absolutely necessary for the proper care of the’ Diesel plant. (5) That in the schedule of the electrical engineer’s duties, clause 4 reads as follows: “The engineer to be in full charge of all plant and the electrical staff.” X The council discussed, in committee,.the question of the adoption of the report until nearly midnight, when a division was taken. Cr. Mclsaacs was absent from the meeting, and the voting was even, as follows : For the adoption: The Mayor and Crs. Jackson, Hunter and Cameron. Against: Crs. Rutherfurd, Stewart, Ward and Lawson. The adoption was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. CONVICTED OF THEFT. A married woman, named Mary Dalton, appeared in the Stratford Court to-day, before Messrs. G. Wilson and J. D. Sole, J’s.P., on two charges: first of stealing a butter-knife and a fork, valued at 7/6, the property of J. F. Frost, of Riverhead, and second, with stealing four towels and two window blinds, valued at £1 Bs, tha property of Chas. Nathan, of Auckland. Accused, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective-Sergeant Cooney, who conducted the case for the police, said that accused had been in the employ of both persons from whose houses the articles were niisisng. She was convicted and ordered to pay expenses, and to come up for sentence when called upon. TECHNICAL SCHOOL BOARD. The following board of managers for the Stratford Technical High School was elected to-night: Mr. J. W. Boon (school committees). Dr. XV. P. Gordon and Mr. E. Marshall (employers), Mr. Burkett and Mr. V. Johnson (employees). Mr. E. S. Rutherfurd and Mr. J. H. Thomas (local bodies), Mrs. E. A. Copping (parents). Four members (two from parents and .two representing the Education Board) still remain to be elected. THE MAR DI GRAS. A good attendarice is anticipated for to-morrow (Wednesday) evening’-s meeting in the XX’harehuia hall to consider the selection of a. candidate to appear for the district in the queen of the Mardi Gras election. On Thursday the combined districts of Cardiff, Mahoe, and Lowgarth are invited to attend at the Cardiff school at 7.30 p.m. to discuss the same question. At a largely attended meeting of drapery assistants held at Mardi Gras headquarters this evening. Miss Linda XX’alsh was selected as the candidate to represent the drapery trade in the queen election. GENERAL ITEMS. A soldier’s wife wrote to last night’s meeting of the Borough Council if a single man came before a married man in the relief work being carried on by the council. Her husband was unable to do hard work since the war. and she (the wife) cbuld not keep the husband and children. She appealed for help, but did not sign her name to the letter. The Mayor said they could not help until they found out from whom the appeal came, and the Press was asked to make thisi fact known. A circular appealing for contributions to the Sir Arthur Pearson memorial ■fund for the blind was received at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. Cr. S. B. Hunter said Tt was a standing disgrace that the Government of the country had not done more for the blind, and Cr. C. Jackson agreed. Cr. T. Lawson also thought the council should contribute to such a laudable object, although their funds were so limited. The Mayor pointed out that anything they gave would have to go on the estimates. It was finally decided to donate £lO 10s. and to recommend the incoming council to increase the amount to £25 next year.

In discussing the election of a representative to the Technical High School Board of Managers, the Borough Council last night decided that every member possible would attend at the election to-night (Tuesday) for the purpose of supporting their nominee, Mr. E. S. Rutherfurd.

This is the time of the year when the Salvation Army make 5 its annual appeal for self-denial funds. The good the Salvation Army does in social matters is well known, and the response to any appeal is always very good. This year the Stratford corps is making a special effort, and to raise funds a spring bloom fair will be held in the Town Hall, Stratford, on XX r ednesday and Thursday next. The Mayor of Stratford will open the fair. The Army Band is having a stall at this fair, and they are appealing to farmers for donations of eggs or produce of any description. These may be left at the P.A.C., Stratford, on or before Saturday for preference, though donations right up to the day of the fair will be very acceptable.

Are you interested in wireless? If you are, call and see XX 7 . TT. 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.