TARANAKI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1061, 30 June 1892, Page 19

TARANAKI.

We had a beautiful fine sunny day on the 18th, but the 19th and 20th were cold and continuously wet. The re3t of the week has been mild, with alternations of sunny and showery weather.

A meeting took place at Stratford on the 18th, as announced, for the purpose of founding a gymnastic club and Volunteer corps. This last, however, does not appear to have been mentioned at all. Mr Tocker was voted to the chair, and Mr Lusk appointed secretary. A committee consisting of Messrs Tocker, Tyrer, .James, W. G. Malone, and Lusk were appointed to make all necessary arrangements, and r?port at a future meeting. The County Council invites tenders up to the 2nd July, for felling, clearing and road-muking on the Toko, Gordon, and Douglas roads. Mr Godsal is calling tenders until 2nd July for felling 350 acres of bush in the Huiakama block, East Road, 14 miles from Stratford. Mr Hine is aleo calling tenders for falling 200 acres about 10 miles from Stratford. Tenders are also called for the erection of .several shops and dwelling houses in Stratford.

The County Council are still without offices, and are suffering extreme inconvenience therefrom. A bold proposal has been made that an entirely new theatre should be erected in Stratford and the Town Hall appropriated for offices, meeting-rooms, &c. The Cottage Hospital, also, though much discussed, is still without a site, and until that first necessity is obtained, not much can be done towards establishing this useful institution. The sale of sections at Stratford on the 24th may possibly settle this and some other matters tinder discussion.

A number of the most influential storelteepsi s of Stratford have agreed to close their places of business at 6 p.m. every,day except Saturdays. It is to be hoped that all the other storekeepers will soon join this desirable movement. A curious robbery took place on the 17th. A traveller putting up at Mr Gorrie’s Boarding House, left his trunk out on the verandah. The property thus carelessly left about proved too great a temptation for a man already known to the police for several offences. He

broke open the box, stole various articles, some of which he actually took to one of the hotels and sold for small sums. Ultimately he was arrested and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. He laid the blame on ‘ the drink.’

It is stated that Mr Daniels, stationmaster at Stratford, is about to change places with Mr Ayer, stationmaster at Halcombe. The grade of the Stratford station is to be raised to the fourth class. Some alterations are proposed to be made in the railway station, on account of which Messrs Lawson and Coon, railway engineers, and Mr Roberts, Inspector of Pertnanent Way, paid a visit to Stratford arriving by special train. Much anxiety prevails at the prospect of the Mangaere block being sold without proper provision being made for roadiug. So much distress, loss of property, danger and. suffering have been entailed by this very thing on the East road, the Anderson road, and others, that the most simple commonsense ought to forbid such an error ever being repeated. Mr McGuire, the hon member for Egmont, is to be requested to bring the matter under the immediate notice of the Minister of Lands.

Robson’s Royal Navy Panorama was exhibited at the Ngaire Public Hall on the 22nd. The hall was half filled with children, with only a sprinkling of adults. This is somewhat surprising as the subject of the Royal Navy must be of deep interest to all, old and young. The representations of magnificent warships, from the ‘Victory’ of Nelson, to the newest line-of-battle ships were really beautiful, and were well applauded by a most sympathetic young audience. Several weddings have taken place lately, and it is pleasing to relate that the young couples are settling in the district. We wish them happiness and prosperity.