STRATFORD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 20

STRATFORD.

The Egmont Licensing Committee met on Friday, when renewals were granted to all the hotels, one only being required to provide more furniture and make some repairs. Three of tho hotels are about to change hands. Much regret is expressed that Mr and Mr* Kirkwood are giving up the County Hotel. It is stated that Mr J. Kirkwood and a lady, who was with hira, were thrown out of a trap in consequence of the horse taking fright at an open-air meeting of the Salvation Army. Fortunately no serious injury resulted. Another accident was of a more painful nature. Mr Hugh Contts unfortunately dislocated his shoulder. He was attended by Dr Pa«et, and is progressing favourably. Mr Hugh Coutts has just been elected to the Town Board, winning by ten votes over the other candidate, Mr Laccy. The maintenance of the roads is again becoming a burning question with the advent of winter and the damages consequent. There seems to be a large amount of trafic on the roads in Taranaki, quite out of proportion to the small numbsr of settlers who, having raised loans to make these roads, have to bear the whole of the expense. Some propose toll-gates, although it is acknowledged to bo a barbarous and most irksome remedy. Others propose that tho settlers should turn out and repair tho roads themselves, and others reproach the settlers with being in too great a hurry to make roads with loans when they (the settlers) were no', numerous enough to be able to maintain those roads. But what can settlers do without roa Is. They cannot make their farms profitable or even support their families without passable roads. The Beaconsfield road is now calling for immediate attention. It is used like a main road for a large amount of traffic, but there are no funds, and it is thought to be only fair that those who use the road should contribute towards its maintenance.

A special train arrived in Stratford about midnight on Tuesday, conveying a very large number of sheep, destined for the Pembroke road.

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a local Acclimatisation Society took place on the 6th, when a strong council was elected, and also officers. The rules of of the Wellington Society were discussed and adopted with a few amendments suitable to this locality. The chairman and secretary were authorised to have 100 copies of tke rules printed. A member of the Salvation Army has been taking round a paper for signatures petitioning that a further test should be made as to whelher the people desire prohibition or not. 'I he prohibitionists arc not at all satisfied that the recent licensing elections wore a sufficient test. The weather was rainy at the beginning of last week, fine but cold and dull about the middle, and mild and very wet towards the end, becoming very boisterous on Friday evening. A company is being formed at Eltham with a view to erecting a new Town Hall, for which Mr Brewer has offered to give a site.