STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 56, 15 June 1910, Page 8

STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. By Telegraph —Own Correspondent. Stratford, Last Night. A meeting of the executive oi the Chamber of Commerce was held this evening. The Traffic Manager wrote stating that he could not see his way to alter the railway service to Te VVera. The Railway Committee recommended conferring with the Traffic Manager.— Adopted. It was decided not to take over the I assets of the old Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., attended and stated that lie had approached the Minister regarding the opening up of the Waihukakawhaka anil Tamatanahoe blocks. He had been informed tlwt the roading difficulties were considerable, - and this would delay opening the blocks. The land, when opened, would be offered ion the optional tenure. He had also] _ [spoken to the Minister with regard to the (proposal to secure a road from Tututawa to Douglas, which would 1 materially shorten the distance to the nearest stock market. Stratford, Last Night. The straying stock nuisance came up at the Borough Council meeting last night. The ranger was present, and claimed that he was doing liis 'best, and considered that 'he was hardly •to be blame(l if the public were so inconsiderate as to take advantage of bis betng engaged at the Town Hall to turn their stock out on the long paddock. It was pointed out in the course of the somewhat (lengthy discussion that followed, that of the 235 cases brought against ■breakers of the by-laws, 199 had been brought by the Council's inspector. A! resolution, proposed by Cr. Paget and l seconded, by Or. Stohr, that the ranger report every case to the town clerk andl Mayor to have the offender summoned,! was lost, and a motion carried that the I ranger report to the Council all cases in'J which the thinks a prosecution should 1 not follow. It was decided to draw t.iej attention of the Minister of Justice to'j the return mentioned above, with the; object of securing grater activity by the police against breaches of the bylaws, and to ask that, the town be patrolled at night by the police. Tile suggested scheme for the Alteration of the town supply was the theme of considerable discussion at the Borough Council meeting last night. The' suggestion was to the effect of constructing a silt trap and small tunnel!' at the head works. Cr. Paget movedl for the deletion o£ this clause in thej Works Committee report, which was I seconded by Cr. Ralfe and, after discussion, 'lost. It was finally decided that Mr. Climie be asked to give an opinion on a comprehensive water filtration scheme.

An accident occurred to a party of men: whilst driving across the Strathmore Saddle, \yhich resulted in the horse (the projperty of Mr. Jakes) being killed 1 . , Information has been laid against a J local resident for an alleged assault on a Chinaman.

The Clerk of the Court (Mr. F. Bird) leaves on Thursday on a month's holiday. Mr. A. Dobbie, of Wellington, will earn' out the duties during Mr. Bird's absence.

There appear to be quite a number of nersons affected with kleptomania in this district at present. Recently there were •n -nerable raids on meat safes, but the latest cases are those in which a (person aspiring to become a. fry it fanner; removed' £2O worth of young apple trees] from Mr. R. McK. Morrison's nursery, and another individual who removed a suit of clothes hanging at the doorway of Mr. Lewer's establishment. Tne police obtained' a clue <>.s to the perpetrator of the theft .?.t Mr. Morrison'i, and arrested the suspect, who confessed to his guilt. The trees were recovered. Mr. Tom Kaplev is on ?. visit to this district in connection with the organisation of the Liberal party. A special train of fifteen trucks of Romnev 'breeding ewes, recently purchased by Mr. G. A. Marchant in iHaw.ke's Bay, arrived here this morning.

There are many towns in New Zealand ( the residents of whi-eh have good reason to be thankful for the enthusiasm of, their fellow citizens who initiated a beautifying' association. The (passenger, as he passes through the Square at Palmerston North, glances at the wellkept grounds, and probably the stranger commends the Borough Council for its enterprise. Yet the credit is due to the small band of enthusiasts who gave their time and probably a good deal of money to the object of making the ■Square a well-kept garden. Stratford sadly needs an association of this mature. There are innumerable 'places which could be converted into beauty spots. Victoria Square, divided by a lagoon, would be an admirable place to experiment on. The untidy and unpicturesque condition of the public grounds is brought into striking contrast by the well-kept gardens and neat grounds which surround and set off so many iprivate residences. Strangers are invariably .struck with the care and attention shown by the citizens in the attention to their gardens. A strong horticultural society, 'holding shows at which the exhibits are remarkable for quality, is further proof of the love of a Jarge proportion of the residents for the beautiful. Yet in public grounds Stratford lags behind. So far, nn movement in this direction has been made, and what

is needed is some ardent enthusiast, possessing the energy and the knowledge, to come forward as a modern Peter the Hermit and preach a beautifying crusade. '