STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1924, Page 6

STRATFORD NEWS.

- PROGRESS LEAGUE.' COMMUNITY LIGHTING. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, Sept. 17. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Progress League was held last night, Present: Messrs. L. T. Aylward (chairman), A. A. Thompson, C. R. Finnerty, H. T. Cooper and J. McKee. The Hon. .1. G. Coates (Minister for Railways) wrote thanking the league for its expression of appreciation of the services rendered to the town and district by Mr. W. P. Miller, late stationmaster. In regard to the suggested scheme of lighting Broadway upo n the community scheme, Mr. Cooper (convenor of the subcommittee set up to go into the matter) reported that the Mayor and the electrical engineer had been inerviewed on the subject and it was found that while power could be obtained for 60 to 100 candlepower lamps, it would be inadvisable to put the scheme into operation at present as the whole system would have to be scrapped when the change over to three phase took place. It was also thought that the matter should be brought forward when the loan money was available, and arrangements could then be definitely made between the council and the Progress League. Further, it was within the bounds of possibilities that the Borough Council would have under consideration the “sight-flooding” of the shopping centre, thereby attaining the same object. Upon consideration of these facts and side issues the committee recommended that the scheme be deferred for the present, to be taken up by the executive at a date to be decided later. The committee’s recommendation was adopted.

THE ENVELOPE SYSTEM. Mr. Thompson reported verbally upon the success of the institution of the envelope system of advertising the attractions of the town and the forthcoming A. and P. show. He stated the business men of the tow n had taken up the scheme enthusiastically and over 50,000 envelopes had been disposed of up to the present. In the discussion that followed it was felt that the league was fulfilling the function for which it came into existence in co-operating with the A. and P. Association in promoting the scheme. The report was adopted. PUBLIC TELEPHONES. In connection with the movement to have a penny in the slot telephone machine placed at either end of Broadway, the chairman reported that the existing box had been removed before the league could take action. He had interviewed the postmaster on the matter and was pleased to hear that the telephone was paying 'its way. Various members expressed the opinion that two telephone boxes would be a great convenience to the public. Dealing with the somewhat awkward slots Ifor posting letters at the new post office, the chairman said he was informed that the slots were of the standard size and generally adopted throughout New Zealand. No action was taken. ATTRACTING FARMERS. “The Skinner Road runs from the East Road to the Bird Road as a metalled road and then on to the Cheal Road in an unmetalled state,” said the chairman. The Cheal Road was the main outlet for the Pukengahu district and settlers there had suggested that if the extension of Skinner Road were metalled a large number of settlers would be attracted to Stratford, especially on sale and market drys instead of going, as many did at present, to Eltham. Mr. Cooper said there were difficulties in the way, because roads were usually formed and metalled by means of a special loan and settlers in the locality might not accept the responsibility. It was left to the chairman and Mr. Finnerty to interview the chairman of the Stratford County Council on the matter and report to the next meeting. A good deal of discussion took place on the question of metalling the Whangamomona Saddle. The chairma n said the saddle traversed e. Government scenic reserve and came under the control of the Public Works Department. At present metal extended as far as Ngatimaru, 26 miles from Stratford, and from there to the other side of the saddle the road was unmetalled, with the exception of patches near Pohokura. The saddle had once been metalled with crushed papa, but this had broken up under the pressure of heavy traffic during the period when the railway was blocked by slips. He was of the opiniq n that if the Government could be prevailed upon to metal the saddle there would be little difficulty in arranging for the rest of the road to be metalled. In reply to Mr. McKee, the chairman said the distance for which the Government was responsible would be about three or four miles and the nearest metal would have to come from the Te Wera quarries, ten miles distant. He pointed out that metal eould be dumped from trucks right at the foot of the saddle. In any action the league might take, he assured members that the Whangamomona people would give the league their hearty support, for the metalling was urgently required. Mr. Finnerty said the reserve had been set aside by the Government and the Government should recognise its responsibility, as the Whangamomona County Council received no revenue from the land and were financially incapable of giving the road the attention 'it warranted. It was agreed that the league should communicate to the Government through the member for the district with a view to having a grant made for metalling the saddle and that the Affiliated Settlers’ Association and the Whangamomona County Council be advised of the step. DANGEROUS LEVEL CROSSING. Referring to the recent accident at the level crossing at Waipuku, the chairman said the whole question of level crossings had become an acute one in New Zealand during the last few years. There was small doubt that the Waipuku crossing could be improved. He considered that the railway cottage situated right at the : crossing should be removed, for, although certain trees had been cut down, the view was far from clear to approaching traffic. There had been several accidents at that particular crossing. Mr. Cooper mentioned that about ten years ago he had been advised bv the then Minister for Railways that the department were shortly going to instal a device it. would be impossible for level

crossing accidents to occur. “I am still looking for that- device,” concluded Mr. Cooper. It was then decided that the department’s attention be drawn to the necessity o'f a clear view at the Waipuku crossing and that the cottage be moved in order to attain that object. THE MAIL TRAINS. The unsatisfactory position existing in Stratford by which the mail trains invariably drew up at the extreme ends of the staton platform caused some comment. Especially on wet days it was felt that the arrangement was extremely inconvenient to the public. Mr. Thompson said the department always placed an unimportant train at the sheltered part of the station. He thought here would not be much difficulty in changing the arrangement. Mr. Cooper said the question of the position of the crossing points had to be considered. He was sure some good reason existed to account for the placing of the mail trains, however inconvenient the arrangement might be. It was decided to approach the Railway Department with a view to having the mail train drawn up at the station instead of far down the platform. ■ GENERAL. Messrs.. Thompson, Cooper and the chairman were appointed a sub-committee to draw up a programme to submit to a general meeting to be called later. Messrs. B. H. Horner and F. E. Clark forwarded their resignation as members of the league owing to their having le'ft the district. The resignations were accepted with regret, and *a letter of appreciation of the work done for the league in its early days is to be forwarded to Mr. Horner. DEATH OF A BABY. SAD CASE AT TOKO When Mr. and Mrs. V. W. Bevins, of Toko, went out to milk their herd yesterday morning they left their young baby lying snugly upon the bed, and it then appeared quite normal and was lying on its side breathing freely. About half way through the milking Mr. Bevins returned to the house to light the fire and glanced through the window at the child. Satisfied that the baby was quiet and apparently all right he continued with the milking, but when the husband and wife returned. to the house about 9 o’clock, Mrs. Bevins noticed the child had its face buried in the pillow. She picked it up and nursed it, but the baby was dead. Arising from these«circumstances an inquest was held in the Stratford Court before Mr. C. D. Sole, J.P. (acting, coronor), and a jury. After hearing evidence, a verdict of death from natural causes, no blame being attachable to the parents, was returned upon Roy Alfred Bevins, a strong healthy child aged three months. Mrs. Kate Bevins (mother of the child) said that when she picked the child up she noticed he had been sick, but could not say whether the boy had died from suffocation. It was a particularly strong and healthy baby and had never required medical attention. Dr. D. Stevens, who attended the child,

said it was well nourished and well cared for. There were no . marks of violence on the body and no signs of injury. He considered death was due to natural causes. On behalf of fh’e jury and coronor, Mr. Sole expressed the deepest sympathy with the bereaved parents i n their sad loss. The country, he said, could not afford to lose such fine children, but he took the opportunity of drawing attention to the helplessness of a baby and the need for continuous care and attention, HORSE BOLTS WITH TRAP. A somewhat -unusual accident 'happened this afternoon: A horse in a delivery trap became frightened when a trye burst on a passing motor van, and the animal bolted, Upsetting the cart, but throwing the driver clear. It cantered round Lear St., and came to a stop on the railway, bringing the Toko train to a sudden stop. Fortunately no collision occurred -and the overturned ’ trap was soon righted and removed clear of the lines. Considering the distance travelled and the speed of the frightened horse little damage was done to the trap.