CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1929, Page 10

CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

’ Telephone Nos. i i Stratford Exchange I 552 Office 718 Private

«•••••• muiWHUMoiHon

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS) x . .

* ! Telephone Nos. i Stratford Exchange I 552 Office I 718 Private I j

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY

CENTRAL TARANAKI AREA. MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Power Board was held at Elthain yesterday, when those present were:— Messrs H. G. Carman (chairman), C. Foreman, J. Dobson, R. J. Knuckey, C. E. McGuinness, M. Gernhoefcr, H. J. Marchant and N. H. Moss. A scheme for advertising electricity throughout New Zealand was forwarded by an advertising agency. Under theproposed scheme, which would operate for three years, a total of £473 would be spent in Taranaki and the cost to the Taranaki Power Board would be £33 per year. —It was decided to contribute to the scheme. Advice was received from the Audit Department that the present system of setting off current against rates for the- payment of rates would prevail again next year. Mr. Marchant reported that the deputation from the board to the AuditorGeneral protesting against an alteration of the system the board had. pursued had received a very sympathetic hearing. Following notice given by Mr. Foreman the following motion was passed: “That two additional members of the board be added to the committee appointed to negotiate with Messrs Borthwicks for. an electrical supply, and that any further negotiations be subject to the board’s approval.” Messrs Foreman and Moss were appointed. The resident engineer (Mr. B. H. Goldsmith) reported that at November 31 the number of consumers was 1925. Units generated during the month totalled 761,000. The maximum demand of 2040 k.w. had occurred on December 4. The largest recorded demand on the board’s system had been 1540 on December 2. The largest daily output of 28,-500 units had occurred on November 25. With the figures for November, 1928, in parentheses, the installations carried opt during the month had been: Milking motors, 12 (15); other motors, 3 (6); stoves, 4 (8); water heaters, j 13 (17); pumps, I'2 (3); lighting and heating,-33 (31). EXTENSION OF RETICULATION. A strain and metering structure on Stanley JRbad for the supply to New Plymouth via the new Government line had been erected and the metering equipment would be completed in time for the line to be put in commission about the middle of December. The erection of the new line from the Ohura Road sub-station had. been completed as far as the Stratford borough boundary, The erection of lines and services on Cross Road had been completed. A switch had been installed on the Waitui line. The alteration to the low. pressure wires had been ma/le on the upper Hunter Road, this section being fed from the Hunter Road instead of from the Hastings Road as previously. Poles

had been laid on the Waiwiri Road and services had been erected where required. Referring tp the work in hand the engineer stated that it would soon be possible to reduce the line staff. v It would be. better to put the men on to some other work than to lessen the staff, said Mr. Moss. He suggested they might be put on to canvassing. Mr. Goldsmith replied that the district had already been well canvassed and he doubted if anything further could be done in that direction at present. The, finance committee reported that at last meeting the power fund account had been- in debit (including deposits) £11,848 13s 7d, with the addition of bank interest and fee (£230 15s 6d) and accounts to pass (£4703 16s), making a total of £16,788 16s Id. Since then £6137 2s 9d had been received, the chief items being goods £7OO, current £3568 13s 2d, installations £958 7s Id, rates £237 12s 9d, and arrears £615 16s Bd. This left the account £10,651 3s 4d in debit. The credit of the loan account last meeting had been £6O 9s 4d. With the transfer from the power fund of £2050 the account was £2153 16s 4d in credit. Less accounts to pass, £2014 2s lid, the loan account was £l3O 8s 5d in credit. The Stratford extension was £255 ISs 5d in credit. SWIMMING AT STRATFORD. DALGLEISH CUP COMPETITION. Thej.executive of the Stratford Amateur Swimming Club decided last, night to apply to the centre for January 30 and February 27 as dates on which to ■hold carnivals. The New Plymouth Amateur Swimming Club asked if the Stratford club desired to make any suggestions regarding the conduct of the Dalgleish Cup competition. No motion was passed, but the general opinion of the meeting was that the holding of the competition on carnival night was satisfactory. The resignation of the secretary, Mr. J. Callaghan, was received with regret. Mr. A. keigbtley was appointed in his pla; e. GENERAL ITEMS. Despite the drenching Tain the total takings at the exhibit of school work in connection with the Stratford primary school reached £26, and it is expected that after expenses have been met there will be about £2O to devote to the school library ami ground improvements.

Over a cup of morning tea in the common room at the Stratford primary school the headmaster (Mr. L. J. Furrie) congratulated his staff upon the results of the year’s work, and thanked them for their co-operation. Mr. C. E. Baunton is leaving to accept a sole charge at Rauatciti, Miss E. McDonald and Miss F. Harkness, who have acted as additional substitute assistants, have completed the period of their appointment, and Misses N. Burgess, E. Dickson, P. McClnggage and Mr. F. Young cease teaching to undergo a 7-ourse at train-

ing college. To these Mr. Furrie tendered farewell messag and expressed the hop" that each would progress rapidly in the profession he or she had chosen. On behalf of the staff Mr. D. Taylor, first assistant, thanked Mr. Furrie for the kindness and consideration he had shown. In the course of his address to senior pupils of the Stratford school yesterday Mr. J. W. McMillan, ex-Mayor of 1 Stratford, made the suggestion that the ’ handsome cups derived from the Herbert ’■ Smith Trust and won by scholars should, at least during the vacation, be placed ■ on exhibition in the municipal showcase set near the entrance of the memor rial arcade in the borough buildings. “After meeting expenses the money J realised from this entertainment is [ going to provide ground improvements,” y said Mr. T. T. Murray, at the breaking- ; up concert of the Toko school. He explained that in the interests of health it was urgently desired to tarseal portions of the playground will a view o : keeping he children reasonably dry-shod. . “I don’ know where the money for this I work and for the erection of our swings is coming from, but I have a very good idea, and I may tell you now that it won’t be long before I will be tapping most of you on the shoulder. I earnestly hope the response will be as liberal , as possible,” he added. AVinners of the competitions at the Stratford primary school show and’sale were: No. 1 ham, Mr. Boundy, estimated 201 b. lOoz., correct weight 201b.' 10j0z..; No. 2 ham, donated by Master’s, Ltd., Herbert Hann; cake donated by Mrs. S. Pitt, Master V. Vince, 538 peas; cake donated by Mrs. Garlick, Mrs. J. Morrison, -weight 61b. spz., estimated 61b. 4oz. The Stratford Egg Circle pay-out for the month will be approximately £230 for 4900 eggs. Following the practice adopted by many local bodies in making intersections less dangerous for traffic by removing all obstructions, the Eltham Borough Council has decided to remove the rails of the selling pens at the pound on the corner of Conway Road and High Street. PERSONAL ITEMS. I Mr. Lindsay McCluggage, of the Malay States, is staying with his mother, Mrs. J. McCluggage, Orlando Street. CHRISTMAS MUSIC. , To-morrow will be a day of “good tidings” at the Stratford \ Methodist Church. At the morning service the new organ will be dedicated and used for the first time. With its two manuals and pedal board and a fine variety of stops it will lead the congregational worship, and there will be two Christmas anthems and voluntaries. At 7 p.m. the first part of the service -willbe shortened, and the latter part will comprise selections of the choicest solos, duets and choruses from The Messiah by an augmented choir and assisting soloists, accompanied by the new organ, on which selections will be played. The Rev. H. L. Blamires will give a short Christmas address, and Christmas hymns -will be > sung. KING’S THEATRE, STRATFORD. “THE WAGGON MASTER.” A highly exciting and unusual western picture is “The Waggon Master,” a Universal production starring Ken Maynard, which will be shown at the King’s Theatre, commencing to-day. It is the first talking action western. Maynard and his famous horse “Tarzan” perform many thrilling stunts in a story which is well off the beaten track of western pictures. The plot concerns the trade rivalry of waggon trains, the organisations of freighters which carried supplies to isolated mining camps in the early days of the west of the United States. One of the most dramatic sequences depicts a whip fight between Maynard and his rival in love, played by Al Ferguson. There is plenty of romantic interest in the picture. Maynard’s leading lady is Edith Roberts, an experienced actress of unusual charm. BOROUGH OF ELTHAM. MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Eltham Borough Council was held last night. There were present Mr. T. J. Bridger (Mayor;, Councillors J. O’Hagan, S. R. Pepperill, R. Lewis, S. Coward, W. Ricketts and A. Kemp. The reservo caretaker reported that he had spent 12 days at Taumata Park during the month. During that time, flower beds had all been cleaned up, stocks, asters, phlox and other annuals ha been planted out, and later seedlings had been attended to in the glass house, during wet weather. Tho camping site had been cleaned. From time to time, large numbers of sheep were obtained to eat off the grass, and at the present time the grass was fairly short. He had put in more time than usual on the railway reserves, all flower beds having been dug up, old bulbs being taken out, and beds replanted with annuals. The borough overseer reported that patching of the tarred surface was done in Graham Street, Kegworth Street, Mountain Hoad and King Edward Street. The water table from. King Edward Street nortnward to the end of kerb was cleared of growth and packed with clay. ( London Street from High Street to Bedford Street received a top-dressing of colfix and chip metal. The tarred widening recently put down on the Mountain Road had been top-dressed with colfix and chip metal. The approach to Julian Street from Conway Road was scarified, metal spread where required and grouted. Reconditioning of the Mangawhero Road in readiness for topdressing was in progress. The Cornwall Street path on tho western side from Burke Street northward had received a coating of colfix and sand. Bedford

Street path from Graham Street to King Edward Street was reformed and coated with chrusher dust. A new concrete; kerb was put in in front of the Loan Coy. store, Bridge Street west. Returns of the borough gas department with figures for tho corresponding month of last year in parentheses, were as follows. —Gas made 434,000 (456,000), coal used 36 tons Bcwt (36 tons 8 cwt), make per ton 12,000 (12'527), sold by meter 362,200 (u62,/20). Three cookers were installed during the month and tw new consumers were connected. The total number of consumers was 432. The number of meters read was 428. Mr. A. nethbridge, tho borough inspector, reported that he had made .the usual inspection of the borough and had arranged as far as possible for all rubbish to oe collected so that it would be ready for the clean-up day. All fire plugs in the borough were inspected. In some cases hedges had been allower to overgrow tho indicators. This was a serious matter and owners were liable to a fine of £5O. He had given notice to have the hedges cut away from the indicators. Five head of stock were impounded. . The sanitary inspector reported that two cases of scarlet fever and one of diptheria were recorded during the period. It was pleasing to note that a general clean up of the borough was in progress. In the case of dealers there should be an insistance of a clean-up at their expense. It was decided that the council fall in line with the other .local bodies concerned in connection with the proposed work on the Devon Road railway crossing, and agree to contribute five per cent, of the cost out of heavy - traffic fees. - ELTHAM MUNICIPAL THEATRE. A unique programme will be screened at the Eltham Municipal Theatre tonight, in “Clear the Decks’ ’and “Twelve Miles Out.” “Clear the Decks,” is a rollicking farce comedy featuring Reg Denny and ia a guaranteed rib-tickler, in fact, one of the beat .comedies screened. In “Twelve Miles Out,” John Gilbert appears as a lone-hand adventurer, mixing unique thrills, breathless adventure, hair-raising sensations and bewitching love in a, picture packed full of novel entertainment. The story is one of adventure on the high seas, based mainly on the latest phase of American life—bootlegging—or the incessant war between the rum-runner and the law. Romance, however, is part of the cargo, and the blend will keep onlookers tenderly sympathetic when they are not B on tiptoe of sheer excitement, .as it were, at the terrific battle of wits, fists, iron bars and pistols which finally takes pla. to settfe a long-standing feud between Gilbert and his male rival.