STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8740, 28 March 1890, Page 3

STRATFORD.

FbTvOM ODR OWN CORRESPONDENT .J March 26.— The sitting of the R.M. Court, advertised to be held here ou Monday last, was tit the last moment postponed until April 9th. This is the second time within the month that some twenty or thirty litigants and witnesses have been brought from their homes and occupation only to find that the Court was adjournod, and they had their trouble for nothing. On the first occasion they were kept waiting about half the day and it was not till noon that a wire came from the H.M. to adjourn the Court. If this sort of thing; occurred in a, wealthier district there would bo a pretty howl, but I suppose bush settlers are looked upon as a patient long suffering race whose concerns need not be allowed to trouble the mind. The public meeting in connection with the Bush Fire Relief Fund was not a brilliant successs, very few attending. This was no doubt partly to be accounted for by the rain, but I am afraid there exists a considerable amount of apathy in the matter. Bofore blaming tho settlers for want of sympathy, however, it should be borne in mind, that this dis'rict has itself suffered very heavily again this season. There have been no sensational cases of hurning homesteads anil luir-breadth escaf.es, but the amount of: damage to grass, crops, and fences, would total up to a large amount. I see no utility, however, in the proposal of one of the speakers at the meeting to send a man round to estimate tho damage. It would take a week at least, ami have to be paid for. There are subscription lists at the stores to which those who feel disposed to give are invited to add their names. I have made careful enquiries and, as far as I cau learn, last week glided away into the irrevocable past without a single meeting of the Town Board, special or otherwise. As having some bearing on this extraordinary fact, it is said that in the early part of the week wayfarers observed a light gleaming throughout the silent watches of the night from the casements of | a certain lordly mansion. It was surmised that some fearful convulsion was at hand, but few were prepared for the terrific out burst of titanic wrath which broke forth on Friday evening. (For particulars see the HaRALD of that date.)