STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9089, 22 May 1891, Page 2

STRATFORD.

[fbom our resident agent.] May 21.— The Town Board held a special meeting on Monday, 18th, and adopted, with omission of those providing for the licensing of horses let on hire, the by-lws framed by the Committee of the Board. The County rate roll has now been made up, and shows that tho income will be ■larger than was at first supposed.^ The I figures are as follows: — Central Riding, £14,054 ; West Riding, £37,497 ; East Riding, £70,920 •' South Riding, £43,911 ; North Riding, £71,423 Total, £237,805. This valuation will give with a J d rate a revenue of £740, increased by Government subsidy, hotel, and other licenses to about £1000 per annum. It should be borne in mind that the valuation is based on the Property Tax asssessment of 1889 and will, of course, be very largely creased next year. The working expenses promise to be a model of economy. In spite of the efforts of " tho ranger and his merrymen" to keep- the East Road passable, no less, than four loaded packhorses might have been seen one day ■last week bogged all together in a hofn near the Standish Road. As I have said before, nothing short of metalling throughout will make the ' road any good for winter. If you patch the worst places you encourage more traffic, and the portions of road between those vsrhilotn " worst places " become in their turn equally bad. I hear that a move has been made in Ngaire to start a public library. Judging by the interest taken in the Stratford institution i should say it was not worth anyone's while to bother himself with anything of the sort. Is the Domain Board going to do anything in the matter of planting this season ? The opinion is often expressed that the small reserves on the river bank should be fenced and planted at once. Certainly few things would add more to the appearance and pleasantness of the town. The Primitive Methodist' Bazaar opens on Monday next at the Town Hall. There appears to be rather a lack of cordiality, not to say courtesy, in the attitude taken up towards the Stratford County Council by some of the local bodies out of whose territory the County was formed. Some little temporary irritation was perhaps to have been expected, but that any responsible body should act as^ tho Taranaki County Couucil appears kr have done in the matter of the maintenance contract on the Mountain itoad could hardly have been anticipated. The formation of the new County seems to be looked upon as in some way an injury and an injustice to the old one, members going so far as to state that the Taranaki County has been " had." If there is any ground for such an imputation, how waß it that no opposition was made to the Stratford County Bill when passing through Parliament ? Was the Taranaki Council asleep ? Anyhow, the Stratford County being once an accomplished fact, the Taranaki Council would have best consulted its dignity, by suppressing the feeling of pettish resentment evidenced only too clearly by its subsequent actions. It will be with mingled feelings that the townspeople learn that the Brass Band instruments are distributed, and that a practice is to be held in the Town Hall on every Wednesday evening. It will be readily admitted that the possession of a good band will be a decided advantage, but — well there be some who dread the interval that must elapse. We can only pray for a happy issue out of all their afflictions. The FootbalL Club announce an entertainment at an early date. At tbe close of the English Church service on Sunday last the Rev. Mr* English mentioned the matter, of a resident minister. The pith of his remarks was this :—Stratford will have to provide a house and £100 a year. Step forward please 1