STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 9949, 9 March 1894, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS.

» [FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT] March 7. — The Government has now decided to take the necessary land for the deviation at Coutt's swamp, so that there is yet a hope that the East Road will be made passable at this spot. Beyond, the road is open for drays for 12 miles or perhaps more by this time. All the heavy expenditure on this 12 miles has been lying almost idle for two years, because of the few chains of swamp pre- \ r enting any other means of transit than the pack horse. New Zealand is in the van of progress in some matters, but roading the country ia not one of them. The Town Board has resolved to put a stop to the dangerous practice of driving over the town bridge at a trot, and a batch of delinquents are to be invited to a conferenceiwith the S.M. A suspension footbridge is the recom mendation of the committee of the Board on the bridge question. Tho committee was strongly opposed to any addition to the existing structure, and considered the time not ripe for a new bridge altogether. The Anglican Bishop of Auckland is to be in Stratford on the 15th, and will hold a confirmation service at Holy Trinity Church in the evening. Dr. Paget is in town to-day for the* first time since his accident. It will be some little while yet before he can dispense with crutches. The slackness of trade that followed the Christmas holidays Beoms to have passed away. Broadway is generally alive with people, and the hotel accommodation, excessive though many have thought it, is now frequently taxed to the utmost. The circulating medium is reported to be still scarce, a state of things inconvenient enough, but inevitable in a district that is being rapidly developed by men who in most cases have little or no capital of their own. If tho banks would only give us unlimited credit, we would make things hum, but tho end would have to come Borne time, and it is better the brake should be put on now than when later on the operation might cause a general smash up. Makcii 8. — Co-operative men are to be employed at once in forming the East Road at Coutt's swamp, deviation. A bullock dray was got across the swamp to-day, and went on to the Mangaere to fetch the men's swags. This looks like business. Toko presents a busy sight about mid-day when there are usually three large brakes from Stratford discharging passengers and cargo. Tho metalling of the Toko Road running cast from tho village to the Matematounga is in progress. Further on along the East Road metalling is going on on the Waiwiri, the Gordon and the Douglas roads. The district is boing opened up at a great rate, thanks to the "Loans to Local Bodies Act."