STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 11023, 14 September 1897, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS.

[FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT.] Sbptembeh 11.— To-day has been the first day to make one realise that "spring id yeomen in." There has been a moist penetrating warmth in the air quite different from the hard surface heat of the mooi brilliant winter's subshitiei The coiihtry people have flocked into town in shoala, and between two and three o'clock this afternoon ("high change") our spacious Broadway really seemed none too wide for the traffic after all.

The Horticultural Society gave a concert last eveniog, and was, I am glad to say, so successful as to quite wipe out the deficit with which last yeaf's accounts closed, and to start the campaign this season wicb a chest not quite empty. The concert itself seems to, hays been a very enjoyable dne; A glf b aiictidn, a giiessing cdmpe.titlon, and a danda al^o formed part of the evening's fun. Messrs Steuart and Corrigan held their first cattle sale here on Wednesday. The firm's new yards in Mirausa-street were full, and there was a goodly company of farmers and cattle-men. Prices were, as at other recent sales, in favor of buyers. The Town Board Chairman has, in response to a numerously signed requisition-, called a public meetitlg to ( consider the propriety of forming a Chamber of Commerce. The establishment of 'co-operative dairy factbries haa brought the formerly hermit-like farmer out of his shell (with a vengeance in some cases), and the need of some rallying point far the tradespeople is felt. Who knows what talent for debate, what genias for organi sation lies dormant amongst our butchers and bakers and candlestick-makers ?

The Acclimatisation Sociaty approached 1 tho Domain Board on Wednesday night on the subjeot of fishing rights in the Victoria Park pond. The Society has borne part of the cost of forming the pond, and is about to stock it with perch and other fish. The question naturally arises aa to whom the fish are to belong and who is to have control of th«» fishing. The Society seems to be the proper body, provided none of the rights of the public as represented by the Domain Board are afEected. It is proposed this summer to h(tve a bathing shed erected, and there are sure to be applications for permission to plnce boats and canoe 3on the water. The Board appointed a sub-committee to go into the whole question.

JOHANNESBURG RENTS. TilE Johnnesburg correspondent of the Cape Times under date May sth, writes : — 7 " Rents are falling fast in Jeppertown. Thereisbetween2ooand3oohousesempty, and houses of tHree rooms and kitchen, which have been letting at £8 10a to £9 a ru»>nth are now beiDg offered at £7 to £7 10s without finding tenantß. In TJra.imfontein also landlords are taking 10 to 20 per cent off their rents. New houses in Doordf ortein for which £25 per month was being asked are now offering at £15 without finding tenants. Houses in the business part of the town which have been used as boarding house at £20 to £25 rental are being thrown on the owner's hands as soon as the leases permit of it. The large b»rrack« of rooms that have been growing like mushrooms the last few months are proving white elephants. Reductions in the rents of rooms in and around Market Place are in many cases as much as 25 and 30 per cent. As the assessment ratta and valuations have been lately increased enormously, tho landlords of Johannesburg at present are in a bit of a pickle. A builder was heard to say that if things go on not improving mechanics will be glad to work before long at eight or tea bob a day. An indication of the present state of affairs is the number of withholding wages cases which are daily dealt with, On one day no less than nine charges were received between two and five o'clock in the afternoon.