STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11286, 3 August 1898, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

[F,ROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT.] The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on 26th ult. was attended by about 20 of the members— a small muster, but the night was an uupleasant one. The Chairman, Mr S. B. James, gave the customary review of his year of office, and w. s persuaded to retain the Chairmanship for another year. Several new members joined the Chamber, raising the membership to .over 50. The following gentle* men were elected to the Executive of the Chamber :— Messrs Allsworth, B urges'?, Fookeß, Liaraet, Hodder, and Perm. A vote of thanks and a bonus of £3 3s was voted to the hon. sec, Mr Barleyman. A resolution was passed suggesting cooperation with the New Plymouth Chamber in the matter of obtaining a reduction of .freights from the Unioo S.S. Col Another motion was carried expressing sympathy with the Auckland Chamber in its efforts to secure railway communication with Taranaki via Stratford. Among the interesting statistic?' of the district's progress given by the Chairman of , the Chamber of, Commerce were the figures of the "mil Ir supply at our, four co-opflrative dair'v factories for the year 1896-97 and ' 1897-98 respectively. It appears that there is a substantial increase all round, the total increase beiDg 300,000 gallons, or about' £4ooo worth of milk. , - That veteran correspondent of the Herald, Mr Elwin, was in Stratford on Wednesday afternoon and was mnch struck with the progress the town haß 'made since his previous visit in the "old days." The reported intention of the Railway Department to remove the station to the north end of the town was mentioned by some one at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday. It was, however, thought that the subject might possibly be of interest in, say, 20 years' time.