STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11635, 16 March 1901, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS.

[FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT.] March 15. — The Borough Council is i urging upon the Public Works Departi ment the construction of a light railway > to the mountain for the purpose of . bringing down stone for road making. , The source of supply hitherto has been , the river beds, but their exhaustion is within measurable distance. Twelve months ago the Council paid 6s 4d per cubic yard for broken stone; now 9a is asked, with no prospect of getting anything cheaper unless a fresh souroe| of supply is tapped. Other local bodies about here are in similar case, and it is well known that the Railway DepartI ment has to, haul \U ballasting for long i d\atan,ceg. Same of our shopkeepers who regard thb racecourse aa a sort of drafting paddock for the place with the very warm climate are indignant with the Mayor for . declaring a half- holiday on Monday next t (race day"). They forget however that the , day is also observable as the festival of , St. Patrick. - . , Our streets have been gay with the '• bright colours affected by Maori wahines and resonant with the voluble conversa- ; tion and light-hearted laughter of our , dusky brethren of both sexes. Their ! business may be told in one word — [ fungus. Huge quantities of this delicacy , have been brought into town and the , proceeds devoted in part to the providt ing of suitable outfits for the forthcoming Parihaka festival. The now Presbyttrian Church is to be opened on Sunday, and the howling-green on Thursday. I make no apology to the ''skip" of the former for coupling , the kirk with the green, for bowls was always the parsons* game, and a \rcllorderad green makes for sobriety and godliness. What say you, Mr Paul ? Our burgess-list contains the names of 740 free and independent electors of the borough, and the cry is still they come. Of the 740 1 should say there are 733 who think they would make better Councillors than those now in office, so thai, granted a sufficiency of that courage of the eonviotions that leads to action, there should be candidates galore at the approaching eleotions.