STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13156, 5 May 1906, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS.

/ (From Our Resident Agent.} May 2. — April was a wet inclement month. - The rainfall totalled 760 points, the average: of previous years being 550. Rain fell on 92 days out of the 30. The year so far has justified Mr Clement Wragge's gloomy predictions, for wel have had 24 inches of rain in tfiefour months, whereas last year we had only 9£ inches in the same period. The dairy factory season seems likely to elosel rather early, a woeful falling off in milk supplies having set in with the rough weather..

Mr Browne, assistant teacher at the District High School, has 1 accepted a similar position at Feilding. Our School has been unfortunate of lltvte years in the frequency of the changes that takei place in the staff. May 3.— But for the fact that +h« chimes oi Stratford do nPi lend themselves readily to occasions of rejoicings, the wedding beills would have been ringing to-day for the marriage of Mr T R. Masters and Miss Hopkins. Both are well-known and popular, and mucH kindly interest has been iaken in "the evetnt. Mr Masters has been a great supporter of local football, both in field and council, and his services were recognised the other evening with a handsome present. • 'About the best news going is that the ratesi are "to be reduced (this year. The Council finds this oan bel done witihout- in > &nyj way SB.eglpct.ing the roads and other services. The estimated ordinary revenue for the .ciirr-en't year is £2930, and of this '£■1392 is allocated to street mairiteinance, '£310 to- water and drainpipe, and. £170 to "lighting, £146 to Hospital and Charitable 'Aid, £100 to tho Town Hall> r£7or £7o to fire prevention, £30 to the Reading Room 1 , £30 to health inspection, '£15 to the Town Band. The balance goes in "running the show." The payment of interest and sinking fund on our loans is another story. It takes about f £l2oo to meet this little bill. Tt was none too 'pleasant on. %Ec football ground this afternoo-n, but a fair crowd assemWed to see how the Strati • ford boys shaped at the opening- • of the" season. They were rewarded by seeing -tKe re'dpubtable Tukapa raiheir easily delea|«di;;. -.if, «....- . ; . v ■ ■•■ - ,:*v:- ... }