STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144669, 1 May 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD.

FROM OGE OWN CORRESPONDENT. April 30.—Yesterday was too wet a day for demonstrating;in hopour of our soldiers at the Dardanelles, consequently the inspiring address with which his Worship would have improved the occasion had to bo “taken as read.” • -Nevertheless there is a lot-of quiet enthusiast at the good showing our men are have evidently made, mixed with eagerness- for details and- anxiety as to casualties. The war has been ,brought much, nearer to us-these last few days by the news qf the losses our-fellow-colonials have suffered in Flanders, and tho knowledge that now our own regiments may any' day/have .to face desperate odds. We have also beem-.sob-ered by the' proof-that the Germans are not near the end oftheir resources either in men, materials.-or/ingenious perfidy. That. whilst- waging a tremendous' war in the, east, they should have-bden able to deal so staggering a blow at the allied- line in the west, has been quite a revelaL-m to our optimists, and - has- - caused moderateminded observers to rev-va their estimates of tho probable dmc-stlon of tho war. There is only oi» word to he said . and repeated--recruit, recruit, recruit. . ,

6',ir County Council wasai impatient with the ■Government; for its insistence on. a commission to investigate the Mountain Road toil-gate question. A little reflection will convince, however, that the consequences of allowing local bodies a free hand in toe erectira) of gates would result in a perfcctlv awful state of tilings. There would bo a toll-gate blockade. County councillors for instance, seem iy forget’ that the borough ratepayers maintain nearly two miles of the Mountain Road, and might naturally hope for a share of tollgate rovonue. •