A weekly column by Rhonda Bunyan
Looking back at the County of Stratford's history.....
? On the motion of Crs Symes and Dingle in August 1895, the Government of the day was requested by Stratford County to proclaim the Mount Egmont Forest Reserve a National Park. The following events took place in 1896:
? The County Council directed the attention of the Land Board to the serious danger to the bridge on the Cheal Road over the Ngaere Stream caused by the great flow of water from the swamp drainage works carrying timber.
? First records of dog registration in the county appeared when a dog tax of two shillings and sixpence for cattle and sheep dogs and ten shillings for all others was approved.
? Telephone communication between Stratford and Strathmore was requested by Mr B E Phillips, then Strathmore general storekeeper, in July 1896. A 'popular and reliable businessman' Mr Phillips was related to Lever Bros, the multinational company, and upon returning to England after selling his business later that year, was said to have come in for a very large fortune.
? A motion directed the county council to cooperate with settlers in the Standish, Ahuroa and Manawaiwiri Roads interested in eradicating brambles.
? The go-ahead was given for a tramway on Denbigh Road, with the county council granting a licence to the Midhirst Sawmilling Company to lay, construct and maintain a private tramway.
? An application for a licence to construct a tramway on Radnor Road by Mr E Greenwood was declined on the grounds that a large number of settlers objected.
? Cr Symes gave notice of motion in August to instruct the council to provide a cemetery for Toko and surrounding districts. The incoming council of 1896 advertised for suitable land, but it wasn't until July 1898 that an offer from Mr Moore of about three acres on the north-west junction of the Ahuroa and Ohura Roads, opposite the Toko School, was taken up for 15 pounds per acre. Apparently, only a handful of burials were eventually made on the site.
? Mr J McGrath was notified by the council that until 'he abated the nuisance caused by his pigs on the Waiwiri Road, proceedings would be actioned'.
? The county purchased its first typewriter, following a report by Chairman Cr J Mackay, in 1898.
? Also in that year the Minister of Lands was asked to give consideration to the petition of settlers in the Mangaotuku Block in the matter of making the Mangaotuku Road. Pukengahu residents were promised better access with approval for the felling and formation as a cart road known as 'Reid's Rd' connecting Pukengahu land with Bird Rd.
? And while on the subject of birds, a minute recorded of the meeting of the county in April 1898 included a passed motion: 'That the Hawera, Patea, Clifton and Taranaki County Councils and the Acclimatization Societies in those counties be asked to cooperate with this council in the destruction of small birds in the coming winter'.
? In 1901 a railway to Mt Egmont was being mooted and also in that year the council granted the Stratford Town Band permission to practise in the council's engine sheds, provided the sheds were not otherwise required.
? A resolution towards the end of 1907 drew the attention of the police to 'furious riding of bicycles carried out on county roads'. The local constabulary were asked to take proceedings under the Police Offences Act.
? Billiard rooms, other than those connected with a hotel or club, within Stratford County were ordered to pay their first annual licence fee in 1904. The fee of two pounds entitled the premises, if conducted in a quiet, orderly or proper manner to open until 11pm, but not on Sundays.
* * *
A small story from the pages of the Press in 1978. It is titled 'Phew! What a scorcher!'. A Dutch veterinary surgeon was fined 600 guilders for accidentally burning down a farm with a jet of flame from the rear end of a cow. The farm went up in smoke when the vet lit a match to test the gas coming out of a tube inserted in the anus of the cow. The cow was suffering from a badly swollen stomach. The flame set light to bales of hay in a barn and then burned down the entire farm, causing damage estimated at 200,000 guilders. The cow escaped with a shock.
* * *
One day a man came home and his wife greeted him in very sexy lingerie. ''Tie me up,' she purred, And then you can do anything you want!' So he tied her up and went golfing.
* * *
An old Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, 'A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil. He is fear, anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority and ego. The other is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person too.' The grandchildren thought for a while and then one child asked his grandfather. 'Which wolf will win?' The old Cherokee replied, 'The one you feed.'
Have a great week!
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Stratford Press
New owner for local supermarket
New World Stratford's new owner-operator has moved from coast to coast.