THE LIBEL ON SHANNON.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 31 October 1911, Page 3

THE LIBEL ON SHANNON.

To the Editor. Sir,— Your correspondent " Mill Hand" must lie hard set to find an authority for his foolish and impudent statements about own town when lie quotes Mr Byron Brown's drivel. Mr Brown will find to his sorrow that Shannon wiH not be so eockeyed on election day as to place him anywhere on the poll hut the bottom. He ought by this time to have imbibed some wisdom; it is not the first or second time that he lias bitten off more than he could chew. Notwithstanding!: " Mill Hand's" splenetic aspersions, it is a fact:— (1). Shannon has the lowest death rate on the Coast. (2). It is the most prosperous town financially between Wellington and Palmerston N'oi-t'li. (3). It is not weighted with debt (the rates arc about the lowest in the dominion). (4). Every dwelliiig-honse :in the town is occupied (cock-eyed or not). (;">). Its people are clean-living, industrious. intelligent, sociable. .and extremely char itab le. ((>). The leading men and women of the town can compare favourably with other towns. hi tho Horowhe. nua County Council our representatives can more than hold their own. Our three parsons flre men in their own example, and for work and ability they are far beyond the aSe(7). Our public institutions would do credit to any large town. Even Mr Byron Blown admitted that the Shannon Literary and Debating .Society was about the best on tho Coast. Die Amateur Dramatic Olnb is admitted by all to be superior to many professional companies. Our Bowling and Tennis Clubs are surely a credit to such a small town. Our school has turned out a greater percentage of proficiency scholars than nny school within fifty miles. Our butter factory has scored a.bo;it the hisjhest grade in the dominion. It has paid the farmers the best prices for butter fat and still has a surplus. "We have the largest and most up-to-date {laxmill in the dominion. If "Mill Hand" will just wait a year or two we will show iliim what can be done. Til the meantime v. e are profiting bv the sad experience of other over-built debt burdened communities. We are a steady, sure people, and like to see nor way clear before entering into obligations which we might not bo able to fulfil. Tn the matter of a fire hrigade, it would be useless, .as there is no water laid on. and a brigade without water is like an army without powder. Happily the houses are in most instances situated far apart and this minimises the danger of a fire spreading. TTp-to-date the insurance companies have done very well in Sharnon; there have only been ahout six fires in ten years.— Tours, etc.. SHANNON FOR EVER. P.»S. I forgot to say that evervhodv in Shannon is well provided with bread .and work.