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Hokitika Guardian, 25 April 1921, Page 2

' It is altogether fitting tliiit on this ! Airae night the scholars and exscholars, the teachers and ex-teachers, the committee, and ex-committee men of the local Public School should, together with the public at large, assemble in the Town Hall to take steps to organise funds for a war memorial at the State School. The school played its part in the Great War no less worthily than did the public school, college and university men and women of the j Pominion nt Inrge, fliui the pan de*

serves to he memoralised in honor of those who served, and as an inspiration for all who come after, should dire circumstances again arise. There was a fine spirit about the local School in regard to the Great War. We recall that Mr de Berry, the teachers, and the pupils bellied very materially from the outset to equip the men with necessaries as they moved off to active service. We remember that in all patriotic movements the. sehtilafS helped readily and liberally throughout the war. And it was a fact that before the war closed, many of those who had assisted in the School effort at the outset of the war were themselves within the ranks of the inarching millions prepared to play a man’s part in the great game being played on the other side of the world. Recently a list of the local school fellows who participated in the Great War was published. It was an impressive list both as to its length and the quality of the men who passed so willingly into the strange service they were called upon so suddenly to fulfil. Our hoys, if they .may be so called, did their duty nobly. The roll of honor bespeaks the fact of their supreme sacrifice. Surely it is worthy that their names should he recorded in granite or marble, so that their great deeds will be perpetuated in memory for all time. Tonight’s meeting has that object in view. The School Committee which is taking the matter up so enthusiastically, has selected a design provisionally, the cost of which will be in the region of £650, including the ornamentation of the surrounding ground. The sum should provide a memorial not unworthy of the occasion and be some credit to those who seek thus to do honor to the men who served. It is not necessary to bespeak the merits of to-night’s meeting. The occasion expresses itsef, and there will no doubt he a proper response to the call now being so properly made.

On Wednesday the burgesses will lie called upon to elect a Council of nine for the ensuing two years. It is pleasing to sec that on this occasion there is a poll necessary. That fact indicates more than a passing interest in civic affairs, and is a. guarantee that for a time at least municipal matters will be more in the public mind. This will ensure some thoughtful attention to the requirements of the town, and it is to he hoped the result will he a practical step towards useful works needed, and which supplied, will be of great service to the ratepayers, and a matter of wider satisfaction to the people. First ami foremost the water supply requires to he put on a dependable basis. At present it is uncertain and insecure. The intake, supply race ami reservoir, as well as the reticulation service, are in need of a complete expert examination to determine what outlay is required to secure the permanent adequate supply guaranteed by the engineer who prepared the scheme. Next the streets and footpaths require urgent attention. Many of the former are worn down to the rough stone formation, while the latter in some eases are not even formed. The reserves of the town require looking to, so that the public will derive greater benefit from them. A more attentive system of carrying out public works is necessary. At present works often authorised are never done. An active and enthusiastic works committee could do useful service in attending only to minor mat- 1 tors —a day’s or a week’s work here and there about the town to make roads ' and paths shipshape and more pass-J able. The regular cleaning up of the ] main streets at least should lie established. Where permanent works are J needed the Council could well prepare a 1 reasonable loan proposal to perform matters in connection with drainage, J channelling, widening, asphalting and j what not, which are needed, and which' performed would he of great service to the people. There is a good two years’ work, and more, ahead of the new Council. It is not expected that everything should lie done at once, but there is so much to do that something might be kept in band all the time. Public opinion, we are convinced, is in favor of j sound and reasonable progress in keeping with the prospects of the town and district, and the new Council whatever its personnel, will he expected to be a progressive body for its term of office.