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Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1922, Page 2

IN chose times wbeir-au increasing interest is being manifested in civic

affairs, it is rather surprising to find that tho Town H :! b being allowed to go to wreck and 7 nil.. Outwa.-dh L does not present a \ei, respectable appearance. Its baudson:.- front, is wearing a dilapidated aipearaiico ju. r, now for thy want ot attention Irow tho oainter. \\ eather-haards at the side.and rear are threat! nioc to fall awa\ while the roof require- attention o!-n. Internally the building is not at all bad, ft-nd might not require much at-

tention, but externally the building :s----ill Heed of urgoilt attention. With the buildings about the town being put in order it is high time for appearances Sake that the building had an overhaul. It is certainly one of the best fronts of the town, and the Cohiicil should take some perscliai pride in kbcpiilg up outward ap->e ra'i-e- at :I H events. The huiidiiig was erected in times when tlie Borough had hardly as asSure'd a future as it has to-day. Nowadays folk are in great heart about the prospects of Hokitika, and it is therefore the right time to take an interest In the chief civic building and see that it does! not full into decay and a condition not creditable to the place. "

responsibility rests with the Borough Council, which might at least have tradesman’s report on the condition of the building and the cost of repairs and renovations. When tliis informat'on iavailable, Council and citizens alike, will then he able to form n better opinion as to the wisdom of the expenditure involved.

Some particulars of the Westland WatMemorial fund appear in this issue. The memorial is to he erected this month, and will be unveiled next month on Anzac Day. which is nil occasion of special remembrance. It is satisfactory to find the funds in hand so nearly approximate the sum required. The money raised so far lias been by direct appeal to tlie people. There have been no extraneous aids or frivolous appeals ,and for the purpose in hand this is very properly so. It is suggested that tlie local bodies of the district should

find the estimated balance of £2OO required to complete the finances. This is a reasonable and proper arrangement under all the circumstances, and will b t » no doubt approved. The local bodies are empowered to so contribute, and the allocation of the sum of simgestcd is fair. The memorial is mainly to the memory of all who fell from the Westland district. The total number i's upwards of 180, so that ai memorial in some way worthy of this great sacrifice is a matter of duty for the district to discharge. The public will he anxious to see a memorial for such a purpose unveiled free of debt—indeed it w essential it should he —and no doubt the local bodies out of the general l funds which they are permitted by law to expend, will assist to so desirable an end. Tlio memorial is to occupy a point of vantage where it will come regularly under the eye of the public, and so lie a constant reminder of the deeds done in tho Great War of liberty. The occasion demands the fullest support of all j who wish to see those services marked | in a most fitting manner possible by a j worthy memorial.