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Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1922, Page 2

Tm; appeal for funds for the Robert Ruins Memorial is now fully launched. With this issue is circulated a special sluet giving full particulars of the project. and readers will tiiul something to interest them in the reading mutter which reproduces Rums “Vision” of W rstlaiu! to bis famous poem. M e make no apology for supporting the movement, realising as we do, that it will be a worthy ornament to the ton ii. W'e commend the appeals to our readers, who whether they are admirers of Rurns or not, will see in the scheme a desire to promote the advancement of the town by adding a very worthy memorial to its art treasures in that respect. If there is a general contribution all round, the amount required will he readily raised. Rums’ memory has a claim on all humanity lor he was a very human poet. His works are a classic in their standing now, and though the essentially Scottish song writer, lie is nevertheless, a song writer for the whole of the Empire, for in every quarter oi the globe Rritish people delight in his national songs. It was recalled to the public mind the other evening that Rurns was the composer of “Auld Lang Syne.” Probably there is no other song more frequently sung at Rritish assemblages than the familiar words “Should Auld Acquaintance he Forgot.” Ry that song of eternal comradeship Ruins’ memory can never he forgotten, and it is not inappropriate that here where the people have taken a pride in rearing memorials of men and events, Rurns’ memory should be recalled by marble and granite in shapely form to please the eye and adorn the surroundings. The people of M’estlaml, wo are sure will now take :t pleasure ami a pride in seeing the project in hand carried quickly to a satisfactory conclusion. It, will he to their credit to do so. The lists will be ( opened to the end of September, and j with <-a general response by a little t quick giving, tin 1 money required will s. an be in band, and early in the New Year. Cass Square will have another worthy memorial within the grounds.

A very important matter to the future i welfare of this district was mentioned at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night. It was in regard to motor lorry traffic on the main mods.- A good deni of damage is being done to the main south road, particularly over the short section between Mikonui and Forngrove. This is tluo in the main to the excessive speed of heavy laden motor lorries, driven over an ill-formed road. Tho road was not built for heavy traffic, but it would nave parried, better than it does if thq ;

lorry drivers had i xercised some reasonable regard for speed. Their thoughtlessness is reducing the road to a condition unlit for their own traffic, but what is worse, to a state very inconvenient- —not to say dangerous— to the general public. The Public Works Department realising the unreasonableness of the motor drivers, is taking steps to limit both the loads and speed. There is good cause for this, where the drivers have been so shortsighted as to call down the restrictions by their own unreasonable actions. However, the general public require to bo considered, also, and in that regaid as .Air Perry remarked at the Chniiiber meet in-, lorrv transport is proving the most expeditious and economical meails of transport for the people south. While restricting speed to avoid excessive damage, and limiting loads to some reasonable extent, the roads them selves require building up to meet the growing traffic. s settlement grows, traffic will increase in volume, and to meet natural requirements, especially where a district lacks railway facilities, the roads should he improved for the class of traffic best suited to serve the district. There should he a request along these lines for departmental attention to the south road, and seeing that within a few months now the motor traffic will increase fully one hundred per cent, the matter of permanent road improvement is one of the first considerations.