Correspondence.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 26 March 1915, Page 3

Correspondence.

WHILE it is our endeavour to give correspondents every facility for the free expression of their opinion, it should be borne in mind that the views expressed do not, necessarily, reflect the opinions of the Editor. TO THE EDITOR. \ Dear Sir,—With your kind permission, I would, through the medium of your paper, call attention to the fact tnat, for some reason or other, and for several weeks —with theexception of a few odd evenings, which are very few and far between —the lighting of the lamp, opposite the Catholic Church, has been totally neglected. I feel confident that the town authorities are in no way responsible for this neglect, and that the mere bringing of the matter under their notice shall in itself be a sufficient guarantee that the defect shall be remedied. I am etc., M. J. O’DOHERTY. On enquiry at the Town Board Office, we find that the war is to blame for the above seeming neglect. The trouble is that the mantles used in the lamps are manufactured in a country directly affected by the operations in the North Sea, and the dislocation of trade consequent on these operations has resulted in the supply of mantles running out. Mantles do not last long, and it is probable that by the end of next month, the few that are now in the lamps will one by one bo burnt out and the lamps must then remain useless until more mantles arrive.—(ED. PRESS.) TO THE EDITOR. Dear Mr. Eiitor, — I feel awfully shaky about writing to you on this very delicate subject but my feelings for other people are so tender and my better-half so insistent that my rest has been much disturbed at the thought of what our young people who intend mating, have to put up with in this Town, and so at last I have screwed up my courage to sticking point, and I only hope it sticks until I get through with my task. Now, in my walks abroad at night, although I always try to shut liiy eyes to any billing and cooing I meet on the road, I cannot help noticing that courting Jjtuples have to do much of their ujKooning on the public highway. Tfow in a well ordered town, there is always to be found, at least one secluded pathway where lovers can walk and utter those unutterable nothings which mean so much to them', away from the prying eyes of their more prosaic brethern. [ remember, when I was young, long, long ago, that in the town where I lived there were several of and it was an unwritten law that they were reserved for lovers. It goes to my heart now, to see on a fine night, these unfortunate couples, strolling up and down the Great South Road, dodging bikes, frightening horses and themselves into fits, and courting under the difficult conditions that are imposed by the fear ,of motors with powerful search lights popping round corners in the inconsiderate way they have. Now, I believe that it is the duty of every town, every country and all old married people to treat with the greatest consideration, those who are engaged in the difficult and trying pursuit of wooing one of the other sex. The future greatness of the nation, to say nothing of its happiness, depends on a very large extent on the facilities* given to our young men and young women for choosing suitable mates, and no labour Should be considered lost if spent on the laudable object of providing

them with facilities for studying one another’s characters in becoming privacy. I have no doubt that the young people in whose interest I am writing, will be glad to find that at least one of the old folks has still a soft spot in his heart for them, and it is my belief that there are more, enough at least to do something to relieve what is really a very deplorable state of affairs. The aforesaid young people will therefore be asking what we are going to <lo about it. I should not have written had I not the germ of an idea in my mind. The other day, in the course of a stroll round Hamilton, I chanced on a winding branch-covered pathway along the bank of the River. It is a most beautiful leafy bower irom 6ti I to end and so secluded. I was t old it was called “ Lovers’ Walk” and I could see at once why marriages are so much more easily made in Himilton than in Huntly. The thought mmediately struck nie, “Could not a similar walk he constructed in Huntly?” The answer was an emphatic ” Yes.” I was jnotjry tuat I had it not in my

power to provide this walk myself, but I thought that if I brought it before the public, the idea would catch on, and some one who is able, could take it up. My idea was that a portion of the River Front about where the old boatshed stood, could easily be converted into a rustic bower, where lovers could sit and allow their thoughts to wander into the Fields, without the annoyance of having people whose golden days had passed or had not come, meeting them at all points with the knowing smirk with which they greet all those who are passing through the anxious time of lovemaking. I trust, Mr Editor, that you will give every encouragement to any who may come forward with any suggestion, as ro how such a great public facility as that mentioned above can be provided. KOROHEKE.