The Chrønicle LEVIN THURSDAY, JAN. 17. 1918.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 January 1918, Page 2

The Chrønicle LEVIN THURSDAY, JAN. 17. 1918.

The local bodies in the Horowlienua County would do well to pay some attention to 'the proceedings of the Palmerston Hospital Board, seeing that after irch 31 the ratepayers of the County, the Boroughs of Levin and Shannon and tHe town district of Otalci are to come tinder the taxing powers of this body. At a meeting last week proposals were put before the Hospital Board for the raising of a loan of £25,000 for certain additions to the hospital buildings in Palmerston. Speakers did not seem, from the published reports, to have a very clear idea of what was proposed, but after some vague discussion about the agreements with the Board's architects, mem. bers became stragely reckless with ihe public money. The chairman, Sir James Wilson, siiggested rais. ing tlie total to £32,000. A Feilcl. ing representative went one better and named £35,000 as the amount the Board could easily spend. The Mayor of Palmerston made it £40,000, and evidently thinking a thousand or two hardly worth talking about decided to be on the safe side and moved that a loan of ,£'50,000 be negotiated. But the country now took a hand and the chairman of the Pohangina County Council finally raised it to £55,000, winch figure was adopted by the Board. The new buildings proposed are a men's ward, a women's ward, a kitchen and administrative block, a maternity

home, additions to the nurses' home, and a building fo rtheX-ray and bacteriological plant (wliich will be provided by the Martin Memorial Fund.) No doubt much of this comprehensive building programme is badly needed, for the Palmerston Hospital has not grown with the district it serves. Its reputation has come largely from the efficiency of its officers, and medical staff- But it is a little disconcerting' to find _ a responsible public body knowing its own mind so little that it is not

sure whether it wants .£25,000 or £55,000. Mere outsiders like Levin, Otaki and this County may be pardoned for wondering whether the Board will be any more capable of keeping within the estimate has now made of its financial requirements. Horowlienuaj which has no desire to jump from the Wellington frying pan into tlie Palmerston fire is surely entitled to be coil suited in regard to a. policy for which it will shortly be ! called upon to pay heavily enough.

Foxton is still without a high pressure water system and it has hesitated so long over the question that possible sources of supply are passing into other hands. . At one time it could have obtained water from the Shannon hills, hut the Borough Council has now been informed that it can only have the indispensable fluid second hand after it has been used for power generation, and even_ then at the risk of interfering with propertyowners' water rights. The Public Works Department has written to the Borough Council as folows: "I am informed that the mere passage of the water through the turbines would not injuriously affeet the same for domestic purposes, but whether or not the water is otherwise suitable is _ a matter for analysis, and one with which this Department is not concerned, and can offer no opinion. lam also advised that the fall from the machine discharge to mean sea level is about 210 feet, and it is a question as to whether or not this would be sufficient head to suit, the requirements of Foxton. This letter must, not be taken as any indication that the water would of necessity be available for your use, as until our scheme is fully developed and we have full particulars as to how you propose to deal with the water, by reservoir, _or otherwise, and what provision your Council would make to compensate persons who may be injured by being deprived of the water ot the present stream, no promise whatever can be made in the matter."

Some Shannon ratepayers have been critical of the fees levied by the new Borough Council tor some of its services, and impatient of the rate of progress. J. he correspondent of the Palmerston Times thereupon holds Levm s shining example up to his fellow citizens: The people of the town must rise to tlie occasion and be iust, and trust that those whom thev have elected are,doing their best. The difficulty will soon be overcome as well as many other difficulties- Our people should look away at Levin.' When Mr Gardener (who was Mayor oi Levin for several years) launched out into a large water scheme and gasworks, it was thought that he had overstepped. The people ox Levin had faith and patience, today it is found the gas is a very lucrative concern showing a surplus. The water is being used bv the farmers, who are paying tribute, and day by day the Levm burden is lessening. Its main street and footpaths are nicely asphalted. Yet Shannon is a town better situated than Levm both for drainage and water, and has nil around untold wealth m the flax industry in addition to its fine grass ' country. Courage, brother, courage! lhat is all that is required. When the time is ripe, things will be knocked into to-morrow morning.