Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1890. Awake.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 3 June 1890, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1890. Awake.

Tn the days gone bye, the approaching session of Parliament would hnve boen heralded by public mePtiiigH, in town, and country, at which the wants of the district would have been reduced to resolutions, .'i.:d forwnrdud to the member. Are wo so safisfiftd, that such steps nre not now noeued. or are we more lazy? We admit that we should like lo see a return to those days, whci every man in th« district lent a hand to push it ahead Some excuse may be urged for the majority not moving, as they lean on the

leaders the}' have elected, but what about the leaders ? We hive always a^nrned that the Councillors of this Lorough were selected, not more.y to attend to roading, and purely town details, buc to keep the public requirements well bef* re the > <overnment In our Mayor we possess a keen local politician, one who has fought his fight on many a rough field, and it was a pleasure to witness his eagerness to have a fray at Mr Wilson's meeting List week. Very little persuading should De sufficient to bring him to the front on such an occasion. Our Councillors have the interest of the district also at heart, bu"; as yet, have not developed into very fluent public speakers, but as every man knows what is wanted, speaking on nuob. subjects is very easy. We believe if the public would only wake up, a thorough good .meeting could he held, at which, amongst other wants the following could be discosied. Governments are always anxious to withdraw subsidies, and it was a matter for regret that Mr Wi son seemed to think that as the country settlers, iv entirely new districts, would get one third" of tho value of the land for road making purpose , the dwellers on land purchased years ago, and inhabitants of town districts and Boroughs, needed no consideration. Now wo think that the Council should not accept this apoliation so quietly, but put the case bethis meeting." Tb.en, as our Mayor said last week, it is a monstrous proposal to saddle the Co'ony with the Harbour Board dabts, w;ien the money has been squandered under local control, and for this district, more especially, the proposal seems iniquitous, as every application for assistance for the improvement of the rivur lius becm vigourously refused. We ought to publicly protest co as to back up the baud, of our representative. We have been singularly uu ortunateiu receiving so few endown ments for our Borough, ami we ought to attempt, to have this r. - medied. Our sister Borough Palmerston, is alwass asking for some sections, and getting them, let us do so also. The Government pos" sess a large piece of laud on the ■main street adjoining the Post ( ;ffice, and a'so a portion of the river frontage where Messrs Rather ford and ustin's mills are, which are calmly claimed by the Railway Commissioners. As the railway mere y annexed these, oivy when they found that other peop'e wanted them, it is evident they are of no use for the working of the railway, and therefore could not be subject to a strong claim by the commissioners. These would in time be v luably to the Borough and we are frirly entitled to ask for tliem, more especially if we have to pay other Harbour Boai-d debts, aud to lose our small subsidies. There is also the necessity for a proper weigh bridge on the wharf ; other local wants which are bound to be known by others could also bo considered aud dealt with. We must wake up, and however troublesome we may be, we must strive to obtain all tho legitimate) assistance that we can, and we ho. c that early action will be taken, as Parliameut will very shortly meet.