Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1896. Opening up the District.

Manawatu Herald, 28 July 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1896. Opening up the District.

Months soon slip by, and it will not be long before the spring and summer are upon us. A great step in the right direction has been taken in securing means to enable those residing inland to take advantage of the enjoyment to be obtained on our river, and the shore of the ocean beach. The Government have had a very suitable spot near the ocean beach surveyed for building sites and it will soon be placed in the market The Borough Councillors are also prepared to further the attractions of the spot by plantiqg against the prevailing winds. Mr Howan is having a very suitable steam launch built, in wich visitors can be taken from the wharf to the beach, or up the river to some of the picturesque spots so well known to the old residents. We have also the promise of a road being formed towards the Sanitorium by the Oounty Council, so that visitors to that place will be able to make a trip by land to the town, and also secure the delivery of the necessaries of life at a reasonable charge. We need much more, and the flatting up of a local committee to secure our fnrther requirements being carried out, to improve those we have yet got, seems to us to be needed. The old Baying that what is everybody's business is nobody's business is as true in this respect as in so many others, and we cannot afford to let half the visiting season slip away before we are aware of what these deficiencies are. It would not be the duty of this committee to do more than consider what further means should be taken to improve our future prospects, and to make suggestions, and to endeavour to get certain people to supply tham. We might instance the new steam launch, it is evident, for her owner to reap a reward for his enterprise, that the railway department must enter into the spirit of the question and run cheap trips in conjunction with the boat. To leave the whole responsibility of moving the department on one man's shoulders appears reckless and unfair, and the backing up of some such committee would bound to have a satisfactory effect. All travellers might not desire to run into the station at Foston and go by steamer, and it would appear a mistake to increase the distance to jbe travelled by those who choose the route by road to the spot the residents of the Borough desire to make popular, bo that m the railway

crosses the Lady's Mile at a point by road half a mile nearer the beach than the Foxton station, this might be explained to the department and they might be induced to put a small platform and stop the excursion trains there. In a trip from Palmerston or elsewhere the saving of half-an-hour in this manner would have an effect in inducing traffic. A want that must be supplied are boats at the Heads as well as fishing tackle, and a fair rate of charges agreed upon tor their use, as well as being sure of the care of some competent , person. We lack one element to the success of any gathering of people, and one we fear we are unable to supply, and that is a band. There was an attempt made but a short time ago to start one, but fell through from lack of interest ; it is a great pity, and the matter should oertainly be reconsidered. It might be possible, supposing it is found that a brass band could not be formed, to have a boyß* drum and fife band. In the Old Country we have seen many regiments of soldiers marching gaily to the sounds of such a band, and any band would be better than none. Of course we do not pretend to have gone fully into the matter, but have briefly sketched a few of unmistakable things that are needed and which should be seen to at once, so we hope this suggestion may receive the careful consideration of our readers and bear fruit a hundredfold.