Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1897. The Mayor's Report.

Manawatu Herald, 17 April 1897, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1897. The Mayor's Report.

We were rather surprised at the indifference shown by the Councillors with the report of the Mayor, on Tuesday evening. They passed a vote of thanks to him, but that was all; these was .no great pleasure at what he had done, or waa proposed to be done. This is a matter for regret, as Mr Stanseil has displayed a commendable* amount of activity which *Jb of touch importance in public affairs. This lack of interest in our public? life was never better illustrated than by not a * single Councillor accompanying the Mayor to Wellington, fox tbey took a leal out of the Holy Book and urged similar reasons for not going as are recorded of- the guests doing who were bidden, to a marriage feast. One Councillor broke entirely new ground to eecupe from the dilemma he found himself in, and authorised a substitute under bis hand and seal I The suggestion is very novel, and if the Councillors admit the principle involved by paying the travelling expenses of a deputy councillor they must not be surprised to find the idea enlarged upon, and that some evening the Mayor will be faced by deputy-councillors at the meeting. If one is lawful, surely all that a Councillor who wishes a '• night out " has to do will be to send some person properly labelled to discuss the public matters with the Mayor and Town Clerk. The idea is new, and requires thinking out as to what length substitutes can be accepted, and as Councillors do not come up to the Mayor's rate of progress, possibly substitutes might make a change. The Mayo?.- has done good service, he made an excellent fight when he brought the natural advantages of this district . before the military authorities for an encampment. Now there is a chance that the district may he surveyed for that purpose when, an encampment is again suggested.. There is nothing like letting -aurjfiiiniaters know tnaT we are alive and not sleeping. The fact that now, after many years, our footpaths are assuming a decent appearance is 1 to be credited to the Mayor and Cr Hennessy. It took the works committee of the B.M-ougb, which is composed of the Mayor, and Ore Hennessy and Coley. to let theftaiiway'Department know that adjoining the Department's pit at Palmerston, there were acres of similar land to be had for the buying. Prior to these discoverers setting forth, the Department had always refused to supply the looal bodies with gravel, as they feared the supply would run short 1 Even thfc Department and the neighbouring local bodies are under an obligation to them, besides the Burgessesj who have now secured the promise of gravel at three shillings and sixpence a yard.

We all want waking up, now and again, and though the Mayor is unfortunately not perfect, yet he is undoubtedly doing his best for the town, and deserves and should have the help and advice, of the Councillors. We were pleased to see the reierenoe in the report to the water supply of the railway. We have alwayg urged that a combination between the JJorough and the Department could be bo arranged as to be of much advantage to both. The tanks at the Btation are fed by pipes laid from the well by the racecourse, and the height of the receiving tank at the well has been fixed so as to secure theu amount of pressure needed for railway purposes ; but as far as we can see there is nothing to prevent' this tank being placed at any elevation, there being a hill close by, co fchaY the pressure would be increased to that needed for the town, and by working in conjunction with the : railway, the Borough saves the cost of the well, the windmill and the length of pipes from well to station. If proper care was used to make on the hill a small reservoir, a fire extinguishing foroe would be secured for Main Street, and the railway supply, would also be improved ; but as that is not sought for by the Department, it would be in no way lessened. " The other subject of flax sites on the Motoa Estate is also another important question ; but we have said enough at present to show that however good one man may be, he needa the help of others to carry out any scheme, and though Councillors may not at first accept any suggestions, they should certainly give every opportunity to their being considered, and they should then be thoroughly discussed so that all sides of the question shall be brought into view.