Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 13,1902. Good Examples.

Manawatu Herald, 13 March 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 13,1902. Good Examples.

A resident of this town; has but to move around the neighbouring towns to be convinced of the great disabilities under which this town lies in having no energetic man at the head of affairs. In a late visit to Wanganui we had the pleasure of witnessing the value a pushing and progressive Mayor is to a town. Wanganui lucky in having Mr A. Hatrick as Mayor, a fact the residents are cordially conceding. His plucky opening up of the Wanganui river, one which at times has, (now, under the care of the River Trust Board), only a depth of ten inches of water, for tourist traffic is so well-known. To less energetic people the idea of taking crowds up fifty miles of such a dribble would never have been entertained. This shows the difference between energy and apathy. Mr Hatrick convinced himself of its practicability and without wasting breath to convince others, set about the work in his wholenearted fashion. A River Trust was formed which was given an endowment of no present value, but by yearly grants the Trust managed so to direct and control the shallow waters, by the formation of small stone leads, that when the river is low, which it frequently is, just enough water is secured to float a boat drawing less than twelve inches. Having made sure of this liberal supply Mr Hatrick had most comfortable steamers built in England, powerfully engined, and started a service which is one of the most popular of Tourist routes. The river abounds in rapids, and to surmount the difficulties in ascending them an ingenious system of fixed wire ropes lying on the’ bed of the river is arranged, by which the steamers haul themselves up. Some people say that Mr Hatrick has been moved by the power of enriching himself, but it seems too often forgotten that in his efforts to increase his business he has been the means of enriching the whole town of Wanganui as well as the Colony. Every passenger his boats carry spend at least part of a day and the whole night in town, and must therefore create a circulation of money. As the charms of the river are advertised far and wide the colony profits by the increased trade on the railways, so that the effect of energy on the part of one man has been of exceeding value to a great many. Men of sterling character and who possess the valuable possession of energy are not content to retain it all for selfish ends, but are ready to take their part in public life and thus help to wake up their weaker brethren. This is so in Wanganui’s Mayor, who has almost forced upon the townspeople one of the most radical and greatest improvement to the town.! Those who know old Wanganui will. remember that a large space, sloping down to the river, and known by the fanciful name of “ Market Square,” just in front of the Supreme Court, was anything but a thing of beauty. The ground was uneven, hollow in and was covered with long

rough grass, and on tho sides were planted untrained Macrocarpa trees. All this has been altered, so beautifully, that now the place is an ornament to the town. The Macrocarpa trees have disappeared, and the ground has been all made and-is now formed in broad grass terraces, | the lowest part having a couple of fountains and flower beds, whilst flowering shrubs are planted in suitable places. On the terraces seats are placed, giving the sitter a view of the river and the opposite bank. Everybody admits that all this is excellent, but when proposed it was hard to get the Council to carry out the work and had the Mayor, Mr Hatrick, possessed less grit than he does, the work would never have been done. This is a worthy illustration of what we have again and again represented as the advantage of our leading public men devoting interest to their public duties. We had the pleasure of meeting Mr Maljor, the Mayor of Hawera, not only for this year, but for many years past, and what he told us is but a repetition of the statement of value a good Mayor'iS tb: a town. Hawera is possessed of one of the finest water Services of any town, the pressure throwing a stream one hundred feet in height. It has an admirable sewerage scheme, and yet the rates for all purposes do not exceed one shilling and ninepence in the pound on the 610 rateable properties. Mr Major confidently hopes to see the rate reduced to one shilling and threepence, though it is intended to provide up rto-date abattoirs. . The statement makes the, euviousneaa of Hawera’s position a noble one.