Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10. 1905. ANOTHER LESSON FOR FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3558, 10 August 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10. 1905. ANOTHER LESSON FOR FOXTON.

Immunity from serious fiery de* vastations for some time lias lulled Foxtou people into a false state of fancied security, and although there have been occasional outbreaks of “ public opinion ” iii the direction of securing a water supply system for the town they have all ended in the one way, i.e., nothing has been done. Tuesday night’s disaster will probably set residents talking again, for the proverbial nine days, and then the effort will have exhausted itself once more. It may be urged by some that the Borough Council has the matter under consideration ; and so, in truth, it has —or, rather, had. But after a revolutionary proposal for the provision of an up-to-date high pressure water supply to be secured from the ranges fifteen miles away had, with other measures equally startling in their suddenly conceived magnitude, been feverishly brought forward and as promptly consigned to limbo, the whole matter was allowed to drop out of sight. Once or twice in the Borough Council chamber Cr Baker, the prime mover of the proposals referred to, has made reference to the water question and has been quietly but firmly sat upon at once by his fellow-councillors. The very mention of “ water” at a council meeting seems to provoke an ironical smile and the member who has the temerity to raise that sardonic expression hurriedly subsides, We do not draw on our imagination one jot in stating the position thus. At the several council meetings our representative has attended since the new ‘ ‘ progressive” members were elected he has noted this display of badinage whenever mention was made of the subject. ‘‘l don’t want water,” one councillor will observe, ‘‘let those who do get it for themselves !’ ’ This remark is a typical one. But we would ask: Were not these members elected on a ‘‘progressive ” pledge, and was not the water question a distinct item in their platform ? The counci is apparently as dead as a door nail, and with not sufficient regard for its constituents’ welfare to raise a decent and respectable interest in those vital matters that have been entrusted in its hands. Water, drainage, lighting, and street improvements were all to have been discussed thoroughly and an endeavour made to secure at least some degree of improvement in the conditions under which the people of Foxtou live. But the dreaded inertia has once more seized upon our municipal representatives, and the policy of drift dominates the position. Just now we would refer only to the first item, water, in view of Tuesday night’s disaster. It is not too great a stretch of imagination to contemplate that had the wind been blowing with any force from the southward Mr Walker’s shop would have been destroyed, and that from there possibly the whole block northwards would have been swept; or that, with the wind from any other quarter, almost as serious trouble would have been in store. Fortunately the wind was almost an absent quantity, but it is idle to shut one’s eyes on that account to the terribly serious possibilities which attend a fire in the business centre of this town. Therefore it is incumbent upon our municipal representatives to get to work and see if some system of water supply cannot be obtained. And it is equally as important that the burgesses should impres.-. upon councillors the fact that they want something done. Ii is time that petty personal views should be dropped, and that members should ‘‘take off the gloves,” go right in, and grapple with tbe whole matter in an earnest and determined manner, leaving no stone unturned to secure something of a more desirable result.

Another matter is also brought to mind by scenes witnessed on Tuesday evening. Not so long ago we ventured a suggestion on the subject; butt like many another suggestion n was treated doubtless with superior contempt and allowed to fall into the arms of millions of predecessors in the haven of good resolutions. We refer to the absence of a fire brigade, fire police, or some other organised body which could take charge when a fire should unfortunately occur. It was the formation of such yi body that we urged before, t and we do so again now trusting: that out of theadded argument leait to our remarks by Tuesday’s F openings

some good may accrue. willingness of the general public: to help in the salvaging of goods is beyond question, but the lack of a controlling authority nullifies their efforts. A few men, properly organised as a salvage corps, would accomplish more than fifty volunteers working indiscriminately and without any system. Perhaps now that the moral Of Olli ! remarks has been pointed in such a convincing manner we may expect to see a useful proposition put into effect.

[Since the above was in type some inquiries have shown the position of Borough Council to be that it is unable at present, owing to shortage of funds, to put down a trial bore which was suggested and which would cost at least £IOO. In view of this fact we would suggest that a public meeting should be called and a committee appointed to consider ways and means. If it found the public were willing to subscribe or guarantee the coat of the trial the council could be urged to go on with it. Then, if the well were a success and the burgessses would sanction a loan for a comprehensive water scheme the guarantors could be reimbursed out of loan moneys under the heading of preliminary expenses.]