NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 393, 24 March 1908, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

A “ Christian Friend ” has mildly reproved us for publishing, in a recent issue, a humourous article, under the heading of “ A Call to Samuel,” and states that the article referred to “ tends to profanity,” also expressing the opinion that a certain piece of poetry published by us “ tended to produce indifference to sin,” and quoting Proverbs XIV., 9. Acts XVII., 30.31. Our friend, who, by the way, omitted to send his or her name, also enclosed three tracts, which we shall be pleased to read when time permits. We may point out to our anonymous correspondent, whose religious susceptibilities have been touched, that we are sorry to have offended, from his view-point, which may be

circumscribed. aWe hope it may never be said of us that we have held the Scriptures, for which we have the greatest reverence, up to ridicule.

Tiik Dominion medal which the Government devised to delight the hearts of all its school children, and impress on them a fact in history, is very late in making its appearance. The medals were to have been distributed by February 28, but it will be two months yet, according to official computation, before they dangle on the necks of girls and are “swapped ” by boys. The explanation is that great difficulty has been experienced in achieving a really satisfactory design. The contractors, Messrs C. Holier and Sons, have been at much pains in the matter, and are not to blame for the delay. A design has just been approved, and in two months more the medals should be available for distribution. On the obverse will be depicted the King’s head, between the Union Jack and New Zealand ensign, with an inscription round the border “ Dominion of New Zealand.” Tbe reverse side will have a border of fern leaves, with the inscription, “ Presented to the children altendlending the schools of the Dominion,” and, round a circle, “New Zealand proclaimed a Dominion, September 26, 1907.”

Foi.i.owing is the petition which the local bodies in this district have decided to forwad to the Governor, asking for the appointment of a Royal Commission in connection with the rivers problem: —“A meeting of delegates from the Palmerston North, Feilding, and Fox ton Borough Councils, from the Kairanga, Kiwitea, Manawatn, Oroua, Pohangina, and Horowhenua County Councils and from the Manawatu, Sluggish River, Aorangi, and Horseshoe Drainage Boards was held on the 15th January, 1908, ‘to consider the advisability of forming a River Board or Boards to control the Manawatu and Oroua Rivers,’ which meeting set up a committee to report. And at a subsequent meeting of the delegates on the 19th March, 1908, to receive the report of the committee, it was resolved that the Secretary be authorised to prepare and forward a petition to the Governor in the name of the delegates praying for the appointment of a Royal Commission in terms of the resolution adopted. The resolution adopted was as follows : —‘ That your committee report that after consultation with the Minister of Lands it considers it desirable to apply to the Government to set up a Royal Commission to determine the constitution of a River Board or Boards to govern the Oroua, Manawatu and Pohangina Rivers, and all questions bearing upon the, protection and conservation of the land of the districts. Such report to be refe 1 red back to the Conference before its recommendations are embodied in legislation, and provided that such Board or Boards be ar.tho; iscd t) adopt the classification of lands as set forth in Sections 31 to 37 of the Land Drainage Act, i9o.p’ Therefore I, the undersigned, acting for and under tlic instinct ions of the delegates as set foi 111 in their icsolutions bearing theieon, do humbly pray-that Your Excellency will be pleased to giant the prayer of } r our petitioners and appoint a Royal Commission as desired. —E. J. Armstrong, Honorary Secretary.”

The Hiyli Commissioner’s cable yesterday, announcing an upward tendency in the hemp market, has eased the tension of millers and employees. The news was awaited by all interested with mixed feelings. It is anticipated by those who piofess to know, that there are indications of a still further rise in the course of a few weeks, and that the recent drop was a Yankee creation.