The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, October 30, 1909. THE LATH PRINCE ITO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 501, 30 October 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, October 30, 1909. THE LATH PRINCE ITO.

The late Prince Hirobiuni I to, whose assassination we recorded in our last issue, was a member of the Choshu clan, and was born in 1838. In 1863 he escaped by stealth to Shanghai in order to visit foreign lands and study Western customs, spending a year iu Loudon. The knowledge of English which young Ito acquired proved an important factor in his subsequent advancement. After the Restoration the leaders ol Choshu, having been largely instrumental in accomplishing the overthrow of the Shoguuate, were very influential with the Court, to which they had given the real substance of power. The leader of the clan, Kido, was attracted to Ito, and from the first the young man w T as entrusted with highly responsible duties. He was appointed a Councillor of State and acted as interpreter to the boy Emperor when he first received the foreign envoys. From that day he had at all times been metaphorically and much of the time literally close to the throne, for even from the first his ability was recognised and appreciated by his Imperial Majesty. Prince Ito has, iu the course of a long and very active career, held a variety of offices and performed many special missions of great responsibility. His first visit to the United States was iu 1870, when he made a thorough study of the banking system, which resulted iu the promulgation of the banking regulations of 1872, the basis ot the system still in existence. A year or so later he was attached to the special embassy of Prince Iwakura sent abroad to negotiate with the different Powers for the revision of the old treaties. In 1882, the year after the proclamation announcing the proposed inauguration of the representative system ten years later, he was sent to the United States and Europe to make a study of the various parliamentary systems, and it was he who made the present system for Japan. In 1885 he concluded the agreement with Li Hung Chang about Corea. He attended the coronation of Tsar Alexander 111. and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and made several other foreign tours of a personal rather than political or official character. In the internal politics of Japan he has been a very active figure. He was but 44 years of age when first called upon to form a Cabinet He was Premier four times. He founded the present Seiyukai or constitutionalist party and although latterly out of active politics, was still the most influential of all politicians, the only man who could fairly claim a division of this honour with him being Marshal Marquis Yamagata. During and after the Russian war Prince Ito (then the Marquis Ito) was sent to Seoul to settle the relations between Japan and Corea. He visited Europe in 1871, 1882 and 1901, and was made a G.C.B. in 1902. The Emperor created him a prince last year. Mr Yukichi Ito, the late Prince’s adopted sou and heir, is Master of Ceremonies and steward to Prince Arisugawa. He is 39 years of age. f

THF FLAGSTAFF. Thu Reserves Committee of the Borough Council has decided to remove the flagstaff in the triangle at the north end of Main Street to Victoria Park. No reason whatever has been given so so far as we are aware tor its removal and several ratepayers, including an ex-Councillor, have approached us and asked that the Council be requested to stay its hand as a majority of the burgesses are opposed to the transfer. The Flagstaff was erected in its present position by the citizens of Foxton to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII and the intention of those responsible was that bunting should be displayed on gala days, or other occasions. This, however, has not been done. On Trafalgar Day a member of out staff hoisted the New Zealand Ensign but the ropes had perished and would not stand the strain, and, after floating gaily for a few minutes, our glorious ensign came down with a run. We are of opinion that it would be a mistake to shift the flagstaff to the Park, as it is out of the way and could only be used about twice a year, whereas in its present position flags could, and should, be hoisted on the anniversary of every important event in the Empire, with very little trouble. Again, if it is to be erected in the Park it will need to be put in an out of the way portion ol the ground, otherwise it will be an obstacle to spectators at the sports meeting and to cricketers. We hope that the Council will, in deference to the wishes of the ratepayers, reconsider their decision, and leave the flagstaff in its present position.