The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, March 9, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 964, 9 March 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, March 9, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

It should be hardly necessary for us to remind ratepayers of the meeting convened by the Mayor for to-morrow night in the Masonic Hall, to discuss the loan proposals for the erection of a Municipal Hall. It is hoped there will be a large attendance, and that any doubtful points existing in the minds of ratepayers will be brought forward and satisfactorily answered. It is now unnecessary to call a public meeting in connection with loan proposals, but the Mayor has decided not to leave any stone unturned in order to have the matter thoroughly ventilated, and thus enable ratepayers to record an intelligent vote on Wednesday next. Ratepayers have now had the subject before them for several months, and as far as we are able to ascertain, very little opposition has been shown to the proposal. A small and well organised opposition, working quietly may, however, defeat the Council’s proposals unless those in favour of the loan shake off their lethargy and record their votes. A special meeting of the Council will be held tonight to confer with the architect and inspect the plans. The plans of the proposed hall will be on view at to-morrow night’s meeting.

In order to remove any misconception as to the assured revenue in connection with the proposed municipal hall, if erected, we state on the authority of the Mayor, that application has already been made by a company of public entertainers for the use of the hall, when erected, on two nights per week, from which alone sufficient revenue would accrue to meet interest and sinking fund on the loan of ,£2BOO. With the Government subsidy on loan, of £250, Foxton should carry the loan proposals without any misgivings.

Sir Joseph Ward delivered a farewell message to the people of the Dominion prior to his departure from Auckland on Monday last. He said; “I have feelings of gratitude to the people of New Zealand for the goodwill which has been shown to me so universally on my departure for the 1m-

perial Conference, While, however, I appreciate in the fullest way this spirit of personal kindness, I fully recognise that much of the demonstrations of goodwill I have received is due to New Zealand’s recognition of the importance to her of the great mission with which I have been entrusted, and reflected a strong and unanimous desire which exists on the part of the people of this country to widen and improve that framework of Empire which will attach us still closer to our Motherland. Thus I feel that New Zealand’s goodwill is as much for the mission as the man. This encourages me to do the best I can for the country I love and of which lam so proud. To one and all of my fellow citizens the kindliest Au Revoir.”

IT is refreshing to learn that the Levin Borough Council, which, by the way, is a very live body, is not losing sight of the necessity for urging upon the Government the importance and necessity of linking up the Main Trunk Line between Levin and Marton. If any action is to be taken by the Government in the near future in this connection, then the other local bodies interested should individually and collectively continue to knock at the door of Cabinet and stick to Cabinet like “poor relations.” At the last meeting of the Levin Borough Council, Cr. McKenzie moved ; ” That this council co-operates with other public bodies interested with the object of inducing the Government to construct a railway from Levin to Marton via Foxton, thus shortening the Wel-lington-Auckland and WellingtonNew Plymouth lines by several miles.” In moving the resolution, Cr McKenzie said that he thought the people at this end of the district had been a little lax in the efforts put forward to induce the Government to start the line, of which a large portion was already built, with the exception of two bridges and sixteen miles of railway line. There would be au all round saving to the Government, especially in the way of train miles, if the line were made, and it was one of the most needed lines in the country. Cr. Palmer seconded. The Mayor remarked that this end of the district had moved in the matter, though possibly it might have done more. They had taken Ministers over the proposed line and had showed them the country through which it would pass. When Sir Joseph Ward opened the Weraroa Post Office, they showed him the country through which the line would traverse. He did not see any harm in trying to resurrect the matter before a new Parliament was elected. Cr. Lancaster agreed that a certain amount of pressure from this end of the district had been brought to bear on the matter, but he insisted that the council should keep ‘‘pegging away.” Cr. Arcus: “We ought to drop them a letter every week.” The motion was agreed to. A resolution from the Foxton Borough Council on similar lines would not come amiss. Pkticr Bowling has ‘‘turned dog” on the Labour Party ! He is tired of them and their work, and he will leave them, which causes a contemporary to say: “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child!” Peter was the adopted son of the Party, which, when it came into power, released him from his bonds, and set him free to range the country and go forth on organising expeditions. What .will be the ultimate fate of Mr Peter Bowling ? We fear (dreadful as it may seem to a reformer) that he will have to go back to —work, common, every-day work !