The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, May 27, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 997, 27 May 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, May 27, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Borough Council is arranging a conference with leading Shannon residents in respect to the possibility of a combined water supply scheme for the two centres of population. It is reported that a few miles from Shannon, at a suitable altitude, the Tokomaru river would provide an almost never-ending supply of clear crystal water. The Shannon residents are anxious that representatives of the local Borough Council should visit the source from whence the water would be drawn, and we are also informed that Shannon is in favour of a combined scheme. Unlike many other towns in the Dominion, Foxton has never applied to the Government for a water conservation reserve, and possibly Shannon has also neglected to do so. If the proposed source of supply is on private property the purchase of a catchment area would now add greatly to the cost of the scheme. It is impossible to speak definitely on this point until fuller information is obtained, but the cost of the catchment area must not be overlooked. The question of dual ownership of such an important concern requires most careful consideration —a hitch in after years might mean costly litigation to the ratepayers. We think the majority of townspeople are now agreed that a water and drainage scheme is absolutely essential, and that the Council are moving in the right direction by obtaining the fullest details of the Shannon project. When this information is forthcoming a comparison can be made with the artesian scheme. It is apparent that our civic fathers are not going to allow this important question to be shelved.

Our attention has been called to a certain irregularity of established custom which took place at the last meeting of the Borough Council. The question is of a somewhat delicate nature and we approach it with a certain amount of diffidence. We refer to the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Coronation Town Hall. It was proposed that this ceremony should be carried out by the member for the district. According to precedent, and in view of the fact that the hall is a purely municipal enterprise, the duty of laying the foundation stone should devolve upon the Mayor and the stone should be so inscribed together with the names of the Councillors, etc. No doubt the member will take a similar view of the position to that which we have outlined, and that the Mayor will not allow his native modesty to prevent him carrying out a duty which, as first citizen and according to time-honoured custom, should fall to his lot. In mentioning this matter we are only voicing local public sentiment in view of the active part the Mayor and his Council displayed in getting the hall erected.

Speaking to a representative of the Southland Times, Mr E. B. McKay expressed his views after a visit to the North Island, on the progress that is being made in the northern cities. Speaking of the railways he said: “Travelling is on the whole more comfortable than in the South, the all night journey accounting for this. The seats in the carriages are adjustable and make quite a comfortable sleeping bunk. The carriages are warmed throughout by steam pipes running the length of the train, steam being supplied by the engine. The sellers of periodicals, papers, etc., are an awful nuisance, as many as three at times following each other, in a hurdle race through the carriages, calling their wares with persistence and reiteration, worthy of the Cingalese at Colombo. A feature of this book selling business that wants putting down with a firm hand is the offering for sale ot so called “hot stuff,” which is persistently stuck under the nose of the weary traveller.”

We note with pleasure the formation of a local literary and debating society. Meetings are to be held weekly—every Tuesday evening. The society is undenominational, and is open to adults of either sex at a nominal membership fee. The aims and objects of the society are to create

au interest in matters intellectual, and to foster the art of reasoning and speaking. Many prominent men in the world of politics today are indebted to such societies for the start it gave them on their career. The Rev Mr Aitken quoted an illustration of this fact in his recent address on the aims and objects of such a society. He referred to Andrew Fisher, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. In ISS6 Andrew Fisher was a member of a debating society at Gympie. There was then nothing about the man to indicate his rising to fame. When a few years ago the gentleman referred to met him in Brisbane and early reminiscences were recalled, Fisher admitted that the knowledge he gained and the ability acquired at the modest debating society in Gympie proved the stepping stone to his success as a member of Parliament. Today Andrew Fisher, the one-time modest mining lad, is one of the Empire’s statesmen. Such societies, if properly conducted, are educative in the highest degree, and every lad who desires to improve himself should make a point of joining the local socisty.

Gisboknk appears to be riding at present on the wave of prosperity. We have received a letter from a resident of that town in which he states that tramways are being laid down, an outer harbour is contemplated (at present the larger steamers stand *out in the offing and only vessels of light draught come in), a severage scheme is being carried out —altogether loan moneys up to ,£175,000 are being spent. The writer winds up by stating that an immense amount of money is sunk in beer !

So far the Government has not issued programmes to local bodies suggestive of what ceremonials are to take place on Coronation Day. No doubt a programme similar to that used on the Coronation of King Fdward will be adopted. Public meetings have been held in different parts of the Dominion, and committees set up to arrange and carry out programmes appropriate to the occasion. His Worship the Mayor convenes a public meeting in the Council Chambers on Monday evening next, to decide what steps shall be taken locally to celebrate the event. We hope there will be a large attendance of citizens present to discuss the question, for Foxton must not be allowed to lag behind in its loyalty on Coronation Day.