The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, August 10, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1081, 10 August 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, August 10, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Persons whc allow their stock to graze on the “long acre,” and incidentally on to private property, where flower plots are ruthlessly trampled on and other mischief wrought to gardens and lawns upon which much labour and coin has been expended, should be warned by the following: At Feilding, yesterday, one John Bishop was fined £5, as general and special damages, with £3 18s costs, for permitting his cows to graze on the lawn of a house belonging to William Hunter. Now, the fine and costs, £& 18s, would have provided the nibbling of succulent grass in secure enclosures for Bishop’s cows for many mouths to come, but he took a risk. There are people in P'oxton who are tempted to turn their stock on the roads at night—particularly when they know the raugership is vacant. We know of several persons whose gardens and lawns have been considerably damaged of late by straying stock. The plea of an open gate to the premises where gardens and lawns are situated, is no justification for straying stock. While on the question of wandering stock, we noticed this morning th»t several of the young cabbage trees planted in the enclosures along Park Street have been pulled out and the tops chewed. If the Council want these plants to grow they had better protect them with wire netting and appoint a vigilant ranger.

Monday night’s meeting of the Borough Council should be of a pailiculaily inteiesling nature, as it includes two subjects which are at present exercising the minds of residents. One subject has reference to fire prevention and the other is whetner a reduction in admission charges to the municipal picture entertainments shall be granted. As a result of a lengthy discussion on fire prevention methods, the Council, at a previous meeting, could not make up its mind what steps to take, and as an expedient decided to circularise Main Street property owners to ascertain whether they would favour being rated for a loan lor a scheme limited to the Main Street. The replies to these circulars will be read, and we anticipate that the Council’s suggestion will not be endorsed by those interested. It is nonsense to suppose that Main Street property-owners would saddle themselves with a loan for a costly temporary lire prevention service in a restricted area when sooner- or later a comprehensive water supply scheme will be sanctioned tor the borough, which would mean that Main Street would be saddled with a double burden. The only alternative to a water supply loan tor lire prevention purposes is the sinking of wells and the purchase ol a manual engine, hose and reel The manual and other equipment is a realisable asset—when once the water supply is an accomplished fact—and its upkeep a mere bagatelle. The Council's suggested expedient recommended by Palmerston’s fire brigade superintendent is not worthy of seiiotis consideration, and we are surprised that the Council has wasted time on it. It would appear that we shall have to abandon temporary fire prevention schemes and tailing this we must

possess our souls in patience until the time is opportune for bringing down the water and drainage scheme. How long this will be is for the Council to decide.