The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, August 17, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1084, 17 August 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, August 17, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

An important committee meeting of the local Horticultural Society will be held on Monday evening next, at 7.30 o’clock, to discuss the resolution passed by the Borough Council refusing the Society’s application for the hall on Wednesdays for the Spring and Autumn Shows. The Society fixed Wednesday and Thursday, November 20th and 21st, for the Spring Show, and Wednesday, March sth, for the Autumn Show. Wednesday being the day on which the statutory half-holiday falls, it afforded an opportunity for numbers of people to attend in the afternoon, which they could not otherwise do if any other day was fixed, and the fixing of this day is an important factor in the success of the Society's exhibitions. The Council, however, has set aside Wednesday lor picture entertainments. In our opinion the Council should do all in its power to foster and encourage the aims and objects of the society, and we think it would be a graceful act on its part to sacrifice two Wednesdays iu the year for the Society. The Council’s refusal to grant the application for the days mentioned has created a good deal of adverse criticism among members of the society, and no doubt these will be given expression to on Monday evening, and further representations made to the Council on the subject. We hope good counsels will prevail among our civic authorities, and that they will recognise that the society is an institution whicn is vvortiiy of all the encouragement it is iu their power to render, and that they will do the right thing in granting the society the use of the hall on the days asked for.

TiiK liiißAL,u has, on many occasions, strongly advocated closer settlement ot the land in this district, and it is pleasing to note that a move is being made in this direction by at least one propertyowner in the neighbourhood. We notice that Mr F. b. Kaslou is advertising portion ol the Moutoa estate tor subdivision into nine tarms, ranging trom 23 acres. It is staled, what we have previously said, that the quality ot the laud is second to none in the district, and has neeu used lor bullock, fattening lor years. The cutting up of portions of this estate would mean added prosperity to Foxton, and we hope ere long to see cottages erected and the land dotted with smiling and prosperous homesteads between Foxton and Moutoa. i'hu is as 11 should be and the graduated land lax should be screwed even more tigher than is suggested on the land monopolist in order to compel him to make room for greater iudustiy and the expansion ol our exports.

Akthr the recent conflagration the Council granted permission lo several business people, whose shops were destroyed, to erect temporary premises in which to carry on, on condition that the said temporary structures were removed within nine months. That was made perfectly clear at the time and any attempt to get behind the conditions laid down by the Council would not only be illegal but a flagrant floating of the Council. We cauuot conceive of any reputable person imagining

that the Council tor one moment would allow any of the temporary structures now erected to remain after the period stipulated. Yet, Cr Richmond assured the Council at its last meeting that “he knew of one man who had no intention of removing the one he had erected.” We are inclined to think that Cr Richmond was ringing on a little joke, tor it is inconceivable that any body ot intelligent men would allow themselves and their by-laws to be set at nought by such a preposterous attempt at pointing. Before any permanent building is erected, plans and specifications must be presented to aud passed by the Council, aud when the time comes for action it will be found that the Council will see to it that every building is so founded and constructed as to comply with its regulations.

I* AST Monday night, in Wellington, the Wellington branch of the Royal New Zealand Association of His Majesty’s Veterans held a social to celebrate “The deeds that won the Empire” Among those present were the Governor, Eord Islington, General Godley, aud other well-known military men, politicians aud veterans. His Excellency said he was very glad that at Auckland there was a Veterans’ Horae, for it showed that the people of New Zealand recognised what they owed to the veterans. The work ot the veterans in memorable campaigns in the past was a bright example to the present generation, and he was confident that the latter would with vigor seek to emulate those deeds. He knew ot no body of men in the Empire that his Majesty the King would more readily honour than the veterans who had done so much for the Empire, and he felt that he, as a direct representative of the King, could do no less here. In the course of his speech. General Godley said the more he read and heard of the Maori wars the more he was amazed at the pluck, determination, and splendid way in which the veterans must have gone through the difficulties and hardships ot bush fighting. It had impressed him, as a soldier, very much indeed. Dr A. W. Izard, who proposed the toast of “The Veterans’ Association,” took the opportunity to speak of the claims of the veterans, especially in regard to the Maori war pension. Their claims should be regarded as paramount, and for each veteran there should be at last a flag aud a firing party. In responding to the toast, Mr F. W. Revell mentioned that it was now fifty-two years since the Maori war began, and the veterans —the small number remaining—were still asking the Government for some pension, for the modest sum of ros per week ; not so much for the sake of the money itself, but as a recognition of all that they had passed through for the country. If they received a pension at all commensurate with what they had done they would get (aud the Dominion could well afford to give it) a sum at least equal to the highest pay they earned while on service. Other speakers strongly urged that something should be done by the Government to recognise the services of the veterans of the Maori war. The consensus ot opinion was that New Zealand had not done her duty by her veterans. The above tacts bring to mind a local case which is worthy ol consideration, aud possibly this is only one of manysimilar cases throughout the Dominion which require looking into. We refer to an old veteran militiaman whose now stooping form and white locks are familiar to many of us, Mr Alfred William Hurst. The old gentleman is now in his 85th year, aud although in feeble health is able to get about. Hurst joined the malitia in Wellington when 18 years of age —67 years ago-—when the Hult district was experiencing troublous times. He was the youngest militia-man enrolled, and we believe he is the only veteran now living of the hundred who volunteered for special duly to patrol the district between Tiuakori Road aud Kaiwarra. He was one ot fifty who answered the call for volunteers in an endeavour to capture the famous Maori warrior, Te Rauparaha, who was located at the time in the bush between the Hull aud Porirua. The volunteers, accompanied by Epuui’s warriors, operated on the Hutt side aud the blue-jackets from the Calliope on the Porirua side ot the ranges. The capture ol the Maori Napoleon is now a matter of history. When the militia were disbanded, tor some reason or other they never received any written discharge, and their claims to consideration were passed over. It would be a graceful act on the part of the Government, when considering the claims of the veterans, to include such cases as these, in order that the tew remaining with us may be permitted to enjoy such comforts as will make their latter days peaceful instead of harassing-