The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, April. 23, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1236, 23 April 1914, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, April. 23, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Nominations for the mayoralty closed at noon yesterday and Mr G. H. Stiles was returned unopposed. We congratulate His Worship upon the renewed confidence reposed in him by the townspeople. As we have previously pointed out, it would not have been in the best interests of the borough to have “swopped horses while crossing the stream,” The Mayor has gone so far with the water and drainage scheme, and it is right that he and his Council should see it through. Apart from this important matter, Mr Stiles has applied the same acumen to municipal matters which has characterised him in business, and all matters coming before the Council has received his careful scrutiny. The meetings, under his chairmanship, have been conducted with dignity and good order has been maintained. The past year has been a strenuous one both for the Mayor and his Council, and there is still plenty of work ahead. Apart from the water and drainage proposals, the gas works will have to receive a good deal of attention dining the year, and the ratepayers will be called upon to sanction further expenditure in thiscounec tion. The townspeople are not unmindful of the great responsibility cast upon the Mayor and Councillors at the present time, and hope that their administration will result iu the advancement of the borough on sound lines, and for the betterment ot the living conditions of the inhabitants.

The extraordinary vacancy on the Council, caused by the resignation of Cr Green, has been filled by the unopposed return of Mr Robert Kempster. This is Mr Kempster's first entry into local politics, and from what we know of him, he should be an acquisition to the Council. Mr Kempster resides in that portion of the borough which has expressed a desire to be merged into the County, and he was one of a deputation of ratepayers which recently waited upon the Council with a request that their properties be not included for rating purposes for water and drainage. We do not blame Mr Kempster for this, but we would also point out that it is the duty of Councillors to sacrifice private interests when the welfare of the borough, as a v/bole, is at stake. We would rather that the property owners who object to bear their share of the water and drainage burden be cut out of the borough altogether than be exempt from such responsibility. We believe, however, that while Mr Kempster will see that his portion of the borough is not neglected, he will take a broad view of municipal affairs generally. We congratulate him on his “bloodless victory,’’ and wish him every success as one of the people’s trustees.

Thk Palmerston ratepayers, by 711 votes to 270, yesterday sanctioned a loan of .£IOO,OOO for municipalising the privatelyowned gas works, purchase of land, and extension of works in connection with same. While Palmerston, like Foxton, has had to pay through the nose for municipalising a private monopoly, yet its acquisition will not add to the rates, and in the long run the profits from the works, instead of finding their way into the pockets of shareholders, will reduce the cost of the commodity to consumers, Palmerston will not in the future regret the step it has taken.

In the calendars of the Greek, Roman, and Anglican Churches, to day, the 23rd of April, is honoured as the Festival of St. George, Patron Saint of England. Since the Council of Oxford in 1220, St, George has been the Guardian Saint of England ; and around his name time has woven much romance, chivalry and honour. History tells us he was born in Cappadocia in the third century, and was one of the bravest soldiers in the army of the Emperor Diocletian. He is supposed to be the young man who tore down the edicts against the Christians, which the Emperor had caused to be affixed to the doors of the Church in Nicomedia —and in consequence of his daring deed, to have sufferedl a cruel

death by slow torture. He bore bis sufferings with such courage that it inspired the Christians with an amazing bravery, and hundreds were martyred for Christ, so that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church. Round the name of St. George there are many legends, but perhaps the most beautiful, and the one which decided him being made the Patron Saint of England, is: When Robert Duke of Normandy, sou of William the Conqueror, was prosecuting his victories against the Turks, and laying seige to the famous city ot Antioch, which was like to be relieved by a mighty army of the Saracens, St. George appeared with an innumerable army, coming down the hills all in white, with a red cross in his banner, to reinforce the Christians, which occasioned the infidel army to flee, and the Christians to possess themselves of the town.

So truly was this legend believed that in the Thirteenth Century the Red Cross of St. George was displayed upon the royal banner of the English Kings, and to day the Union Jack, the national flag of Great Britain and Ireland, consists of a union of the crosses of St. George, St. Patrick and St. Andrew. In addition to this, several Orders of Knighthood have been instituted in honour of St. George, the most illustrious being the Order of the Garter, founded by Edward 111,, in 1330. St. George is usually depicted in art as a gallant knight in conflict with a dragon, saving a princess from being sacrificed to the monster and, in consequence, all that is most courageous is associated with his name. This picture may really be a symbol ot the triumph of Christianity over the power of Satan. We can understand how in the good old times when battles were fought hand to hand, “St, George for Merrie England” was the rallying cry of Englishman on many a hard-iought field. To-day St. George stands for the Christian Knight, the true soldier ot the Cross. The second lesson which falls on this day, and is appointed to be read in the Anglican Communion, is taken from the sixth chapter to the Ephesians, and sets forth the armour of the Christian Knight. The soldier of Christ is fully equipped, having his loins girded with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. To this is added the shield of Faith, the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word ot God. And not least, the name of St. George stands for a true patriotism and nationalism, and tells us here in the antipodes that we are a part of the great Empire of Britain, and that we have a share in keeping up the revered and honoured name ot the Homeland and its Dominion-.

The Royal visit to France ii creating intense enthusiasm. King George and Queen Mary received a great ovation. The newspapers acclaim the political significance of the visit. At the banquet at the Elysee, President Poincare expressed France’s intense pleasure at the Royal visit. The Entente had proved permanent and efficacious. It was one of the surest guarantees ot the European equilibrium. King George, speaking in French, said he felt a a peculiar pleasure at being in the midst of the French people on the tenth anniversary of an agreement which had lead to intimate and cordial relations, enabling the people to co-operate in the humanitarian work of civilisation and peace. His Majesty thanked President Poincare for recalling the name of his beloved father, which would ever remain associated with the Entente. He concluded by expressing his most profound and sincere friendship for France.

In sentencing Holland at Wellington yesterday, the Chief Justice had something to say in reference to the brotherhood of man. “The brotherhood of man,” said His Honour, “means a brotherhood that will include all classes of the community—rich and poor ; and if you think that the brotherhood is only to be amongst one class, you have not appreciated what it means. From the experiences of the strike we know that the violence came from the worker. When a man who is a worker, with his wife and family perhaps starving, chooses to work, what right has another worker to stop him working ? He has a right to labour ; that is the foundation of all social life. And the right to labour was opposed. Men were hit for, working and doing no harm. That is not the way to promote the brotherhood of man.”