The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1886. CONGRATULATORY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1697, 1 May 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1886. CONGRATULATORY.

Our readers will be pleased to learn that there is now a very near prospect of the Borough of Palmerston being lighted with gas at an early date. The negotiations are progressing very satisfactorily, and there is reason to anticipate that | within a short time the preliminary arrangements will be adjusted to the mutual satisfaction of the Borough and the contracting partiesThere was an informal discussion on the subject at the special meeting of the Council yesterday, a short reference to which appears elsewhere. The contractors appear anxious to meet the Borough on rational and moderate terms, and do not; seem disposed to demand any unreasonable concessions. On a former occasion difficulties presented themselves which now will not be encountered, and the prospects of a mutually satisfactory understanding being arrived at are very encouraging. Certain proposals will probably be submitted to the Council at .its meeting next Wednesday, when it is likely some definite . steps of a preliminary character will be taken. It will certainly be a step m advance when gas is introduced into Palmerston, as m a few months more this town will be m direct railway communication with Wellington, and its population will no doubt increase very rapidly. Its importance will no doubt be considerably enhanced when within four hours' journey by rail of Wellington; and under all circumstances k is obviously desirable that all the modern improvements attending the progress of large owns should be iffiitooduced. We therefore hail with satidaction the probable early intro.ductiaH of gas, which we trust will be ffdUkwed by the other requisite Borottgh works, such as drainage, mater supply, street improvements, &c , which are proposed to be carried out when the Loan m floated. It is a matter for general congratulation that there is every present probability of the negotiations now m progress m connection with gas works m Palmerston being attended with an entirely satisfactory ultimate consummation. We take the following from the Lyttelton Times:— Mr Newlyn's long talked of relief for farmers m difficulties has taken the definite shape of a Bill, which it is understood that , Mr Ivess is to take under his protecting wing during the coming session. Several Aovel features may possibly be found m this " new way to pay old debts," but we have been led to believe that some startling suggestions, which have been offered jto the public since the agitation began, will be looked for m vain m the Land Assessment Act, 1886. Fur example the advocates for a Court of Equity will hardly be satisfied with the proposal to maet all existing engagements with mortgagees, who are to b« fully paid off unless the heavy princi-pal-money compels the mortgagor to . throw up his farm. The issue of deben- . tures and annnity bonds, which were prominent suggestions m the " cheap money" pamphlet, are to be largely used m the raising of fresh loans ; and as these instruments will entail the payment of interest, however moderate, the Bill may be derided by some of the admirers of a State Bank of Issue to pay off (he mortgagees by the circulation of •'incontrovertible" notes, at the rate of a -million and a half annually. Some of the knowing ones' predict that tho tfill will bo torn to atoms at the merciless hands of the Devil's own, but hat bankers will view the effort at legislation with littlo or no antagonist. The V>f ll received the approval of 8 _M»^--'iij.-«^-^£-£a«.i f .^^n .-.■■ V1,,..,),., ..... ..{.,„.

ward it to Mr Ivpsp, with a request that he wotiid do his utmost lo plncu the measure prominently before the House and the country, nnd endeavour to place it among the New Zealand statutes. The North Otago Times writes : — " Every body knows how. hateful the very idea of ..''economy is to the members of the present Government. Both Mr Stout and Sir Julius Yogel have set their faces dead against retrenchment. The chief notion of the latter is that iustead of economising we should go m for a public scrvico and a loan expenditure on the same scale as those of a colony like New South Wales ; while Mr Stout avers that departmental retrenchment is out of the question, as he does not know of one person iti 'the public service who is underworked." So" that any lightening of taxation, which v thb paramount political necessity of; -th*. country, is not to be looked for th'rongh' the medium of the present Government. If they do retrench it will only tie uodor the compulsion of the House and m order to retain their stats ; for *b >q. Government they deny the necessity ami the possibility of retrenchment, and advise the adoption of courses which lead i» an altogether opposite direction... Happily for the country there are signs that the Government will either have to do what thsy are opposed to, or give plaoe to others who recognise how urgently necessary is the reduction of expenditure, the lightening of taxation. ; Most of the newspapers throughout the country, and almosi; all public men or insight and character, are bent upon retrenchment, and that being the case it will be strango if the Government's folly and recklessness carry the day."