The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 91, 24 August 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878.

We notico that a deputation consisting of gentlemen connected -with tlio Dunedin Press recently waited upon tlio Chief Postmaster m that city for the purpose of requesting him. to use his influoneo so as to have a datostauip employed m defacing tho stamps of nowspapers ; and further, to make it imperative oh postmasters to communicate with •newspaper offices whenever newspapers are not claimed by the person to whom they have been addressed. We cordially endorse both ideas, and we can do so the more heartily as wo onrselves interviewed tho very same official upon the same subject fully three years since. The mattor was m connection with a Dunedin weekly journal, and wo then learned from Mr. Barb that tho following was tho pmctice with regard to tho delivery of papers. When the postman found that a subscriber did not reside at the address to which a paper was directed, ha reported the matter to the sorting-clerk on his return, and thcro nil responsibility, as far as he was concerned, ended. Every time the papers so addressed wero received; they were Hung into a huge wosto-basket kept for tho purpose, and when that was full to overflowing, its contents wero emptied out m a yard and burned. Tho paper to wnich we have alluded -above, despatched every copy of its issue — numbering between three and four thousand — through tho post, and as a necessary consequence many of its subscribers would chango their residences, m which case/ unless they them- . solves gave notice, and tho address was altered;, tho postal authorities would not make tho slightest effort >to deliver tho papor for'vrhieh they had received payment. When wo asked Mr Babb if it would not ,have been only a pioco of justico to the proprwtor of tho journal if .'intimation wero" pcntr to him that unclaimed papers were accumulating from week to week, especially ns by so doing the time of tho clerk would have beon saved m sorting and throwing aside, and tho troublo of burning obviated, we wero met with tho reply that personally he admitted tho advisability of such* a step, but that tho rules of the department forbade it, and he was powerless. Tho absurdity of such a regulation can only bo appreciated whon it is remembered thai/ although the postman would bo delivering letters twico a day at the "office, tho redr tapcisin of tho' department would allow this absurd action and manifest injustice rather than he should be permit ed to give the information. Wo denounced the system m 'strong terms at thetilne," and then, as now, Mr Babb promised to .recommend tho measures to the authorities of Wellington, and it: is just possible, that at. the cloeo of another threo years wo may find the subject floating again to the surface only to find matters m tho exact position as before. -With regard to the proposition of using a date-stamp to mark the receipt of 'papers, it would certainly entail considerably more work on the department, nevertheless it is a much-required check upon the well-known laxity m the delivery. Though tho postage on newspapers may bo small, thoro is a large revenue derived from the source, and certainly some little attention should be paid tothe carrying out of tho contract.

The people of FeUding liavo certainly good en use for complaint. Some months since, after a persist ont warfare of agitation for a Court-house, thoy wore informed that the Government had graciously acceded to the request,' but when the plans and specifications became known, it was found that tho architect had evidently tnken as his model for tho building, the Palmerston lock-up., Ho ccrtninly must; have been imbued with tho impression that tho Manmvntu was poopled by a race Lillipul inn m their dimensions, or else it. was intended that plaintiffs and defendants, Press'; Bur, and Bench; ehould occupy the building ub aeptirute m- ' lemils. The absurdity of the proposed structure, aud the ridicule with: which its dimensions were received, actually laughed (he department into the withdrawal of the plans. However, the. defeated party have not been without their revenge, for although the withdrawn! was ostensibly for the purpose of substituting other plans, no furlher stopß have been taken m the- malter since i hen. By this procedure Feilding is now m a tor woi-36 position than evor, inasmuch as, deprived- of tho uso •of the Corporation Buildings formerly accorded to it, -litigants nre not only compelled to travel to Palmorston for adjudication, but, we understand, are frequently put to the oxpense of attending the sittings of tho Court at Bulls, whioh is altogether off the line of railway nnd out of the County altogether. This is a state of affaire which should not be allowed lo exist any longer. Fcildhig is now of

sufficient, importance to claim a court- houso of its own and magisterial visits at least twico a month ; and although they have reason to believe that tho former will bo built somo day, it is not a work of such magnitude as to involve a delay of month after month, as lias been tlio experience m . the past. To the determined manner m which its residents fought against the erection of tho sentry-box which it was sought to foist upon thorn, do. they owe its withdrawal ; but certainly to their supineness since then, may bo attributed the fact that the matter has remained m stadu quo.

And, apropos of - the foregoing, wo would wish to say a. few words with regard to tho much-looked-for Clerk of tlio Palmerston Court. Wo know that Mr Wabd, tho Resident Magistrate, has been m communication with tho Minister of Justico on the matter, and we havo heard it rumored that it is supposed tlio difficulty can be met by a visit from Mr Baker, say once a week, for the issuing of summonses. An impression would appear to have gone abroad that we wore favorablo to the removal of Mr Baker from Foxton to Palmerston; but wo wish to stato that it is cut iroly erroneous. Wo are perfectly aware that. Mr Baker's cpnnection' wii.li tho Government and Native mattoi'3 necessitates that ho should be stationed somowJiero m proximity to Otaki. But whilo freely admitting tliat, wo most strongly dcclino to believe that periodical visits to Palmerston will supply tho deficiency. Tho Court holds its sittings every alternate Thursday, and Piipposing tho Clerk were to pay his weekly visit, on t.]\o Thursday upon which thcro would be.no court, it, is just possible that immediately aftov having taken his departure;, and perhaps whilo away from Foxton at Otaki, his services would bo required for tho issuo of summonses. As wo havo repeatedly pointed out, thcro is no town between Wellington, and Wanganui containing tho population or having the same claim fco both a resident Clerk and Magistrate that Palmerston has ; notwithstanding which Marton, with half tho amount of business to bo done, has not only n. Clerk' resident there, but that Clerk lias also an 1 assistant. Why should Mr DBiaHTON, who only visits Bulls, have a resident assistant, while Palmerston is left without one atall ? Now, we propose that the Resident Magistrate should dispense with ono of his clerks at Marton, and that his services bb transferred to Manawatu, to bo divided between Feilding and Palmerston. The distance between tho two is a inero nothing, and, the official could visit cither place ; three or four times m the week. It may be said that tlio assistant at Marton performs the duty of bailiff, bub were it left without that important functionary it would not be m 'a nioi*e unprotected condition than Feilding, Palmorston, or Foxlon. With regard to tho oxpenae, we feel quite convinced that a:. most eligi'olo person could bo obtained to act m the capacity of Clerk t>f the Court, not necessarily to devote fcho ;whole of his time to tlio office, and for a salary npfc; greater than that already paid to the" "assistant at- 'Marton. Some -such provision will: have to bo made, arid while we maintain/that the weekly visit will fail to answer : .'tho' necessities' of the case, wo draw tlie attention of Mr Ward to the above proposition and remedy.

At a recent meeting of tho Mamwatu Highways Board, the Secretary wns instructed to write to. .the Colonial Secretary inquiring when the new .'boundaries of the' Manawatn Highway .District were likely to bo gazetted. To that tho following reply has been received f rom Mr .&. S. Cbopjjtt, Under-Secre-lary, by the Chairman, who has courteously handed it to us for publication:— "Tho issue of the proclamation has been unavoidably delayed by the press of, work m. the Crown Lands Office, occasioned' by the Session of Parliament j but no delay that am :bo avoided shall occur." As immediately upon the proclamation being made a redistribution of the various Wards, and an election for thoir respective representatives, "will take placo, wo Jiaro referred back to the minutes of proceedings at which- the boundaries wqro fixed, so that settlers .may, thoroughly understand m what Ward they will bo located. -No. 1, -to include allthc: kndjn the Siuidon Distinct. Nos. 2 and 3 fco remain as at present. No. 4 will 'have 5 to part with all land on tlio south side of the Manawatu, and embrace the portion of land lying between; thft ;Wangapp , and Palmor^ ston road, oiidj its'" present eastoru boundary... T No. 5 to embraco all land between tho Manchester District on the, south side of the .rirer ; to the^boundary of the.; Otaki Road District (including the district known as Fitzhorborfc). ]No. ,6. to .embrace, the land lying betweon ! tlie . souihiwestv boundary of the i Mancljester Epad District, and the WangiiTJuia.iidPjalmer.3ton road, and between tho Manawatu and Oroua rivers. And No. 7 ; to .embrace the whole of the district of Eiwifoa. From tho above it will bo seen that the No. 5,: or Palmerston Ward, will be done away with.