THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 11 February 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

To-wn Board ' *<*,, a *; t Chairmanship. We congratulate -Mr J. J'. Brandon mi having been elected chairman of the Otaki Town Board, and the Board on having made ;i wise choice in the inat-ti-r. It trail certainly a fine tribute that M_as paid to Mr Brandon to appoint him in , v uch an important, responsible position*, peeing that he hn.s only just been elected a member of the Board, but v.c think tlie Board eouid not have done better. Though only recently taking up residence here. .Mr Bran/Inn is by no means a stranger to Otaki, having visited us very frequently, both on business and as a pleasure seeker. He knows the town and district well. Moreover, he has had a wide business ! training, and is recognised as :i shrewd I business man. and a tactful and popular gentleman. Coming to us fresh from the city, with new ideas and a knowledge of up-to-date methods of local much-needed stimulus given to the Board'- business. Otaki Town Board affairs are not in a flourishing condition. We want moving out of the old groove into which all country townare likely to get. the adoption of a propolicy for the town, and the of more enthusiasm :-.ml energy I bv our "tfyy. commissioners and the ' raM.\pt>.V"s. A'p-' the ventilation of grievances at. th-= recent public meet- | mil*, the" formation -ut -•■ Ratepayers' Association", and the election i 4 Mr ' tsr.a'nTTon as chairman, let us hope that the Town Board will be a more live. ! active fwdy in future, and that us a r"r-ult ihe Sown may jaake steady pro--1 ptaii j s'-aside Resort. Th'erc can be no doubt but that' ' there is a big future ahead of Otaki i as a seaside resort. Mr Byron Brown's enterprise in erecting the kiosk and ' ~uadrangle has proved a splendid suc- ■ Ees:s < a much so that the whole of the available accommodation ha* been J rvifcen up during this busy season, and nil «xfrp come go sway delighred with ! the pla.-> .nnd thP this i will probably -,.-' only the beginning of big things in catering for visitors here. , Tt is qnite certain rbar, in the very \-fiC-ff future, the foreshore •■4. Otaki wi*i fc? studded with seaside eotiages.- ' The saai&Ufe and sea frontage between The Otaki. #jH/1 Wattohii rivers offer • magnificent site* </>r seaside cottages. -jm! now that this Uuia U being offered to ii>> public at a most ««i*onable , priee, tt« sections will doubrie*s be -.tapped uj> quickly, and our seaside: population st-eadiiy iaprease. Of recent; years all seaside jesorts i-ithin a reasonable -distance of the city have gone ahead by ieaj« bound-. Piinuner- j ' ;on and Paehakirrki feare grown out of iiEOwlcdge. and the tkniind for the ; limited larfd available &r .cottages ha; - been so kt*n that prices have mounted '■ r.i;-idiy. The Paraparaomu beach is, \ si/bm .steadily gaicir-g in popular

is an excellent beach, and the Paraparaumu climate is mild and agreeable. Waikanae is handicapped by the lack of a good road to the best part of the beach, but this is bound to come in the near future. At Otaki wo have a good motor road right to the bcacb, both'.via the old road, and by Tasmun road. We have a magnificent beach, and the land under oiler for seaside dwellers is excellently adapted fur building purposes. Those who grow weary of the beach can find ample means of amusement in various other directions, the Otaki district being peculiarly rich in historical associations, there being innumerable beauty spots in the neighbourhood. Under these specially favoured conditions, and with our central position on the Main Trunk railway it is quite certain that sooner or Inter our claims will demand attention, and Otaki will lie thronged by pleasure and health seekers. When we consider the enormous ' sink's made at seaside

resorts at Foxton. Cnstleelifi*. t'aekukariki, and elsewhere—where the conditions are nut nearly so favourable as in Otaki—wo are confident that Otaki

will soon ''come into its own." We understand that several seaside cottages are to be erected at the local beach very shortly. Had such been available during the present summer, these could have been filled continuously for many months, and the erection of same utters a fair return to any enterprising person who is willing to put the experiment to the tot. Mr Byron Brown has dune a great deal to

advertise and push Otaki as a watering place. Will not the local residents assist him, anil do their little bit to help make the place uhnt it i> so eminently titled to be —the favourite wateringplace of the Wellington province.' Open-air Education. Our Palmerston North contemporary, the "Maimwalu Daily Time's." makes the suggestion that advantage be taken of the opportunity presented by the: present enforced idleness of school children and teachers to give ike children open air education. It suggests that "the children might be taught to interest themselves in the hidden beauty of that which to many people is now only the casual beauty of nature. This could be d by school excursions to the Ksplanade or reservoir. If not among the teachers, there are gentlemen here who might. fur instance, give them practical lessons in the botanical classification and

tin' soft-sounding Maori names of our many native trees. There are also beauty spots <>!' historic interest near by, the lesions of which are sinking into oblivion. There, on the very spot, they could receive'ne\ cr to-be forfotten lessons in the history of their own countrv and of their own home." Jt

seems to us that this suggestion is an excellent, one. In the ordinary school time-table there is no provision made for such teaching a.- that mentioned by

our contemporary, but at a time tike this much valuable work might be dune. The lessons received by the children under the.-.- novel conditions would make a dee,, impression on the children, and would, we are sure, prove most beneficial. In places like Otaki ihe children might be take,, to the beach and given lessons in swimming, etc.