Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9091, 10 March 1908, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

THOUGH school children who have to draw maps may find their work made easier when the boundaries of counties and other divisions are represented hy straight lines unfortunately nature has disregarded labour saving methods of the sort and boundaries of sections and counties have often to be of the most tortuous description in order to meet requirements. When Rangitikei County was delimited in 1876 the northern boundary was a straight line and much inconvenience has re' suited in consequence. The boundary cuts through roads and sections in a most annoying manner and many settlers whose natural outlet is to Mataroa or Taihape are included in Wanganui County in which they have no interests. Settlers at Moawhaugo in Rangitikei County, have to cross a portion of Wanganui County in order to reach the railway and complain that tho roads which they have; to use are neglected. In fact a considerable

number of settlers in the northern portion of Wanganui County are seriously dissatisfied with the state of their roads and consider that their rates are spent not on their own roads, but in the southern part of tho county. An agitation has, therefore, arisen for the transfer of a portion of the Wanganui County

to Rangitikei to which if more naturally belongs. Somo weeks ago a party consisting of the chairman and some 'members and officials of Rangitikei County Council Visited tho northern district of their county and the. adjoining one and decided that if a change was to be,made tho most suitable boundary would be the watershed between the Tnratina and Waugaehu rivers. So far as we understand Rangitikei County Council lias no desire to extend the boundaries of the County, but is willing to do so should the settlers concerned press for tho change and should no- objection bo raised from tho side of Wanganui County Council. The proposed addition would not be any burden to tho rest of Rangitikei Comity, and though some immediate expenditure would be needed on hitherto neglected roads tho rates received would amply suffice to defray the cost of maintenance both now and in the future. Tho situation at present is that the two Counties concerned will take no active steps in tho matter, hut if a petition signed by settlers is presented tho Councils will consider the position, and if agreement is arrived at a petition from both bodies to tho Governor will bring about tho desired readjustment. As a petition is now being circulated among the settlors interested the matter should soon bo settled in one way or another. A GREAT deal of unnecessary fuss seems to Imvo boon made about tho Kaiser's let tor to Lord Twccumouth. If the Emperor William choses to write private Ichors to his English friends lie is surely at liberty to do so and the ncv/spapor, oven if it be the Times, whirl! mod-res nso of information acquired pri vah ly as to tho contents of such a letter is guilty of a grave breach of journalistic and all other etiquette. Tho Kaiser see ms to have be-m. annoyed by tho foolish fEademont of Lord Esher that (hero v;as not a man in Germany from ids? LLaiser downwards who would not welcome Admiral Eisner's downhill, and to have made soma rude remarks about tho speaker. He -asked “Who is Lord Echor?” and sinpemtod that he had bettor leaveships alon.' and stick to tho drainpipes of Windsor Castle, or which he is Deputy Constable and Lieutenant Governor. Tho humour of Eds reference which seems to us a licEe cheap may Lo lost in tho process of translation, if tho letter was written in G-man, hut \vo can

hardly agree with The Observer in calling it “inimitable. ” Nor unless the reference to Lord Esher has not been quoted in full in our cable-

gram can wc think that the Daily Mail is very apt in its remark that the Kaiser's trenchant comment scarified Lard Esher. Tito Kaiser when irritated is apparently merely abusive like anv ordinary citizen.