The Daily News SATURDAY, MARCH 21. ON THE FOURTH PAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 73, 21 March 1908, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, MARCH 21. ON THE FOURTH PAGE.

Supreme Court. Stratford County Council. Commercial.

It is twenty-five years 10-d.iy sine llie railway was lirst opened to Haweia. Stratford bowlers visited William "•) Thursday, and were beaten by 34 points to 2U. The game was concluded in th" rain. There was a heavy fall of snow on Mount Kgniont during Thursday nigiii, which indicates an early close of "the Mountain holiday .season.

There are still over .300.000 acres or Crown land in the province unlet, i quarter of the revenue from which, when settled, becomes the property »s the Harbor Hoard.

The borough workmen yesterday removed some of the big boulders from llie -ide track on the lower ('ai'ringto.i road. With a little more attention il will look like a footpath. As h result of the concert ami dramatic entertainment held at St. Alary ~ lltili last week we understand that alwut t2O will lie handed over to the Maori Girls' School. "I do wish,'' said Mr. justice Edwards yesterday, "that counsel practising in this Court would pay a little more attention to tin; rules of evidence. Of course, cases are not very frequent here, but if they want to practise here they should make themselves acquainted with the rules of evidence and adhere to them."

Is there any wonder that a great ignorance exists concerning harbor matters? A speaker, who lias played a prominent part in public affairs in th'i inglcwood district, remarked at Mr. Newton King's meeting at lnglewood the other night that "personally he had been so thoroughly disgusted with Harbor JJoard matters that if he saw anything in the papers about the Harbor Board he strictly left it unread." The chances are that he will oppose the Bill which promises him some measure of relief from taxation.

Burgesses are asking one another if the throe candidates for the Mayoralty intend to address meetings of the electors. It is urged that, whilst there may not be any burning question jusl now before the people, the gentlemen seeking the town's highest civic position should be able to entertain and enlighten a meeting for a few minutes. Shouid they not care to take the Theatre for a night each, it is suggested that the three candidates might speak on. the one night, arranging amongst themselves as to the order of taking the platform. The request is not an unreasonable on.', | and it would go far to show thai there is an awakening of interest in municipal affairs.

In an informal discussion at the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday, Air. Alarx, the recently elected member, remarked that- there was a strong feeling in his district against the Harbor Bill. Mr. Maxwell questioned the correctness of the statement. Out of six meetings held in connection with the Bill, live had declared in its favor. If ratepayers were against it, why did they not roll up to the meetings and vote'.' He mentioned tiat at first Air. McLean, who represented Air. Alarx's district, be. lieved that the ratepayers there would oppose the Bill, but after the meetings he had reason to change his opinion. The Bill had only to lie explained lo show ratepayers that under its provisions they stood to gain a great deal more than they could possibly hope to obtain under present conditions. In regard to Mr. Alarx's election, he was

satisfied that it was due not so much to the antipathy of the ratepayers !.-> the Bill, but to' Air. Alarx's past public services. Air. Alarx deserved their sit ( > port, for he had fully'-'carned it. Air. AlaxWell instanced the feeling evinced at the Kaponga meeting. There wei-' forty representative men present, and they made it plain to him before ihc proceedings started that thev had intended to oppose the Bill. w'hen. however, he had gone fully into the matter and explained the provisions of the Bill, they voted solidly for the Rill. Mr. Hughes said that'the papers had made the issue of the election one of Hill or no Bill. Air. Wilkinson standing for Mr Bill and Mr. Alarx against it. Mr. Alarx said he was afraid Air. Alaxw< II was under a misapprehension. It was a fact that the people of his distrhi were strongly opposed to the new burrowing proposals of the Board. If this is so, we can only add that the rulepayers do not understand the provisions of the Bill. If they did, they would give the Bill their endorsement. It is Air. Alarx's duty, and one we hope he will recognise, to study and explain its provisions to his constituents. When this is done, we are quite satisfied what their verdict at the poll would be, sn|,. posing, of course, the matter ever "ets that far.