The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1884. THE UNION OF THE TOWNS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1147, 4 March 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1884. THE UNION OF THE TOWNS.

Local matters have reached a degree of absurdity in Temuka that is most amusing. About six months ago mostot the people were in favor of a Borough. At that time Mr Uprichard and his co-adjutors petitioned the Governor to eliminate Arowhenua from the proposed Borough, while Mr Edgeler and his friends adhered to the proposed incorporation of both townships under the Municipal Corporations Act. Now the position is reversed. Mr Uprichard wants to have Arowhenua taken in with Wallingford, while Mr Edgeler wants to keep both townships separate. What charming leaders the Arowhenua people have. Two months age the Arowhenua people petitioned the Governor to cut them away from Wallingford ; now they are petitioning to be joined with it. When all these petitions reach Wellington the Temuka people will cut a sorry figure, They will appear in (he eyes of the Colonial Secretary like that lady in one of Dickens’ works who was “ so volatile.” We do not mean these remarks to convey the impression that we are opposed to the union of the townships, We only mean to show the people what dupes they have been, and to wbat a degree ot ridiculousness they have brought, themselves through being too easily led. However, this is the result of having no local body to direct them, and it shows clearly that the step taken to incorporate Temuka under the Town Districts Act is right and proper and necessary, even if no other good than to give direction to public opinion accrued from it. When we get the town proclaimed, and men elected as commit sinners the people will naturally 1< ok to them as leaders. They will watch their actions closely, they will feel greater interest in town matters, there will he developed what may he called local patriotism, and the people will naturally he more united. At present we have no head. If we want anything done we must requisition the Chairman of the Road Board, who lives several miles from town, and then we cannot muster any leading men to push forward our claims nr views. If we have Town Commissioners they, by virtue of their office, wi.l have a right to take leading parts, as the elected of the

people it will be their duty, and they will not be deterred by the cry which is unfortunately too often raised that they are pushing themselves too much forward, and working only for their own gain. Since we came to lemuha we have done our best to advance everything that had progress and the general well-being for an object. Rut the recognition we have met with is, that all we have done has been purely for the sake of gain to ourselves and not from any desire to push the town ahead. Such an accusation as that would not be made against a man elected by the people. He would be naturally looked up to as one whose duty it was to look after local interests. It is in this way the greatest amount of good will be done to the town by having a local body of its own. The people will have leaders, a spirit of union will be developed amongst them, and more interest will be taken in the town.