TOPICAL BEADING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3221, 19 June 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL BEADING.

OVERDUE RATES.

Though a systematic and effective method of calling up overdue rates, even to the length of Court process, the list of defaulting ratepayers in Masterton has been reduced practically to nil. In conversation with a Borough official yesterday an Age reporter ascertained that this satisfactory position had now been arrived at, and only in two or three instances was there vet a settlement to be made regarding overdue rates. Rather a more frequent call than usual has, however, been made this year, on the statutory power given the Council to exempt persons from paying rates where sufficient poverty was shown. This latter point is merely anothsr indication of the already pronpunced nature of the financial depression, which is now believed to be passing away.

DESERVING HEROISM. An heroic act performed by a lady resident of Masterton and her daughter, on Thursday, is one which certainly should not be allowed to pass without recognition. At the destruction of her residence at Villa street by fire on Thursday last Mrs Green, wife of Mr W. Green, and a daughter effected the rescue from a certain and terribie death of an old man, named John Kennedy, who was lying in b°d in the room where the fire originated. The room was a mass of flames when Mrs Green discovered the fire, regardless of the risk she at once went to the assistance of Mr Kennedy, who was ill, and who is 84 years of age. The old man wished to escape through the window, and Miss Green went to help her mother in the task of compelling Mr Kennedy to adopt the only practicable means of egress. This occupied much precious time, and before Kennedy was got out of the house Mrs and Miss Green were scorched about the face and had their eye lashes, eye-brows and hair singed Such courageous conduct deserves the attention of the Royal Humane Society. incidentally it might be mentioned that not a single article of furniture nor any valuables were able to be saved from the fire, due solely to the time occupied in sav ing the sick man from an awful j death. The loss above the insurance on the furiture, etc., was very heavy and might have been materially lessened but for the facts related. QUICKER ACCESS TO THE HOSPITAL. A shorter route from Masterton to the Hospital, via the Park, is a matter which was advocated last year by Mr J|. C. Ewington, a member of the Hospital Trustees, and of the District Hospital Board. The proposal then was to erect a suspension bridge over the Waipoua at a point where at present the pipe line for the Hospital supply crosses the stream. Mr J. Dawson, the well-known sus-

pension bridge designer, generously supplied a free plan of a suitable bridge, which it was estimated could cost not .more than £9O. The proposal was shelved owing to the District Board refusing to subsidise the bridge, Mr Ewington being absent from the Board meeting when the matter was brought up, and the Board thus not thoroughly understanding the imporant nature of the proposal, and the exceptional opportunity offering to improve more matters than one. The bridge will, if erected, from a far more permanent and satisfactory means of aqueduct than the present method of carrying the water supply over the river, while the distance to the Hospital would be appreciably lessened i —so often a very important circumstance where human life is concerned. We understand that Mr Ewington proposes to bring the matter forward again, and as the bridge will be of general service to residents of Eastern Lansdowne, subscriptions from such residents will be invited in support of the proposal, the general public also to be invited to contribute.

LOCAL SWIMMING MATTERS. At a recent meeting of the Committee of the Wairarapa Swimming Club it was reported that there was likely to be a credit balance of £6 to report to next annual meeting of the Club. For an organisation boasting over a hundred members during its first year this financial result shows a somewhat precarious existence, and the position would undoubtedly have been still less satisfactory but for a canvass for support wrongly rendered needfully energetic through lack of public enthusiasm. A section —a small section—of the public, has been consistently generous with its support to the Club, but on the whole the Committee are reported to he greatly dissatisfied, and it is probable that none of the present members will seek re-election at the forthcoming annual meeting. This is to be regretted, as the Club has merited the fullest public support, and its officials have devoted more than reasonable efforts in promoting its welfare.