Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1894. THE DRILL HALL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4704, 27 April 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1894. THE DRILL HALL.

SECOND EDITION

For somo time past the expediency of the Town Lands Trußt taking over that" white elephant," the Masterton Drill Hall has been under consideration between the representatives of the Crust and Mr C. A. Pownall, who acts on the part of the late Masterton Rifle Volunteers, in whom the property is vested. We hear now that Mr Pownall has offered the property formally to the Trustees for the sum of £l5O, which is required to pay off the liabilities of the recently disbanded corps, It would have been better perhaps if tbe letter offering the property to the Trustees had been considered by them instead of its contents being published prior to its being laid before that body, but possibly there is some reason for this unusual procedure. The proposed arrangement is, however, one that may he expected to be received with favour, One half of the cost of the erection of the building was, we believe, provided by the Govern mem, but this claim, we understand, will be waived in order that the late corps may be enabled to pay its debts by disposing of the property. The Town Lands Trust will, undoubtedly get a bargain if it secures for the public at £l5O a building which cost £SOO, and although ihe structure is ill adapted to serve the purposes of a town hall, it is a very convenient place for flower shows and demonstrations generally where a large floor space is required. If the Town Lands Trust does not take over the property it is of course possible that the bank which has advanced money on it may foreclose, with the result that tbe public money which has been invested in it may be thrown away, and the late Volunteer will have to bear the discredit which is attached to insolvency. From a Volunteer point of view tho proposal is about the best that can be made and it remains for the Town Lands Trust to determine whether in the interests of tbe town it ought to acquire the property.. Of course the Trust is under no obligation to assist the late Volunteers out of their financial ena» barrassmentß, and the question it will have to decide will be as to whether the investment of the Bum required to purchase the lease will be reproductive either by the direct letting of the building or by placing it at the disposal of the public for objeots of general utility. From either point of view the project seems feasible, and we shall not be sorry to see it favorably entertained.by the Trustees. Small settlers in the Bush are reportid to have had another terror added to their existence. It is said that the Lands Department has engaged the services qf ope of those niyßterious officials now becoming numerous in the service, and whom Borne people call spies and others detectives, We will coptent ourselves with calling the new emissary of the Lands Department: " a private enquirer," in deference to our misrulers. We are told that "the. private enquirer'' is to roam about the holdings of small settlers, and discover any little peccadilloes which escape the observation of the ordinary official rangers, and report the same to headquarters, How far this is true we cannot say, because it is difficult to unravel tjperies of this kind, All wekpowis: that what we state is believed to bp true by w.ell-iaformed persons in }he Bush. Espionage has certainly been made a special study by tho.present Ministry, and if tbe new system is to be to' cpunjry settlers |jy (heaps of a corps of 'I private JDquirerß, 1 ' np one need be piuch surprised.

If appears tM atyer fl)l Sir George flrey had "sopiethipgin view" wlieri he went Home. He haa been made a member of tho Privy CoympiJ, a high distinction which Is Dot usually conferred on even ex-Colonial Governora, Only very eminent men aohieve'lhis .position, and we are eomewbat Buri Med at Sir George's good fortune,

We rfay congratulate him anon it. but we are not B nre that Ihe labour of yearsto subvert English institutions by creating discontent amongst the ppople m tbe colonies of Australasia oeaerves suoh a reward. '