NOT ON THE MAP.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18550, 27 November 1925, Page 14

NOT ON THE MAP.

WAIMATE INDIGNANT. THE MAYOR TAKES ACTION. The peaceful little South Canterbury town of Waimate was perturbed and indignant when, shortly after the opening of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition at Duncdin, it received a report stating that .so far as the map in t.he Canterbury Court was concerned, the town .simply did not exist! The simmering indignation of the townfolk found.expression at the last meeting of the Waimate Borough Council, when a request was received from the South Canterbury Committee of the Exhibition lor the balance of the amount promised towards the expenses of the Canterbury Court. "Would Raise Cain!" A sheaf of letters and telegrams which had passed cu the subject-was read by the Town Clerk, and from these it appeared that the lirst intim- \ ation of the injustice done to Waimate was given by a resident of the town who visited the Exhibition on the opening day. He stated that he had made : enquiries into the matter, but could not obtain any satisfactory information. He had told'the officials responsible that if the Mayor saw the map in that condition, ''lie would raise Cain." The Mnyor justified the confidence expressed by the sender of the telegram, for he immediately made enquiries from the north and the south. The aid of the Mayor of Christchureh was invoked, but without result; allegations were made that somebody on the Canterbury Committee- had broken faith: sharp notes weie written by one friend to another demanding to know wbv private conversation, in which were expressed opinions not exactly complimentary to some members of the Canterbury Committee bad been repeated, to the embarrassment of the party of the first part, and the deep annoyance of the parties of the third part. "Shook Them Up." The temper of the "Waimato people was not improved by a Dunedin statement to.the effect that Wa'mato had been on the South Canterbury map for six weeks. Naturally, Waimate refused to believe that the town could have remained in full view of the Exhibition visitors without exciting comment, and it is difficult to say what would have happened next: Dunedin said that Waimate was there all right: Waimate had an uncomfortable feeling, that it was not "there," and the Mayor of Christchureh admitted that he did not know!

But at- this crucial stage came another telegram to the Mayor from, the sender of the original message.. It read: "Knew you would shake them up. 'Waimate now on the mapi"

The indignation has subsided, but Waimate is still suffering from a certain amount of shock, apparently, for no more money is to be handed over to the Canterbury Committee until the Mayor reports after a personal inspection ■of the Courf.