Page 7 Advertisements Column 2

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 104, 30 October 1900, Page 7

THE PURCHASE OF MIRAMAR. — — , — + TO THE EPrrOB. Sir,— Mr. Samuel Brown has blossomed forth in what, no doubt, he thinks a very far-seeing manner on the enormity of tho crime oi the Oity Council, in daring to revive the scheme for tho imvchase of Miramar, and goes into elaborate details as to the cost) of roading, drainage, lighting, etc., necessary before settlement comd be obtained, and finally puts down the cost of tho scheme at something lige £800,000. Now, sir, firstly, I would ask Mr. Brown if he has ever been to Miramar? and, if so, if he has taken any notice of the roads that already exist in that districts 1 understand thafc the portion of the property the Oouucil would sell would bo the hillside sections, hill, sido they are, out tlier© ate numbers of beautiful residential sites amongst them. Well, sir, the majority of these sites are already tapped by as good roads as you will find in any part of the country, to the credit of the Seatoun Koad Board be it said, good summer and winter. I have passed over them many hundreds of times in all weathers. There would, therefore, be very little in the way of roading to be done, which disposes of £iuU,OOO or so of Mr. Brown's total. Wth regard to drainage, the outfall sewer is not more than a mile •or so away from the furthest parb of Miramar, and it would not be a very costly matter to connect with the city mains when it was necessary. There is plenty of water in Miramar. I say, "in Miramar," as you have only to go a few feet into the ground to get it. Mr. Crawford has tapped it, in several . places. But, sir, apart from all this, who wants to plank down a city the size 'of Wellington at Miramar, with its 50 miles of roads, electric trams (to come), lighting, etc? This is just what we want to avoid. -What we want is some additional breathing space for the city, and some good recreation grounds, and, sir, the scheme shows how these can be obtained, and for prac^ tically nothing. Simply by selling the portion that is not required for recreation ground purposes, at a price that cannot fail to attract purchasers. Mr. Brown says the land cannot be sold without drainage, up-to-date tramways, etc., being established. Let him try to purchase a quarter-acre section on the other side of the hill afc Seatoun or Worser Bay at the price the Council state th,ey will be able to sell an acre afc Miramar, and he will be told to try Day's Bay, or Karori, or the Hutt, for cheap land, and what city conveniences are there out there I should like to know? It is true that some little time ago a syndicate tried to form a company to purchase Miramar and failed, but is this any reason why the purchase would not be a good speculation for the city, for tho purpose it is required? The latter does not want to work the property as a dividend-paying concern, or make a large profit out of it, as it was very evident the syndicate aimed at, and furthermore the company did riot float because three- . four^-s of the population of Wellington had never seen the place. • The Syndicate did not take the trouble of getting them there, and the valley was a myth to the majority of probable speculators. But, sir, in a very short time now there will be steamers running to the very gates of the property, and I hop^e Mr. Brown and all those who doubt the wisdom of the City Council will go out and have a good look at this beautiful property, and the chance it -will be to acquire residential sites, and splendid recreation grounds, within such easy distance of the city, and at such moderate cost. As settlement progresses there is no fear but that electric trams, drainage, lighting, etc., -will 'come as required, and the ratepayers of the city won't be a penny out of pocket by it.— l am, etc., PROGRESSIVE. Wellington, 24th October, WAR MEDALS. ■ o TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— What will our troopers think on their return to New Zealand, or when they hear that every little urchin or j schoolgirl in the colony has been presented with a war medal? They will say, and with justice) that the value of the ] medals which they have earned at the risk of their lives has been depreciated i and belittled by the wholesale distribution of these badges to a lot of children who have done nothing whatever to entitle them either to receive or to wear such marks of distinction, though when distributed broadcast among an army of children they will cease to distinguish. As a holder of the New Zealand War medal, for which I fought and risked my life many a time, and value accordingly, I protest against this foolish waste of the taxpayers' money to lower the honour of holding such a trophy. A medal should be given as a reward of merit in all cases, and should not be degraded by being scattered around in' every school in the country among children who will, if possible, put even less value upon the gift than the givers themselves apparently do, and who will hardly say "Thank you" foT them.— l am, etc. PALMAM QUI MEKUIT FERAT. Nelson, 24th October, 1900. HIGHLAND CORPS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I don't presume to reply to "Tommy Atkins, Junior's" criticism on the above corps, which I consider, for a Tommy, is a fair one, and suits the present situation of the Highland Corps fairly well. The principles upon which the original promoter of this corps desired its existence have been in every instance violated by the connivance of the present Commander, who only bears -the name of a Scot. Previous to its 'acceptance by the Defence Department, sixty-two members were enrolled, who were nearly all the human product of the Land of Mountain and of Flood, and every man a Scot. The difficulty of procuring a commander at the outset necessitated the position being offered to the present captain, and his apparent indifference to the national composition of the corps resulted in nearly all the Celtic element withdrawing their names from the list of members. The front door of the company was thrown open to any who could earn capitation — an Irish Celt, etc., excepled. As if an Irish Celt had not equal rights with Anglo-Saxon to be included in a Celtic Volunteer Corps. The Boers are abused for their 'hostility to Outlanders, tlie Chinese for their aversion to foreigners. All this is put down to ignorance, and yet when the same practice is adopted in Wellington the same is put clown to Christian enlightenment. The Celtic heroes, past and present, whose military record no nation on earth can ever hope to excel, would not countenance such conduct as this. If the Highland Corps is to be a success, the national spirit from the native nursery must be of the imported class, and infused richly into it ; strict adherence to the principles of its promotion must be respected by its officers, who should be above all of the national type. Under those conditions the Highlanders of Wellington will join its ranks. The corps will be an ornament and a source to be depended on when the necessity arises. Its financial supporters will be numbered by thousands. Those are the points whicji will procure fo« it the sympathy and admiration of all nations and creeds.— l am, etc., EAIN DHU MAC LEALANN. Wellington, 28th October, 1900.