The Ensign. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1913. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Mataura Ensign, 24 April 1913, Page 4

The Ensign. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1913. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Th© nominations received yesterday for the offices of Mayor and Councillors of Gore for the ensuing term pay a distinct compliment to the responsible duties attached to those positions. As wo have previously pointed out, however, the issues on which the polls will be taken are, both in th© case of the election of chief magistrate of the town (the highest position it has to offer) and in respect to councillors, influenced by matters other than strictly civic affairs. To put it plainly, the action of the retiring Mayor and Councillors in deciding not to appeal for outside relief for the town and those affected by the reoent disastrous flood did not 'meet with the approval of several gentlemen of the town, and in pursuance of their beliefs they haro decided to make the matter a ISfct question with tho burgesses on _ Wednesday next. In our opinion this should not be. As things are, the town is apparently recovering from the severe set-back it undoubtedly received at the end of last month, and, as with events of greater or less import in the existence of everv individual and community, this unfortunate happening will shortly share the fate of the legendary_ nine days' wonder. When saying this we do not desire to in the least depreciate the losses individually and collectively suffered in the community. If men, however, enter the municipal lists inspired only with a desir® to pass, by their election, a vote of censure on those whom thoy succeed, it leems to us reasonable to think that they may require stimulation later when Tim© has set its 'effacing seal on their original views. What the electors have to decide for themselves is the fitness of ©ach candidate to hold office in a responsible position. The ratepayers have a right to be represented by men of the highest all-round ability, men who can take a broad view of the many important questions making for tho welfare of the town in which they live, men with business training who are competent to ! administer the funds of the borough with economy consistent with efficiency, and, in this - particular election, who will face added responsibilities consequent on the recent disaster with i courage and fortitude. We would like to think that every candidate who will go to the poll will be seized with this idea, and it is certainly the duty of the ; ratepayers to remember it. Faced with what w© might term an embarrassment of riches in the shape of candidates anxious to occupy seats at the Council table, the burgesses should at loast make their wishes emphatic in the result of the polls, in .whatever direction tkey think it wisest."

A few days ago Rev. G. B. Munro inducted a christening in a Chinese residence at Auckland (says the 'New Zealand Herald'). Ho spoko to one of the Chinese regarding Dr Kirk and the Canton Mission and sv -estecl that ho might obtain donations from among his countrymen to -provide £35 to instal a bed in the proposed new hospital at Ko T'ong. The Chinaman immediately offered £lO 10s and promised to raise sufficient money to cover the cost of three beda. The 'Frea .Press' ctacor, that an Inchclutha farmer, who was- practically isolated by the decent Hood, had a novel experience witli a big trout which he discovered in his oowyard. Food in such a time of stress was at a premium on that particular steading, and the farmer lost no time in getting after tho unexpected visitor with a pitchfork. The big fish was, alter an exciting hunt, safely impaled on the fork, and when transferred to the domostio weighing machine, it "tipped the beam" at 16ib Soz.

A rumor was current at Gore yesterday afternoon and to-day that Mr J. W. Kelly intended retiring from the contest for the Mayoralty for the rear son that the present Mayor does not seek re-election. It will be remembered that Mr Kelly expressed' his intention of standing to obtain "a test of the electors' disaooroval of the methods adopted by the Council's committee in its distribution of relief." On being asked this morning whether or not there was any truth in the rumor Mr Kelly gare his definite assuranoe that he wae jioinn; to the poll.

Success has attended the mission of tho Mayor of Baldutba (Mr D. Stewart) to Wellington to get assist anoe from tho Government in tine work of strengthening the protective bank at Balclutlia (writes the 'Otago Daily Times' oorrespond<?.n.t). As a result of a half hour's interview with iihe Minister for Public Wroks ho has given the promise of a. pound for pound subsidy up to £2750 for tins work. The Balclutlia Borough Council will now a.sk the sanction of tho ratepayers to raise a loan of probably about £3OOO to complete this work of heightening and strengthening the bank to make it a sufficient safeguard against all floods in future. It is opportune to point out tint tho statement, published in sonid napers, that tho Public Works ©n:gin«ir estimates tho cost of tlw> work at £11,517, is Vtrroneous, this exaggerated figure having been arrived at by somebody adding up the cost of two estimates—£s4ol and £6116. At the most the cost will hardly reach th« latter figure, as there are contingencies allowed for at £250.

; Interesting facts are revealed in the census returns just to hand, which cost for compilation over £30,000. The adherents of the Ohuroh of England have 'increased by about 45,000 or 12£ per cent, in five years; the Presbyterians by about 31,000, or 15£ per cent.; the Primitive Methodists by 5600, or 26 per cent.; and tho Catholics by 13,000, cr 10.37 per cent. Those described as of "no denomination" decreased by over 20 per but those of "no religion" increased from 1600 to 5414—a remarkable increase, being much over 200 per cent. When we come to examine the ages and birthplaces of the people We find that just under 70 per cent, of the population are New Zealanders. It is interesting to note that of tho 50,000 odd persons between the agos of 55 and f>4 no fewer than 6293 are New Zealandborn. Those who pay attention to the statistics of births may be concerned 1 to observe that while the birth-rate has in recent years either increased of remained stationary in most of the Australian States it has steadily deoliaed in New Zealand until it now stands at 25.97 per 1000 of the population, well hokvw the. rate in any State of Australia excepting Victoria. : '

We have to acknowledge a donation « £ i to I the F1o(k1 lleli(f *'«n<i from Mr Dugald Ferguson, Tapanui, which brings the total amount receired un to dato to £378 Os 6d. A cowf belonging to Mr Karl Kopp has given birth to twins four years in succession, each time a bull caif and a heifer being born (writes the Peak Hill correspondent of the 'Svdney ' Daily 'telegraph'). Seven out of the eight calves are alive. The cow is a half-bred Jersey. A little excitement was caused in Main Street this afternoon by a wheel of a dray which was laden with metal coming oft owing to the axle breaking c.oseto the hub. The dray belonged to Mr Jas. Holland. The shatter of the team was pinned to the ground, hut was eventually set free, the damage being found to be confined to the broken axle. To show the fertility of Lower Hutt soil, Mr '| \. Petcrkm had a,n American squash—a glorified pumpkin—wlndi. he had grown, wheeled on to the Mutt Recreation Ground for the officers of the' New Zealand to inse-ect the ■other luternoon. The/ souasjf, which wejghod over 1121b. was Presented to Laiuam Ha key. A conference of dairy factory directors has been convened to meet- at Invercargill oil May 10, to consider the question of transferring the headquarters of the South Island Dairy Association, Ud., to lnvereargill. The initiative in the movement has been taken by tm-ee of the Eastern District factory companies. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand has decided to unite with tlie Presbyterian Church of Victoria in ending a joint delegation to the x\W Hebrides to inquire- into the condition of the natives and to confer with tho Mission byn<jd at its meeting j n j Uil( , 'y\ l 0 ■delegation will probably spend three months in visiting all the stations in tho Wow 1 Hebrides, and in due course it will present a joint report to tho 1 resbytcrian Church of N ow Zealand and Victoria.

It was state! at the annual iiHvrin» of tho New Zealand Hockey tion ia.t Chiustchurdi tint a word in../ to returns from the Associations a.i'nliiiY.-i .to the Association, the, number ci' ?fXSW .Payors in tho Dominion is ii +1 i? mu,lll>or do «s not include ; all tlio lady players as some of the ladies clubs are not directly affiliated to tira Association, and does not include all tho players'.in tlie Auckland id-Strict. In Canterbury there are 1152 mayiu;;, and in Hawko's Bay 879. There is a story of latent growth told by the Horoiv-lion.ua 'Chronicle'-—A fanner-in Levin had a, eroo of horse beans in two years ago, and got a good yield of them. After putting on stock to eat down tlie stalks, he had tilie field sown .in grass for two years, wml this year it was ploughed up by him, and a _ crop of potatoes planted. Not only cud the potatoes come ur>, but a fair crop oi beans also. During the two years that the paddock was in grass, cattle, sheep and horses had been turned on tho paddock, a.nd any beans tirmt had grown through the grays wore regularly eaten.

According to tho best estimates available .at the present time Parliament will probably .assemble oh Thursday, June 26 (says the 'New Zealand' Times'). The absence of Hon. James Allen had to bo taken into consideration in determining iae probable time of meeting, and the absent Minister is expected .to arrive at Auckland by the R.AI.S. Maheno. from Vancauver, on June 3. The intervening time till the 26th will be necessary for collaboration, of Hon. James Allen, with his colleagues on financial, defence, and other .important policy questions.

One of the engine-drivers of the Wel-lingbon-Taranaki express stated at a coroner's inquiry at Wangamii that motor traffic was the greatest "hurdle" which the 'engine-drivers of this train had to face. This was particularly so on the Feildiiig r Pa!me.rston section, where he had seen some of the moat.daring tricks imaginable performed. It was not unusual lie said, to s|e motorists attempt, to race the train Wften the road was running par.rallel with th 0 railway track and then to cross over in front of the engine when there was not two feet to spare. Frequently lie had had to blow his whistle on sm-h occasions and, by way of acknowledging, the motorist would simply turn round and grin at him.

A daring cut, forturoa.iclv, unsucoessful burglary was attempted on the drapery premises of Mcv\rs Madidison and Co., Hastings, either last Saturday or Sunday 'Vho burglars i>roko in- through a bolted door at the rear of the and, in.akLn.otheir way to the office at tlie rear of the shop, commenced operations to break open the safe in. which there was a considerable sum of money (nearly 'M) after Saturday's -business. They piled up silks and otiher dress stuff's round the safe, and, haying lit a fuse, proceeded to blow open the lock. The safe, however defied all their efforts, and th'ey had only succeeded in forcing the -door a-i-oiit an inch Avhen they abandoned tlu-ir project for some reason and made their exit without being caught.

The enterprising Christchurch lad whoso sketch of a picture-comedy has boon accented by the Vitagraph Comp;tuy of A moriea... i ;i Master Starr King Mason, a lad only 18 years of ago. Hit) play is entitled "Leading of the Light, . adapted from the well-known by mil, "Lead, Kindly Light." Of it the secretary of iho Vitagraph Company aays, in a re: out letter to the young author: —"With regard to your manuscript of the play entitled 'Leading of the Light,' we shall be pleased to send you for this manuscript the sum of 40 dollars, as tire play is, indeed, exceedindly well written, and will, no doubt, prove an excellent picture, if well acted and staged. Considering your ago. yon haya proved yourself to bo an excellent writer, and we trust and hope that you | will forward 113 more of your plays."

Thomson and Beattie are offering their large stock of linoleums at a reduction of 15 per cent all round. They have them in all widths, Iyd, liyds, L}yds, in bordered and 2yds wide, in floral, tiles and carjwt effects.

Purse found. Mooting of referees to-morrow. Usual Rial to vale on Saturday. Royal Stands!-<l Pictures to-night. M. Kirkwood ia.so.rts business notice. Railway time-table alterations notified. Geo. Kerr inserts notice re candidature. Stevenson's Pictures will not bo shown to-night. 1). MeDougall wishes to meet supporters to-morrow.