TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4316, 27 March 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THE WILLIS STREET MISTAKE The Willis street claim for compensation was mentioned at the meeting of the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association ■lost night by Mr HuitollV the president, who said bo would not consign a man to annihilation because lie bad made a mistake. Ho himself had made a' mistake many a time, and bo did nob think they'.should bc’too hard upon the Town Clerk. Mr Arnold: “Your mistake affected you personally, but not the general public.” Later on tho chairman again, brought up tho Willis street | difficulty, audl suggested, that candidates for tho Council should he asked if they were in favour of a complete reorganisation of the staff of the city. They could not touch the City Engineer, but right from the City Engineer downwards. He assured members that be believed this to be one of tho most vital questions affecting the community to-day. After a brief discussion, it was decided, as a plank in the asscciation!s platform, that tho rmestion should ho put to candidates: “Would you be in favour of a complete reorganisation of the whole of the Corporation staff ?”

PONGAROA LIGHT RAILWAY. ‘ A meeting, was held at Mastsrton on Monday to consider the project for a .light line of railway to connect Master- ; ton with. Pongaroa and Weber. Mr C. i E. Daniel!, chairman of the Light Line ‘ Committee, said he considered it would he advisable to keep tho scheme in the hands of the settlers and the business i *men of the community. Legislation would he necessary in the direction of having the Loans to Local Bodies Apf extended. Mr'Eli Smith, secretary of the committee, in discussing the ques. tion of the safety of a narrow-gauge line, rend the following communication from the general manager of the Tasmanian railways;—“Rolling stock on our north-east Dundns tramway will stand any wind pressure that the -standard stock oh the New Zealand Government railways will bear. In fact, the weight of our carriages is closer to. the rail than .that of the standard stock in New Zealand ,and should, therefore, resist a greater pressure.” The Mayor of Masterton (Mr C. A. Pownall) mov. ed. “That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to establish a light line railway between Masterton and Weber; and that a committee bn set up to interview the Government, to ascertain what they are prepared to do ! in the matter, the, committee to report at a future meeting.” In speaking to the motion, which was carried unanimously, Mr A. W r . Hogo. M.H.R.. said that, in his opinion, it was the duty of the State to make railways. In re.. ply to a question bj* the Very Rev Dean McKenna, it was stated by Mr Daniel 1 that throughout the whole route of tho line there was only one objector, who resided at MauriceviUe. At Pongaroa one hundred settlers assembled, and they were all in favour of the rating. At Weber,' Wnlone and Rakanui the settlers were also unanimous.