HOROWHENUA NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8192, 6 August 1912, Page 4

HOROWHENUA NOTES

FOXTON AND FIRES. I FROM ODR OWN CORRESPONDENT. LEVIN. August 5. At the last meeting of me Foxreu Borough Council tho Mayor (Mr G. XL Slues) said that tho position in which he had uoou placed through tho recent fire was one that did not warrant him in continuing his duties as Mayor. His business had been disorganised, and it would mean months of hard work to get it again tnoi oujnfy rtovgauiaed.—Yanoiu councillors expressed sympathy with tne Mayor lx his worries, and, tho resignation was ac* copied. . , The Mayor moved that the following b> law bo made by way of special order ana that tho order be confirmed on September 2nd: "That in all new buildings of any kind whatever In Main street, Ball street, Whyte street. Clyde street, Harbour street. Liddell street Jeaat side), Bavonsworth place, and the Avenue road on the south side from Main to Hall streets, whether such buildings nr© attached to or do tached from other buildings, and whetnei or not there shall be any other existing building on either eide f the side walls shall be constructed of either brick or re inforoed concrete.” He did not wish to make the by-law too drastic, but lie thought the brick area should be extended as suggested. They should profit by the lesson of tho recent fire, in which a brick wall was the means of saving the adjoin* Ing buildings.— I The motion waa agreed to. Hr Barnard, of Palmerston North, has presented a report to the Foitun Borough Council on the Question of providing means of fire prevention. Next to a nigh* pressure system ho recommends that a lino of six cast-iron mains bo laid through Main street as far as the Town Hall, fitted with fire hydrant, at no greater distance apart Umn two-and-a-half chains; ana supplied by a pumping plant on the river bank or over the drain- next to the borough council offices. . ~ After oonelderablo discussion the council has decided that a circular letter be written to all ratepayers in Main stieet asking If they would be willing to support a fire scheme In which they would bear tho rate of a loan. . , _ , Mr F. 0. Bout, of the Horowhemta "Chronicle,’’ is leaving after tour years' service os llnotyue operator, for tho “Hawke’s Bay Herald." -Mr Rout Is secretary of the Hopowhenua Rugby Union and the local sonool committee. He has been secretary of tho local Druids Lodge, of which he is a prominent member. Over forty tradesmen are employed at present on the new hotel which Messrs Staples and 00. are erecting to replace tho old hotel at Weraroa, which was destroyed by fire. The building Is nearing completion, and will cost some £6OOO. A strong combination of Honowhonua Junior representatives will be selected to Elay Wellington Junior representatives at qvin at an early date. On Saturday the junior representatives defeated Shannon at Levin. The Rev. A, 0. Randerson, whose sermons on non-church-going have caused some comment, preached nia final sermon on tho subject, bis subject being, ■•Obstacles to Non-church-going within tho Church.” He said it would not bo frank to pass over the part played by the ministers in contributing to tho causes of non-church-going. Whatever he said ho look to himself. Long, rambling prayers, tho technical language of old-fashioned theology, tho pulpit whine, the atmosphere of settled dullness, and melancholy, th. silence on questions Intimately affecting tho physical welfare and common daily needs of the masses wore briefly touched upon as faults of the pulpit. Then there was such a thing as office-bearers’ palsy. Church officials were often afflicted with moral cramp and church committees were sometimes the most conservative of institutions. But the majority of church officials were excellent. There was a sad lack of reality about the religion of the average church-goer: symptoms of spinelessness and anaemia in belief and practice. Wo used archaeio language nowhere else. Then why in our reli~ion? Lot us rid ourselves of the deadweight of things we could no longer sincerely believe.