The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1911. SITTING ON A VOLCANO.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 98, 15 June 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1911 . SITTING ON A VOLCANO.

A perusal of tiic report of the meeting that took place at Kapuni \csterday in conpection with tire Opunake I’ailwa,y will, wo think, disclose the fact chat each -delegate was prepared, on the slightest provocation, to assume a militant attitude-in fact, two or three of those present did actually discharge small arms now and again. Everyone wanted to disclaim any interest in that great hone of contention—the route — vet this question was apparently uppermost in the minds of all. Hawera, as Mr. Barton said, had a little scheme of its own: and we have no doubt that most of tho other delegates, if they had been quite so candid, had little schemes of their own up their sleeves, and one need not have been surprised, from tho mild charges that were being made, if some of the fiery spirits present had thrown prudence to the winds, and. like iiorabastes, had shuck an attitude and exclaimed: “Ho wno dare this route displace.” But fortunately no one let himself loose altogether. The meeting was evidently trying to carry out the suggestion of, the Ministei for Public Works: to take a Jonn pull, a strong pull, and a pud altogether; hut each one seemed

to he afraid of the other, and if the Government is deceived into believing that the meeting was unanimous—we shall ho astonished. As a result of tho conference, however, a petition is to ho circulated for presentation to Parliament urging tho necessity- for the construction of the railway'' hut even on this point there was some uneasiness expressed as to who would pay tor getting the petition signed—a question that would not have caused any heartburnings had tho meeting been ol ore mind. While we are sincerely in accord with tho desire to see the Opunake railway constructed at the earliest possible date, wo cannot believe that the mooting hold at Kapuni will have any other effect Ilian to convince the Hon. 11. McKenzie that the question nl route— and the question ol route alone—was chioflv what troubled a majority of the delegates.