The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1883. THE TOWN OF GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1129, 2 August 1883, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1883. THE TOWN OF GERALDINE.

A correspondent in another column points cut the desirability of having a few lamps put up for the purpose of lighting the town of Geraldine. We quite agree with him, and think that it is a matter the Geraldine people might well look to. There are several other small matters that might he looked to also with considerable advantagj to the town. For instance there is no Fire Brigade in the town, and we think that everyone will agree that such an institution is most desirable. It is hardly necessary to point out the advantages of it. Everyone knows how frequently fires, especially in towns almost entirely built of wood, occur, which lead not only to the destruction of property, but also to loss of life. It will also be admitted that Fire Brigades have been frequently the means of saving life and property, lo quote instances of the services they have rendered in places where they have been established would be quite superfluous. It would, therefore, be well for the people of Geraldine to take action in this matter. We feel sure that if the initiatory steps were once taken, it would be easy to get volunteers. There would be no difficulty found in that direction. The greatest obstacle in the way probably is the want of funds, but wo feel confident that a sufficient sum could be raised by public subscription, together with whnl the Insurance Companies would give, to provide the necessary plant. It would be worth everyone’s while to contribute towards the support of such an institution, as no owner of property can say he will never require the assistance of a Fire Brigade. We are not sure whether the Road Board has power to vote money for such a purpose. It is probable it has not, but it could at any rate devote a trifling sum towards the erection of a few lamps to light the town. The Temuka Road Board does that, and, ns tiie Act under which both

work is the sani", tli t.- can bn no doubt

>n Unit point. W>- have on >v previous

nccH'ion p ■iii U-d out the desirability of

draining certain parts of the town, hut nothing has been done in that direction since. The Road Board could undoubtedly do this, [t is a part of its duty, but ot course if the, people take no action in the matter, the Board cannot be blamed. If the people are satislied with the existing state of things it is not likely that the Board will bother about it. The proper course for the townspeople to adopt is to petition the Board to drain such portions of the town as require it, and if they do wo feel sure the matter will be attended to. We hare now called attention to three matters ofconsiderablo importance. When a collision between vehicles resulting in serious loss and injury takes place is not the time to erect lamps ; when a fire destroys a portion of the town is not the tims to get a Fire Brigade, and when sickness comes is not the time to look after sanitary arrangements. Precautions such as we hare pointed out are taken in every civilized community, and we trust that the people of Geraldine will bestir themselves and he not so far behind their neighbors.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN ? There whs a meeting held in Timaru last Satuiday to consides the advisability o establishing a refrigerating Company for South Canterbury. It was largely attended, the principal stock owners of the district being present, and a resolution was carried to the effect that a company ought to be floated for the purpose of ex porting frozen meat. It was suggested that those present should put down their names as shareholders, and the report of the Timaru Herald says that 40 names were placed on the list. This wis not at all a bad beginning ; iu fact it was a most promising one, yet the leading article iu the Herald says that as soon as it was suggested that people should pat down their names as shareholders there was a regular stampede towards the door and the room was soon cleared. N aw, which of these statements is the correct one ? The reporter of the Herald says that 40 put down their names, and the editor savs that the mention of shares made the people clear out. There is a slight discrepancy somewhere. The two statements cannot be true. We must say that we would rather believe the reporter, because we think the statement in the leading article is nothing short of a libel on those present. However, it was quite consistent with previous statements made in the same department of that paper. It will be remembered that same few months ago that paper pointed out that the refrigerating process would raise meat to famine prices. A few days afterwards it began to dilate upon the result of dairy factories, and said they would lead to milk being altogether unobtainable. So far as we recollect now, it stated that about five shillings was the price of n pint of milk at the Ashburton railway refreshment rooms. We are not certain that that was the exact sum, but it was something like it, and it stated that the cause of such a high price was the dairy factory. The Ashburton factory is about eight miles from the railway station, and could certainly have no influence on the price of milk there. Now, what does all this mean 1 What is the object of throwing cold water on these industries? The statement that the people ran away when shares were mentioned was not only insulting to those present, but detrimental to the promotion of the proposed company, because what could au outsider gay, but ‘ The promoters ran away when asked to take up shares ; that shows they have no faith in their own proposals, and 1 consequently will not take up shares in such a project.’ We are sura the Herald did not look at it from this point of view. It wanted to give vent to a little sarca in, and it never considered what the result would be. Its statements about the price of milK, too, were no doubt intended to he funny, but everyone cannot look ut these things from the Herald’s point of view, and consequently peoplearcled to entertain mistaken notions about these institutions, It is most remarkable that the Herald instead of helping forward local industries, seems invariably to make fun of any attempt that is made, and it is to this that Timara’s backwardness may be attri bnted.