WAITARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143764, 12 April 1912, Page 6

WAITARA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) April 11.—An inquiry was to have been held in connection with the recent wreck of the Mauakau this week in New Plymouth, but owing to the absence oi Captain Berg it was found necessary to postpone the holding of same until hie return. A number of people are wondering why the proceedings are not being held in Waitara, as it would be more couvneient to all persons concerned. The Easter holiday fixtures in these parts were upset owing to the unkind weather conditions. It seems strange, but true, that there is a sort of cussedness about the weather when, as is very often the case, immediately the holidays are over, fine weather seems to bo the rule. I have noticed this repeatedly. The proposal to federate with the Freezing Works Employees’ Federation was rejected by a large majority of the Waitara General Labourers’ Union. The recent visit of the- Premier and party to New Plymouth and surrounding towns reminds me that Ministerial visits to Waitara are, like those of angels, “few and far between.” During a period of over thirteen years there have been only three brief visits of this nature, namely, the late Mr. Sodden, who spent a couple of hours here about ten years ago, Sir Joseph Ward, who paid a flying visit some few years back, and the Hon. Mr. Hogg, who arrived here, of all days in the year, on a Good Friday, a couple of years ago. With these few exceptions Waitara lias taken no active steps to bring itself under the eye qf the Government; on the contrary, when suggestions have been made in this direction they were promptly squelched by the local powers that bo, for some mysterious reason or other. Whether these worthies thought that anything in the nature of a properly managed reception to the head of the State would cause too much publicity to this town, and incidentally, perhaps, interfere with some of their schemes, or whether it was due to downright apathy and lack of public spiritedness, this scribe knows not, but there is no doubt that if half of the energy was infused into public matters that is spent on the personal grinding of axes, this town of Waitara would be much the better all round.

It seems such a peculiar, not to say rare, occurrence for a banking institution to remit interest on an overdraft, that I think the_ following instance is worth noting;—Bishop Clune, of Perth, who was well known throughout Taranaki before his episcopal appointment, has succeeded in obtaining the remission of £IO,OOO, being two years’ interest on an overdraft of £90,000 from tho Union Bank at Perth. Tho following will show how tho Bishop worked it: When Bishop Gibney was retired by the authorities a little while back, it was found that the diocesan debt of Perth was £200,000. This sum was not due for actually church matters alone, but had swollen to such a large sum by reason of Bishop Gibney taking over the leading daibv paper of Perth and endeavouring to run it on the same lines as tho Rev. Charles Sheldon (author of “In His Stops,” etc,), of Topeka, U.S.A., did, i.e., by eliminating all racing nows and cutting down all sensational news to the briefest paragraph and publishing in its place elevating pabulum for its subscribers. As it can be well understood, tho running of a paper that has no such scruples is not always attended with financial success, and, to make a long story short, Bishop Gihney’s journalistic, venture was a ruinous one, besides almost breaking his heart. A good administrator was wanted* for Perth, and one was found in Dr. Chine. Prior to his consecration he obtained a promise from the directors of tho bank that if ho reduced tho overdraft by £40,000 before May of this year they would remit two years’ interest, amounting to over £IO,OOO. Bishop Clunc has redeemed his promise, for in nine months he has paid off £41,000, and thus gains tho concession promised by the bank. Truly a wonderful achievement.

The elevation to Cabinet rank of the Hon. Te Rangibiroa as Native Minister is interesting to a good number in these parts, by the fact that the new Minister was born at TJrenui, where he also attended school, being a former scholar of Mr. H. E. Vaughan (formerly schoolmaster at Urenni, and now clerk of the Clifton County Council). I have gleaned the following particulars of his career, which may bo of interest at the present juncture:—Te Rangihiroa (Peter H. Buck) was born at Uronui in the year 1879, and is a eon of W. H. Buck, and Nga-rongo-ki-tua of Ngati-Mutunga and Ngati-Tama, hapns of Te Atiawa tribe, Taranaki. Ho was educated at the TJrenui School and Te Ante College, Hawke’s Bay, where he won the Native medical scholarship in 1899. He graduated M.B. and Ch.B. in 1904; was appointed house surgeon of Dunedin Hospital in 1905; appointed Native Medical Officer in 1900; Maori Health Officer under the Public. Health Department in 1007; elected as Northern Maori representative, in succession to the late Hone Hoke, in 1908, and was re-elected at tho last election. The new Minister is married to a daughter of Mr. Arthur Wilson, of Milton, Otago. As he is quite a young man, being 33 this year, it is hoped that there are many decades in front of him to employ his undoubted talents for the advancement of the Maori race.

The largely-signed requisition to Mr. Jennings, asking him to stand for tho New Plymouth Mayoralty, was a distinct compliment to our worthy exmember, whose long experience in public life would have been extremely useful to the sister town if he could have seen his way to acquiesce to the request.

A meeting was held on Tuesday evening regarding tho severance proposals of those owners of farm properties who wish to get outside the rating area. As the plan submitted did not meet with genera! approval, it was decided that Messrs. Birdling and Joll interview the solicitors - and surveyors re the alterations required. When the revised plan is received a meeting will be called. The costs of the proceedings will bo paid pro rata by the owners interested.

Mr. A. C. King, of Stratford, was married to Miss Hutcheson at Uronui on Easter Monday, the ceremony being performed by the Rev, Mr. Butler, of Stratford.

Mr. N. Hosking had the misfortune to lose the second finger of his right hand while working at the new bridge site yesterday. Dr. Ramage attended the sufferer.