The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6,1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3517, 6 January 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6,1886.

If it is true, as has been telegraphed, that Mr Henry Driver is to take charge of tho Dnnedin agency of the Government Insurance Department at the handsome salary of £1000 a year, all we can say is that the news will be received with anything but a feeling of satisfaction by shareholders m the Association. In saying this we do not wish to cast any reflection on Mr Driver's qualifications for the post ; far from it. He has always proved himself a sterling man of business, while his career as a politician is one which no man need be ashamed of. It is the amount of remuneration he will receive that will disgust the shareholders, for it is only natural to suppose that this appointment is only the thin end of a wedge which will swell and swell until it grows to very large proportions indeed. To come straight to the point, the Government have laid themselves open to the suspicion that, having failed to induce the shareholders to vote for local boards, they are determined to take matters into their own hands. On several occasions we have protested m the strongest possible terms against the purchase of costly sections of land, and the erection of huge blocks of buildings m which to carry on the work of the Department, and we again repeat that such premises are not, and never will be, required. Insurance business, whether life or otherwise, is best done by a good canvasser, by a man with all his wits about him, and who will Bunt the right men up without waiting for them to call on him. There is more m a good bead and a fluent tongue than m a gigantic edifice. Therefore we say, as we have said before, employ first-class men to seek out the uninsured, and pay them by results. It will never do to provide what may be termed " snuggeries," for it would mean the crippling of the Association, and playing into the hands of its rivals, every one of which is reaping more or less benefit through the fear which exists that the Board may at any moment launch into still greater extravagance. 0

We can with confidence assume that I among the thousands of visitors who found their way to the sports ground at Patiti Point on New Tear's Day, and the day following, there was not one who was not pleased with the new ground and the many excellent advantages it possesses. Our readers no doubt well remember the time when the first meeting of representatives of the various friendly and other societies was held at Messrs Maclean and Stewart's jooidb to con-

rider tbe question of getting a public recreation ground for Timaru ; a ground that would prove of much use to tbe town for holding sports gatherings, cricket or football matches on, and be easy of access to townspeople. The difficulty the representatives then had to face was a serious one. Tbe old Show Ground — a spot that will long remain deeply associated with the name of the Timaru Agricultural and Paßtoral Association, and the Caledonian and other Societies, and on which residents of and visitors to Timara have whiled away many a pleasant hour — was found to be anything but a success for holding athletic meetings on, as the expense of getting a running track laid off, and the fences even decently repaired, was very heavy, and went a long way to swallow up the profits. The splendid ground belonging to the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club was then used for a meeting or two ; but it, also, has its defects, the most serious of which is ita long distance from town. Many townspeople would not, or could not, go there because of expense m the way of vehicle hire, and country people found fault with it as they bad to hurry off to catch their trains, much sooner than there was, perhaps, any occasion for. It was thus found that the " people's gatherings " were not as well attended as they might be and without the people such sports meetings as the Foresters' and Caledonians' would soon become crippled. The Caledonian Society, therefore, having by far tbe largest interest at stake, vigorously set themselves to work, and the result was the meeting of representatives we have mentioned. Tbe Committee appointed at the meeting to take the matter m hand was composed of the right sort of men, and they soon had inspected all the ground m Timaru that was at all suitable for the purpose required. The reserve at the gaol, and the Domain did not find favor for reasons it is not necessary to enumerate, while the Government reserve at Patiti Point was fixed on an " the very thing." Tbe Government were communicated with, and promptly replied, stating about eight acres would be placed at disposal. The Member for Timaru then brought down a Bill enabling the land to be vested m trustees, and, with the able assistance of the Member for Gladstone and other gentlemen of the Bouse of Kepresentatives, had it quickly placed on the Statute Book. What followed has created much surprise, and many persons have been quite astonished at the lai-ge amount of work that has been done to the ground within a very few months. First of all it was so ploughed as to be made as flat as possible, and then a very substantial fence of galvanised iron wa3 put all round it, and ample means provided for ingress and egress. Though the season has not been a good one for grass growing, the most Ranguine never looked to see on New Year's Day such a close thick sward on the ground as therereally was. The oval was, of course, specially prepated, and the good order it waß m reflected great credit on all who had a hand m laying it off. Howfiver, much still remains to be done before the ground will be anything like what the Trustees hope to see it, and we are glad to learn that the Caledonian Society, who have spent hundreds of tne matter of further improvements without delay. "We understand it is proposed to terrace the ground, lay it out so that tbe running track will be 350 yards round, fence tbe oval securely so as to prevent people whose business is not to go on it from trespassing, and m the Autumn so plant it as to ensure that it shall become, m course of time, one of the most beautiful grounds m the colony. To do all this means tbe expenditure of large earns of money, which we are assured there is every prospect of being forthcoming as required. In conclusion we wish tbe Trustees every success, and express the hope that the many residents of South Canterbury will ably second any efforts they may put forth.