The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Thursday, June 13, 1907. THE SEDDON MEMORIAL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 5120, 13 June 1907, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Thursday, June 13, 1907. THE SEDDON MEMORIAL.

Last Monday was the anniversary of the death of Mr Seddon and very little notice of the event in any part of the colony. In Wellington we arc told that “ there was a simple gathering at the late Premier’s grave ’’ and a few wreaths were laid upon his tomb. We are tempted to ask in the words of Rip Van Winkle, “ Are we so soon forgotten when we are dead ?” Apparently so, for it is evident that the movement to establish a national memorial to perpetuate Mr Seddon’s memory has collapsed. Speaking from the Wellington point of view, the Post declares that the gentlemen who organised the movement have been justly blamed for the failure, " since but for their dawdling a very different result might have been achieved." But in extenuation of their failure, and in exoneration of the city’s reputation, which has suffered at the same time, the Post considers it just to mention a special cause which it believes to have been the most potent at work, and for which it says the Government must take the sole responsibility. “ This city,” it says, "has never been a Seddonian stronghold, but it includes thousands who always admired and supported the late Premier, and many more who opposed him politically, but can realise his many admirable qualities now that he has gone. How is it that the former seem to have passed from the extremes of admiration, or even servility to blind ingratitude and stinginess now that he has gone, and that the generous feelings of the latter find no practical expression ? The fact is that the sentiment which was runn’ng so strongly at the time of Mr Seddon's death has been checked, not so much by lapse of time—fora man who ruled us for thirteen years has not been forgotten in twelve months—as by a discordant sentiment which the action of the Government has brought into being. The democracy is not ungenerous, but, on the other hand, it is not logical. It expected to see Parliament do something handsome for the late Premier's memory, and it did not rebel when the sum of £GOOO was accordingly, placed on the Estimates for his family, though previous grants had been voted on the score of need—for

which there was no pretence here—and, even so, had not exceeded half that amount. But the public is resentful when it sees that, in addition to a liberal grant to those whose position compared to that of the average contributor was one of affluence already, the Government has consented without any Parliamentary authority whatever that the chief Ministerial residence should be treated as an appurtenance of the family for nearly a year. A few weeks might reasonably have been conceded to convenience, to courtesy, and to sentiment; but which of those pleas can be urged for a continuance of the present position ? AVhat precedent can be shown for such a thing ? AVhat Minister of the Crown can justify it before the people for whom he is a trustee by any argument that will bear the light of day ? If the Ministerial residence is not noeded for the public purposes for which it was bought, then it should be sold, or lot to a paying tenant. Its present use is beyond justification, and the resentment of the democracy, which, as we say, is not eminently logical, feels rather than reasons to the conclusion that if the public property is to be thus treated as the private perquisite of those who are in need, the

Seddon memorial may be relegated to tho level ol ! private business also. It is this kind of feeling, we are satisfied, and not forgetfulness and ingratitude, which is killing the Seddon memorial; and, unpleasant as the task has been, it seemed to us to be due to the reputation of the city and the colony that the responsibility should be placed upon the proper shoulders.”

Commercial nows, our Kuikora correspondent's letter, and an article in refer, onoe to tho price of t read will be found on the first page. The reading matter on tho fourth page consists of News and Notes.

A shook of earthquake was experienced in Waipawa at twenty minutes to 8 o’clock, this morning. There was a gooc attendance at the social held in the Convent schoolroom, last night. Several songs were contributed and an enjoyable evening was Spent.

The Rev G. K. Stowell acknowledges tho receipt of tho following additional amounts on behalf of the China famine fund T.O. £l, H. MoL. 2s fid.

The prevailing fashion amoDg ladies of carrying their handkerchiefs in their purses, taught one fair resident of Christchurch a lesson recently. On leaving a dentist’s surgery she pulled her handkerchief from her purse, and with it two £5 notes. She had heard nothing since of the lost money.

Tho funeral of the late Constable W. R. Irwin tcok place at tho new cemotery, Kuikora North, yesterday afternoon. Tho burial service b)th at the church and the grave was conducted by the Rev H P. Cowx. There was a large cortege of friends. Among tto many wreaths was one from his comrados, the Wellington police, with whom the deceased was much respectod. Much sympathy is felt for the deceased’s parents aDfl relatives. When an account was read before a recent meeting of tho Oroua County Council, in which a contractor claimed payment for a certain number of yards of metal and twelve-seventeenths of a yard, the chairman remarked thHt that certainly was the finest bit of financing that they had come across for a long time. “ Why the deuce wasn’t he extravagant, and make it a whole yard while he was about it ?” added the chaii man.

A meeting of ladies was held in the brigade station yesterday afternoon, when matters in connection with the Bupper arrangements for the forthcoming social of the Waipawa Fire Brigade wero discussed. Sub committees wore appointed to wait upon the residents of the town in regard to this important matter. As these functions are tho only meant used by the brigade to appeal to the residents for support, they confidently rely upon receiving a ready response to their efforts. The Woodville waterworks were started about five years ago with a reservoir containing a supply of 210,000 gallons which was thought ample to last a period of two weeks. At the present time, however, the Railway Department is takiug 20,000 gallons a day, and a reoond reservoir has become an absolute necessity. There is a plen iful supply of water in tho Mangapapa creek, four miles away from Woodville, and Mr Metcalf, bij Auckland engineer, is now reporting on tho new project, which will provide an additional capacity of 500,000 ga'lons. The present reservoir is 250 feet above the level of the town.