"HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5497, 28 November 1896, Page 3

"HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE."

[to the ediiob ] Sib,-In your issue of 14th inst. appears a report of a meeting of the Masterton Town v Lands Trust, which states that Mr Kenall, at the request of his Co-Trustees, consented to lay the foundation stone of the new Town Hall. I think the Trustees are placing him in an inronsistent and false position in asking him to perform this ceremony. It is well-known that Mr Eenall was strongly opposed to a loan being raised with which to erect a Town Hall, his desire being in accord with other Trustees to wait until the revenue of the Trust was sufficient to carry out the undertaking, without recourse to borrowing. Supposing that this had been done, when would the Hallhavobeen erected? One would be perfectly safe in prognosticating that very few of the present members of the Trust would have been as the date would Save been too far distant in the sweet bye-and-bye. If Mr licnall consents and does perform the initial ceremony, will be not be acting a very inconsistent part ? What can he say for opening remarks ? Surely he will not inform the assembled public that he is about to perform the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a building, the erection of which he utterly opposed. What else can he say P The ground for appropriate remarks will be completely cut from under him, as, on an occasion like that, it is usual to ask one to perform the ceremony who is in sympathy with the object in view, and most certainly not to ask one who is kuown to be opposed to it. Mr Eenall will surely, when he thinks over the matter, decide that it is a caso of" save me from my friends." It would be just as consistent and just as appropriate to ask Councillor I(, E. Hornblcw—who is known as a bitter opponent to the water and drainage scheme as suggested by our Mayor Elect, Mr Pownall—to perform the initial ceremony of thoso works, as to ask Mr Eenall to lay the foundasion stone of the Town Hall, It will bo admitted that Mr Kenall has been a good and serviceable member of the Trust, and that the town is largely indebted to his wisdom and foresight as one of the originators of the Trust, but I think that such an estimable citizen should be saved from the farce and burlesque of performing the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of that to which he has been opposed. I would ask who was the originator of the scheme to erect this Hall, and who has consistently, and persistently, in season and out of season, fought tootli and'nail to have this thing brought to a successful issue, against the united opposition (at least for some time) of the whole of the Trustees, It is well-known that it was Mr Arthur Tile. Ono may not agree in politics or with the tactics pursued by Mr Vile, but undoubtedly that is the gentleman who in the opinion of many citizens of this town should hayej had the honour conferred upon him of laying tho foundation stono of that which has been so dear to him, and for which he has la boured, I am glad to say, not in vain, It would be tbo wish I vouchsafe to say, of the majority, of those interested in the Trust, that some slight appreciation should be shown of MrVile's serrices and what could bci more fitting than to ask him to declare the foundation stone of tho Masterton Town Hall "well and truly laid." It has only to be brought under the notice of Mr Kenall when he will himsclfseethc false position he would be placed in if he decides to carry out the ceremony, and ho will recognise that no man in Masterton has a greater claim to.the honor than Mr Vile.—Yours, etc.,

Spectator. [We think it is the general wish of the people - of Maaterton that Mr Bonall should lay the stone, and probably Mr A. Vile would share the sentiment,—Ed. W.D.T.]