PALMERSTON RIPPLES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9553, 14 December 1909, Page 2

PALMERSTON RIPPLES.

(By Hokioi.)

I "had au interesting chat with a colonist of fifty years' standing, a former citizen of the great Germau Empire. He gets German papers by every mail, and he assured me that he never sees a reference in any of them to the much-talked-of war with Englaud. My friend states that Germany'- sole object in any hostile movement would be to obtain a footing, for colonisation purposes, in various part 3of the world that Britain does not seem able to populate. As to taking possession of New Zealand, I the idea is the height of absurdity. Germany could not spare the ships to convey the necessary trcops for such au invasion. My friend thinks very highly of the Kaiser, against Whose moral character, he affirms, no stone has ever been cast, which honorable distinction, he fears, other Europeau Royalties cannot claim. "I have lost my German citizenship," he said, "through ten years' absence from the Fatherland, and my interests and sympathies, in the event of an attack from without, would be all with the laud that has been my home for so inauy years. But still I love the Fatherland, aud would uphold her in the event of attack by any of her foreign enemies. Germany has France, Russia, and Britain to watch, and she is not bothering her head about New Zealand. She might populate some of the hinterland in Australia, if opportunity should ever offer. Financially the recent Horticultural Show did not result satisfactorily, a loss of some £20 being sustained. The attendance of the general public was disappointingly small, for which I am inclined to think the intensely hot weather was responsible to somo extent. It was an object-lesson as regards horticultural excellence. Roses, sweet peas aud carnations were worth going a loug way to see. The cut blooms were greatly admired. The vegetables provided some excellent exhibits.

Discussing Mrs McNeil's death with a very old resident of Palmerston, he paid a Willing tribute to her genuine good-heartednoss. .'* fc ,, is a good many years ago," he said, "that I reached the Clarendon Hotel here, about 1 a.m. after a long journey ou horseback. I was soaked with heavy rain, aud mud-soattered from head to foot, aud dead tired. All I wanted was to be allowed to lie down somewhere. There was not a bed available iv the hotel. I asked to sleep ou a sofa or auywhere. That kind-hearted woman would not hear of such a thing. The cook was roused up, the kettle boiled, and I was soon enjoying

a cup of hot coffee. I was then induced to remove my dripping clothes, aud array myself in garments in which, no doubt, 1 cut a comical figure, but my soaked clothes were dry for me in the morning. The laudladv took a spare bed in the servants' room, so that I might have a decent rest after my long journey. Now, you don't often meet with such kindness in your travels. 1 never forgot her for it." The water pressure was maintained fairly high all to-day (Saturday). There is little doubt that water was being shamefully wasted both by night and by day. I learn that Captain Mowlem's condition does not improve ; physically

he appears to be on the decline. When in charge of the good ship Electra, in days of yore, what a sturdy manner was he. Anno Domini captures us all in the loug run. Those who knew Captain Mowlem in his prime will be sorry tc hear what a difference they would see now from his former robust self.

The Boy Scouts movement is making rapid headway in this district. No. 2 Battalion was formed ou Friday night, at Hokowhitu. Three troops constitute a battalion, each troup consisting of three patrols. No 1. Battalion has as scout-inspector, Dr

Peach; chief scoutmaster, R. H. Whalley; scoutmasters Geo. Paltridge, Fox (Relvin Grove) and Sharp (Hokowhitu).

Prices of commodities vary astonishingly. A pioneer told me to-day that twenty-five years ago matai firewood was delivered in his yard at eight shillings per cord, four feet lengths. To-day I suppose it is about four times that price. Firewood was then a drug in the market. NowMt is brought hither by rail from distant places. Iv those days milk was fivepeue. per quart. One milk settler made much money in that calling, aud invested in a freehold estate which became very valuable. He

started with one cow, which was

added to as opportunity offered, and to-day his estate would run into some thousands. Such is one case of luck, with industry aud perseverauce rewarded.

The Palmerstou branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union has endorsed a motion by the Taranaki Executive, to the effect that as the present system of valuing land for taxation purposes has proved a complete failure, it is considered that a much fairer and a much more simple way would be to tax on the annual value, with the same exemptions as money invested in other industries, the auuual value to be five per cent, of the capital value.

It may not be generally known that before the Kairauga Block, close to Palmerstou, was offered by public auction,, a speculator ottered the Government £1 per acre for the whole block —about eight thousand acres. The Government declined to entertain the offer, and thus many a good settler got his start in life. The terms of purchase were £2 per acre cash aud £2 iOs per acre on deferred payments. Tho greater portion of if is worth, today, from £40 to £50 per acre, and some of in much higher. Some of the Kairanga Block was once pronounced by a Provincial Government official as "unlit for settlement purposes." I wonder what part that was? The block contains some of the very best land in Manawatu. Yet some people said that those who bought at £2 10s per acre on deferred payments had "bitten their fingers," and would never complete. How short-sighted people sometimes are. The weather conditions, to-day, are much more agreeable than during the first part of tho week. There is a gentle breeze with occasional heat waves. The streets are getting seriously broken up in places where the water-carts do not frequent.

There was a change in,; the weather to-day (Monday). The sky was overclouded during the forenoon, and the heat less intense. A pretty smart but brief gale sprang up about noon, followed by light and welcome rains. This afternoon the temperature is less torrid than during some days previously, and there are indications that more rain is threatening.

At the S.M. Court, this morniug, a driver, for ill-treating a horse, with a bad sore back, was fined £. and costs—a total of nearly £5. The vet. 's evidence was strongly against the defendant, showing that his treatment of his steed indicated a total disregard of the pain the poor animal must have suffered when beiiig ridden.

The agitation is beiug renewed for the construction of a light live railway from Palmerstou to Rongotea, which is the important centre of a very fertile agricultural district. Thi3 should be a good chance for an electric tram line, or even a monorail. Rongotea is now connected by coacli with both Palmerstou and Feildiug, but the district needs speedier and mure up-to-date communication in the interests both of passenger and goods traffic. A line of motor 'buses is talked of, but I question if they would be a success. It would be a capital chance for a syndicate to test the merits of a light live railway. Rougotea is also connected by the tram route from Sanson to Foxton, the trains running every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Rongotea has considerable commercial relations with Palmerstou and the business people of the latter town are anxious to get iv closer touch with a district which will always be both a large jiroducer aud a cousumer well worth considering.

The ratepayers are already discussing the coming Mayoralty election, although a good way off yet. There is a decided reaction iv favour of Mr R. Essex, a former occupam of the Mayoral chair. It is affirmed that his duties were very tactfully aud conscientiously performed, aud though lie made enemies—a good mauy of them—while he was Mayor, some of the latter are now his strongest supporters. The geueral opinion is that Mr Esses is "straight;," aud it is a straight mau that the burgesses are auxious to see returued. I question if he can be prevailed upon to come forward as a candidate, but if he does he will have a large aud influential following. Mr Essex had both the local papers opposed to hiui last election, aud considering the influences arrayed against him he polled wonderfully well. My private opinion is that he will uot be a candidate, unless very strong pressure is brought to bear. He says—aud I suppose most holders of municipal positions will bear him out—that "the game is not worth the caudle." "Nothing but abuse, aud misrepresentation from both sides," says Mr Essex, "if a Mayor tries to do his duty conscientiously."

Motor cars are a great factor in Palmerstou Mayoral elections. The candidate who cau command the most motor cars will most probably v. iv the day. Women voters, as a rule, dearly love a ride in a motor car. Even those whose proper voting place at the last Mayoral election was Terrace End held out for a ride to the town before they would agree to record their vote. Verily there are wheels Within wheels Iri municipal politics and in municipal contests. Mr Essex cau tell some illuminating stories of liow ' ; the cat jumped" or didn't jump.

A resident was brought to book afc the S.M. Court to-day for erecting an addition to a building without first obtaining a permit. The additions to the building were erected iv wood, whereas they ought to have beeu iv brick. Permission would have been refused to bmld the addition in wood. He was fined 40-, with costs, his Worship commenting on the fact that the defendant had been able to build in wood, for which material a permit would have been refused, aud it did not seem to him (the S.M.) that there was auy legal way of compelling the defendant to pull down the illegal structure. This may point the moral of some necessity for amending existing legislation in this direction.