PALMERSTON RIPPLES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9735, 23 July 1910, Page 7

PALMERSTON RIPPLES.

(By Hokioi.i

The Mayor informs me that the river encroachment question is a very grave one, ou which the views of the ratepayers are to be invited concerning the best course to pursue. There is no doubt that the matter should have been taken in hand some time ago, and something practical dove before matters reached the present crisis. I learn that the Borough Engineer mads certain recommendations as to what was best to be done, and that independent reports were also furnished, but matters were allowed to ririft until the last heavy and coutiuued flood? brought about a very serious state of affairs. 1 mentioned in my last that a groyne which had been erected near the bank was now twenty feet or so away, in the river; and to-day I learn that there is a depth of FOiuo twenty ieet of water behind that same groyne. It is feared it is going to be a costly business to the Borough, and possibly a Government engiueer may be requested to furnish au official report as to what is best to be done to prevent disastrous destruct'on of private aud municipal property. The City Fathers are blamed for apathy in the matter when something tangible might have been done, but, as a rule, most public bodies procrastinate more or less iv matters of this kind. The position is now one which will not admit of further procrastination, and definite actiou will require to be taken forthwith.

There is a good deal ""of sickness iv Palmerstou at present, and the medical profession are kept pretty busy. Thera has been au epidemic of influenza, and a number of wellknown business men have been indisposed, some having beeu laid aside for several days together. The weather has been decidedly trying—wintry, aud rather severely wintry at that. We were warned by weather prophets that we might expect "to pay for" the unusually mild spell during May aud part of June, but it was scarcely expected that it would be "turned on" so rough aswp have had it. ASouthlaud resident met me iv the Square. He was shivering under a big top coat. I remarked that I thought he was accustomed to it being pretty chilly down South. "So we are," was his reply, "but I'm blessed if I ever felt it chillier than I have in Palmerston North, during the last seveuteeu years I have lived down South. It isn't the rank, damp cold you have here," iie concluded.

Arbor Day was celebrated amid depressing weather conditions, there being occasional heavy showers. Some thirty trees were planted by the Campbell-street scholars, and at Terrace End the .National Anthem was sung and the flag saluted. At the College-street school the headmaster referred to the damage accruing from the recent floods in the Manawatu river, and he pointed out that the main -contributing cause was deforestation. The municipal ceremony had to be brief owing to the inauspicious meteorological conditions.

The question of altering the name of Palmerston is still before the public, but the great bulk of the citizens are scarcely taking the matter seriously. No one appears to be able to give a valid reason • why there should be any change.