PALMERSTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 10

PALMERSTON NOTES.

: » (Irom Our Special Correspondent! Palmorston N., January 27. •A meeting of tho Foxton Harbour Board was hold at Palmerstou yesterday afternoon, when thero wero present: Messrs. J. I'. Hennessv (chairman), J. A. Nash, H. Tollev, R, B. Gardner; G. H. Stiles, W. T. Wood,; and J. G. Wilson. Mr. E. Newman, M.P., was also present at tho invitation of tho board. A considerable amount of correspondence. was dealt with, Tho treasurer's report showed that thero was a balance to credit of £388 165., included in which was an amount of £187 10s., being a portion of tho Government grant.of £200 towards tho maintenance of tho harbour. Tho members of tho hoard, together with Messrs. W. H. Field and E. Newman, M.P., ivero set up'as a committee to wait on tho Minister for Railways in connection with the proposal of tho board to purchaso tho wharf 'from the Government. It was decided to. purchaso a motor-launch for the uso of tho pilot in taking soundings, placing buoys, etc. Tho harbourmaster's report stated that the bar had moved to- tho southward and had shoaled up somewhat; tho depth was 9ft. to 10ft. at high water spring tide, and about Bft. at high water neap tide. A change in tho rivor had been noticed, the channel being good, from the heads to the wharf. During the past month, 23 steamers crossed tho bar inwards- and the same number outwards. Several transfers-of sections at tho heads we're agreed'tb. •

Mr. J. A. Nash •■ occupied the ,chair, at a meeting of tho,;committee of !the Manawatu Horticultural and. Industrial Society last evening. Mr; H. L. Xo'uhg,lion, secretary, wrote tendering his resignationl and it was .accepted with regret. Mr. G.. W. Keeling was appointed to fill the position pro tem. It was resolved to endeavour to work up the school classes on-the "schedule, and with this object, a special' circular is.to.be sent .to all tho schools in the district. It was also decided to provide a number of amusements in tho' evenings of tho autumn show arid tho Mayor , (Mr. J. A. Nash) undertook to see to this portion of the programme.- .;

Tho Manaivatu Athletic Club,proposes, to hold its annual sports gathering on March 8, following the New. Zealand championship meeting. Next'We'dnes-' day the, club will hold an'evening meeting on the sports grounds. Thero will bo 120 yds. and 1000 yds. handicaps.

Tho first parade of tho Central Troop of Boy Scouts was-held'at, tho Ma'nawatu 'Mounted Rifles orderly room last night, when thero was a good muster. Future parades of tho company will be held in All Saint's Hall where a gymnasium has been arranged by Scoutmaster Paltridge.

The tender of Messrs?. Griggs . and Son has been accepted for the erection of a combined library and billiard room, for Mr. R. M'Nab. The structure. is to be in brick, with ferro concreto roof, so as to bo practically fire-proof and a safo repository for tho records, etc., which Mr. M'Nab possesses.

1 The following free-place students at tho Palnierston Technical School, having completed two years at. tho local school, were, on the ' recommendation of tho director (Mr. F. D. Opio) granted senior freo places, tenable for three, years'.at tho local technical scliool, ..viz., William .Sexton, Mary Sexton, Rita Crichton, Oscar : Magmusson, Dolly M'Culloch, and Denis -M'lntire. v - ; ..

This morning,'the Mayor, and a mim-' ber of Borough Councillors, paid a visit to the head works of the water supply, and, as a result of what they saw. thero, tho Mayor has decided to-go on with tho poll to raise a loan of £6000 to raise tho dam to -fifty is now only fourteen feet—for tho purpose of- providing 'gieat'or storage capacity.

Rain fell on tho hills last night, but, previous to that, tho water had ceased to flow over tho dam, which meant that tho town was using the water faster than it was coming into tho dam, and, as it is estimated that tho present dam only holds a 24 hours' supply, this is rutlior a serious matter, especially if the present dry wcathor continues."

'Die committees of the Manawatu Caledonian Society met to-night and framed a programme for its Easter Monday sports gathering. . Mr. R. M'Nab has presented a challenge shield to the l'almerston Technical School Rifle Defence Corps for competition among members. Tho • Tiio champion riflo shot of tho corps each year will have his. name engraved on tho shield.