MANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 248, 14 July 1919, Page 8

MANAWATU

There is not very much doing with the initial work in connection with the Mangahao scheme for tho development of hydro-electricity. Several .Shannon residents when interviewed on tho subject seemed to think Hint the work was proceeding too slowly, and thought the .Department should endeavour to increase its speed. A gentleman whose business bring.-; him into close touch with the work, and who has to make frequent visits to the scone of operations, stated that nothing whatever has been dono in tho matter of improving tho road to the depot at Apiti Creek, where tho lirst depot is situated, None of the bad coroners had been removed, and as no nietad has been put on the road since it was taken,over from the Hoiwhenua County Council, by tho Department, the result is that the surface is suffering badly from tho constant heavy traffic over it in transport of stores, timber, and large pipes for tho work further on. As winter advances matters will become worse instead of bettor. The Department has now between forty-fivo mid fifty men on tho work beyond this cutting. Most of. tho work is being done by contract. Many men apply for work, and go up to the spot, but they do not remain there, as they 6ay that the conditious are too bad for them to liyo there. However, this should soon bo remedied now as a substantial cookhouse has been provided,; but the men ask for something bettor than tents to live in during tho present severe weather. Thero ha 6 also been trouble about he Department guaranteeing the anen's 6tore accounts, but it is understood that is now being got over. It is expected that as soon as tho tunnelling and concrete work is undertaken a better class of labour may be expected to apply for employment, anu as the work will then be .of a more permanent naturo, tho men may bo expected to stay. Material for a complete telephone service has been taken vp, and when tho lino is laid this will tend to expedite the work. However, on the whole, people living in the neighbourhood of Shannon are not too pleased with tho progress being mado with the scheme, and they prophesy that if more business-liko methods aro not adopted it will be many years beforo tho scheme becomes an accomplished' fact.

Saturday's football results:—Senior: Wcstorn United beat Pirates ,A by G to 3; Huia heat Pirates B by 3G to 3. Junior: Toa beat Awahuri by 3li to nil; Jackeytown beat Western United by 9 to nil; High School beat Ashhurst by 21 to 9. Third class: High School lje.it Primary School representatives by 30 to nil. In tho intei'-colloginte football match Palmerston North High School beat Danuovirko High School by 53 to nil. A meeting of ratepayers of tho Kairanga County was held on Saturday afternoon to discuss loan proposals involving .£2-100, in the Fitzherbcrt Riding, for county employees' cottages, ,£2300 in each of tho Mangaone and Tainui Ridings for tho purchase of motor lorries. The point at issuo beforo tho meeting was steam lorries or motor lorries. A.vote- of confidence was carried in the council,_ which favours tho latter system of traction. A poll will bo held this week. At Foxton last' week Captain E. J. Harvey was presented with a purse of sovereigns from tho citizens as a mark of their esteem. Tho presentation was mado by tho Mayor (Mr. J. Chrystall), who also handed Captain Harvey a letter signed by himsolf on bolialf of the citizons, expresing appreciation of tho recipient's many acts of kindness during his long connection with Foxton port. Captain Harvey, who briefly responded, has rotired from tie sea nfter , many yoars' association with thi6 coast. Tho monthly meeting of tho Hostel Board of tho Y.W.C.A., Palmerston North, was held on Saturday, when it was reported that the month just closed had seen the house full of boarders, but it was regretted that- there was not sufficient accommodation for casual applicants. Miss Hazel Bctt was appointed secretary for work amongst the young people. A committee was appointed to go into the question of providing extra accommodation for women anil children- who were obliged to spend a night in Palmerston North owing to the cultailmout of the railway services. It was arranged to hold tho annual meeting of the association in July.

A meeting was hold at Foxton of intending shareholders in the shipping com. pany proposed to ho formed to carry on tho Foxton-Wellington trade. It was stated that an option had been obtained over the steamer Kennedy 1 at ,£SOOO, and tho report on the vessel was expected very soon. It was decided to form a company to bo called tho WellingtonManawatu Shipping Co., Ltd., with capital of .£IO,OOO, divided into 10,000 shares of JBI each, ot which ,£(1000 will be called up at onco. No further call is to bo mado until decided upon by a general meeting of shareholders. It was also decided that tho s.s. Kennedy he purchased for 45000, provided tho report is favourable.

At tho quarterly mooting of the -Broad Street Methodist Circuit at Palmerston North, it was reported that membership re. turns were well sustained for the quarter. The income and expenditure fos the quarter, showed a balance on the debit side owing to extra expenditure nnd collections for foreign missions, and tho church anniversary being taken up dur. ing the quarter. The resignation of tho junior circuit steward was received owing to removal, and Mr. G. P. Edwards was elected to the, office. The Sunday School report showed the number. of scholars at St. Paul's as 220, a decrease of 2.

The Foxton Rncing Club is at present undertaking a scheme of improvements at its course. A numbor of buildings are being shifted bnck on to the- land recently purchased from tho Foxton Borough Council to make room for thi public. Tho outer booth and the publican's booth havo been shifted, and tho totalisntor house has been extended by 30 feet, and provision made for about 10 now receiving windows and also for additional pay-out windows. Tho straight has been ploughed up and resown, and the sand gallop top-dressed. It is_ probable that other improvements will bo mado in the near future.

Mr. John Balsillie, one of tho pioneer settlers of Kairanga, and ex-president of the A. and P. Society, who has disposed of his farm at 4100 per acre, and who is removing to Palmerston North, was farewellcd at the week-end by Kairanga settlers, and presented with an illnminaled address. .Mrs. and Miss ba'sillie wcro aJso made the recipients of presentations.