MANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 33, 3 November 1919, Page 8

MANAWATU

For some years it has been known that a considerable deposit of .limp suitable for agricultural purposes is situated m the Manawatu Gorge, close to the railway line, and within easy distance of Palmerston North, but so f<n' 110 attempts have been made towor.c it. About twelvo months ago an agitation was set on font bv the local branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to have somethins done in the matter. A special meeting was called, at which the lion. D. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, and 111? late Mr. D. Buick. M.P. for the district, wcro present. After an interchange of ideas tho Minister undertook In set legislation through the Honsp which would allow* of sonif schema being devised of working the deposit so that farmors could be supplied with jt as a fertiliser. It was found impossible to vest the reserve in the Farmers' Union, as no power could be given that body to hand over the quarry to a conipany to work, and they would not he in a position to work iii themselves. It was eventually arranged that the deposit should 1)0 vested in the three county councils adjacent, and tliev weiv given power to let the same to a company to work. One of tho councils, however, declined to take the responsibility sought to be thrust upon it, and tliero the matter ha,s reslwl ever since. The subject was Teoper;:! at a meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the union on Saturday, when several farmers urged that somciihing should be done, as at the present time supplies, of lime were being brought into the' district all the way from Morrinsvillz. Several suggestions were made, Imt none appeared to find favour. EvenImally tho matter was referred to the Manawatu sub-provincial executive, with a Tequest the.t that body should endeavour to evolve some scheme by which the farmers would be jiblo to take advantage of a. valuable fertiliser which was practically lying at their doors. _ 1 There were no bankruptcies in Palmerston North during tho month of October. ■ The vital statistics for Palmerston North for idle month iust closed show that there were 112 births, 10 death;-, and 21 marriages. For the samo period Hfl cases were admitted into Hie -public hospital, 100 were discharged, and, six had died, leaving G2 in the in s titufiiOii. l%e Foxton !>ar is much better at the present timo than it. has been for years, but one or two sandbinks along the river are a source of trouble to shipping. As soon as the new dredge arrives and gets to work doubtless these will lie removed, and then the river should be fairly navigable. The Harbour Board is nroceeding with the erection of new goods sheds on a largo scale, which, should provide the port with facilities for some time to come.

Mr. P. J. Nathan, who lias just returned from a comprehensive tour of Australia. during ivliic.li lie undertook lo make'investigations on hehnlf of the Manawatu Haciny Club, attended a meeting of the committee Inst evening, and gave the members the lienofit of bis experiences. Spoking of (he .Tulius totaiipator, one of which tlie club has ordered for installation at Awapuni, he _ expressed himself as fhoroiitrhly satisfied ■with lilio machine, whidli., lie said, would bo a considerable improvement on tho electric machines r,ov in use at Knndwick and Auckland. He anticipated that the. now machine -would s(ivc every satisfaction both to the public and line club. Mr. Nathan gavo some interesting figures showing tho enormous increase in the turnover taking place on fill? Australian totalisations. \t the annual meeting of the Palmerston North Swimming Club the following were elected as officers :-Patron.Mr. .T A. Nash. M.P.: president, Mr. H. LToung; vice-presidents, Messrs _H. h. Penwtli. A. 0. Bnchler. P. C Ereeth; W Devine. W. E. Beiubll and Blankmore; captain, Mr. A. MTherson; viceoaptain, "Mr. J. Devine: committee, Messrs. Bates, Bowen. Fanr-iliar, Cociroft, Callanan, Duncalf. and Eenton ; lion, secretary and treasurer. Mr. 11. I'Ereeth: hon. auditor, Mr. TT. B. Snencer. Messrs. MThorson and Bates with the secretary, "were appointed doles,-\t;> to the Mana.we.tu Swimming Centre. Witu a view to stimulating interest m the eluh during the coming year, the president sii""ested thali competitions should The held every "Wednesday afternoon ttiroup'iout Hie season. Hd said that thpr? was nothing like these competitions for arousing the enthusiasm of members. Hi was also decided to hold relay rac?s for both boys and girls.