A Trip to Palmerston

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 22, 7 August 1890, Page 3

A Trip to Palmerston

" Take your seats for Palmerston please." So sang out the guard of the 11 o'clock train to Palmerston, from Feilding, on Saturday last. A rush, and all are seated. The juvenile footballers making themselves prominent by their hurrahs and discordant yells, while the elder and more sedate footballers neat themselves quietly, and at once become engrossed in conversation about the coming match between Palmerston and Feilding. As we trayel along we cannot help noticing* the various improvements along the line between Feilding and Palmerston. The newly- erected cottages with their tidy and well kept gardens, while the once dense bush is now being laid low by the hands of the bushfaller. As we approach the Palnierston station a busy scene is in yiew. The Wellington mail train is waiting, and on our arrival it starts for the north. There is a rush from our train for Woodville coaches by passengers who are journeying fiat way. The confusion much assisted by our happy shoolboys' yells .md the voices of many other people. I move away from the crowd and walk around ' the Square to see the improvements which have been so lately made. The new Beady Money Store is a magnificent building, and one that we can't help noticing above all others in Palmerston. After lunch I made my way to the football ground, overtaking numbers of Feildingites who like myself, are eager to see the two matches, viz., the Feilding School v. the Palmerston School and the Feildiug Club v. the Palmerston Club. The boys have commenced, and both sides prove themselves good and true footballers, liittle Rosamon and Whisker doing good and noticeable work for Feilding. The «ame resulted in our schoolboys winning by 1 point to nil. The cup match started at about 3.15 p.m. and a very exciting game it was. The Palmerston nun jilay.d with great dash and determination, Wiiiie the Feilding men were rather sluggarclly, but when pushed were equal to the occasion, and always managed to drive their ©ponents back from their line. Parr got a try from a beautiful run, from which Joe Robinson kicked a good goal. From a free kick another goal was obtained. In the second spell Mowlem, for Palmerston, scored a try, and from a free kick Palmerston obtaintd a goal. The game continued to be very interesting, but when time was called no more scores had bte i made by either side, Feilding thus winning by 5 points to 3. A large crowd witnessed the game, the ladies being very prominent. Feilding was largely represented in the a^ectu O * by both sexes. Palmerston seemed extra lively on Saturday evening and people thronged the streets, it being very difficult to walk along with comfort. Our fooi bailers had left by 9 o'clock, Some, however, remaining to stay for the Sunday. On Sunday morning the weather was rather windy and threatening, but with the exception of a strong breeze it was fine all day. Hearing that the well known Wes leyan preacher, Mr Grant, was to hold services I walked to the Wesleyan Church, which was crowded by eleven o'clock, Mr Grant evidently being a favorite. The singing by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr Grace, was splendid. They rendered the anthem especially well. Mr Grace is to be congratulated on the supirior singing that is to be heard at the church. After having partaken of the hospitality of some old friends I made my ■way to the Catholic Church grounds, where the foundation stone of the new building was to be laid by Archbishop liedwood. The ceremony commenced at half-past three in the afternoon, Archbishop Redwood, attended by Father Mulvilhill, of Hawera, and Father Patterson, of Palmerston, laid the stone. A choir, conducted by Mr Isherwood with Miss McMiun as organist, and several violinists, rendered the Hallelujah chorus very well. The Archbishop addressed the people present, and spoke especially to the Catholics, saying that as the Church was to be for their use and benefit, it \va-> expected that they would subscribe freely towards paying for it, and those who ■wished to give subscription could do so, leaving it on the newly laid stone. Fathers Patterson and Mulvihill collected money as the people went out of the church gate on their way home. The filthy lucre, as the Bishop termed it, seemed to be coming in fast, cheques and notes being very numerous. The Palmerston Brass Band attended, and under the leadership of Mr Fred Clemens who i 3 to be congi atulated on the rapid progress that his band has made. During my stay in Palmerston I met Mr Beck the enthusiastic secretary to the Palmerston Horticultural Spring Show, which is to come oft soon. The show, I believe, has evx-ry prospect of being a success. The Feilding horticnlturalists should send some exhits. They would have good chances of taking some of the prizes. I arrived home on Monday morning after having a most enjoyable time. Feildingite.