The Square—and Palmerston North

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 November 1915, Page 3

The Square—and Palmerston North

1 (Written for Tfie 'Chronicle). All roads lead to the Square, and ?o everyome from Levin who visitedi the capital of the Manawatu on "People's arrived there sooner or later, mostly sooner, as the train stopped on'y once during the thirty mile jouni9y to take breath, and consequently its arrival was ahead of the usual lumv hour hy sixty minutes, a period that had to be spent somewhere. Some enterprising providores hung out in intimation that the usual supply of indigestibles could be obtained half an hour eadicf than ordinary, but not many seemed to heedi. Palmers* on acts the host for paying guests in a grand manner on "People's Day," and it is courteous to show an interest iu what your host takes pride: and <t takes pride in its Square, as Sydney does in its harbour, and (it is alleged; Levin does in its lake; hence the Square had many admirers. All the approaches were very clean, andi '<■ water cart did its ee P down the dust, for how could visitors see the Square and the bargains in the shop windows if they got dust in their eyesP The lawns and hedges were ui their best dress, and in the quarter given over to the roses there were some beautiful blooms. Palmenston lias spent money on its Square,, in these last few years, and from a wilderness has turned it into a place of beauty, though why it should be disfigured by a couple of obsolete guns it is hard to understand. A garden is a place of life; obsolete guns shouldi be in a museum. Njearly all the roadways through the Square have been asphalted aau have a fine, clean surface, that appe irs to stand the traffic well. Those who live long probably will see something of the same sort m Oxford-street some day. Many new buildings on >Le frontages to the Square Have been erected, including two or three sumptuous picture theatres, but as before most »\f the business seems to be centering on the western sido, and there are the best buildings. The Patriotic Society has offices for collecting men and money, erectedi in the western half, and business continues steady. Those who have been in the liabjt of visiting the show aver that the last one was hardly as good us previous ones; neverthless there was a large attendance, and the exhibits were numerous and interesting, and according to tme "spruikers," the wonders of the side shows were greater than ever. in the school of art division was some good pen, pencil and brush work from the dustrict high schools, the still life and landscape work being very creditab'c. Wherever one went in the showgrounds there was a collection box, :>r art union tickets for the patriotic fund, and with the great number of soldiers present, kept people in mind of the time in which we'live. The patriotic funds will receive an additional £150?j as a result of the show. A large annexe for cattle has been built by the show people, but horses still have tho old looseboxes; a sign of the times. With the harvest season only a tew months off, one would, have expecfcaci to see some 'harvesting machinery, out about two reaper and (binders, keystone thresher and potato digger comprised the lot, while there were several scores of motor curs and motor bicycles—another sign of the times. 'Flip street outside the entrance was~oceupi3d by hundreds of motor cars. Despite the wair Palmereton North seems more prosperous than ever.