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Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 33, 17 December 1878, Page 2

' The Hokokiwi Road. — Since our leading article was wiitten, we learn that a grout improvement has been effected in the roads. I The up-roaeh was driven through by Otto > HnsHG yesterday in time to catch the train, \ but this was only achieved by hard work. ! The roads have been improved sufficiently to i enable the coach to pass, but are still in a i very bad state. | Foxtox Wharf. — The additions to the ! Foxton wharf aye now completed, and though ' tha accommodation is still of an inferior character, we presume we must be thankful for small mercies. The addition is about 120 feet in length, by 14 feet wide, making the wharf now about 100 feet long. Tha I chief defect undoubtedly is the narrowness of the structure, and considerable care will bp required to prevent goods tumbling into the river, the centre of the Avhiirf beii'g occupied with v line of rails. Two lines run down tho old part from tho sheds, and a turntable, which hod grown rusty lying in th<3 yard, has bean fixed at the point where the two portions of the wharf meet. We understand that only a certain amount of money was allotted to the Engineer for tho work, and that, na length was required, to enable tho two steamers to lie alongside the wharf at once, the breadth had to bo narrowed in cousequence. The new portion of tho wharf is provided with hooks, rings, <fee, for mooring. The work has been faithfully carried out by Air Andreason, under the supervision of Mr Gr. Nye, the Government Inspector of Works. We trust the next move in the direction of improvements will be the erection of a storage shed over the space between the new part of the wharf and the river bank. This is a most necessary work, and if carried out w»uld save the Uailway Department a large annual expenditure in labour, besides affording the public great convenience, as goods could then be received and delivered at the ship's side, instead of tho present system of treble handling in the sheds. The Conchut. -Tho Foiton Choral Society will give the first concert of the third season at tho Public ll all tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, anl we hope a crowded house will greet the performers. The pro* gramme shows that a careful selection has been made, no one feature being allowed to predominate. The choruses and glees are of a high class, including the celebrated " 0 hush thee, my baby," and •' The Huntsman's Chorus," from JLJer Freischutz. The solo*, duets, &c, comprise several of tho most popular pieces of tho day, whilst the overtures are certain to bo highly appreciated, as several instruments will take part. For some time past, tha programme has been in active rehearsal, and we anticipate a rich musical treat tomorrow. Some new voices are lomake their debut before a Foxton audience at the concert. The political atmosphere has been so full of thunder ro- | cently, that a concert should prove an agreeable change to the '• screaming farces" recently enacted upon tho stage of the I Public Hull. i Foxtox Regatta Meeting. — On Satur- ! day lust, a meeting was held at Whyte's Hotel, to arrange for the annual regitta and sports. There was a good attendance, and Mr Young was voted to the chair. Mr W. Hutchison was appointed secretary. ■ After some discussiou, it was decided to hold the regatta on the 22ud January, Anniversary Day, and to have sports In connection with it. A good working committee was appoiuted to draw up a programme, which will be submitted iv a few days. Some £20 wus reported to be iv hands, and it is expected good prizes will be oil'ered. The secretary was ivqur-stod to ask the co-operation of the Wnugnmii men in tho regatta. It was determined to have subscription lists opened at once throughout the district. Tank. — Tho now Bank of Australasia at Palmerston is rapidly approaching completion, and will probably be ready for occupation shortly after tho beginning of tho year. All Saints', Palmeuston. — The Rev. J. McWilliam, of Otaki, conducted Divine Service at Palmerston on Sunday last, to a very large congregation, tho church bc-wig quite full at night.

Spouts.— We arc pleased to see sports have been organised in n coimection with the school treat. Programme, conditions, &c, have been drnyrli up in tho niott approved style, and are published iv another column. The Feuding Spouts —We ilirecJ- special attention to an alteration inthcFeilding | Sports. It is announced that instead of I half •entrance being required on nomination, only Is is to bo paid, tho lemaiuderon acceptance. Tho prizes being large, we anticipate .\ great number of entrances. The nominations close tomorrow. Wool.— The Tui, on her last trip to Wellington, took away 69 bales of wool from Captain Robinson's station. We hear over 10,000 aneep were shorn this year by Captain Robinson, and that he has still 35 bales to be shipped. Otaki Highways Boaiid. — The Otaki Highways Board held its meeting on Friday last, when Mr Knocks was appointed Valuer, at a salary of £10. Messrs Thynne, Lin t on & Co. sent in a tender for double thai amount. Mr Knocks was also appointed Clerk to tho Hoard at a salary of £25 per annum, and 2-5 per cent of the rates collected. Ni£\v Akuival. — Mr M'Lennan, who is | to succeed Mr Dawson as manager for j Douglas and Co., at tho Oroua Downs Station, arrived on Saturday evening per coach, i'iid will take over his new duties in ; a few days. Wo hear Mr Dawson intends paying a visit to England, but conterapl tk'S returning to the Mauawatu District. Aut TJxiox. — Mr Andrew Jon?on, of Main-street, Foxlon, announces his annual art union to take place on Christmas Eve, at Whyte's Hotel. The i-ictures and oleoI graphs aro handsome and well framed, and ; we are sure an inaction will convince tho j j public that the right thing to do is to buy j ! a ticket straight oil 1 . j ! County Coiwcil. — -The County Council ! i meets on Friday next. Another ''Loudon" j I contest is probable. We remind those in- j i terested that tenders for various works ro- j j quired by the County close at 2 p.m. on ' j Friday. ; Tub .School The.vt — The Foxton .'•'chool ; treat takes place on Friday next, in tho i ground adjoining the schoolhonse. As the ladies have taken tho matter in hand with : 1 great spirit, and made tho necessary ar- j ; rangements,wo anticipate a most sueeessf ul | ; holiday for the youngsters, should tho j I weather prove favorable. The prizes are j i to be presented in the evening. | Mil Vaulev. — Mr Varley, tho evangelist' jis at presnnt in Wellington. L:u*ge num«- --! ben go each day to tlie services conducted ! by him. M.L.C.— Mr Wood, of Matau ra, is to be I raised from the Loner House to the Legisj hitive Council. The opposition journals J severely J|ritic : se tho intended " call." j Poht.ii,. — Wanganui, Timaru, and Oanuru i have beou proclaimed Chief Post-OflL-es. The Wanganui district extends south a 9 far as Greatford. Customs. — The Customs rerenuo collected at Wellington last week, amouuted to nearly £5000. DiuiUT Communication. — During last session the question of a lin» of steamers between this colony and Great Uritain was discussed, but owing to the late period at which it w.is introduced, the matter was ; shelved. We learn, however, by telegraph j that the Otago Daily Times on Saturday j last stated tint the Government have ari ranged with Mr Coster, Chairman of the New Zealand Shipping Company, '-o despatch a steamer from London to this Colony in j January, to call at several ports, with not j less than than 600 immigrant?, mainly agricultural laborers, i erlmps an early appli- | cation from our County Council would secure j some of the laborers for the Manawatu Dis- ; trict. We hope soon to have steamers rcguj larly running between this Colony anl tho old Country. PALMEiiSToy Cuuhch. — At the monthly meeting of the Diocesan Standing Co:n---i mittee at Wellington on Friday evening ! lust, Mr Pier.* Warburton wrote on behalf : of t!ie Piilmerston Vestry, asking the Com- j I niitteo to purchase an eligible bite for a j rectory and globe, which was obtainable at a i ! moderate price. The co.nniittei", however, j ■ considered iliat the land at present available ] for church purposes in that township was j j sufficient. The Speakekship. — Since tho death of Sir John Richardson rumour ha* been rifo ! a3 to who will succeed him as Speaker of the Legislative Council, that appointment being in the hands of the Government. It has been freely stated that Sir William Fitzherbert would be " elevated " to the Conncil as Speaker, in which ca33 the Government would nominate Mr G. M. O'JRorko to succeed Sir William in tho Lower House. Upon the matter, the New Zealander of Saturday says : — " A good deal of weight is placed upon the fact that in our columns it was Btated as probable that the Speakership would be offered to Sir W. Fitzherbort, and it was assumed, what we did not say, that wo had Ministerial authority for the statement. The fact is not so, nor should it bj assumed, that whatever appears in oar columns as b.'ing probable is an autho; itaI tive utterance. As a fast we learn that in i I this particular matter we were at all eve its | ! premature in our conjecture, and that not only has no sucii offer been in:»d.', but that it has not yet bjen in conle »v>latiou. Tue | House of Ueprejentativjs is not yet prepared I to lose its Speaker, nor In* the Government j as yet considered who U tho most litting I successor to Sir John Richardson. Tins j is the result of the inquiries we have made j on the subject." Lani>s Boaud. — At thj last meating :>f the Wellington Waste Linda Board, a latter from the O.uirman of the Maiuwatu County Council, to tho Minister of Lands, askin* that a certain piece cf laud on the banks of tho llangitikei river might bo proclaimed a toll-gate reserve was referred to tho lioard. ' Reports from tho Chief Commissioner and j from the District Survoyor Mr Dundas, j were read. Tho Uoard resolved that the Government be recommended to rescrvo the I land for tho improvement an. l protection of i the Uangitikoi river. 1 Anti- Chinese I vimiouatiox. — A meeting ! I is to be held at Wellington this evening, to ' pass resolutions against Chinese immigration. ' The Huia.— We loam from Saturday's Evening i'ost, that " Messrs Seagor and Co. have received a telegram to the effoct that their new steamer, the Huia, bus made a I very successful and satisfactory trial trip, and will proceed to Wellington v :ry sl'ortly to commence her regular running." The Huia is to trade between this port and Wellington. W ELLIN O TOX'FoXTON RAILWAY. — Doubts were yesterday expressed at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce as to whether the Government aro taking anj steps toward the construction of the much-needed HultWaikanao railway. Wo are in a position to state that a preliminary survey of the country has been made, and a practicable route can easily be found. Immediately on hi returu from Auckland, Mr Maeundrew wilj

visit the district to make himself personally acquainted, with, the details of the proposed Hue/ami its prospects of succaas. More than this cannot bo done until the land can bo acquired from the natives. Negotiations with this end in view are being pushed on as rapidly as possible, but as everyone who h.-is had to deal with the natives knows, the acquirement of native Lmds is a slow anil tedious proceis.— Post, of Saturday.