FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1880. THE MEETING ON TUESDAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 53, 27 February 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1880. THE MEETING ON TUESDAY.

| The meeting of ratepayers on Tuesday evening was a moderately successful one. It was of a thoroughly representative character, settlers being present from every corner of the Riding, whilst the Moutoa settlers attended en masse. There was, however, an utter absence of anything like method. No resolutions had been prepared, no programme arranged, and the business was conducted in a most desultory and pointless manner. At the outset of the meeting, Mr Rockstrow declared his intention of not accepting the views pf the. meeting as those of the majority of the ratepayers, but towards the close altered his position, and himself proposed a resolution suggesting an allocation of the money, which was accepted by the meeting. Mr Loudon professed his willingness to adopt the views of the meeting, provided he were allowed to get £150 for the road from Loudon's corner to the Racecourse hill. Upon this point, Mr Loudon was very determined, and declared he would sooner forfeit his seat than surrender his views on the matter. As the meeting accepted by a majority Mr Loudon's views, we therefore expect he will loyally adhere to his promise ; whilst we have no doubt Mr Rockstrow will also do his best in the Council to have the money voted in the manner indicated by the resolution passed at last Tuesday's meeting. The meeting therefore was successful, in that the proposed expenditure of a large sum of money on a useless and unprofitable work was "knocked on the head," whilst the settlers also had. an opportunity of expressing their opinion of what works in the Riding have prior claims. The proposed allocation is, we think fair. It provides for £200 to be spent on the Moutoa road ; and a similar amount on both the Avenue and the new road towards Symons' corner ; in addition to which we understood the meeting to express ail opinion that £150 should be devoted to the Racecourse hill road. Remembering the condition of the district as a whole, we think the above allocation is just. The Moutoa settlers would doubtless have liked another hundred pounds, but considering the fact that a subsidy of £100 was given to then- road some months ago, they have not much cause to be dissatisfied with £200, especially when they are reminded that then: total rates for the year only reach something like £60. Besides, we may remind tb.em that they will have a very good chance of obtaining a grant from the Foxton Highways Board about to be formed. Mean-

time, no delay should occur in getting the works pushed on. To this end, we would suggestvthe Awahou Councillors should ask for -permission to open and'ftecept tendei'3 in conjunction with the Engineer, without waiting for tho Council to meet in April. If i>ur suggestion is accepted, the whole of the works might be in active progress a month from today.

S\n Francisco Mail.— We remind thoso of oar readers hitvintr home correspondents that the San Francisco mail oloses at the Foxton office at 8.30 o'clock this evening. Ayes And Noes. — As some misapprehension appears to exist regarding the result of Mr Loudon's motion at the meeting on Tuesday night, we may expl «in that in the first place Mr Loudon moved that £150 bo devotod to the Racecourse hill road, £300 to the Moutoa road, the balance to be divided between the Avenue and the road to C. Symons' corner. To this an amendment was proposed by Mr Purcell, that the item of £I^o for Racecourse hill road bf struck out, but was lost ; that clause therefore remained part of the original motion. Mr Rockatrow then moved an amendment that the money be divi.led as follows :— £2oo for Avenue, £200 for Moutoa road, and £200 for Symone' road. This amendment ww carried, and thus destroyed that part of the original motion which referred to the Moutoa, Avenue, nnd Symons' voads. The question the Chairman should then have put to the meeting was this: " Shall the original motion a 9 amended pas 9?" Mr Gray neglected to do do this however, and strictly speaking the proposition to spend £150 on the Racecourse hill road was not therefore passed. As a matter of fact, however, the meeting hnd declared in favour of tue proposal by rejecting an amendment to strike it out. Mr Loudon is therefore perfectly entitled to consider that the meeting passed his resolution, as amended by Mr Rockstrow. It would therefore stand a 9 follows: — "That the first section between Foxton and Racecourse hill be accepted, not to exceed £150 ; balance to be expended as follows : — £2oo on Avenue ; £200 on Moutoa road ; and £200 on road from Tramway towards C, Symons' corner." The Irish Relief Fund. — Notwithstanding the dulness of the times, the Irish Relief Fund continues to be increased in the County of Manawatu. Palmerston has sent nearly £50 to the assistance of the distressed ; the Foxton subscription is only a few pounds short of that amount, and will certainly " cap " it before being closed ; and now we learn that the settlers of Otaki have raised the sum of £-3 8s (sd. When it is known that the total European population of the Otaki Riding is only about 180 souls, the liberality of the settlers will be more apparent. Were we to make comparisons between the amount raised at Otaki and those collected in some of the large cities of New Zealand, we believe it would be seen that the £23 8s 6d raised at Otaki represents a degree of liberality which has but few parallels. County Council.— The County Council will hold its usual monthly sitting at Foxton on Monday next, when, in addition to the ordinary basiness.tenders will be opened for the leasing of the Gorge and Foxton ferries for the ensuing year. A Query.— Why do none of our enterprising Foxtouians compete for the convey-anoe-of-sleeper contracts P Tenders are at present invited for the conveyance of 12,000 from Foxton to Waitara. We have tanked over the specifications, and find 12 weeks are given for the completion of the contract. The bond required is for i>loo, and the penalty for noncompletion of contract is £5 per week. Surely, with suoh favorable oon d fcions, some Foxton trader can be found with sufficient enterprise to tender for the contract. It would certainly be more in accordance with the fitness of things if a shipper at this port chartered or owned the vessels in whioh the sleepers were sent away. Kilkenny Cats. — A paragraph in Tuesday's issue of the Rangitikei Advooata refers to the rumored starting of a daily paper at Marton, and states that if such an event occurs, it (the Advocate) will also start a daily paper, and fight the matter out, leaving the best man to win. We fear the Kilkenny cat business will be re-enacted at Marton. Progress. — We are glad to notice that our contemporary, the Marlborough Times, has made such substantial progress as to warrant an increase in size from double crown to double demy (the same size as this journal). When our contemporary started, ie was under very great difficulties, having to fight against an old established journal, the Marlborough Express. It has however, progressed despite allJdifßculties, and having prospered because of genuine merit, we wish our contemporary continued success. Sly Grog Selling. — At the Marfcon Police Court, on February 23rd, Thos. Scott, of tho Ferry House, Lower Rangitikei, was charged with sly-grog selling. It appeared that defendant had sold a bottle of rum to Constables Campbell and Hardy, who called at the house and had a meal Scott was fined £10 and costs, the Magistrate expressing regret at having to convict, defendant, who is well known throughout' the district. The Depression.— The depression which has been felt so severely in other parts of the Colony daring the past twelvemonths, has now fairly seized hold of this district. We are amongst the very .last to croak, or to take a despairing view of things, but it is no use shutting our eyes to tho fact that daring ttie next few months trade will be in suoh a state as to test severely the soundness of business men in this district. A glance over the advertising sheet of our Palmerston contemporary last Wednesday, showed that it contained no less than eight notices " In bankruptcy," not, of course, referring merely to Palmerston cases, but in eluding the whole County. Nor has the worst been reached yet, for we hear that more are likely to follow. Indeed, it can soarcely be otherwise, as business men feel the depression in their turn. First it affects the masses of the people, then the retail dealers, and so on until it reaches the merchant princes. The depression in these districts is to a great extent the result of overspeculation in land during the prosperous tiraes. Money needed for business purposes has been looked up, and now when the inexorable " fourth of the month " return*, it finds many settlers and traders unprepared, and they are compelled to succumb. We trust, however, tho disaster will not be so great as at present appears probable, and that with the expenditure of some £20,00 J of Government money times will steadily improve. Bektk No 2.— We desire to direct the attention of the authorities to the state of berth No. 2 at the wharf. Owing to the debris deposited at the south end of the wharf, the river has shallowed along the east bank, and a shoal now exists out to beyond the north-west edg« of the whirf. Vessels of light draught lying at berth No. 2 are therefore aground at low water. Yesterday morning the iteamer Jane Douglas

was detained half an hour wutinjr for the t de to make before she could le ive her berth. We believe that originally there were thre? berths at tho wharf— now there are two, with the prospect of one speedily b. ing rondered usolcs". Tie present low state of th ; river, should nffn-d a gon.l oppirrnnity for cleuing away tho bank form-id on the south eiJe 'of tho wharf, and we trust thj nivttur will receive prompt attention. The Moutoa RoAD.-Sereral schemes have been suggested for improving tho Monfoia rond. with tho money to be rece'vd from the County Council We think the mint useful conr<e would be to spend my £5() in patching up the worst partnof the road, ami making small drains to carry off the surfaca water, and let the remainder bo spent in pushing the metal out towards Moutoafrom Foxton. By that mean?, a considerable quantity of metalling could be done this season, and a further step would be taken towards securing a really good permanent road. We should bo glad to publish Ihe opinions of some of the Moutoa settlers on the matter. \ School Committee^A meeting of the Foxton School Comittee will be held at Metai's. Thynne, Linton & Co*s office next Monday afternoon. Wanqaxui Regatta. — We are glad + o notice that tho Foxton crew are steadily praciisinpr for the "great event" at Wanganui. With steady and persistent practice, they should be able to worthily represent Foxton, and we therefore hope " our boys " will attain " a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together." Officiating Ministers. —From the list of offieiatirg ministers within the meaning of the Mnrriage Act, 1854, rcoenily published, it appears thttt the nnmbur of ministers belonging to the various Churches in New Zealand is as follows t — Church of England, 300 ; Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, 74; Romnn Catholic. 66; Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, 51 ; Wesleyan Methodist Society. 88 ; Congregational, 12 ; Baptist, 7 ; Primitive Methodist, 17 : United Methodist, 11 ; Lutheran, 8; Hebrew, 8; Churoh of Christ, 2. Total 652. The Lincolnshire Farmers. — Hitherto, as is well known, the Lincolnshire delegates have been very reticent as to the opinion they have formed of New Zealand. Under the genial influence of a banquet at Timaru, however, Mr Grrant melted somewhat, and said that wherever he bad gone he had met smiling visages. Ho added— " What may be the result of our visit I cannot sty. I can only say that so far as we have gone We have been very much gratified, and you may be assured that our report will be a very favorable one. There is one point I will touch upon here, and that is that we appear to be too lute in the day to obtain any cheap bargains in land in Canterbury. There have been gentlemen here with their eyes open to what is good land. Ido not complain of this : we might get good land at second band, but it we come you muat not charge us too much for your properties. Ourfriends at home have some capital, but their capital has been very muoh reduced, and you must not be hard on them . A mongst them are men possessing £10,000 or and I should not. be surprised at many such coining out here and investing in property. I am sure if they come you will wish them success, and if we como ourselves, I feol very sure that we shall met with a very cordial recaption amongst yon." (Applause.) Cdsr of Waks.— Comparing our Native policy with that of the United States, the Taranaki Herald says:— "The Indian Office reported during 1868 that the cost prioe of the Indians slain in the Florida, Sioux, and Cheyenne wars was one million dollurs each. Besides thid great cost to the Treisury it was also computed that each Indian killed cost the lives of twentj-five white men. The natives slain in battie in New Zealand have oost a pretty penny, no doubt, when all the expenditure direct and indirect has been summed up, but it will not reach the big figure of a million dollars each by a considerable amount. Neither have there been so many European lives sacrificed as 25 to each native slain." Mew ZhaliAxd Coal. — A recent telegram to a Southern paper states that the superiority of Grey mouth coal over Newcastle coal for gas-making purposes has received a striking proof at the Dunedin Gas Works. The engineers have been enabled to report that for the 28 days ending 18th February, Gveyraouth coal bdiog used, the consumption was 50 tons less than during the corresponding period of last year, when Newcastle coal was used, while the quantity of gas manufactured was 165,000 cubic feet more ; besides this, the gas from the Grey coal was of two candles greater illuminating power than that from the Newcastle coal The statement was made at the Council meeting that this showed a saving equal to £6,000 yearly."