Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1880.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 61, 26 March 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1880.

'ii■ ■ i i i A Mebd of Praise. — We feel we should be wanting in our duty did we not bestow a meed of praise upon Mr Rotheram for the zealous' mariner in whioh he has fulfilled his duties during the past week. He has not spared himself in the least, but has been constantly travelling along tho railway line, making the best possible arrangements for carrying on the business of the railway, despite the serious disasters whioh have befallen that part of the line which lies between the Oroua Bridge and Jackey. town. The temporary arrangements he h«s made are, we believe, as good as possibly could be effected under the ciroumstances. Not only has Mr Rotheram worked wi _, a will, but also his subordinates at this end of the line, both the wharfinger (Mr Batt), and statioamaster (Mr Coker), having done their M level best " to promote tho accommodation of the public. TH| rn TiMB Table.— Travellers by the railway will do well to note the particulars advertised jin our columns in reference to the wojrjong of the trains whilst the line is being repaired. Choral Society. — This Society held a practice at the v 'Hal. on Wednesday last. There was a fair attendance of performers. The <_to__fle_\ from > " Maritana " are now showing great improvement, and we anticipate that the next concert will be a most successful one. '.>'-'■ HoßOtoofCAt.-'-Tfe will be seen by an advertisement elsewhere that a praotioal watchmaker has settled at Foxton. We cordially wish him all success. A BLVMPEa'REcriFi-U.. — A special meeting ot The 1 Manawatu Highways Board was held on Monday last. It appears that by an oversight: the Board acoepted a tender for r £114, for the construction of nine brsjoS, on Speedy's live, Sandon, whereas another, tender was for £86. Upon the matter being pointed out, a special meeting' jw^calleaV and the deoision of Erevidus L meeting reversed, the eontraot ring let to the lowest tenderer. It is to be hoped Jhat in future greater care will be exercised, ' as these errors are expensive, each Warden receiving " expenses,'' iu most oases amounting to a guinea per sitting. Bi-tp-i .ot .Pamagb.— The Hon. John Hall and Judge F«hton (Native Lands Court)' were in Foxton on Tuesday and Wednesday J^, being, detained by tbe floods. Referring to their trip from Palmerston to Foxton tbe upcountry paper said:—" As they will have to travel over some five mile* or* water in boats, the Premier wilt be able to form a very good comparison between the relative merits of the Foxton and Fitzherbert routes." The result of Mr Hall _ comparisoa is contained in » rumor that daring

he night Tommy King, the waiter at Whyte's, heard a noise in the Premier's room, and rushing to the door heard him excliiim, as he tossed about in a terrible nightmare, " Blackett ! Blackett ! Get that Sandon railway made at once, ready for the through traffic ! I'll never travel over this Palmerston line again ! " Auction. — Messrs Thyune, Linton & Co. will sell by auction, to-morrow, at 1 0 a.m., at the goods shed, a lot of unclaimed goods. Tenders. — On Saturday last, Mr Hayns, opened the two tenders sent in for building the culvert across the Avenue Road. Thq tenders were as follow:— C. Tricklebank (Palmerston), £148,— sureties, Messrs Snelson and Nathan ; E. Feck (Foxton), £172— extra briokwork, £7 10s per 1000; extra clay, 10s per cubic yard. The tenders were opened in the presence of Mr Gray, Chairman of the Local Board, but as it was considered they were far too high, neither were accepted. We understand fresh tenders will be oalled for. Native Game. — The last Government Gazette issued contains a notice to the effect that the open season for taking native game is proclaimed for this year to commence on Monday next, '39th inst, instead of, as usual, the Ist of April. We believe this course has been adopted, owing to the early period at whioh the Easter holidays occur this year, and we have no doubt sportsmen will appreciate the concession thus given. Sheep. — A large mob of sheep, numbering 1000 head, have been detained at Foxton by the heavy flood. They are on their way to Wellington for Messrs Woods, Crosbie and Co, and are in charge of Mr Crosbie.* The sheep arrived at the township on Friday, but it was raining too hard_ to cross then, and the river has been too high since. Mr Crosbie bears the delay with a good grace, and comforts himself with the reflection that he has not lost his stook, while other less fortunate people have. Skktcheb. — Our local artist, Mr Palmer) has secured two capital sketces of the recent flood. One is taken from the ferry hill, looking to the South, and tlie other is a view from the river bank, — near Mr Liddell's, — of the wharf and river above it, at th 9 time Mr Robinson's house was being swept down th<it reach. Wo have no doubt that when the above sketches are transferred to canvas, they will prove very handsome relios of the flood. Local BoAnn.— A meeting of this Board was to have been held on Tuesday last, at tbe Athenasnm, hut half an hour after the time appointed for the meeting, only the Chairman and one commissioner (Mr Coley) were present. The meeting therefore was not held. English Mail.— The Foxton portion of the English Mail was sent away by this morning's coach. Should the coach run to-morrow morning, however, Mr Rodger intends to despatoh a supplementary mail to Wellington^ so that persons desiring to forward home correspondence will probably have a chance still. Carnarvon Election. — We direot the attention of voters in tho Carnarvon (No. 3) Ward, to the advertisement, announcing that the eleotion fixed for thiß day (Friday) is postponed until to-morrow (Saturday) at noon. Ifc is stated that a Mr Davis is likely to be brought forward as a candidate. Received.— We acknowledge thecourtesy of the Registrar General in forwarding us the closing parts of the census returns for ! 1878. Withdrawn. —Mr Mitchell's 65 acres of land on No. 1 Line are withdrawn from sale. * Rioht at Last. — We are glad to see the Manawatu Highways Board have " at last " determined to aot legally in the matter of the valuation notices, having during the last few days issued them to the settlers, who will now have ample time in which to object. It is gratifying to us to know tbat our endeavors have resulted in this wrong to many settlers being put right. Losses by FLood. — The farmers on every hand state that while the losses of stock by the flood are great, the loss of feed will be felt still more. In some places the silt deposited by water is of a considerable depth, and thousands of aore. will have to be sowed with grass before being the slightest use for grazing purposes. In consequence of the Autumn being close at hand, there is very little chance of grass seed sown at present returning any feed, as the frost will probably kill the young plants. It is therefore probable that most of the country covered by the deposit will be useless unt il the return of Spring. Repaws. — About 60 men are engagedi n the work of repairing the line where it has been shifted by the flood. The train stops at Orona, and a trolly conveys passengers, See., across the bridge, after which they are conveyed per canoe to Jackeytown station, and thence northwards per train. The repairs are being pushed on from both sides as the flood subsides, and it is hoped that in ten days through traffic will be resumed.