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Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 63, 2 April 1880, Page 2

Boil it Down.-— One of the most important parts of a newspaper is what ia called the *' open column," in which any person who is the possessor of a " grievance " may ventilate it. Nothing gives us greuter Jileasure than to publish letters to the Editor, on subjects of public interest ; in fact, we wouli gladly set aside a considerable portion of s^aee in each issue, so that outlying settlers could make thuir voice heard, arid have their wrongs rectified. Nevertheless we like the letters to be as short aa possible — the shorter the better. We mike these remarks, because in this issue two esteemed correspondents have monopolised between them a column end n half of space. This ia ruther too much for two letters. In an Editor's ro >in the boiling down bnsine s is carried on to a de gree, and if our correspondents do not condense, we shall have to do so, d 1 else reject their communication* Altogether. This we would be very loth to do, and we therefore trust the hint will be tuken, and briofer communications sent. Whilst upon this subject, we may make an explanation. Many persons me afraid to write to newspapers owing to inaccuracies in spelling, grammar, &c., iv their manuscript. Such persons need bo under no fear as regards letters Bent to this office, all errors being corrected before the letter is published. We are anxious the settlers should use the " open column," the only conditions being — first, the letters must be on matters of public inteerat or importance ; second, the writing should be on only one aide of the paper ; third, comcennications should be as brief as possible. Ministerial.— The Hon. Mr Oliver, accompanied by the Chief Engineer, arrived in Foxton yesterday ereningfrom Wellington, and will proceed northwards to-day. Tub Railway Link.— The water on the railway line had so far subsided yesterday that the carriages, were able to ran through,

beinpr pushed over the flooded part of the l ; ne by a gang of men. It was not thought desirable to take the engine over until the water had quito disappeared and the line had been ballasted. About 8 inohes of water were still lying over tho line for a d'stance of a mile. Through traffic will be resumed to-morrow (Saturday). All Saints' CuuitCH. — The Rev. Mr Newth has, we regret to loam, resigned his connexion with the Foxton purt of this district. The reasons for this course will be found in the letter the rev. gentleman has sent to Mr Flower, churchwarden, and from which wo have been permitted to make several extracts. During his attendance upon the spiritual wants of churchmen in thispartof the district, Mr Newth ha* gained the affection and regard of all with whom he has come in contact, and whilst regretting the necessity which has arisen for the utep he has taken, we are pleased to learn t'jat lie intends to reside permanently in the neighbouring district of Polmerston. We have to thank Mr Flowi'r for permuting us to make the following extraots from Mr Newth's letter :— '< Palrabrston North, March 26, 1880.— My dear Mr Flower,— As I have already intimated to you in the telegram I sent to you last week, I have arranged with the Bishop to resign thespiritual civ rge of Foxton at the end of this month, ho that unless there is any special duty to be done I shall not be with you again I have felt all along that Palmerston aud Foxton are too far apart to be duly served by one clergyman, and Mrs Newth's health is suoh as to render it exceedingly inconvenient for me to be absent from homo once a fortnight. I trust that before very long the Bishop may be able to provide for your spiritual wants in some more satisfactory vr&y. * * * * If the new uoheme succeeds there will, I think, be an increasing number of candidates for Holy Order*, and Foxton will offer an excellent field for a young olergymau. In other respects I am very sorry lo leav«j you, us my inteicourse with tho people has been pleasant throughout, and i trust not altogether without profit. * * * * I shall be happy at any time to come over and tuk<* any duty that'muy not interfere with my woi'k here. * * * Believe me, your.", faithfully, J A. Newth." We understand no word hj» as yel been received from his Lordship the Bishop as to h's intentions regarding the Foxton district. Nobwton.— For the last fortnight, the life of every member of our staff — from the Editor to the l 'd 1" — has been wor.ied by ihe constant enquiry, " What is Norbiton ?" On the street, in the office, on the wharf, in fact wherever any one ennected with the Hehald has appeared, the enquiry has been made " What is Norbiton ?" Not being the guardian angel of the p. d.'s, the writer cunnot say whether the young " blades " in question have or have not imitated the veracity of the illustrious George Washington, who " could not tell a lie." We would fain hope they have remained truthful through the trials of the last fortnight. If we were to recount the cajoling, tho entreuting, the begging that lias been patiently and unmurnniringly endured by the " poor printers " during the time " Norhiton " has been advertised, it would he admitted that the same kind of material would make a good race of martyrs. " Is it a play ? When will it come ? Who's going to take part in it ? Is it a horse, or a bull, or anew kiud of tree,— or what tho— — is it?" Those are a sample of the questions that have been fired at all of us, volley upon volley. Now, in the name of all the" hands connected with the Hekau> we beg to state that publicly we know nothing of Norbiton. Who or what he she or it is — where he she or it may be — what he she or it intends to do — or what he she or it are likely to be •lone unto. We emphasiue the word publicit/. What we may know privately is another thing. With that the public have nothing to do. We are afraid this explanation will not be accepted, but in order to satisfy the public, wo have slipped in after the n.une, •« A village settlement." This the public can believe if they like. So long as it prevents any more questions, we shall be gratified. Now, gentle public, spare us any more enquiries, such as, ♦• Whose is it ? Where is- it P What aro the terms?" and all that kind of thing. Bemember, printers have nerves, as other men, and if a perpetual cross-examination is persisted in, either our temper or our verafiity must succumb. Follow the example of one friend of ours, who has "searched his dictionary," but pruy do not imitate the example of 'another who asked us on Saturday, " What is Nor. biton ?" " Not supposed to know," was the reply. But again on Monday ho met us, II Fine duy ! But I say you might toll us, what is Norbiton ?" We refrain from publishing tho answer. Acclimatisation Society. — In another column will be found an advertisement from Mr Piers E. Warburton, Hon. Sea. to the Manawatu Acclimatisation Society, announcing various matters in connection with the Society. We are glad to notice the season for* imported game will not begin until the first of May, whioh will be far better and more sportsmanlike than opening it on the first of April, as was originally intended. We would call attoution to that ptrt of the advertisement relatiug to persons wishing to become members of the The annual subscription is Ids, and any person paying that amount at the Manawatu llerald office will have his or her name duly enrolled. LEABKHOID Fakm.— MrThoa. Bevan, of Wailawa, announces a desirable property for sale. Persons desiring, to settle on a sheep farm would do well to make enquiries of Mr Bevan. Registration- of Ei.kctoks. — We are requested to direct attention to an advertisement in another column, announcing that forms of registration may be obtained at the Foxton Post office. Every man who owns property worth £10 per uimuin, or who has been in the Colony twelvemonths and has resided for six months in Manawatu. is entitled to register his vote. A Goon Act. — In these days of native disputes, and stoppage of roada by natives, it is refreshing to hear of an incident whioh shows that the greed which generally teems to pervade tho race is lost in times of danger, when wider interests are oonoerned. When the flood was at its hiurhe9fc at the Oroua Bridge, and settlers' stook were swim, ming about the swollen waters for their lives, one powerful woman, a residnut of that locality, was working hard in a canoe, helping * neighbouring settler (one of the heaviest losers by the flood) to save his stock, and refused to save one of her own pigs, which was swimming about, saying} " Never mind that ; me get yours out first." This woman also refused to leave the bouse of another settler when the flood was rising until his family were safe, and remained in the house all the night. We mention these facts to show that there are some good traits in tho native character, although it would be very hard to make some people believe so. CAiWABrox Election. — We remind ratepayers in No 2 Ward that to-morrow (Saturday) the poll will take placej Carnarvon Schoolhoose. The candidates are Messrs Whiteman and Gifford. The i(eturuing Officer (Mr Li it on) requests us to intimate that only those persons who have paid their rates will be allowed to vote. Makino Stobb. — In another column, Mr H. Pemborthy, proprietor of tb# Makino

general store, announces a great clearing g ile of drapery, olothir.g, &o. Settlers in that patt of the district would do well to pay tlte Makinn htore n visit noxt week, and i )curo some of the bargains offering. The Foxtoh FEnitY. — Numerous complaints have been reaching us during the pnst fi»w days of the delay that has taken place in getting the Foxton ferry into work ing order. Possibly thero are very good I'twona for the .inaction of the County authorities, biit we can assure them that very loud complaints are uttered on all hands. Mr Orosbie has been Waiting for days with a mob of 1000 sheep, expecting tho terry to be got ready, but up to ye.tter d»y no sign had been made of repairing the punt, reerecting tho post, or getting things under wei?h. He therefore was compelled to charter the steamer Osprey at wry Imvy expense to ferry the sheep over. He called at our office yesterday, and complained very strongly of the loss to which he had been subjected by the delay, as the river had been down sufficiently to work the punt for days past, provided the necessary step 8 hod been taken. The drivers of the coaches also compl tin bitterly of being compelled to lenve their teams and coach on the west bank of the river, instead of tieiitg croflsod to Foxton, a 9 might have been done by this time had proper expedition been used. The matter is one of importance to the travelling public, and we trust every effort will be made to put the ferry in working order at once. Rktubnkd.— -We are glad to not'ee the return of Mr *». M. Baker, Clerk of Court, who hue been absent from this district for a month past. During the time he has been away, Mr Baker has been employed, in conjunction with Dr. Buller, in various duties connected with the Native office, and has travelled over a large extent of country, having visited Muriinottt, and been almost to the base of Tongariro. The action of. the Goverument in removing him just after his appointment as Registrar for the district has led to very gro-it public inconvenience, as Mr Tansley him only a few days been uppointed lii-t deputy. However, now that he has returned those who havo been waiting to register their children will bo able t-> do so. Thb Gobgr Bmdoe.— We understand the • orsre Bridge is in no way injured by the recent heavy flood. It hud srverol narrow escapes, ns some of the trees flung against it by the current were of enormous me. The chief damage dove to the Gorge road consists of several small culverts whioh have been scoured out. Through coach traffic will probably be resumed in three weeks. Reduction. — The depression in the shipping trade has brought about not only the dismissal of the pursers, but »lso the reduction of the wages of the other hand*. We understand that upon the arrival of the Jane Douglas ut Wellington a few daya ago, the whole crew, from the Captain downwards, were informed that their wages were to be reduced, owing to the slackness of trade. The single exception is in the case of the mate, who receives a slight increase in consideration of having the purser's duties laid upon him. Laucbny Case. — A native k»"1 named Tioriori, daughter of a Maori named Riki— harm, a resident of Otaki, was yesterday morning arrested at that township on a charge of larceny, and brought up to Foxton per coach in charge of Constable Draper. Wo unders arid tho girl is charged with having stolon a drens vulued at £8 from Carroil's hotel, Palmers ton. The case will be heard tuere, before Mi- Ward, R.M. Chokal Society. — A capital practice was held on Wednesday last, there being a large muster of singer*, especially of sopranos and tenors. The waut of bast voices is severely felt, the Society being extremely weak in that direction. We would appeal to any singers iv the distriot whom nature has endowed with a bass voice to assist the Society, and are authorised to state a cordial welcome will be given to any who will join the Society, but especially to those capable of taking the baas part. Gb.U'ES. — A few weeks ago we referred to the magnificent crop of grupes Mr Small. ofOtuki, was likely to obtain this year, from his vines. We have since had an opportunity of practically testing them, Mr Small having very kindly sent us a box as a sample. Our verdict is that they are " beauties " in appearance, and as for the taste — well, wo are quite prepared to try a box every week. We shall be glud to sample similar boxes from any other settlers who possess grope- vin^s !