Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 67, 16 April 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

Photography. — Attention is directed to Mr Kirkwood's notice iv another column, to the etfect that business engagements in another part of the district will prevent him staying longer in Foxton than up to the end of the present month. ') ho*e, therefore, who intend to patronise him during his present stay would do well to visit him at once. Many of the photographs taken by Mr Kirkwood during the last few weeks have been greatly admired by residents of Foxton. Maxawatv Highways Board. — The above body will meet at Palmerston this morning, for the transaction of the ordinary business. Assessment Court.— A sitting of the Assessment Court for the Manawatu Highways Board district was held at Palmerstou on Wednesday, before R. Ward, Esq, Judge. A very large number of objections had been handed in and occupied the Court all day. Awahuri Hotel.— The Palmerston Times states that the Insurance Companies interested have determined to rebuild the Awahuri Hotel, which was recently destroyed by fire. Considering the building was inamed for iJIoOO, this would appear to be the wisest oourse, now labour and timber ore so cheap. Some sympathisers with Sir Wm. Fox thought the burning of the building would settle the question of whether or not a license should be granted, as it was unlikely the proprietor of the hotel would rebuild it. The proposed action of the Insurance Comp»nies will, however, lead to the reopening of the question. The "Survival op the Fittest." — Competition is becoming keen with the two lines of steamers running from Wellington to Wanganui. The steamer Huia has recently undergone a thorough overhaul, and amongst other improvements, has been fitted with a new propeller, which it is expected will materially increaso her speed. She has been painted and varnished throughout, and looks now far better than when the was just launched. The ps. Manawatu has. been on the slip for some days, and is afso receiving every attention. Our old friend, Captain Doile, late of the Stormbird, (which vessel is now laid up), has been appointed to the command of the vessel, and he is at present superintending the alterations to the steamer, and has received carte blanche from the directors to spare no expense in repairing and fitting up the vessel Mackis Out.— Mr Mackie, of Palmerston, who recently went to Wanganui Gaol rather than pay a fine of £10 for breach of the Borough byelaws, has " caved in," and paid the fine. He had therefore been released. , The Recent Floods.— We are indebted to Mr .T. T. Stewart, District Engineer, for the following figures in reference to the rainfall prior to the late floods : — Rainfall at Gorge Bridge, Manawatu— March 19 o.4Binohes; 20,3.90; 21,3 35; 22, 0.85; 33, 134, giving a total of 9 92, or very nearly 10 inches in five consecutive days. Over an inch more fell during the next four days, keeping up the supply. The flood was highest at the Gorge on the 21st, and at Foxton on the 24th. The rainfall for the two previous months was as follows :— Foxfcon — February, 0.43 inches ; March, 4.57. Gorge Bridge— February. O. 0 0; March, 12.82. Whab*.— We expect to hear very loud oomylaiatQ of inconvenience and delay

during the next raon'h or two, owing to the defeotivo accommodation at the wharf. Things were bad enough when there were three berths availablo, bu* now there iH only one, and that beside a huge gap in the wharf, Mr Batt's patience and ingenuity will certainly be taxed to the utmost. We understand that a part of the reclamation scheme will be tho r building of the old part of the wharf, and that this will be the first part of the work proceeded with. The Late Flood. — The old saying. '" I'ia an ilf wind that blows nobody good," has been exemplified in connection with thd late disastrous flood, as the following paragraph contained in a noto from Me D. A. Poole, Oroua Bridge, will show. He says : — " My pigs are having a grand feast of mutton. They are going the whole hog (excuse the pun) on 400 drowned sheep. You see the flood has done me some good." After such a gorge, we should imagine these pigs will speedily have a woolly covering on their backs ! Property Tax Valuation.— Wo understand Messrs. Thynne, Linton &. Co have been appointed valuators under the Propprty Tax for the Borough of Palmerston North District, the Foxton Local Board District, the Manawatu Highways Board District, and the Otaki Highways Board District. The firm named have, as is well known, prepared most of the valuations for the bodies meationed for several years past, and were also valuers under the Lincl Tax Act for several of the districts referred to. They are therefore thoroughly competent to check the assessments made of the vilue of real property in the district. As we have explained on previous occasions, the assessment is made by the person owning the property. Nevertheless, some may neglect to assess themselves, and these will have their property valued by Messrs. Thynne, Linton & Co., who will also carefully compare tho value placed upon their property by the settlers who duly fill up the papers. That part of the valuation which relates to "personal" property — books, furniture, jewellery, stock-in-trade, farm stock, &c. — will not be supervised by Messrs. Thynne. Linton & Co , as settlers will be able to forward the forms direct to the Commissioner. SiiirriNQ Matt.ess. — The shipping trade at the port of Foxton, which has been very dull for some time, is likely to look up during the next few weeks. The steamer Tui yesterday passed the schooner Elizabeth, which was making for Foxton, where sli3 will load with timber from tho Paiaka mill. The schooner Alert, from Lyttelton, is vn route, and will load up wth sleepers ; whilst tho schooner Mary Iving was also to have left Lyttulton for Foxton on Wednesday last, with a cargo of produce, after discharging which sho will load up with either telegraph poles or sleepers. The Ferry. — It is probable tho Foxton punt will not be in working order until the beginning of next week. Upon being lowered into the water a few days ago, it was found that although the hole had been stopped, the punt had been so severely strained as to leak very badly. She was therefore taken over to the west bank, and is at pr«!-cut buiug recaulkcd. The long delay in gettirg the ferry into working order is causing great inconvenience to the public and loss to the lessee;!. Signs or Improvement. — During the past few days there have been signs of improvement in the trade, nt the Manawatn port Considerable quantities of timber have come down per mil. and been stacked in the Government yards. Amongst other shipment*, we notice a large parcel of telegraph pules, sent down by Messrs. Bailey and Bartholomew. Some time ago the firms named determined to send their timber away via Wanganui, but it would appear that they find after all that fWon is the better poet. Local Board Finance. — The Foxton Local Board balance sheet for the year ended March 31, ISBO, which has just been drawn up by the Clerk (Mr Palmer), shows a great improvement, on the previous year, for whereas the total amount p:issed through the books of the Board in 1878-79 was only £555 Os 9d, for the year just closed the amount was £985 0s Sd. At the beginning of the year the Board had a credit balance of £323 19s sd, and the present year has begun with a similar happy state of things, the credit balance at March 31, IKBO being £195 5s 7d. As regards the rates received, we are pleased to notice a. decided improvement, for whereas during J 878-9 only £227 Us 9d were collected, the amount during the year just closed reached the very respectable sum of £390 13s sd. Should the subsidies be continued, the .Local Board will of course receive £390 13s 5d from the Treasury during next year, but considering the financial dificulties of the Colony such an item of revenue is not likely to fall into the hands of the Board. The amount of money spent by (he Board in repairs and improvements to existing roads was A'ssß 16s sd. It is satisfactory to know that our municipal finance is in so satisfactory a state, for whereas other public bodies in this district have " outrun the constable," and piled up large overdrafts, the Foxton Local Board has a most oreditablo balance in hand, after having done a considerable amount of work during the year. Friendly Salutations.— We understand that a couple of cases wiil come on f<>r hearing at the Foxton Court on Wednesday, in which two well-known residents of Otaki will indulge in the luxury »>f cross actions at law, one charge being of assault, and the other of abusive and obscene language. Inland Road. — A gentleman who recently travelled over part of the FoxtonOtaki inland road informs ua that the bush is removed for a distance of about ten miles along the line. Plenty ov Wokk. — There should be no need for men to grumble at dearth of em ploymen*- in Foxton shortly. The Lochl Board, at its m^e ing on Monday, determined to call for tenders for quite an array of works in tfio township, and as the con tracts aro mostly small ones, the working men of the town and district should stand a good chance of obtaining employment to keep them going until the deviation works are st arted. Legal or Illegal ! » By refen;nco to the Local Hoard meeting report in another column, it will bo seen that Mr Sbuite, solicitor, of Palmerston, coinc des with the views expressed in this journal to tho effect that Mr Gray is disqualified from holding a seat on the Foxton Local Board, he being legally a contractor through receiving a regular sum per annum as rent for a section of laud. The matter has been referred by the Board to Messrs f'onoliy and Pitt, of Wellington, and no doubt their opinion will be accepted as final. Moutoa School — The Chairman of the Moutoa school (Mr W. R. Howe) invites tenders for various works required in connection with the school building. Tendors are to be left at this office before 3 p.m. on Wednesday Dext. The Bab. — Notwithstanding the fact that the Tui crossed the Manawatu bar yesterday between two and three hours before high-water, Captain Wills report finding not less than eight feet of water on it. Law.— Law is at all times expensive, and a victory is very often neaily as costly as a defeat. Some time ago, it will be remembered, Mr Purcell sued the Foxton Local

Board for the sum of £8, damages through defective drainage. The Board gained the ease, but on Monday last an account for £6 Cs was presented by Mr Maclean, solicitor, and paid by the Board, being his bll of costs for appearing for the Board in the case ! . The Haweiu Star.— The first number of the above journal has reached us. It is very cre.litably got up, and judging from its general appearance, Messrs G-alvin and Innes are determined to deserve tho supportdve hope they will receive. rBfePEUY.— Mr Jolm W. Liddell has received a stock of winter drnpory, to which he invites tlio attention of his customers. The advertisement was received to lato for insertion iv. this issue, but will appear in next.