Rongotea.

Manawatu Herald, 17 March 1898, Page 2

Rongotea.

(FROM OTO OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 14th March. The Wesleyans held their anniversary services last Sunday. The church was beautifully decorated, and the Rev. J. Wrigley preached. The church was crowded on both ocoasions and in the evening the Primitive Methodists olosed their church and joined the Wesleyans. Great credit is due to Mr J. Sanson, the choir master, for the splendid style he had prepared his choir. There are some 80 members and they are, as a choir, second to none in New Zealand. A gigantic tea is to be held on Thursday night in connection with the same church and promises to be a bis; success. Mr A. Koberstein has sold out; bis butchering bueineas to Mr 0. Hopping, who is Well up in the trade, and he is likely to do very well. The young man Summers who tried to commit suicide is still in a vary bad state and great doubts are entertained of his recovery. He managed to get out of bed the other morning with, what is thought, an intention to end his life, but wan frustrated by not finding the means for doing so. If he does reoover he will be disfigured for life. Slight showers of rain fell on Sunday evening whioh were welcome, but there was not enough to do any good. The Manawatu County Council has thrown the roads open for grazing for another two months, which is much appreciated by people who have only small sections, as pome of our paddocks are nothing but burnt clay. Such a scarcity of feed has never been known here. The *fire in the sawdust heap at Rowe'a mill has been pat out at last and the mill and homestead is now out of danger. Our cricketers journeyed to Mount Stewart on Saturday to play a match and came back victors by 5 wickets and some 10 runs. I do not know what our footballers are going to do this season. There is some talk of the club falling through owing to some trivial affairs last season. It would be a pity shoold this be so as both last season and the season before the men proved themselves good footballers as they only lost the Oup by two or three pointe. The Rev. Mr and Mrs Cooker left Feilding for Wanganui on Saturday. The Primitive Methodist Church anniversary services and tea have been postponed for two months. A big gathering is, I believe, to take plaoe at Mr Hickford's in a few days, the event being to celebrate Miss Hickford's 21st birthday. It is rumoured that a more interesting event still is likely soon to be celebrated by this young lady.