PALMERSTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 388, 23 May 1908, Page 3

PALMERSTON.

Notes and Comments for the Week. (SPECIAE CORRESPONDENT). The recent visit of the Hon. Minister for Agriculture to Palmerston was fraught with much importance, not only to the town but also to the whole district. He met the various members of the Committee of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, and discussed the vexed question of the dairy school site. There were several rather vital points which needed discussion, and as a matter of fact, the Association had appointed a SubCommittee to meet an authorised agent from the Department of Agriculture and go into the matter. The fact of the Minister as the head of the Depar ment happening along, was the very best thing that could have occurred. The meeting between that gentleman and the Committee cleared the atmosphere completely, with the result that everything was very quickly put upon a satisfactory tooting. The sites for the dairy school itselt and also for .the caretaker’s cottage were decided upon, and these have since been confirmed by the general committee. The whole matter has now been placed in the hands of the Minister for Agriculture, and it only remains for his Department to proceed with the erection of the buildings. I understand the Department is particularly anxious to get the school started at the earliest possible moment. The Minister appears to be very earnest, and intends to have a college that will be right up to date in every particular. The buildings and plant, I am told, will run into something like ,£IO,OOO. The students, it is expected, will, in a very short time, number hundreds, as it is anticipated that not only youths anxious to learn, but many of those already engaged in butter and cheese-making, will take advantage of the opportunity to increase their knowledge. The local Philosophical Society is of recent birth, but its operations can be made of infinite good for the community at large. An evidence of this was given last evening, when the Municipal Hall was filled to overflowing by an audience which had assembled to listen to a lecture by Dr. Cockayne, a scientist of great learning, who gave his dissertation on sub-Ant-arctic flora and fauna, under the auspices of this society. The lecture was very interesting and instructive, and was illustrated by a number of very fine lantern views. The recently formed Savage Club is reported to have more candidates for membership than can conveniently be accommodated. To-night (Saturday) is the opening night, when a party of between forty and fifty Wellington Savages will supply the programme for the evening’s amusement. The first act of the new Mayor, Mr J. A. Nash, was to call a meeting of those interested in horticulture, with the object of inaugurating a society to carry on this good work. He received a generous response to his call, and it is hoped his efforts will meet with the success they deserve.

The main feature of this week’s functions has been the great gathering of Masons at Palmerston to consecrate a new hall just erected by one of the Palmerston Podges. There were close upon three hundred members of the craft present, and the occasion marks an era in the Masonic history of Palmerston. Wairarapa district usually supplies a strong representation at these functions, but I understand there were only two present, and they hailed from Carterton, •