The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, October 7, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1053, 7 October 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, October 7, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

What about the closer settlement of native and other lauds adjacent to Foxton ? What steps are our prominent local men taking to bring about an improvement in this connection ? We have previously pointed out that aggregation has taken place in this district, and the next move in order to retain large areas will be dummyism. Consider the number of people who could be settled on Moutoa land, look at the thousands of acres out Himataugi way which should be cut up and closely settled. True, much of it is native land, but are the Maoris leasing it to the best advantage ? We believe the natives in the locality referred to have the right to dispose of their land. If this is so, then steps should be taken to urge them to cut it up into suitable areas for settlement and this without delay. But, are the Maoris competent to deal with their lauds judging by the Mokau and other transactions they are not. They are like children and can easily be exploited by unscrupulous land grabbers and speculators. In the administration of Native Affairs, Sir James Carroll, has not been a success, and we should like to see a pakeha in charge of this department. A little more vitality requires to be infused into Native Affairs, and this can only be accomplished by removing the present Minister from office. The question of closer settlement is of vital importance to Foxton, but, it we are too apathetic to take a lead we cannot expect any improvement. It has been suggested to us that a public meeting should be convened to discuss this question, and we are ol opinion that such a meeting would be well attended.

The services at the Presbyterian Church to-morrow will be con-

ducted both morning and evening by the Rev. G. K. Aitken. The services in St, Mary’s Church to-morrow will be conducted both morning and evening by the Rev. Father Kelly. On Tuesday next, in St. Mary’s Church, there will be forty hours adoration, to be conducted by Father Kinkead, of Feilding, and Father Dore, of Palmerston North.

A very sharp shock of earthquake was experienced in this district shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday. At Hastings it stopped tne post office clock, and caused buildings to rock alarmingly. On Monday night at the Masonic Hall, Mr Byron Brown, Independent Opposition candidate for the Otaki seat at the the forthcoming general election will address the Foxton electors. The meeting will commence at eight o’clock.

Mrs Barton, the well-known temperance lecturer, will address a meeting in the Methodist schoolroom on Monday afternoon at three o’clock. Everyone is cordially invited to be present. In the evening, at 8 o’clock, Mrs Barton will deliver an address in the Masonic Hall.

EEewhere in this issue, Mr WFI. Field formally announces his candidature for re-election to represent the Otaki electorate in the House of Representatives. Mr Field will take the earliest opportunity of addressing the electors in all centres, but at present his parliamentary duties demand his attendance in Wellington, The services in the local Methodist Church to-morrow will be conducted in the morning by the Rev T. Coatsworth, and in the evening by Mr J. Chry stall, Mr G. Huntley will conduct the service at Himatangi at 7.30 p.m., and the Rev T. Coatsworth will hold a service at the Beach at 7 p.m. The following is the result of the examinations recently conducted in the local Presbyterian Sunday School: —Senior: Elsie Ross, 77 ; middle: Jeaunie McKnight, 68; junior: lan Ross 89, John Hornblow 79, George Rough 74, Harold Rimmer 47,; primary '• Wilfred Rimmer 63, Charles Williams 38. Catechism ; Jeannie Me-Knight, 71 j essay ; Jeannie McKnight 71. Mr J. R. Stansell reports having held a record sale ot Shannon township sections. In lot one a block of sections comprising 16F acres was sold to Mrs Gardener, of Shannon, at per acre as a dairy farm, and seven acres ot lot 2 to Mr Tremewan at £sl per acre. The corner section ot lot x, with a shop and house, was sold to Mr Carter, butcher. At the Masonic Hall on Wednesday evening next Mrs Barton, ex-councillor of the City of Glasgow, will deliver an address on the Liquor Question. Mrs Barton is said to be the finest lady orator who has ever been in the Dominion, and as she has drawn large audiences wherever she has previously spoken in New Zealand no doubt there will be a large attendance on Wednesday evening next. The Carnival, to be held under the auspices of the local Presbyterian Church, promises to be very attractive. Included among the side-shows will be a Punch and Judy exhibition, comic art galleiy, juggling, etc. The children’s floral pageant should alone be worth the price of admission. The Carnival will be held on Friday and Saturday, 27th and 28th inst.

The long looked for Children’s Coronation Floral Plain and Fancy Dress Ball will be held in the Coronation Hall on Monday, October 23rd. All children under 16 years of age will be admitted tree, and a charge of one shilling will be made for onlookers over that age. All arrangements are well in hand, and everything points to a very successful function. Dancing will commence at 8 p.m. The death occurred at Palmerston North on Wednesday of Mr James Skerman, one of the pioneers of the Manawatu district. Mr Skerman arrived in New Zealand in the ship Himalaya in 1579, taking up land near Newbury. Fie was prominently connected with the early history of the dairying industry in Manawatu, and established the first cheese factory in the district at his property, 11 Silverleys.” Mr Skerman celebrated his golden wedding in 1902, and his wile, who accompanied him from England, died in 1905. Perreau’s Family Cake is the cake for quality. Have you tried one.*

Every man makes a fool of himself now and then. Wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit. Vote for Bvron Brown *