LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1062, 11 February 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual Presbyterian Sabbath School picnic will be held at Himatangi next Saturday. Thomas Ellis, a hospital patient at Napier, attempted suicide by cutting his throat. His injuries are not serious.

Alfred William Browett, aged 38, an ex-Alricau War Contingenter, died suddenly at Invercargill on Saturday. The Rev Father Kelly is to be entertained at a farewell social by his parishioners in St. Mary’s schoolroom next Thursday night. The Presbyterian Ladies’ Guild will hold their social afternoon at the residence of Mrs Claris’ tomorrow.

The Inspector of Nuisances reported at last night’s Council meeting that the town was in a fair sanitary condition at present. Letter carrier Betty has been promoted from the local office to a cadetship in the Wellington office. Messenger Roy Coley has been promoted to letter carrier. Mr G. W. Bennett, Mayor of Inglewood, has been pesented with the orthodox silver cradle by the Borough Council, his wife having given birth to a son during his term of office.

A meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board will be held at the Council Chambers, Palmerston N., on Thursday next, 13th inst., at 12 noon, to consider further action in connection with the wharf, and general. Twenty-six picnic ers at Rangiora on Saturday suffered from the effects of ptomaine poisoning. Ten cases are reported as serious. The poisoning is supposed to be due to tinned meat or some ingredient in the salad. The Hon. Mr Herries was motored through Glen Oroua and Rongotea district on Friday last. In referring to the district passed through at a later stage the Minister said: “With the exception of the Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay flats, he had not been over? a more fertile area of country than he had just passed through. Even in the Waikato, where he came from, they had nothing to equal it, although there were certainly spots here and there as fertile.

It was decided at last night’s Council meeting to invite tenders for the erection of a strongroom. The auxiliary scow Echo is unloading 90,000 feet of timber, shipped from the South by Mr R. N. Speirs, local timber merchant. Cr Speirs has given notice to move at the next meeting of the Borough Council that the price of gas for lighting purposes be reduced to 9s 2d, as from April Ist. The Hon. Mr Herries, speaking at Martdu, said there was a general election within two years, but the confidence of the people of the Colony in the Ministry was increasing to such an extent that he had every hope of the success of his party next year. At last night’s Council meeting, accounts amounting to ,£375 9s yd were passed for payment. This amount was allocated as follows : —General account ,£125 2s 4d, Town Hall .£lO3, gasworks ,£97 53, reserves ;£ 17 ns lod, sanitation ,£23 14s 9d, library ,£8 14 4d, and cemetery £1 4s. Owing to pressure on space today, a report of the discussion at last night’s Council meeting on Cr Hannah’s motion that fresh tenders be called for the nightsoil contract, the town hall balance-sheet and Town Clerk’s report are crowded out and will appear in Thursday’s issue.

An evidence of the rotten state of the whart was furnished yesterday, when the wheels of a cart, into which timber was being transshipped from the Echo, went through the flooring. Portunately, the cart was about 16 feet away from the edge of the wharf. Had it been nearer a serious accident may have happened. At last night’s Council meeting, Cr Whibley moved and Cr Richmond seconded that the north side of Frances Street footpath on its junction with Johnston Street be kerbed , and so bring it into line with other corners in the borough. 1 The Mayor and Councillors present agreed that this was a necessary work and the motion was carried.

The new engine of the Manawatu County Council upheld its reputation on Friday last by doing the stretch of line between Rongotea and Sanson at the rate of 25 miles an hour, registered by a motor-car travelling alongside, demonstrating to the Minister that it was equal to the speed the ordinary trains go on the Government lines.

Petitions are being circulated in Palmerston opposing the extension of the tramway from Sandon to Marton. This takes the cake for parochial jealousy. Palmerston is going the right way to make itself look ridiculous in the eyes of the whole Dominion. The person responsible for this agitation is too far behind the times. In the course of the proceedings at Marton last Friday, Mr Donald Fraser pointed out to the Minister that the Manawatu to the Waitara River, a distance of some 200 miles, and for 15 miles inland along that stretch of country, there was the finest block of agricultural and pastoral land in world.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council, held last night, was a fairly long sitting as the Council did not rise until 10.30 p.m. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. J. Gibbs), and Crs Coley. Adams, Richmond, Whibley, Chrystall, Hannah and Speirs. Cr Stewart for whom an apology was received earlier in the evening, arrived at about 9.30 o’clock. A letter was read from Mr A. King at last night’s Council meeting drawing attention to the state of the footpath ou the east side of the southern portion of Main Street and also in , Union Street, and asking that same be attended to,—lt was decided on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Coley, that the portion ot east side ot Main Street from Cook Street to Union Street and north side of Union Street to junction of Johnston Street be tarred and sprinkled with limestone. At the previous Council meeting a letter was read from Mr Percy Lumsden, asking the Council to pay for the damage done to mats and linoleums in his hotel by tar carried in from the footpath on people’s boots. At that meeting the letter was “received.” At last,, night’s meeting a further communication on the subject was received from Mr Uumsden, and he also enclosed an account for being his estimate of the damage done, of which he requested payment. Cr Adams moved, and Cr Richmond seconded, that a payment of be made to Mr Bumsden. As an amendment, the Mayor moved, and Cr Coley seconded, that Mr Bumsden’s letter and account be handed to the Borough Solicitor for him to settle or otherwise. On being put, the amendment was carried.