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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 72, 27 June 1877, Page 2

'Se^ralcompjaintshavereabhed us concerning the manner m which the new road, now being formVd from the present Napier line, dividing the j>roperty of.Mr Kivkbride from the Manchester' Block,, has been designed.* The culvert leading immediately ' from the main road to .the new formation "has been erected at right a/igles io the originaliine which all £ur readers are aware is by no means wide. Laying out roads m this' man- , ncr causes, to say the least, much inconveni-;. ence to drivers of teams as m the case of ,a three-horse dray having to turn off the main on to the new roatl it would-be necessary to take- the leaders off, owing., to the sharpness of the turn, • and even then considerable care must be taken. We think, this culvert should have been made wider, and the new line should also have been widened at this point for a short distance to enable teams to take a sweep instead of rendering the turning so abrupt as at present. Had this been done at, first, no great increase of expenditure would hare .been necessary. [Since the above was m type we hear that the* culvert m question has been "taken" up with a view to making certain alterations of the nature of "which/we are unable to speak at present.] We were pleased to notice that at the meeting of April 18th, the Manawatu County Council resolved to abandon for .the present the project -of leasing the ferries under their- supervision. There is little doubt that m the future the ferries will all^ be leased; but it is well that the Council should not for the sake of a small accession to the -revenue pursue a bourse that might be fraught with danger to the public. In choosing fit persons for the working of ferries, where life and property are m the hands of the ferryman* great discrhnination should be observed, and the adaptability of the man should be' looked to rather than, the magnitude of the tender ; for although there are plenty of men who are able satisfactorily to conduct' a ferry, there are many who, if" the ferries were Ibft open for competition, would tender as a speculation, who, m cases of emergency would hare' no conception of the duties pertaining to their office.^, Jn the event of floods' they would simply plead 1 that it is"unsafe to cross, and m consequence cause vexatious delays. For the, present, it is better to pay a small' yearly salary to a man whose efficiency has been proved m times of difficulty. We have' remarked lately on circumstances occurring ■at the Lower Ferry, but with all we have noji yet had to report rfny accident involving loss of any kind. We desire to correct an error which appears m our Feilding Correspondent's letter." published on the 20th inst. In the last .paragraph of the letter the amount of the valuation roll for ICiwitea is quoted at £150 Is. It should' read £ilso 7s. . •

Witli reference to tlie fei-ries at the crossings of the Manawatu and the Mungatinoko rivers, on the main line to Masterton, we have already noticed that punts have been built to meet the requirements of traffic. We are now m a position to state that the wires to which these punts will be attached are on the ground together with the necessary gear for their erection, and that Mr James McEwen proceeds at once to superintend the work of stretching the wires and putting everything m working order. We trust therefore that after all' is completed, we shall not have to report any more delays m thesdelivery of our Masterton mails arising from inability to cross these streams. We learn that Messrs. Richter, Nannestad & Co., are the successful tenderers for the two lots of sleepers, m all 48,000, lately advertised for by the G-over'nment. 28j000 of these sleepers are to be delivered 4n Wanganui, and 20,000 at any of the'stations on the line between Wellington and' the Upper Hutt, or within half a chain of the centre line of Railway along the Mungaroa Flat, the price being 2s 4d. each. The fact of such a large amount as will result from this contract coming into the district must have the effect of improving business during the present dull seasoa of the year. " Our attention has been drawn to the existence of a large hole- m the road close totlie doors of the Palmerston Railway Goods Shed, -which causes Considerable inconvenience to persons .receiving and delivering goods. We learn that one vehicle has/ already sustained damage to the extent of a broken axle. We have visited^the spot and feel sure that, as a few loads bf gravel will remedy the evil complained of, immediate steps will be taken to effect the necessary repairs. • ■ \ - ' ~~'S : - As no Alexander has been found to sever the Gordian Knot of Thistle we append the solution. The words, the initial letters of .which form the answer, are :••— . C ustom ' . H ymeh > ; "_■■■■ -i -■' . :• Attention . . " : - - , ; ■ R iches "' . . - - . I nterupemnce : - .- ■;. '-■ T\rutw" .'. "-.. .-." ; „'.;.■. ■. •;■■;;■■ . -\-_ . . ..-.. .-. Youth'.^. :"..:■: '.y^;-'- : ; '■- ■/.' And CHARITY, is" the virtue that the; writer credits few people with possessing. On Monday a numher of immigrants who liad arrived frbm Wellitigton per s. s. Tin, wer^ despatched to Feildirig by train from Eoxton.. There were; m all- 21J: adults; They arrived m the ship-Wenningtonri j We remind our readers that the fourth; and last concert of the Foxton Choral Society, for the season 1876-7, takes place m tlie Publicr Hall, Foxton, this (Wednesday) evening,- on which occasion an exceptionally >goodprqgrainme y will .be offered. v ;.. Wiß direct attention to' the notification m bur advertising columns respecting- Mr Baker' s Grand Hibernicon Panorama aiid Concert Cbmpany. The exhibitions and ; performances of ithis talented company : are 'pronounced "a treat" "by the Press. The ptfnorania Vili be exhibited this (Wednesday) : evenirigj m the Forester's .Hall, Palmeirston ; ;to-iiiorrow (Thursday), at Feilding j and Saturday and Monday, the 30th June: and 2ns July, at Bulls; ;;-■;• '■■'■■ ■ , >^ / ' V i . On Friday, evening a concept tpokplaceat the barracks, Feilding, m- aid of the Halcbmbe school , building f uild. The building. :was;: completely filled -.by an: audience feomprising inariy Residents ;pf the -sister townships, : The music lovers d£ Palmer--ston mustered m large f prce; _about > 25 having braved the ,13 miles of mud and rain to patronise ; the ejatertainmenti A portion ,of the progi-ahinie had been successfully gone through when, our reporter arrived, comprising some very pretty little gems. The solo "Love' Not," was very tastefully sung, and the ;8olo and chorus," The Picture on the Wall," . had its pathos well; brought out, and; affected the auflience to an encore. The soloist delivered m response a very well selected comic recitation. The, choruses were a remarkable featm-e: of the evening, and showed m their" execution an elaborate: and admirable, training of the singersV; A number of comic r songs were rendered m characlvr; and m. such a way as to satisfy the^singer of. his; capabilities for ''bringing down tlie house." Yet to some bfthese'we must take exception- If public^ concert singers were mindful of the fact thafcit 'is their duty to administer to the high, and not to the low tastes of their audience, they would leaVe for. the ;.. third-rate theatre all such representations as, while pandering to the vulgar tastes of- the" ignorant must " make the judicious grieve. .One or two of the songs referred to were egregiously put of place on a concert progmmme, andif-the; managing committee -had a proper conception of their duty or of what was due to the pubh'c wliQat- they had^invited ,;tp : their. in-.; tertainraent, they would hdve been a little more select m the' cbmpbsitipn of their pro-, gramme; .The second overture .was a :brilSant perf 'brmance, ■* and _ elici^ed'an enthusiastic encore: [The i "Cottage by the Sea": was a little marred by the nervousness of ,the,singeri but gave good promise as to her ability m future."" Ye Shepherds .tell Me," .was _a trio, and one of ; the most enjoyable items. The song of " The Captive Greek ■ Girl " was effectively and artistically : produced, perhaps m parts, a little wanting m energy. There were also some well rendered solos ; by a gentleman amateur, the names of which were not on the progi-amme. ; The instrumental part of the entertainmerit'was : ably Busfcairied throughout .the -evening. A. Fi Halcpmbe, Esq., made^ spme^appropriate remarks at the clbsej giving r the audience to understand that - the' entertainment was a financial; success. We: learn that nearly £20 were realised. > A dancing party fpllbwed the cpneertvand,- we believe, kept • up tlieir airy gyrations till near dawn; „ A meeting of creditors m the e?tate/pf> Robert Stanley.a bankrupt, was^ held at the-office-of Mr' Keeling, the. creditors' &ustee; yesterday, at 11 a-niiy when, a rosolutipn m favor of grdntmg a certificate 'reebmmending his' discharge was i passed. > . .^

On Saturday evening last a very pleasing entertainment took place m the new Pnblic Hall, Foxton. It consisted of the Hibernicon, a Panoroma of Ireland, varied. by songs and ballads. The pictures were really v beautiful, and brought- vividly to the minds of those* who hatfe visited them the scenes and places m the "Old Country." The songs -were delivered with good effect, particularly the "Death of Nelsop,", by Mr Baker, and "Kathleen Mavourneen," by Mrs Baker. Evidently both artists have well studied, and are also adepts m catering for tho public amusement. There was a large attendance, numbering over 200, who, by their continued applause, showed that they well appreciated the entertainment." Both Mr and Mrs Baker were not only surprised and delighted at the large attendance, but also at finding such a hall m, Foxton, which they state is second to none m the North Island, both for size and acoustic properties. The Panorama was again repeated on Monday with great success. ■ There is a certain amount of theft- of a peculiar description going on now with regard to property of absentees. One case came Under our notice last evening. Sterne person has been .splitting timber and removing it from off, tlie land of an, absentee, r and m order to destroy any traces of his handiwork; lias set fire to a large stack of firewood, which was .' piled, up close to the : scene of his work. It so happens that the absentee owner has^an agent m the who discovered' the fire and took immediate steps tb quench; it, and eventually, succeeded m saving all but', a few cords of wood. Whilst such practices are. carried on, it is easy- to understand how some people are able to contract 'fpr different requirements m the timber linetatprices which would not "remunerate a.bush holder.; We would re.mind the guilty parties, that they might oiierate-OTice too often. The return of- Railway traffic for the four .weeks ending Jurie?2nd, 1877, is as follows : : —Oh the Fpxtbn>tb;Manawatu .Railway— • - Passengers (1593),-£2?2 9s ; parcels, £16 13s 5d } freight, (192:: tons), £283/143 9d. Total,-: £522 17s 2d. ? On ;the Wanganui to Manawatu Eailway— Eafeengers (277), £28 16s 2d; parcels, £1, Is; 4d; freight, (8f tous), £2 12s sd. Total, £32 9s lid. ;. : The Seventy-mile BuSh natives, we '■(" Hawke's Bay Herald") understand; intend shortly putting -in the market, m the shape of- farms and town sections, a block of land 10,000 acres m extent, lying between Takapau and Kppua. : , The' land adjoinsthe railway line m cburse'pf construction. It is level and suitable for agriculture. A large pro- ' portion of it is still forest clad. Townships : ■will be laid out at; each, end^and the sections will no doubt command high-prices. Mr Lockie, and Mi* Sheehan both made speeches on the subject 'during their recent visit to Takapau, commending the- project to the 'natives. Mr ■ Bookie: jeminded them that, seven years agbj when the negotiations -for the purchase of jthedßush we're first started^ he had pointed out to them' tile fact ttiat the increased, value .which the" whole Bush would obtain byvthe sale, of a portion of it. to the (Government would render sncli a project feasible. .The^intention is to . sell and lease alternate i blocks and sections! ' '.-.., .We /regret tb. lear,n, says, the . " News Letter" that the. Licensing -Bentfh wjrich has jurisdiction, at .the Manawatu Gorge has seen fit • to-refuse : a 'Tenew^l'. of thelicense for the house at the : Matia"watu Bridge, . on the ground of insufficient accommodation. As -'Mr ; 'McDonnell has always- done his best foi? ; travellers, 'who - have been well satisfied^this seems rather uhjust. A house is wanted but at present the-traffic is not sufficient tb warrant ;!the-.erection of an expensive building. ;* ' Mr Smalley has obtained whait/is probably the largest brick contract 'ever made -.m,: the Wairarapa, namely, the supply of 150,000 for Messrs Caselberg & Co.'s new premises. - The price is?£2 4s 6d per 1000. "'Mr Caselberg means- to go m heavy for ~ building. j ■In addition to the; store which. . I is to take the % place of the one recently des-, fcroyed by fire, one about the size of the present grain store is to be erected. In; addition to these he , will; erect a large dwel-ling-house pnland bought from Mr Cole. ;—« News Letter." ' --^i"-'/ : ;> ■'. : '' r '.' ' It is reported (says 'th^: London " Daily News)" that one of the largest colliery proprietors m the United Kingdom is i about to experiment with Chinese Uabor m his mines. V This would, indeed; beturhing^he tables on England with a vengeance. A"t the very, moment when . we are stiruggling „ hard-, against mandarin I . obstructiveness to providing the Flo wejjt: Land with" railways we are threatened with an iinportion of Chinese ' coolies to assist m the working of our. coal fields. Preposterous as the notipriniay ap- ■•; pear 'V at; ' first sight, it 'may possibly: take practicai-Bhape some day; ■. Chineseilahor has already penetrated into almost every quarter, of the world except Europe. : It isthreatening to become; one of the greatest difficulties of government m Australia,v^ere^thelaboringclasses are opposing a determined ' front to Mr Ah Sing. That enterprising and industrious individual is capable of turning out very good work. He is willing to try his hand at almost any sort of employment, and he accepts wages at which the white labor- ■ era turn away m disgust. iHis services hayel also come into large request m" the- United States*; New- Zealand follows suit'by holding out the hand of friendship tb the übiquitous fellow ; South Aniefica , "is .beginning to do 'the same ; and the Cape .shows sighs of inciting him/to dp the, wprk the domesticated Kaffirsaretob lazy -to perform. ; ■% ■- The Chief Secretary "of Victoria has an-. " 'nounced that the. policy, of the Government is that all further alienation of country land by auction sales should .at -once be, stopped, the area, of selection increased, and thte term of probation of selectors extended tpten years. It was also proposed that a jßpyal Gommisv sion should be appointed tb; .examine into. •the land question ; tb search deep into the system m order to ascertain wtfere the can- ; cers and i sores exist, and. to discover "the vineans T whereby so much the public territory • "has been taken - from those "for" whom it was intended. " Times."- : ' :• , When tide Stoem Ciojjp'TsßEA,Tßsa, .mariners hasten to close-reef -the sails; of the ship. ■-.- TKbse ■, who are admonished: of approaching danger by the symptoms of disease, may well profit by the example of the sailor and take measures to avert it.- Bodily weakness; and trifling irregularities m the discharge of the physi-: cal functions are the forerunners of disease. Be 1 warned m time and usejthat sovereign" .prbctective/. Udplpho Woti?B'sVSpHiEi)AM AaOMATIO SdHif ABPS.— AI)TT. '=■ .:] - : V '