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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 61, 11 May 1878, Page 2

Although* the line through to Wanganui. is not supposed to be opened for traffic, our Feilding; friends .are doing a rare business m the timber trade, and it is *v pleasing index of what;, will be, wlitm the line is legitimately .open.. The vicinity ef tlie stntion presents a most lively appearance and either trucks loaded with timber or stacks of sleepers greet, the eye m all directions. In the town itself all seems life and animation, and it is somewhat a staggorer for the croakers about dull times and the stagnation m business, to view stores "oing tip on all sides, and additions being made to those nlredy erected, m order to keep pace with the times. Amongst the latter, we noticed on a recent visit, that llVlJrndlev. general produce merchant, if> enlarging his ..premises, and that Messrs. Loudon and Maysinpr are also putting additiPn to their buildings. A Tuesday was a red-letter day m the history of Palmerston, when the first flour,, ground by steam machinery was . prod uced. As is we_-known, .Messrs. Richter and TNannstead have just completed the erection of a large flour mill at the Terrace End, the contract for the machinery being m the hands of Mr Murray, engineer of Wanganui. Everything had been completed and ready for a trial, when ' Mr Murray arrived by special train on Tuesday, and half an hour vfterwaTds steam 7 was got 7 up ' and the machinery put in* motion. The result was far beyond the expectations of all,- every thing worked with an ease and smoothness not to be expected at the first trial, and m a short time a splendid sample of flour was turned out, notwithstanding that the wheat ground was of a very indifferent character, and had hot been sufficiently winnowed. Mr Murray was so well pleased with the success, and satisfied of the excellent working order of the machinery that, although he did not. intend to return to Wanganui for v few days, he took his departure the saraenight, having with him a sample of the flour. He has been very successful m works of a similar nature which he has lately had m hand, as he it was who supplied the machinery for the Sandon Mills. He also informs us that he has an order on hand for the Fordell Mills, near Wanganni. Messrs. Richter and Nannstead's Mill bemg now m full swing, should be an incentive to to bur local men to put m wheat, as we believe, even at the present, it has capacity for grinding at the rate of six tons per week. • A mob of cattle passed town yesterday, and although they had travelled all the way from McPhersonV station, Hawke's Bay, on their way to Hawera, they did hot appear to be much the worse for their long journey. We understand they started ; about cne hundred strong, and lost about half-a-dozen on the road. The cpncert which was to have taken place on last Thursday night has been postponed until next Wednesday, on account of a bereavement m the family of some of those who were to take part m the programme. We trust, however, that the ad- . jpiirnment will prove more a benefit than •otherwise, as it will not now clash with, the Foxton Choral Society's Concert. We are glad *to hear that Mr . Chamberlain's flour mill m Feilding is now m full working trim, and able to grind first ( 1 iss . flour. The new and improved machinery which was ordered from England some time : ago arrived a few weeks since, and has been found to answer admirably. We are given

to understand that so great has been the demands upon the mill, that Mr Chamberlain finds the present building totally inadequate for the amount of business to be got through, and therefore it is his intention to make it double" the size, with increased facilities and working power. As we surmised m our last issue, there was not the slightest foundation for the report that Dr. Johnston intends removing to Palmerston. We make this announcement authoritatively, as we have the information from the gentleman himself. We may state-that another canard has also been going the, rounds, to the effect that Dr. Boer, of Wellington, was about to settle here. We suppose that report arose through the fact that he has purchased land m the Halcombe District. We have received a letter from the "Times" correspondent, m which he declines to accept our challenge, but encloses the poetry by G. Sala. Although, under the circumstances, our proper course would be to treat his communication with, silent contemptjWedonotintendtodo so; but, unfortunately, cannot give space to the matter this issue. Next publication we will publish the letter, extract, and a few remarks; after which, we will consign the writer to his fitting oblivion. We have/received a note froni our Foxton correspondent, apologising for not sending his report of the Police Court. It will, however, appear m our next issue. Attention is drawn, to the fortnightly auction sale at the People's Mart at 1.30 today, at which a quantity of tea, flour, and other domestic necessaries will be knocked down to the highest bidder; after which, several choice sections at Bunnythorpe will be submitted We alsb note that Mr Snelson has been instructed by the trustees m the estates of Messrs. Brightwell and Coker to sell the book debts. We understand that Mr Patten has kindly | consented to give the children of the Public School a treat on Tuesday by the exhibition of some views with ! the magic lantern. Mr Patten is quite a prof essional m his mode of presenting the entertainment, and as the, admittance has been placed at a figure within the reach pf all— rnothing— he may safely build upon' a good attendance. Within the past month matters appear to have taken a turn for the better m and about Palmerston, and two or three capitalists and' -intending settlers have been prospecting with 'a view to investing. We know of one instance m which a gentleman who had purchased a 'quantity of land; few miles from town, bought a house ; m Broad street m which to reside during the . winter, and two days afterwards was offered £150 upogfyjiis bargain. The offer, however .was not.'ttbcepted.