Untitled

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 72, 19 June 1878, Page 2

The absurd "stand-still" policy of the Government m leaving the Foxton section of the lino virtually without trucks, entails not only a considerable loss to the revenue but iis absolutely ruinous to the prospects of, and a mbnstrous injustice to, the district. As an instance, Mr James McColl, amongst other Wellington contractors, paid a visit to Palmerston during the'week, and became the purchaser of a lirge quantity of timber, 'comprising some 800 house piles, several 'thousand palings, and some tens of thousands feet of timber. To his dismay, however, he found? that he beoajne possessed of a white elephant,.for although he had bought the timber at a. most satisfactory price, there was no mode of conveyance to Wellington, and as a consequence, the anticipated profit turned out to be a loss. In another column appears an advertisement calling for tenders ;f or carriage of timber to Foxton, and it is really too .bad that, with the railway up to our very, doors, through the culpable disregard to the necessities of the line, strangers ehoald be subjected, to such a course, or

or driven from the market altogether. However, Mr McColl is, unfortunately, only one of a nnmher who are made to feel the effects of the insane and suicidal policy pursued since communication was effected with Wanganni. From Halcombe to Foxton the cry is all the same ; but from Feilding to Pal- j merston especially, masses of timber appear along the line, as if their owners had thrown" | them down m sheer desperation, to await j tho millenium when waggons would.be obtainable. We heard, a few days since, of a line m the South Island being closed for want of traffic. Why should not the Government have the rolling-stock out of use there transported without delay, and put . upon the line where it would prove such a boon? Notwithstanding that various search-par-ties have been out, and the river pretty well overhauled for some miles, we*' regret to stale that the body of the unfortunate man Jackson, who was lost on Friday week m the Manawatu, has never been recovered. " The only solution now is that the body has become entangled m some of the snags which abound m the river, or that it has been washed out to sea, as was the case with a man minted Lawrence, .drowned, under similar circumstances some years since. A little incident occurred at the Royal Hotel, on Sunday night which is calculated to shake Mr Batchelar's belief in the honesly of human nature in general, and certain of the Palmerston folk in particular. Before retiring to rest on the night in question, the cook hung in the open pantry at the rear of the house, the provender for the Sunday's dinner, consisting of sundry, legs of pork, rounds of beef, &c, &c. To his dismay, however, on repairing to the larder next day he found the whole supply had vanished, and the hooks empty. At first he was under the impression that a hoax was being played ; but after a couple of hours had been allowed for the perpetrator to thoroughly enjoy the joke, a suspicion was aroused that the " annexation " was permanent, a supposition which time has made a fact, as up to the present the joker has not declared himself. Henceforth the mean purloiner will find a stout lock and key between him and his prey. There is no surer sign of the progress and prosperity of a community than that evidenced by tlie erection of new, or the enlargement of old, premises. Suoh being the case, then, Feilding presents a most healthy appearance, as on every side the rattle of the carpenter's hammer or the grating of tho saw can be heard. To keep pace with the times, and the requirements of the place, most of the business people have found it necessary to extend tlieir businesses. Amongst those thus affected arw Messrs. R. Loudon and D. R. Lewers, the former of whom has found it necessary not only to enlarge his premises, but to take in a partner to attend to his increasing trade. Mr Lewers, also, has taken steps to meet the wants of his customers, and has placed the conduct of liis establishment in that town, under tho charge of Mr R. G. Logan. We desire to direct especial attention to the splendid programme submitted by the Feilding Choral Society for their concert on Friday evening. The entertainment will embrace the choioest selections from Wallace's opera, "Maritana." Tbis work should have an especial attraction and interest to colonists, inasmuch as Wallace himself was not only an old New Zealandei* and Australian," but it is stated that the major portion of the opera was composed while the author was m the Colonies. If a judicious selection should command a large audience, the Choral Society should be rewarded with a bumper house. " As an index of the trade being done by. Mi* Chamberlain's Flour Mill at Feilding, we may remark that scarcely a train arrives -at this station without bringing a_qonsignnient from, that establishment.' It is but a little over a month since we chronicled the grinding of the first sample >f flour m Palmerston, and now we understand that Messrs Richter & Co. find it necessary to have their mill at wor"k night and day m order to ieep pace with tbe demand, and still people will be found to assert that the Manawatu is but a grazing country. Householders should exercise considerable care m the management of their lamps, at» evidently the quality of the kerosene m use m Palmerston does not rank as Al. On Sunday evening a hall-lamp m the Royal Hotel burst with a loud report, a perfect jet of flame shot upwards, wbile a stream of burning oil fell upon the landing beneath. With the aid and destruction of a tablecloth, the fire was smothered ; but were' it not that help was at baud, the consequences might have been more serious. We believe the proprietor of the cab, which has lately commenced running within. the town boundaries, is well pleased with the patronage bestowed, and intends having a covering put to the vehicle, for wet. weather. The conveyance has been found a -great convenience to those living at either end of the town, and as the start is always the , most trying period for any venture, it is to be hoped that, as time goes on, the traffic will increase, and the projector reap the reward of his enterprise. We understand that a gentleman m Palmerston has received a letter from the Secretary to the Fielding Football Club, intimating that that club was prepared" to match itself against the Palmeraton Footballers, the latter to have the choice of time . and place. Unfortunately Palmerston cannot at present boast of such a body, but steps are being taken for the formation of a club, m order to take up the challenge given. At the last sitting of the Manchester Highways Board the balance-sheet for the year was read and adopted. From the document it appeared that the receipts for that period were £2,593 lis Id, and -the expenditure, £2,219 3s lOd, leavipg a balance inbani t6 credit of £574 7«Bd.

It will be borne m mind that the election for two persons to fill the office of Auditors to the Borough Oounoil will take place tomorrow. The old office-bearere are not to have a walk-over, as there are three candi-; dates m the field : Thomas King, nominated by George M. Snelson and Jame3 Linton ; Cathbert, H. Mi I ford, nominated hy Sylvester Coleman and Thomas King; and Edward j". Collins, nominated by George , Roe qnd Thomas Walton. We have to correct a mistake whioh appeared m a paragraph last week with regard to the sale of land by Mr Waldegrave. The section was disposed of to the Bank of "Australasia," not "New Zealand," as st at cd. We must also acquit that very convenient scapegoat, the printer, of all blame, as the fault was ours, and ours alone. We are given to understand that it is proposed to give a concert at an early date, m Palmerston, m aid of the hospital. A large number of ladies and gentlemen have kindly volunteered their services, and a most attractive'programme is m preparation. / We feel it necessary to stale that the article ."Editors and .their Labors," the concluding portion of which -we. 'publish^. to-day, r has been m" type rfor the. last, eight: weeks,,, but crowded out from time to time. An Important ii Question.. Aajstda its Answbb; : What is 'the best means offortifyipg the system' against ' influences .prejudicial to health, suoh as bad air; unwholesome water, sudden, changes of .temperature, intense "cold "or heat ? -The rational answer is — l>y sustaining and increasing the constituent and physical aad. thus endowing nature ' with -the capacity to resist th'e influences referred to. To.that purpose; as well as to correct inherent tendencies to disease, Unoir uo Womb's Sohib dam AeoiiA.no ScasAPPS is peculiarly adapted. —Advt.