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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 81, 20 July 1878, Page 2

Some mischievous scoundrel on Tuesday night took away the blocks which were securing the taucltß on the incline from the v Foxton Station to the wharf, find the consequence was, that gaining impetus m the descent, % double truck shot off the wharf on to the steamer Tui. Fqrtunately no serious injury was done, but some idea of the shock the yesscl received, and the manner m which she sank m the water from the concussion may be imagined, when it is stated that the punt, which is between two and three hundred yards away, was very considerably affected by the swell. It is a blessing that there was no | person on deck at the time, for, as it was dark, had there been, some serious accident would ;hav ; e hsen the result. It is a pity that the perpetrator of the imbecile joke was not discovered and compelled to make an involuntary header from off the pier. If he had been, it is more than possible his sense of humor would be materially curtailed. We have been favored with the following extract, from a letter received from the convener of tlie meeting at Foxton, from Mr Johnston, m reply to the resolutions forwarded :— " With regard to the resolutions which relate to the Public Works Department, I am unable to say what the Government will do until after Mr Macandrew's return to Wellington on Thursday next.. I will wait on him as soon as possible after his arrival, and hope to be able to. inform you on Saturday what will be done. In reference to the resolutions about the Port of Entry, I have reason to believe that the Government will not be unwilling to declare Foxton a Port of Entry or Warehousing Port, bow that the population of the county, has increased so largely, but I cannot speak with certainty until I have seen or heard from Sir George Grey, who has recently been gazetted Cotnniissoner of Customs." Although, as far as we know, Dr Bailer has as yet made no public assertion that he seeks to represent this county m Parliament, we have it on the best authority that he has taken time by the forelock m the endeavor to woo the sweet votes of the electors. He arrived m Palmerston by the morning train, on Thursday, and before midday a canvass had been commenced, our informant being amongst the solicited. From wliat we have learned within the last few days, we fear that unless some very strong pressure is brought to bear upon the present member there is very little chance of the worthy doctor — or any one else — writing M.H.R. after his name, at least during the next Session. Mr Johnston has determined that fchere shall be no vacancy for Manawatu, and it seems very like as jf Mr Johnston was master of the situation. " Some one has blundered," was the conclusion to which our reporter arrived a day or two since when he witnessed some timber which had been shipped on board the schooner Argus put ashoro again, at Foxton. Upon asking the master the cause of so unusual a proceeding, he was informed that it wa9 being done m shear disgust and despair of receiving anything like a cargo m reasonable time. Our reporter, further learned that, while the little craft had been m the river for eight days, she had succeeded m getting but thirteen thousand feet of timber out of thirty thousand j and consequently it was deemed bettor to shove the timber on shore again, than suffer the delay. According to the master's statement the cai'go was intended for a Mr Dale, of Patea, and the faqlfc lay between that gentleman, the aaw-millera and the agent. The captain, stated that if anything like attention were paid to small vessels, he was positive Patea alone could keep four or five crafts constantly going. It is really a pity that handicapped as Foxton is m many respects., obstacles should be thus thrown m the way oi its prosperity by people m the district, for it must be expected that masters of vessels who arcj subjected to such treatment, will naturally giye the port not only a wide berth, but a bad name. Before the business of the Police Court had been proceeded with on Thursday, Mr Staite said he wished to make a few remarks, showing the necessity for the appointment of a clerk resident at Palmerston. Since the List Court-day various applicatious for summonses involving considerable amounts, had been forwarded to

Foxton i'or issiii.', but although uuiple time had been allowed, such .had not been done. He did not for moment wish to inculpato Mr Baker, whom ho -was aware had been called to Wellington on business, but the fact remained that through not being able to obtain the summonses his clients had to be telegraphed to not to attend. He might state that three weeks would elapse before the next sitting of Court, and m that time the debtors would have fully opportunity to , leave the district. Mr Ward m reply stated that he freely acknowledged the justice of the remarks made, and he might say that m consideration of representations from the local justices and barristers, he was m correspondence with the Grovernmcnt upon the matter, and he was m expectation that steps would be taken m the direction to meet the requirements. He himself was willing to increase the number of the holdings of the Court, or m any other way do anything which would be conducive to the convenience of the bar or the public. A meeting of the settlers of Stoney Creek was convened for Thursday evening, and wo had taken steps to have considerable space at our disposal for the report, but for some unaccountable reason the vehicle left Paliperston fifty minutes before the time advertised for the meeting. As the distance was ,but three miles and a-lialf, our reporter naturally concluded that the trap would not start until half-past six — the meeting being advertised for seven — but when he was prepared to go at a quarter past sis it was gone. We were kindly offered a report of the proceedings, and although we ' are quite sure it would be a thoroughly impartial one, still as;the major portion of the discussion was of an exceedingly bitter, acrimonious, and personal nature, we deem itbetter not to avail ourselves of it, so that neither side can say we acted with partiality. The night train from Foxten on Thursday evening was fully an hour belund time m reaching the Marfcon station, the delay having been caused by a failure to have a supply of water m the tank between Halcombe and Greatford. On arrival at tho waiting place tlits side of the Rangitikei River, it was discovered that the tank was .completely empty, and upon investigating the matter, it was found that the boy, whose duty it was to perform the pumping operation, had not been seen during the day. j After'some littje delay, sufficient water was '• obtained to enable the engine to reach Greatford, when the train was left behind while it proceeded to the next stream. — a distance of four miles — to obtain a supply. The i passengers, amongst twhom were the Resident Magistrate and Mr Cash, were not a . jiittle exercised at heing subjected to so unnecessary an annoyance through the cheeseparing policy which relegates to a boy such an important duty as seeingthat a sufficient supply of water is obtainable at the stop-ping-places. Now that the weather has cleared up, the Football Club wijji go jml.o hard training for the eomiiig match with Feilding. This afternoon a match will be played between sides chosen from the Square and Terrace End of the town. The following are the names of the players on the respective sides : — Square— Turijer, Cajlunan, King, P. Warburton, Pirani, Cpttanj, Dundas, Simpson, Crawford, Coleman, Dimond, Cox, and others. Terrace End— -Charles, Mitford, Nathan, J. Nathan, Deardl, Lock.c, CHUespie, Groodisson, Marsh,"Staite.,* Tyerman, Mountford, and others. Those who j are to take part m the match aye requested to be on the ground at two sharp. A special meeting of the Borough Council was called for Friday, but as there was not a quorum the important question of a public abattoir was postponed. The Council, however, opened and dealt with the following tenders for falling bush on the Reserves, and clearing road alongside, involving an outlay of about £400 :—Lichtwark, £3 per acre, for road ; £2 per chain. Nicholls and Simpson, road, £2 5s per acre ; £2 per chain. Brown and McKenzie, road, £2 7s 6d per acre ; £1 7s 6d per chain. The tender of the last named was accepted. There was a regular influx of Maories at Foxton on Wednesday, the numbers forcibly leminding us of the days of the Native Lands Court Sittings. Amongst others we recognised Knrenama, the chief of the Otaki tribe, and Honi Mason, head of the Rangatanas. The oause of the gathering was the settlement of some land transactions between Messrs. Davis and Stewart, and the various tribes, m the course of which £600 had to be paid over to the Natives. Dr. Buller arrived by the coach on the previous evening, and negotiated the arrangements between the parties. We are given to understand that Mr My lien, late of the Pahantanui Hotel, has become mine host of the Manawatu Hotel, Foxton, having purchased that privilege from Mr Fenton, and if rumor speaks truly there is every probabilty of the latter also becoming a settler m the district. In addition to that, wo hoar that it is on the cards that Captain Holmwood, of the Hyderbad, will cast m his lot either with Foxton or Palmerston. He is a gentleman possessed of large and independent means, and would prove a most desirable addition to the settlers m the district. Several applications were made to the Highways Board at its sitting on Friday, with regard to work necessary to be done m the various Wards, and it was stated that immediately upon tho entering upon tho duties of his office, on the first of August, the Engineer, Mr Hayncs, would be taken round to the various Wardens by the Chairman, and a note of the wauta taken. A meeting was held at Sandon last evening, to form a committee to guarantee the prclimary expenses m connection with the proposed Sandon railway. Being our publication night we were unable to be present, but a similar one will be held shortly m Foxton, of which wo will give the particulars.

'me " Wangauui Chronicle" lms uucii pleased to refer to' us as "the fire-cater" of the Times. Well, if we wished to follow its bad example, and indulge' in the tii quoque style, m which it is such an adept, we should refer to the scribe as the " water-drinker " of the " Chronicle." In fact, to use a paradox, we might dub him the "cold-hot-water-man ;" but we will not. We leave him to himself, and the tender mercies of the "Herald." The sheet anchor op the debilitated. — Ordinary stimulants afford no permanent benefit to persons deficient m natural vigor or weakened by disease. In fact the effect produced by unmedicated spirits, even when pure is injurious, as they produce an cxlinusting reaction upon tho nervous system, But whore such excitants utterly fail to revive exhausted energy, that sheet anchor of the debilitated, Udoipho Wolfe's Schiedam Abomatic Schnapps powerfully invigorates every life-sustaining organ. — Advt.