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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 10, 27 November 1878, Page 2

The Cup which is to be competed for at the Feilding, Athletic Sports on Boxing Day, is now being shown in the window of Mrs Cramond's shop, Manchester-street. Thanks to the energy of Mr Halcombe, agent to the Feilding Corporation, the town of Ashhurst is beginning to assume something like a presentable appearance. A staff of surveyers is located in the vicinity, and fully one hundred men are hard at work, at street and road formation. The shares in the new Drug Company, now being formed out of the old established firm, Kempthorne, Prosser, & Co., are being rapidly taken up. From a private telegram received by us yesterday we learn that the number of shades applied for has reached 9875. The season of new peas and new potatoes, is upon us, and we have been shown a splendid specimen of the latter commodity, known as the genus fluke, grown by Mr Sharman, of Jackey town. Of course that particular part of the district is celebrated for its potato growing powers, but the sample shown us is something beyond the average for even that locality, being fully five inches long, and weighing —well, something under a pound. It will be seen by a notice elsewhere that the members of the Palmerston Wesleyan Church, purpose holding a bazaar in the Foresters' Hall, in the middle of December, the proceeds from which will be devoted to paying off the debt upon the church. The committee are working energetically to get together a large collection of articles, and no effort will be wanting on their part to make the bazaar— which will continue for three days — a success. To-day the contests for the various Mayoral chairs will take place throughout the Colony, but while the battles to be waged in Wellington and other places will be fought with considerable stubbornness, the late occupant of the chair in Palmerston has been allowed to take possession of it for another year unopposed. This is the third time that Mr Snelson has been elected to fill the position, and the absence of opposition, is a graceful acknowledgment on the part of the burgesses of the energetic and able manner in which he has administered the duties of the office. In order to keep pace with the progress of the Terrace End of Palmerston, we understand Mr Deards has in contemplation the erection of a Public Hall for entertaiments and meetings at that end of the town. Beside being a great convenience to the public we feel convinced the venture will prove a commercial success, and return a liberal per-centage upon the outlay to the enterprising and spirited speculator, for, as a matter of fact, when the Circus was exhibited at that end, although on a most unpropitious evening, it was most liberally patronised. A meeting of the Palmerston Literary Society, was held last Friday evening, Mr Pirani the chair. After considerable routine business had been transacted, it was decided that the programme for the usual monthly meeting to-morrow evening should consist of readings and recitations. Before separating, the chairman expressed a hope that as the meetings had been altered from weekly to monthly holdings during the summer months, every member would strain a point to be present upon those occasions. A meeting of those interested in the erection of a Public Hall, was held in the schoolroom, Feilding, on Saturday night, Dr. Johnston in the chair. It was resolved that a provisional committee be appointed to take the preliminary steps to form the company, the first meeting to take place when shares to the amount of £500 had been token up. As more than the stipulated amount of shares have been applied for— namely £556— a meeting of the provisional committee has been called for Friday evening. A traveller who came from the Gorge yesterday, brought word down from the ferryman, Boyd, that a lunatic was at large in that locality. It appears that a man has been loitering about the ferry for the past few days, crossing in the put, but no sooner would he be conveyed to one side than he was most anxious to get back to the other. Our informant did not mention whether the traveller disbursed to the ferrymen for those repeated trips, a point upon which, we would like to be clear before giving our opinion as to the man's sanity or otherwise. We believe Constable Gillespie starts this morning for the ferry, to learn the truth of the story. A match between the Palmerston and Foxton Cricket Clubs has been arranged to take place on the ground of the latter on Saturday. We learn, however, that two or three of the Foxtonians have met with accidents which may possibly prevent them from playing while it is feared that at least

three of the best players on the Palmerston side will be unable to take part in the match. The Palmerston team will be chosen from the following : Messrs. Staite, Charles, Pirani, Cox, Jackson, Mason, Mitford, Meecham, Turner, Warburton, Mountford, Eustace ; while the Foxtonians will select from : — Messrs. Robinson (Captain), Dawson, Flower, Ingram, Shore, Edwards, Murphy, Howe, Summerhays, Young, Davidson, Collins, Hutchison, and Gillies. While speaking of the local Club, we might state that its number of members is rapidly increasing, at the last meeting, Messrs. Meecham, Murphy, Marsh, and Foster, being enrolled on the list of membership, A most commendable innovation was made in the starting of the Foxton train on Saturday evening, when its departure was delayed, for one hour to allow of the arrival of the Wellington coach, which had been delayed upon the trip. The course conferred a two-fold benefit, inasmuch as it not only allowed of passengers reaching their destination the same night, instead of being detained in Foxton until Monday morning, but also it allowed of the English mail being distributed the same evening. Under similar circumstances the custom of starting punctually to time is to our mind one " more honored in the breach than the observance,'* Between the onslaught of vagrant dogs upon one side, and hawks upon the other, settlers have to keep a bright look out after their stock. We regret to hear that Mr Palmerson has had fifteen more valuable sheep worried to death on Saturday night, which tots his damage up to a large amount, and as the sheep are of the best quality, the loss to the owner is considerable. On Saturday afternoon, while Mr P. Warburton, and a friend were walking is his garden at Shenstone Farm, they saw a hawk swoop down upon a nest of eggs, upon which a hen was sitting, and in the most impudent manner remove the mother, and demolish five or six eggs before it could be hunted away. It is somewhat singular that while Mr Warburton, generally keeps a gun ready for visitors of that description, upon the particular occasion in question he unfortunately had not one to hand, and consequently the robber was allowed to commit his depredation with impunity. A meeting of the Committee of the Palmerston Cricket Club was held on Saturday evening, to consider a charge made against Mr Chester of using bad language during a match. The offence was proved, and a resolution was proposed that he be expelled the Club, against which an amendment was carried that Mr Chester be requested to write a letter of apology for the language used, failing to do which, he be expelled. This was carried unanimously, as was also a resolution that members so offending in future be expelled the Club. The following members of committee were present on the occasion : Messrs. Mitford, Mason, Cox, Pirani, Charles, Warburton, Crawford, Turner, and Seaton. We are pleased to hear that stops are being taken for convening a meeting at an early date for the purpose of impressing on the Government the necessity of taking some sleps for proceeding with the survey of the West Coast railway. It will be borne in mind that some months since Messrs. J. T. Stewart and Knopp made a flying trip over both the Palmerston and Foxton routes, but their mission was not to decide upon the merits of one against the other, but rather to prove the practicability of both. What is now required is that a thoroughly impartial, unbiassed, and competent surveyor should be commissioned to make a complete survey, so as definitely settle which is the more eligible route. We are aware that these are numerous flying reports as to the work being in prospective, but what we want is that it be proceeded with wi h out delay. A meeting of the Sports Committee was held on Saturday evening in the Public Hall, Mr Dangon being elected chairman. A most attractive programme was drawn up and the prizes fixed, the items embracing Two Miles Walking Match, One Mile Flat Handicap, Quarter Mile Hurdle, 120 Yards and 100 Yards Flat Handicap. It was decided that all the flat races should be handicapped, the principal ones being published before the races, while the boys' races — of which there were two— should be regulated by a standard of height, 4 feet 7 inches, and 4 feet 10 inches. The Mile Handicap was chosen for the Ladies' Prize, but in addition to the above and a Consolation Stakes, it was determined to give a Champion Prize to the winner of the greatest number of points during the day, the winner of the race claiming five points, and second man getting two Messrs. P. Warburton, J. King, and W. Cox were appointed Starters; and Messrs. Dungan, Hayus, and Coleman, Judges. The Palmerston Cricket Club played a match between its members, — Married v. Single— on Saturday, on the Square. The bachelors went in first, and were all disposed of for sixten, wides and byes included. In their first innings, the Benedicts put thirtytwo together, or exactly double, the score of their opponents, of which number Charles made thirteen. The second innings of the Singles closed for thirty-three, which left the Benedicts eighteen to win. When the game, had proceeded until the Married had four runs to make with three wickets to go down, a dispute arose and the game, was stopped. Chester was given out of his ground by the umpire, a decision which was disputed by Charles, the Captain of the Married team. Whether, the umpire was correct or not is entirely outside the question. His decision should be unchallengeable, and if sides elect to have such arbiters, their ruling should be held inviolate. We are pleased to learn that Mr Charles regretted his action, and in future no such occurrence will take place. While freely admitting the perfect right Mason had to take advantage of Chester being out of his ground, as the match was so close and interesting, it is a pity he did so. It would have been much better if the match had been played out upon its merits, instead of resorting to means which, although legitimate, would not be so satisfactory. In our last issue we gave a little incident in connection with the eccentricities of that high and mighty patrician, the Hon. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, of Otago ; the following is how the affair terminated. The morning after the evening's proceedings narrated in our last, the following dialogue took place between the landlord and the knight : — Landlord: "Good morning, Sir Dillon." Sir D. (patronisingly) : " Good morning. " Landlord : " Several of my regular customers—who are gentlemen— have complained, Sir Dillon, that you sit at the table and eat your meals with your hat on. Might I ask if you do so from religious motives ; or if there be anything wrong with the top of your head?" Sir D. (emphatically) : "Oh, dear no. Nothing of the kind in either case. Merely because I chose to do so." Landlord : "Well, Sir Dillon, I chose that you shall not do so ; and I have to request when you next take your place with gentlemen in my house, you will try and act as one." Sir Dillon (excitedly) : " You should not speak to me, Sir, in this manner, and I will never come to your house again!" Landlord : "You are quite right, Sir Dillon ; I should not have spoken to you in this private manner. I should

have punished your rudeness as it deserved, and by ordering your hat off publicly at the table, treated your ignorant presumption m a fitting manner. With regard to your future patronage, after the specimen of conduct I have witnessed I am anything but desirous of receiving it further, but until relieved of it, must request that you observe decency and decorum." Shortly afterwards an elderly gentleman might have been seen wending his way toward the railway station, with a countenance upon whose lineaments was marked the impress — "All is vanity and vexation of spirit." The inhabitants of the Square were somewhat startled and considerably surprised on Monday night by observing a peripatetic flame moving up Broad street. At first it was imagined that a fire had broken out at the lower end of the town, but as it gradually approached the Square it became observable that the fire proceeded from a number of lighted torches borne in hand. The demonstration was organised by the employes in the various mills about the district, as a welcome to Mr Richter, on his return from his nuptial tour. The procession, bearing about one hundred torches, proceeded to the residence of the bridegroom, and in the Scandinavian language sang serenades suitable to the occasion. Mr West on behalf of the men then read the following address : — " Mr Richter, — The body of men here before you, on whose behalf I have the honor to address you, all gain their livlihood from you and your colleagues, at the present time. We have to thank you, for the party which you gave us upon the occasion of your wedding, and in doing so wish to say that we attribute to the success which has been the result of the firm's energetic and honest principles in business, the rapid development of the Terrace End of the town ; and we also wish to congratulate you upon your having been fortunate enough to secure as a partner for life, a lady well known in these districts, possessing every good and worthy person's highest esteem. While wishing Mrs Richter and yourself every success and real happiness in life, I have much pleasure in proposing nine cheers for you both." The summons was heartily responded to by those present, when Mr Richter, after thanking them for the unexpected honor, supplied the crowd, of whom there could not be less than three hundred, with the material in which to drink the bride's health. The procession then moved up the street and around the Square, stopping at the Clarendon Hotel, where it was liberally regaled at the expense of Mr Deards. On the occasion of Mr Richter's marriage, which took place a few weeks ago in Sydney— although the happy pair only returned on Sunday— he made arrangements that all the employes of the mills, should be entertained at a dinner, and the demonstration of Monday night was organised as a return. We understand that representatives from the Tronjheim, Hokowhitu, and Palmerston mills all took part in the proceedings.