The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 15, 21 December 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1878.

Our readers L rto doubt have heard of ; tlie dishonest but highly-ingenious, per> son, who, having been found with his hand m another's pocket, took to his heels for safety, ajid the better to cover his retreat, raised a cry of '•« Stop thief." This little incident will be re, called to the minds of those few who may happen to see the Ponton paper of yesterday's date, upon perusing the leading article. After setting the whole of Foxton hy the ears, and doing- more to create, foster, and disseminate enmity and illrwill thaq years can obliterate, our contemporary wUh * coolness that is refreshing n,ot only endeavors to slink away from, the onus of its-past action, but like the gentleman above alluded jx>, tries to make his escape at the expense of others. After referring m characteristic language tp ourselves, it says : *' Issue after issue, leaders, locals, letters, all are crowded m. to. try and perpetuate the wretchedstrifes and dhhians- of Ifoxtoy,. Will the people of Foxton be gulled by, such transparent double-dealing ? Will they allow themselves to be led away from their best interests m sueU a manner P We hope not, In this matter our hands are olean. We opposed Mr London's return, but when he was elected, we accepted him as tha representative of the electors. We have never written a line against him since that timeWhen Mr- Hixo6mbb*s resolution was passed, after the opinions we had expressed during the cqntest, our mouth was sshutt t and we left the matter, hoping the excitement v^<x\ild die out." We will divide the above extract into three parts,, an,d deal with each, seriatim. First, with regard to the "leaders, locals, letters,"' &c, wnjub have heen published- since the election. We freely admit tliat we have spared n.q, space m referring to the matter ; b,u.t o.ur voice Was raised «ot m perpetuation of the strife, but m condemnation of one who dared to outrage good taste and public decency by his un warrantable conduct, and open a \»r»und which had all b,ufc closed. The Herald has. bean hitherto the mnuthpiepe o.f the Cliquy an,d certainly its accusation: that m, d,eno.unt'ing Mr Hxl.combb we ".ire perpetuating the wretched strifes and d,WUion.s of Foxton," look;* very muoh as if that gentleman's cause and that of the .Clique was just the same. With regard to the Herald's second assertion, that it opuQsc?d Me. I^yi^'a. return the elecijau. we aw <, uj.jp- too "ready: tp agree. Yes, with *..m.a.Usuity which was so transparent that it created disgust fo.r the utterer and sympathy for the intended victim; the very virulence and uiUflanK"^ °$ *^ c attacks worked their, awn defeat, and, recoiled upon the heads of their aufchqrs.. Jt was not fair legitimate critU'.rs.in, j it was not ; honorable, stwaiffhtfarward opposition, but base d.espica.ble attempts to hound down an enemy \ but to, tfee everlasting credit of Foiton thepjeotors •aw ; through th,e sh,am, and the leaders m the movement vfeve covered with shame, mortification, a.nd defeat. As lon# as the Herald thought ifr was rowing with. th.c winning crew, its language was disgrftce.fu.l its conduct worse, But j& was taught a terrible bloW ai \he pftUrngtboath, and like all biullies after- clefieafc» H stood Aghast at the penalty- of its errors. T/he 'tool of a clique-rand w-ha,t is worse, a clique— »t s.»W H^elf deprived of pclfeHc sympathy and left without 'public support, and lea.nnjng wis.dQra "from the bitter les*Qn. t \f & && not * nen ■'jump to the stronger- party, it sheered off from the weaker. Acting «.po.n the :yerv exct'ilent advice which it tendered io IWfr LatJflOJi on a foripfir. occasion, it igrauefully : retired \i\io,\ obscurity for lone month,' and now makes^ jts reijippenrnnce covered "with ,■ whitewash. fThis^wiU explain tl)o third part of the Extract, and give ihe key for the Herjsdl?. Int.©' magnanimous reticence. '•T^i&efalct asks. '* Will the people of Foxton he guiied by such transparent It oertain,^ should nolt^ an answer, haring- had : such-tiUtcr experience to the contrary, arid we very mx(o\\ question if its present effort to gain loisV- favor by the >prinktfiig of salt upon the tails of the ielectors,iwill notend m a miserable failure, similar to its former abortive at? !&xxiv£i*>:^mislead; and hPQdwiuk them. Hithertc we had compassion onitshu- ' ruaiatingipositionj generously refraining fxam," adding to its J degni3ation, or re--I]' to the well-merited obliqny 'which ■ has been showewtl U pon it. We : «b^ wisK to give; it |a kick m its dqyynwaKl course, but' like $1 .it? clan jitwas :unilble to appreciate < g-raoeful -anti- Tlii f rje are sourm persons s.q con-r ''siftiifert^liat if you do them a kindness yoii^jWaiie them von r enemy for life, but 'a'dmimstpr a sound kificin^ and' yon •4%invihM.r; respect, W r e^ha,ve. tried tha "flfst fotWgur (•ontcmporjiry ;rtnd proved jt,tp.,p'e7frue ; we will now see what effl•kwtwwatH'' ." : . : '' /'■'' .-■ ■'■' 'V

In order to gi»e our staff an opportunity of enjoying the Christmas holidays, there will be no publication of the TIMKS on Wednesday, Christinas Day, consequently the next issue will appear on the 28th iust. At the request of Mr Marsh,— by whom we are. .informed that he has received repeated applications for the Times at his end of" the. town — we have appointed him our agent, thereby obviating tiie necessity of persons, as hitherto, travelling a couple of miles to obtain the paper. The train which arrived from Foxton on Thursday evening was laden with our . dusky friends, who made their advent known long before the arrival of the train at the Station, by their shouts of jubilation and the greetings of recognition bestowed upon those whom they passed on the road. The cause of their visit to Palmerston was m connection with ths Native Lands Court. We are pleased to be able to inform our Jnekeytown friends that the Distinct Engineer has received instructions from his Dopartraeut to proceed at once with the •hunt at that station. Unfortunately, however, just now there is a difficulty m the matter of a ballast engine, but we hava been assured by Mr Stewart, that no avoids able delay will be ma.de m. .parrying ou.t hia instructions,. We have received a letter from Mr Samuels, solicitor, pointing out that an inaccuracy occurred m gup last report pf the Resident Magistrate's Court, l'he mistake was m stating that a certain case had been laid undqr " the Offences against the Persqn Act, J.8q8," instead qf /' 186.7." Mb Samuel* is perfectly correcf, but the error was merely a typographical one m substituting an eight forasev.pn. We would remind intending investors m the Drug Com.p;in.v, jn.tQ wh}ch Messrs. Kenipthor.tne, Prosser, and Go's., firm has heen merged, that the shara list will ''lose to-day. Although we have h,ad no special intimation^ we presume a telegraphic ap plication up to noon would be recognised.. It will b.e seen that a grand panarana 13 to, h.O exhibited this and M^n/lay evening at it-he Foresters' H,all at million piques, m addition to which, the purchaser of every ticket will be entitled to a chance of , valuable prizes, including watches, meerschaum pipe^, ten »"d coffeeße.rvic.es, and other articles. We nqtice that, the Wellington papers fcaje. •.pQk.en, T fll 7 Mg| u .l/ of the exhibition, The usual monthly meeting of the Palmerston Literary Society w-as he}d m the Reading Rooms., on Thu,Mduy evening, the President m the chain. Mr Greet: read a most interesting a,nd nble written essay upon " Ro.me ; Ancient an<^ Modern," which wn 8 listened to vfith much interest, an,d, warmly applauded at its. conclusion. As I the attendance was not numerous, Mr Green wa * requested to redaliver. it at the next meeting o,f tqe. Society, which will be ; h,eld upon the }§th, of «{anu,arj. ' The <mestiqn o,f whether Feilding. is to have a Public I^all was. definitely settled, at : a meeting held, last week, when it was r«sol- ; red to have the company forthwith re- ■ gisterad under the Limited Liability 1 Act, 1 the capital a£ the association being £1000 lin £1 shaj-e*. The following gentlemen were' appointed the first directors of the company \ Div Johnston (chaimnan) and Messrs. IJalooinbe, Mncarthur, Brown, Jaekso.n, Loudon, and Majimpr, while Mr Beat tie was appointed interim, secretary. The funds of the Company will be considerably augmented by the presentation by Mv Haicombe, o.n behalf of the Corporation, of a valuable sit j. At the close. o,F the Palmerufc-yi Qo.t\r.fc on Thursday, Mr Ward stated that before its next" sitting the new arrangements would have come into effect. By these, no money will be receivod for the issuing of s.umm,qnses, or the payment of hearing fees, all payments fqr hearing, &c, hiring to be paid m stamps, and at the time of taking out the, summons. There will be regular law stamps of various values, and no doubt to, facilitate matters, licenses will he granted for their sale, so that they can be obtained flkewhava than at tha pqat office. The arrangemant w-ill cantatnly be a change* but we consider it will b.e a nuisance rot her than an advantage. The only pro.ba.hle good that we can anticipate is. the gain to the revenue by the individual loss of thos.o who are not careful of 8.U.C.11 easily-destroyed cur»ar,cy, A special mooting of the Pnlmers.hon Borough Council was helrj on Wednesday evening, at half-past six. fo.r. the purpose of giving effect to* tha following yesolu,tion of which notice ha* been Riven by Oo.unrillor. Oolerann, :— "^hafc the following b,ye laws th.aH he adopted m arjco.rdinnfl wtth Section 12, Clause 34(X of the Municipal OoppAration'* Act, iSTG.— That the Council *hall hare power to. const-mot footway where necessary, jn accordance with. Olau«es 29& and 203 of tha Municipal Oo,r.p.oratrons Aot, 1876, and that half the cost ot s,uch. fo.qtway shall ba 9, charge upon, the owners or occupier* of tha Jan^i, nnd buildings front in* mch footways..'* The motion was seconded b/r Councillor. Roe, and carried unanimously — The Town Clark wad a oo,nv municntian. which, he hurl wopire^ from the Colonial Secretary's OiTfce, willy raga.r.d to the election of Qeorga if.jSnelson, wtioreupto.n M,r. Snehon inude the u,*uul afuciavit upon taking ojfiea a* Major, fan IS7SW l^o doubt our readers have. Uaar.-r of t\» younffladv m Dtunerlin. who not long since wa* dinoovered k.iiockina; m vain at one of t he po3t-offine pillars which adorn that city. Upon being interrogated urxon her want, shastateiithat she was. a young bvly from the count i\y, that hen name wn.s Many Smith, and that s.he was anxious to. know if there weroany letter* For her, but had bean knocking for. fuHv an hour, but could nn.t get. nn answer. On Thursday a lady, of tha Maori persuasion was seen hanging round the floor of Tyrep. and Huffs' studio for. so ma time, with' aomethins evidently upo.i her j mind. A flan repeated pfrhyrinations to and [fro, during which inward counsel was bainff taken, she entered the shop and asked of the proprietor* : "How long nm take to havea picture, when urn leave urn measure?" Tha answer- must have been satisfactory, as tho^e who ane anxious to scan the du«ky features of the heroine, can do sq by 4 visit to the establishment m question. The County Council held its usual sitting yesterday, but. up to the departure of the afternoon train, the business had not progressed beyond the reading of the correspondence. * Before the confirmation of the minutes Councillor- Bookstrow rose to object to the resolution proposed by Councillor Haicombe at its last sitting, but the chairman ruled that it was not competent tdjetoso. If the minutes were a correct record of all that had been done— rlegnl or. iilestai-^fchrtl wa* all the Council had to deal with, the illegality of the course pursued could he dealt with by a direct motion to thnt effect. Mr Loudon had a petition from his constituent, askin? the Council to rescind the ahnqxiou.3 resolution, but being anxious to. gat tha fijll voice of the .body, m theabsen'-e of Oouncillon Linton, and San' son, he held it over until next meet ins;. ThenQimnitteeqf the Pnlmerston Cricket Club,have very wisely determined to take advantage of the influx of our Country Can-in* on-Boxint; D*v to unread their ti"t? for any stray coin which may remain after the Sports F&te has terminated. Wiih the .«^t* VV-T49W they h^ff prjfa.wa a fe^

capital programme of an entertainment to bo given m aid of the funds of the Club on Boiing night, which mar be seen m our odTertisint» eolnrans. While vre congratulate them, however, upon their shrewdness m selecting such an evening, we regret we cannot compliment them upon the tariff of admission. -*We do not know who is responsible for the absurdly high figure at which the , prioe of admission has been fixed, but certainly it is anything but judicious. If, as we have been told I ,' the idea is to have the audience a select one, then certainly the step i 3 a wise on&; but we imagine the'inembera of the Club would bo prepared to sacrifice such exclusireneas m order to effebt the qbject for whichthe entertainment ii being given — putting much needed funds m the hands of the treasurer— -and to our mind" th.c prohibitive price; asked will go a long way lo defeat that end. We have heard several complaints qf the action of the Balmerston Sports Committee m granting points toward the chs*m,piqn prize fox such events as the jumps, throwing the cricket ball, tilling, &c, and certainly the arguments advanced m suppout of them are not without reason. It is held to be utterly absqrd that a oqnipetitor who aftpr weeks, Qf hard, training, a,nd. poss.ib.ly giving long odds to opponents, should, if ho be successful, secure the samp riuiubar. of of points as a man who without ai>y handicap whatever, and perhaps against the lowest nijmber of competitors allowed, m,a.y happen to be successful. Th,is certainly is sound logic, for as matters are novv, the winner of the quoits and cricket hall throwing may secure the highest number of' points by a fluke, i&d so become the Champion without haying taken the least trouble m the matter, jf all the events were handicapped, and the winner of each had the same drnvb'Kjks pla.te I m .his way as m the flat races, then certainly there might be a show qf fatrqesß, but. as it is. we confess the arrangoment is stupidly ahsurd and unjust to the ru.nn.era. In justice to a certain portion of the oqinmittfe we must state that the decision arrived at w>ts by no means uninimous, but was carried after a hard qtri^ggle. As. a m,o,st refreshing contrast to the slate of foeling m Qther. public bodies m this Cornty, it may he mentioned tb,at at th,e clos.e qf the B.oro.ugh m,eatmgon Wednesday night, his Worshifl tl^e S^ajfop was. invited to a supper given to, him by his. brother councillors as a tribute of respect for the able manner m which ho had filled the position qf Chief Magistrate. Councillor Uqle.man qacupied the chair, and Councillor Marsh theTice-cliair.; and tb,e former, m propqaing the health of the guest, referred m high terms to tha able and impartial mani^r m which Mr Slnelsoin had acquitted t himself of the duties. Qf his o%e, and Vho ' harmonious manner m which the Council as a whoie had vroi'lw} together fo.r the benefitof the town. The proceedings \yure of a private chara,<ster, being, confined tq Councillors an,d Corporation of^uidls, and passing off m the ma9t ag)«e9ahle manner. Tlje •prsad wns. given at Mr VyakeQe!d,'s Tempar-i aiu-e Ho el, while tha winej, which, were of ; excellent quality, wera supplied by Air f^qe, of the Palmerston Hotel, In responding tq the coninjiraeut paid to him, the Mayor snid that much of the success, which had : attended his administration of of%e ha 4 been due to the hearty and cordial support which he had received from Councillors individually and collectively. The expression of gqod wishes whioh had been evinced • both by and at the gathering that night w.- S. a pleading and cheering in.d.ex that his efforts hi\d been, siu-cessfuL He spoke strongly m favor of th^astep which hnd been initiated of celebrating the. termination of the mu.nit!^p,fil year, and trusted that each H^ceecliug year, would find as )ia.p,fty a, clp^Ug aa. the one they then oelebmted.