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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 25, 1 February 1879, Page 2

The Manawatu Hebald. — We have to apologise to our Foxton contemporary for not noticing the many little kind- allusions with regard tD us m its last issue, but inasmuch as we did not receive our copy until a late hour last evening, we are unable to do so m this number. It may rest as-sured we will acquit ourselves of the debt on the first opportunity. St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Palmerston. — We understand it ia intended to give an entertainment at an early dato m aid of the Catholic Church, Palmerston. A number of fche principal vocalists m the town have generously promised their services, and every effort will be made to make the entertainment a success. As will be seen m another column, the funds of the church are m a very low state, and consequently help is much required. More Settlers. — We are pleased to hoar that another new settler has been added to the district, m the person of Mr. Wordsworth, one of the survivors of the ill-fated ship Strathmoro. The property purchased is four hundred and fifty acres m Fizherbert, belonging to Mr. Carroll, of the Clarendon Hotel. As showing the value of land m the mu'-h-negleoted Fitzherbert, we may state that less than a year ago Mr. Carroll took up tbis Barae land at £L per acre, for which he Iks:*} nr.v rcjoLed. almost four times that amount. AoVAf<G'_ FiTzt^jntnisßTj — 'Wo-liea* with much pleasure that the Government have given insfcrnotidns t.*> Mr. Riwson, surveyor, to survey twelve thousand acres of land, set apart on the deferred payment system, close to Fitzherberfc. As this land will not possibly cost more than five shillings per acre, and its present market; value is £A, that one block alone will put a ni.:e I .fetid .sum into the Treasury, but it is only a tithe of what would bo realised by the oponing up of the country by 'the railway. Keep my Name out ov the Papers. — Shame of exposure is a powerful motor m making men honest, aud the dread of figuring m the defaulters' list published by the Manawatu Highways Board has made some pay up who otherwise would never have disgorged. We believe tlio Secretary of the Board has recently been interviewed by ratepayers — or, more correctly speaking, non-ratopayers — with whom his acquaintance hitherto -has only bsen to the extent of attaching their names to the printed application for payment. A Mean Thief. — Some rascally scoun drel has stolen the cocoa-nut matting upon which the cricketers practise. The two breadths had been sown .to gether, but that evidently was an inconvenient size, either for carrying away, or for domestic u*e, so the prowler ripped it m two and took haf f. The members of the Club intend letting fche remaining portion stop where it is, m the hope that the industrious indivdidual may pay them another visit, when no doubt he will find himself either stumped or clean bowled out. Joking apart, the theft is a most contemptible one, and wo only hope the perpetrator may be discovered and receive a fitting reward. Off 02? the Wing. — Our esteemed fel-low-townsmen, 'Henry McNeil and Peter Manson, took their departUre-by" fiie Napiercoach on Tuesday morning, en route for "T.'iupu-i'iu ecaycii -of ■ hoa&'lwm-.L.aergation. We believe they both intend to rusticate for »*.couple-__4_aonfch : s at the Hot Springs, and •is . neither gentlemen are as strong as we could wish them, we trust -to see both re--turh- .invigorated by the healing powora-^or which the. Springs are "celebrated. Speaking -the circumstance, ajfacetioiis frieridLmggested that the tourists should change their .liquor.&an'd with sucsh a plentiful supply of hot water so conveniently at hand, go m for the orthodox whiskey punch, instead of grog. A Queer Decision — We leara with surprise and regret that Sergeant Donnelly is to be reduced. for the pari; which be took m the row with Constable Buchanan. We fail to see the legality, not to say equity, of such a proceeding. He was on loave of absence, and de facto a layman, at the time of the assault, as such was brought up and dealt with at the Police Court, and we hold that it was not competent for Commissioner Sherman to deal with tho matter officially. Smarting under a supposed injury, Sergeant Donnellv committed a breach of the peace, for which ho was very properly punished ; but suppose Sergeant Donnelly had taken out his leave of absence m Dunedin or elsewhere and become involyed m a quarrel, for which he paid tbe penalty, would his superior officen bo presumed to take cognisance of the' matter .?_ The decision may be pcouli'ir to tho Department, but not likely to be endorse! by public opinion. A Narrow Esc A rR. — We understf-np that the Stoney Creek Sshoolhonsq had an almost miraculous escape from destruct'on on Sunday. As is well known, bush fires were fiercely burning upon that day, and through the shifting of fche wind, the bush m t]te immediate vicinity of the school took fire, placing^ho building m such a position aa to leave very grave feara foi* ita safety. At one time the iUmea had been conva.yod ty the g«aa4 iWdflttWato &* tovlSfogj tort

fortunately, by stivnu^ua efforts was subdued j but we regret to say, however, that m order to do so a large amount" of fencing had to be pulled down to stay the progress of the flamea. It is moat fortunate that it occurred on a Sunday, for were it noMor the unremitting labors of tlio setfcler3,..the building would have been destroyed, aaAof course on a week-day they would have been otherwise engaged. Aa an instance of the danger to property from the large masses of burning material which are blown from tree to. tree, we were informed by a settler living six milea from the scene of the fire that on that day a perfect shower of blackened cinders and flakes of soot wa3 scattered all over hia grounds. The Stoney Ceeek School.— The election for members of committee to serve du-.. ring the ensuing twelve months, took place on Monday evening, with the following result : — Measra. Grammar, Cavanagh, Biixt, Larsen, Christiansen, K. McKenzie, and Walton. The first meeting of the neAv committee will bo held on Monday evening, at which tho chairman will be elected, "the choice, no doubt, falling upon Mr. Alfred Grammar, who bo ably presided over the proceedings during the yeai-. At the last sitting tbe teacher gave notice of her intention to resign her trust — haying accepted an engagement of a more satisfactory and lasting character — and asked to be relieved of her charge against fche 2Sth of February. The resignation was received with regret, and it was determined to make application to the Board for a male teacher, as it was thought were less liable to changes of life which necessitated their resigning their posts. . ... .. ... A Skollebly Apistol. — The following Tcry unique production was -reseived by the Chairman of the Pahnei-ston School Committee. We give it verbatim et 'literatim as a specimen of orthography, but being unable to convey m print the graceful penmanahip m which the " apistol " wa3* forwarded, it ia shorn of half it 3 charms :— " Wonganui, Jan. 27, 1879— Sir, I take the liberty have been inatrucked by my frenda that you where giving out the prizua of the palmeraton scollara. As I were one of them. Aa I were under Mr. Whaita before he died. I shud not have sent for it only! were | nearly three years m the scool. I passed m the first book, and gained the first priz, and never received it. plea 3 Mr. Chairman, Sir, mother 3aid she will pay all expenses post or rail, if you will send it pleas, I remain yours palmerston scollar, , Wonganui." Our readers will agree with us that it is most reprehensible on the part of tho Committee to keep a prize from such a " scollar." The Waikanae- Palmebston Railway. — The Foxton and Sandon people are not to have it all their own way m the matter of meetings, aa we hear a monster gathering is to be held at Foilding at an early date. Mr. Halcombe is afc present m tho South Island, but immediately on his return an evening will be fixed upon. We believe it is the intention of a large number of Palmerston men to be present, and take part m the proceedings. And apropos of tae matter, it ia contemplated by the people of the Upper District to organise a survey party to have a route surveyed from Fitzherbert south. A coinpafcenfc surveyor will first cut the track, and then Messrs. Halcombe, Snelson, Dalrymple, and others intend to thoroughly inspect it and procure statistics to be laid before the Minister of Public Works when he visits the district. The Sandon Railway. — Since our subleader W. 13 m type we notice that our esteemed cohtemparary at Marton has again j come to the front, and is still puzzled, shocked, and grieved at the heartless seliishncis of txYs-ng foi- a lino tnmmta Fir.r.herberfc. Well, well ! Hitherto our con-temp.iMJ-y has been conviiniantly_^d'.imt> ,. and now it ia blind — wilfully blind. It is I m an unhealthy stato, but we hope the dose administered may hare a beneficial effejt. Considering that the matter has been so thoroughly well ventilated, m the Press and on the platform, our contemporary'a innocence ia .certainly rather suspicious. In answer to the charges of secret wire-pulling, we will give the following damning proof that it has all been on the "injured side." Will any one deny that the first clau-eof the Bill introdu.-od by Mr Travers was that that " The Short Title of this Act ahall be, ' The Hutt, Waikanae, and Palmerston North Railway Act, 1877." So far so good. Now, Mr. John G-ower distinctly states that but for Mr. Halcombe's interf erance fche Government hai decided that the line should go to Foxton. Aha, Mr John Gower ; how now about; secret wire-pulling? The Government had never declared its decision openly until receipt of Mr Snelson's letter; and when brought to ta3k for their underhand dealing, very properly repudiated the secret arrangement, much to the chagrin and mortification of Mr John Gower. Tbe Goveenment and the Sleepers. — We have to convey our thanks to the Now Zealand Times for bringing promii nently before the public the a. 'tion of the G-orempienfc with regard to tpe railway sleepers. Since the article was written, we have been speaking to several saw millers m tho district, and they one and aH ridiculed the assertion that the (supply could not be obtained without going out of the Provincial District. When it is taken '' into consideration that one million sleepers represents an outlay of considerably ovo^ £103,000, we think it will be admitted, should we be the mains of having this sum kept m the colony.iwe will have' done the ."Stato good service. And Apropos of tim matter, we notice that the Public Works are advertising ih the Ministerial organs ''for 25,000 sleepsrs, to b 8 delivered at any station between foxton' and "Wanganui, but m this particular district, from whe'nee'the tenders are supposed to, come, Mr. Blackett has made noTsign. * _^u'n_o'r h&fch ifofcHafc dissolution is close at hand, and that a reconstruction of „ the ; pre.senfc,Jf not a new Cabinet, will lik'ety'talfe'^la !"b," and it ia 'devoutly to bo hoped that the originators of- the " patronage policy" will berjpolegated to deserved obscurity. Of all ""the " silly folly imaginably, ia, cheese paring m the' matter of {calling 'for* tfenders,~where an extra £b expended m judicious advertising may be the means': of. saving perhaps one hundred time 3 fche amount.