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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 32, 26 February 1879, Page 2

The Saw Feanoisco MAiiii-r-We have been. requested* to nofcif v that* the o.ufcward 1 English -Mail, -W San Francisco, will olose .at Feilding. at five .'o'clock yandL at PalmerBJ^i«*\quftrJer to eight ip morrow- evening.;

Croavded Out. — In consequence of an extra crush of advertising favors, we are compelled to hold over our report of the Acclimatisation Society's meeting, "Under the Microscope," and several items of local intelligence. Asn "Wednesday. — To-day, being Ash Wednesday, the first day m Lent, Maas will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Church Palmeraton, at nhie o'clock. Tn~K Third Train to Foxton.— ln response to our paragraph regarding the third train to Foxton, we ai'e pleased to hear from the General Manager that it is from causes entirely beyond his control that Mr. Lawson has not kept the promise made m October. Mr. Rotheram further informs us that the Commissioner is making every endeavor to send another engine to the line, and that it is more than probable the three trains per day will be m force next month. The Feildino- School. — In our last issue, m giving a description of the additions which have been made to tho school, it was stated that the average attendance of scholars was 120 to 140 per day. We have since been informed on reliable authority that if a sufficient quantity of desks were available, the number attending would be about 200. As soon as the compulsory clases of the Education Act were pat m force, it was expected that the average attendanco would be about 250 or 260 pupils of all age 3. These facts .speak for the great progress which Feilding has made during its short career. The Denbigh Hotel, Feildtno. — During the past few days rumors have been going around Palmewton and Feilding that the above well-known and popular hostelry was about to change hands. Some would have it that. the hotel wa.3 to be sold, whilst others satisfied themselves by saying that it was only to be let for a certain poriod. We have Mr. Roe's authority for stating that there is no foundation whatever m either rumor. He has not, he inform? us, the j least intention of parting with his hotel at the present time. Important Sale ov Rommey Marsh Rams. — We again call th& attention of purchasers of stock to the sale to-day by Messrs Thynne, Linton, & Co. of thorough-bred rams. In addition however to the splendid lots previously advertised, we notice a valuable "addition has been made to it from the i flock of Mr. W. Aker3, of Rivewdale. The sale will take place at Foxton, at two o'clock. A Challenge.— As will be seen by a reference to our advertising columns, a challenge has been issued by John Henderson to run William Delaney at Feilding, for a sum of £&5 to £50 a-side, on a date to be agreed upon by both parties. The- ©vent, should the challenge be accepted, which we understand to b& very probable, will be run | m ihree distances of 100, 200, and 300 yards — ta be decided, we presume, by points. The challenge is already a topic of conversation amongst those who take an interest m sporting matters m Feilding. The Taoniti Dbferrbd Paymentßlock. His Worship the Mayor has kindly handed us for publication, the following letter received from the General Crown Lands Office, m reply to a communication from him on the subject : — Sir, — I have the hoaor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th of December last, and inreply to inform y»u that instructions have been given by the Engineer m charge of the North Island to have the work for which funds were provided by item No. 21, Vote 87 m tho Estimate.* of the current Financial Year, executed under the superintendence of the Public Works Department." A Deserving Case. — We- have been asked to bring the case of James M'Keown, under the notice of the charitable. The unfortunate fellow some short time ago had his arm dislocated, and ha 3 been forced to go to Wanganui Hospital for relief j meanwhile hia wife and four children are m a perfectly destitute condition. What make 3 the case the more pitiable is that Mrs. M' ; Keown has been, only a few days confined, not having yet arisen from her bed, with no one to give her or the hclple33 young family ; a mouthful of food. A subscription list lies at this offise, and we will be happy to receive donations for the poor fellow, who bears the reputation of being a thoroughly honest and industrious man. StillAnothebßbsignation. — We hear with regret mingled with pleasure that Mr. Bernard Newcombe, who has been for the •past few years m charge of the Goods-sheds at Palmereton, has tendered his resignation t .of .the position, Our regret is at the loss to the Department of such an energetic and civil-officer, and pleasure that his resignation should proceed front- circumstances which will be to his advantage. . Mr. Newcombe some time since purchased land m Fitzherberfc, and it is with the intention of set- ' tling upon it that he has severed ht3 connection with the Department. We are sure !every one with whom he has been brought into contact, will wish him hearty success m his new'sphere. - : Pedbstrianism. I—The1 — The quarter of a mile race between William Delaney and Mark Johnson came off at Feilding on Saturday. The rase took place along Manchester street, as it- was found, that after, the recent rain the paddock where the contest was to have taken place was rather Blippery. A large number of spectators assembled to witness the match, which apparently created a good deal of local interest. Both competitor* starte^d from scratch, Delaney taking the lead, which he kept up to the finish, winning very easily. The time, according to Mr. G. Bray, who acted as timekeeper, was 1-min. 5 sec, whilst some of the bystanders, with watch m hand, were inclined to think that the distance was run m less than the minute. We believe, however, that the authorised timekeeper., was something very near the mark. The: amount staked was £20 a-side, Mr. C. Roe, of the Denbigh Hotel, being the stake-holder. There were a good many small bets on the event, both competitors having a number of backers, iPairNY.WisE^.Aiip Pound Foolish; — The exorbitant and preposterous wages demanded by agricultural laborers alt over the country is more than likely m the long run to'rec&U upon the. men themselves, as we , learn thfMj .many farmers, enlightened by the experience^ of the .present, are determined not to crop next' season. We know of one instance, t^iat of. Mr. Aker3, of River-dale,-Fitzherbert, who although h« has had a yield of from sixty to seventy bushels to the acre, will find a balance, at the end of the season on the wrong side of the ledger. This is owing to the high rate of wages ruling, and the low value of wheat at present m the market. We regret to hear ,thab M>. Aker 3' case is not an isolated one, and that several of the farmers of Jackey town have had the same experience. The agricultural laborers are certainly not studying .their own interests, when they ask terms which drive . the farmers to such steps, for although their demands ■ may be conceded for the time, they may rest assured measures will be taken either by the importation of 'oiachinery or, otherwise. to make the far-, mers independent of their services. ' ' , Ax -Explanation.— -Mr. Sfcuarfc Whiley .has written to «» in refereriee.to our Police 'Court' 'paragraph, m tastisue.", We.are only too happy to give him or anyone else an opportunity "of explaining anything which may be, calculated to reflect upon their character^ and we therefore publish the portion of Mr W-hiley's letter which ha 9 reference to himBelf;?He, however makes charges against the landlord of the Clarendon, which may, or may not be true, but aa Mv Whiley had a.n

opportunity of proving them m Court and did ibt do so, we are inclined to believe they We no foundation, and decline their publication. He says : — " It is not true that I hav^ been loitering 'about the Square for some Weeks past. Five weeks ago I came .from, Wellington to work at the Woodware Factory," the first of which I worked ; the seconc, I was ill ; the third, about, but' not strong enough to work, and certainly'loitered about that week ; the last two weeks I workjd^except on that unfortunate day on whi<h I went to Mr Carroll's house. I certainly did use bad langnage.-but it was under'-stirpng excitement. The fines and exponssaOVlr. Venn kindly lent me, and not gave me, as some may imagine from the report." We publish the foregoing with .more pleasure."; than w« did the paragraph of which he complains, and as we hear he is an excellent workman, we trust he will leave it out of the power of any landlord to give him into custody. Cricket. — A meeting of the Committee of the Palmerston Cr.\jket Club was held at the Eoyal Hotel on Saturday evening, when a challenge was read from a team from itfapier, to play on the Palmerston Ground on" Patrick's Day. The secretary was instructed to write accepting the same. | We understand the visitors, who are com- [ prised of a combination team from Napier and Waipukurau, intend, if the challenges are accepted, playing Palmerston on the 17th March, Feilding on the 18th, Marton on the 19th,%ahd a two-days' match with Wanganui on the 21st, and 22nd of March. As the return contest between Palmerston and Feilding. takes place next Saturday, it is particularly requested that those who are to take part m the match will avail themselves of the interval for practice. The local team will be considerably strengthened by the addition of Mr. Walker, of Karere, who although a member, has never so far don© battle for the club. Before the meeting adjourned, the Hon. Secretary was instructed to communicate with Foxton, and learn if it would be convenient to play the return match with it on Saturday, the Bth prox. Too Much of a Good* Thing. — Economy is a very excellent commodity, but there is just a possibility of having a "leettle too much of it,"- and that appears to be the condition of our paternal Government at the present time. As we notice elsewhere the plans and specifications for the new Palmerston Police Station have arrived, but the policy to be adopted m seeking tenders is of a novel nature. The police officer m charge of the- district has been instructed to make a ho'use-to-houae canvass of those ; persons who might possibly put m a tender, and invite them to do so. We feel quite convinced Constable Gillespie will honestly carry ouf his orders ; but of course he cannot be expected to visit Foxton, or Feilding, or Sanson, or Marton on his touting expedition, and we ask why should the builders of those townships be debarred from competing for tbe work. If the course adopted [ be on 'the score of orginality, then we say the Colonial Architect ha 9 decidedly scored a win ; if it be on the score of expedition, we shall bide our time and see ;.but if it be as a matter of economy, we unhesitatingly, pronounce the experiment a rank failure. 'Tis true the Government will save the shillings spent m advertising, but it may lose pounds upon tfa c contract. Anotheb New Indusibt. — We have been informed that there is a probability of an effort being made to start a soap and candle manufactory m Palmerston, and. that a meeting will be called during the- ensuing week to ascertain what amount of support the project would be likely to get, should a company be formed for the purpose^ There is any quantity of the requisite material m the district; and if properly managed, we think that .the- new industry could be made a financial success; 4?he factory m Adelaide" Road, Wellington, owned by the Messrs. Kitchen, has for some time been unable to supply all th© orders which they receive, bo rapidly has fheir trade increased. It is only a short time since "EEey considerably added to the premises which they purchased from Mr. Gaby, and it was recently Btated ■ that they still further intended to enlarge. But the Messrs. Kitchen had a large experience m the business, and brought some of their best workmen from their manufactory m Melbourne to. Wellington. To a great extent, that would account for their being so very successful m Wellington. However, tv© see no reason why, if a company were formed m Palmerston, and a thoroughly competent manager appointed, the project should not be a success, and why good and skilful workmen coned not be obtained her© as well as m Wellington. We trust to see tha matter warmly taken tip, because every industry which is added to those already m existenco m the.district will tend to open up a larger trade for the farmer, and to increase the general prosperity. • Thb Nbw*%6lice Station. — The plans and specifications for the police station have at last reached Palmerston. Why they have hot arrived long before now is a mystery to everybody, except to tha% class of individuals who have gained immortality m the pages of " Little Dorritt." The plans are lithographed ones, and are exactly similar, to those which are now usually prepared for up-country towns m many portions of the Colony ; w.hilst the specifications are : printed m the same words, m the same type, and m the same blue foolscap paper, as similar specifications have been printed for years past. It is some comfort, however, to know that they have at length been reluctantly dragged forth from those who make " howr-not-to-do-it " their peculiar study. Having said so much byway of preface, we shall now endeavor to give a sketch of the buildings, which will comprise a cottage containing parlor, two bed-rooms, kitchen, pantry, .and. porch : m addition to which there .wilt be a lock-up and stable. The parlor Will be 12 feet square. One j bed-room wilj'be i 14 feet long.-i&nd the other '12 feet -'whilst both will be 12 feet wide, and 12;teet high. The kitchen 'is to be 10 feetlong, by 12 feet wide, but will not be quite so. high as the other portion of the building, as it slope? a little to the back. The*© will be a hall 4 feet wide, with doors leading .from thenoe to parlor, bed-rooras, and kitchen ; whilst a verandah, 17 feet long, by 4"sect..wide, is to be erected m front.. ' The cßTithg^^tre to be match-lined, and the walhHbf the parlor, bed-ro6n:s, and passage are to, be rough match-lined. The parlor, bed -room, and passage will be Bcrimtned and papered, the Patter, of approved patterns. The roof is to be covered with corrugated-, iron, and m front of the building the words "Police Station, 1879," are' to be -painted. Two 400-gallon iron tanks are also provided for. The lock-up will contain two cells, each of which will be 6 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet high. 'A' new two-stspl stable will, also be erected, witV^inange^ t Qere " to be » v store attachea- which will contain a nay aha corn bin, 8 feet long. The buildings are td>be erected on " the ground adjacent to the Court-hotfie, and we shall be pleased to see Cons&ble" Gillespie duly installed therein. ;• Cubing tftfß Bijaoks.— The electricians of the Australian Overland Telegraph line have cured the hostile natives about Macdonald's Peak of a propensity to cut the wire, byconnecting.it to a powerful induction coil, andadmmistering a small thunderstroke to the boldest of them. The black is not a Very reverent individual, but he respects lightning.