LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 82, 11 October 1879, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Thb Volunteer?.— There -was a very fair muster of the Manchester Rifle 3at drill on Monday evening. There will be an inspection parade on Tuesday evening. Cricket. — Though the fine weather seems to have sot m, no signs of vitality have manifested themselves m our cricketing community. If Feil ling is to hold its own m the present seaaon, it is high time that practice should be commenced. Auction Sale. — Mr. Snelson, for Mr. Maysmor, held an auction sale of a bankrupts'stock, on Wednesday at Mr. Maysmor's rooms. The attendance wai rather limited and the bidding anything but brisk. Some of the lots however fetched satisfactory prices. The sale was of too miscellaneous a nature to give quotations. A String- Band foii FErcorya. — A meeting convened by advertisement was held m Mr. Booth's office on Wednesday evening immediately after the meeting of I the sports committee. Only some half-dozen j interested m the formation of such a band [ attended, and instead of having a formal meeting the subject was talked over m friendly and conversational manner. It was pointed out that tbe Public Hall would be ; opened m about a couple of months, and that- the opening ceremonial would be much ■ more complete if a string band were present. There were many occasions on which its services would be called into requisition, and there could be no doubt that a local string .band would prove a great acquisition to the township. This was generally admitted, but the difficulty vfas to. find members. After several suggestions it was agreed that those [ present should form a string band, and also resolve themselves into a committee for the 1 purpose of canvassing the. town for an ac--1 cession of members. j Potato. Faitine.— Many have heard or read of the potato famine m Ireland, but 'that was ".not a, patch on" the state of things m Feilding. There is not a potato to be had m any of the. s,tore3 for. love or money ! Our farmers must surely manage their affaira with a little, want of tact when they sell dean out. Reserving, a portion of their crop, and waiting a few mouths, they would- easily obtain an advance of- more than two hundred per. cenfr. advance on that figure. Potatoes, just before the new ones come ir M always, command high prices — from £8= to £10 a ton, — and it is evidently a mistake, to Be"U clean out when the market is- .down. We. have, heard of potatoes from this district— -shipped to Wellington not many weeks ago — being shipped back again to. Wanganui at an adyan.ce, of fifty per cent: on the buying price. Erom all accounts Palmerston is as badly off i^ this respect as Folding. . jThb CiraiSTjua. Sroa^s.-^lt. will be, seen from our report of the first meeting of thb General committee that there, is a probability of opposition sppr^s being organised .m the interests of the Licensed Victuallers. This is much to be regretted aud \v;e think the movement, if really contemplated is very ill-advised. On the occasion of the last -.sports' the licensed victuallers did a vsry \. ' >■ ' " ' '"" " *'■ ' '-" '" "'" ".' * •-'

sjood business m their resjn'ctive lu^els and this year there is every probability of their doing evtn better owing to the deservedly high reputation for good management and orderly conduct which our 9ports have ob. tamed. An increased influx of visitors means increased business at the hotels and we must strongly deprecate any such attempts as tli at which is alleged is contemplated. Its effect would be simply to diminish the amount offered m prizes and to detract immensely from tho interest and attractiveness of the sports. We fully endorse the action of the committee m the matter as the sports will continue to partake more of the character of a pic-nic than of a race meeting, and will be, on that account, more generally patronised by ladies and families.