PALMERSTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 53, 27 January 1872, Page 5

PALMERSTON.

(from otje own cobeespondent.) Since my last letter I am pleased to inform you that the Government have decided upon carrying through to Foxton the tramway, and they now call for tenders to complete the distance, viz., twenty-one miles. This surely will convince the most sceptical that the Government are really in earnest and intend to fulfil all pledges of this nature entered into by them. The work on the new proposed line of railway, about four to five miles distant from the township, I hear, is for the present stopped, in consequence, I believe, of holding in readiness some work to offer to Colonel Fielding's immigrants when they arrive. The block chosen by him, when he travelled through this district, is a most desirable one, but our worthy Superintendent, in conjunction with his honorable colleagues, has, I believe, reserved a 12,000 acre block on the opposite side of the proposed line of railway to be given, on deferred payments, to bona fide settlers from among our midst. A 10,000 acre block is also reserved for a like purpose nearer to Palmerstqn. During the past week we have been honored by the presence of the Premier, accompanied by Mrs Fox. We cannot but feel very pleased that the interest he has at all times evinced in the success of this district has not abated one iota since he last visited us, and the marked change he sees will, I trust, satisfy him that the country about us is such as to warrant, even as a speculation, the fulfilment of the works already agreed upon. From a friend, who has just been to Wellington, I learn with pleasure that Messrs Fitzherbert, Bunny, and Holdsworth are likely, at the end of January, , to travel this far—l hope with the idea of throwing the land at present locked up into the market, and also of starting new surveys. Talking of surveys, lam told on the best authority that our local surveyor, who has been laying off and planning the blocks for the Norwegian immigrants, cannot even get a proportionate percentage on the work he has done for the Provincial Government, much less a settlement. This is very bad, as the work has been done now nearly three months, and the poor fellow is put to all sorts of shifts to make a living out of it. The matter, I feel sure, only wants properly representing at head-quartets to get immediate justice. From political I will now treat on clerical matters. Since the settlement of the Scandinavians in Palmerston, the sound of the Gospel has never been heard amongst us. I would suggest that the various denominations of Christians in Wellington should make a collection on a certain Sunday for the purpose of raising funds to build a church, and give us an occasional preacher. I have no doubt the amount collected would be much augmented by the people of this neighborhood. We read and hear much of missionary work; surely this is a case in point which needs such.