PALMERSTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4361, 12 March 1875, Page 3

PALMERSTON.

| (fbom our own correspondent.) March 8, A meeting of Wesleyans was held in the school-room on Monday evening, but it was not very numerously attended. Mr. Linton was voted to the chair." The chairman, having apologised for the absence of the Rev. Mr. Hammond, stated the object for which the meeting had been convened—the appointment of a building committee. They had subscriptions promised to the amouut, in round numbers, of £IOO, and he thought that the erection of a chapel should be commenced without further delay. A committee had been appointed by Mr. Hammond some time ago, but it was thought desirable that the appointment should be made by a public meeting ; and that was the reason of their being called together. He would suggest that the former committee should be renominated. Mr. Keely moved that Messrs. Linton, Jensen, Naunstead, Richter, T>errin, and Dillon be appointed the building committee, with power to increase their number. The motion having been seconded by Mr. Tiller, was carried. It was agreed that the office-bearers be the same as were previously appointed, viz., Mr. Linton, secretary ; Mr. Jensen, treasurer ; and,Mr. Richter, building inspector. Mr. Naunstead then moved that the thanks of the meeting be conveyed to Mr. Kebblewhite (of Masterton) for his liberal donation of a site. Mr. Tiller seconded the motion, which was carried. The chairman said they were starting under very favorable circumstances ; they had £IOO subscribed, every shilling of which he was convinced would be paid, and their credit was good at the mill. He thought they ought to lose no time in commencing operations. Mr. Naunstead said the mill would supply the timber, and wait for payment until it was convenient. Tenders were then ordered to be called for, to be sent in to the secretary within fy fortnight. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. The plans and specifications were laid on the table, and inspected by those present. The building will be neat, plain, and unpretending, and capable of accommodating 200 persons. Tenders which had been called for »y the Highway Board, for clearing of a line of road to the town reserves, were opened by the Committee of Works on Tuesday, and that of Gilbrand Hansen, at £2 per chain, was accepted ; the others ranged from that amount to £2 16s. This is a very important work, as it will open up the land lying between the township and the reserves, and in addition will bring the special settlement of Fitzherbert Town, to be founded by the Provincial Government, into commercial relationship with Palmerston. Instructions have also been received by Mr. Graff, the resident provincial engineer, to see whether this would not be the best site for the bridge over the Manawatu, in connection with the deviation of the great N.W. road, as recommended by the Provincial Council last session. There can be little doubt that the engineer's report will be favorable, for if the road be carried over the river here, instead of where originally contemplated, it will open up a vast extent of some of the finest land in the province. There are extensive areas of fine open agricultural land in the district, which the road will open up, and some of the finest totara bush to bo found in the colony. The natives, too, do not wish the road to be carried as originally intended along the boundary of their land, and quietly requested Mr. Graff, when surveying that line a week or two since, " to go away and take the road further off." The high wind of Wednesday carried burning bits of bush from the fires of those who were burning off, and the consequence was that the bush caught fire in several different places. The most serious fire occurred near where the new railway crosses the Gorge-road. Here several small tenements were consumed or dismantled in hot haste. The inmates, however, in ■ each case succeeded in saving their effects and household goods. The effect of the bush fires as darkness supervened was charmingly picturesque. I had hoped to have been able to inform you that the telegraph difficulty had been settled. In the early part of the week it was generally understood that such was the case, but at the last moment the natives refused to conclude the arrangement finally and definitely until the Native Minister had met a committee of natives. There is no doubt at all that the matter is virtually settled, and in a few days the settlement will be ratified.

There is a probability that we shall soon have the services of a resident medical man. Mr. F. St. John Akers, M.D., was over here the other day having a look round. I believe he came at the invitation of the Feilding authorities, and if the prospects are sufficiently tempting it is JVIr. Akers's intention to take charge of the Palmerston, Feilding, and Sandon district. I am happy to say that the substitution of iron for wooden rails has been commenced on the Foxton tramway. Here, however, my felicitations must stop, for at the present rate of progress it will tako twelve years to finish laying the entire distance. It is to be hoped that the Government will he able to expedite the work very considerably. On tho score of economy alone such a course must commend itself, for, owing to the great traffic carried on the line, the cost of repairing the wooden rails will be no insignificant item. This traffic will [ soon be materially increased, as I learn that the erection of another mill is contemplated—in fact, that the plant is on the way. The Government deserve credit for an unobtrusive yet very useful "public work." I allude to the widening and clearing of the dyke that skirts the tramway. Tins is being cleared to a width of seven feet at the top and three at the base, with a depth of about five feet. This will, if sufficient fall can be obtained, carry off an immense body of water, and it will, no doubt, be many years before our Scandinavian friends will have to pass such an uncomfortable time as they had last winter.

[By some unaccountable means one of the slips of my last letter escaped being sent. Unfortunately it is part of the sketch of the Bishop's sermon, and as it contains the main point and gist of the discourse, I trust you will allow tho omission to appeal - . The sketch, as it appeared, is unfinished, and does not do justico to his Lordship. After the paragraph referring to the soul as being the seat and source of tho intellect, the faculties, and the affections, it should proceed as follows : —The ancients, who recognised only soul and body, said that " knowledge is power," or, in other

words, that if they educated the intellect, that would enable them to do what was right. But the experience of all present would prove the falsity of this doctrine ; for how often had we all done tilings that we knew were wrong ? No ; all the knowledge and all the science in the world would not enable a man to do this. He required something more. The "spirit" he held to be the seat of conscience. ' The word in the original was only used with regard to those whose spirit had been renewed by the Holy Spirit. It is that consciousness of right and wrong which at first is latent in us—like the eyeball in the man who cannot see until such time that an operation has been performed, so this spirit was latent in us until illumined by the Holy Spirit, of which we were made partakers in baptism.]