OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4437, 9 June 1875, Page 3

OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

(from odr own correspondent.) Marion, June 5. The third and last performance of Mr. Passmore's now justly celebrated burlesque, “ The Over-taking of the Train,” was played on Tuesday last. The piece had lost none of the interest with which hostile criticism, on its previous representation, had invested it, and the curtain fell to an appreciative audience, as the ' tram-car was feebly dragged along by two old ' Maori chargers, which seemingly had seen active (?) service in the wars of Eangihaeta and ' Kauparaha, amid the lons voyages of the assembled spectators. Dropping metaphor, however, I am glad to say that the result is far more satisfactory than could have been expected. The Press throughout the district, —and conspicuous amongst the crowd our own little “ snorter’—has been justly severe on the Superintending Engineer's latest fiasco. Under the pressure thus brought to bear upon them, the Government have made arrangements with Mr. Arthur Young for the horsing of the bi-weekly car- between Foxton and Palmerston. This arrangement has given great satisfaction, for the public know that Mr. YoSig will never leave them in the lurch, and they have every confidence in their being well and faithfully served. I am happy to'think that the Government are not insensible to the animadversions of the organs of public opinion—that they do not altogether disregard the persistent advocacy, by the Press, of some particular boon, and that they sometimes yield to its importunities. It is to this cause, I suppose, that we must attribute the action of the Government in commencing to lay the iron rails at the Foxton end of the line. The Press—and particularly the New Zealand Times has almost incessantly urged the importance and the necessity of accelerating the progress of the work in question, and, it is gratifying to find, not without good results. It has not been commenced, however, before it was needed. The transformation has been progressing very slowly. It was begun in the early part of February, and I was informed this week, by one who ought to know, for he travels over the line very frequently, that there is not much more than two miles done, and that a great portion of this is left unballasted. Since I last wrote the Eevising Officer, Sir. Moorhouse, has held his Court, and the electoral roll is now ,in a much more satisfactory state. It is hardly credible the rotten state in which it was before this last revision. Names of persons who have been deceased for a dozen years had been retained on the roll, as well as those of persons whose qualifications had years ago been “dealt with” by the Bankruptcy Court, and therefore could only represent the baseless fabric of a dream. There were upwards of eighty of these bogus qualifications struck out, and there was an unusually large number of fresh claims. , This remark applies also to the Manawatu district. While on the subject of courts, I may mention that the Licensing Bench for the district sat on Friday. There was only one application for a new license, which was granted. The renewals were all granted, with one solitary exception. In this case the applicant was complained against on account of his antiGood Templar proclivities. His counsel in vain urged that it was only on “ exhilirating occasions,” such as the Queen s Birthday and election days, that his client ignored the requirements of sobriety, and that he intended again to take the pledge. The Bench, however, were inexorable. Former experience proved that little reliance could be placed on the oft-repeated promise, and consequently they refused to grant a renewal. This decision proved too much for the ex-host; it thoroughly disturbed his equilibrium and, it would seem, that of his buggy too, for the latter was upset the same evening while descending the steep Turakina hill, the occupants being thrown out but not seriously hurt. In nearly every case of application for renewal the police had lodged a complaint against ‘ the applicant with respect to the outside accommodation possessed by the hotel, as being either insufficient or allowed to remain in an objectionable state. The action of the police in this matter is to be commended, for the subject, though not a very savoury one to bring under the notice of the Bench, is certainly a necessary one now that sickness of an epidemic nature is so prevalent. The renewals were only granted on the understanding that attention should be paid to the matter complained of, lest_ they should become hotbeds of infection and disease. I have alluded incidentally to the sickness that prevails throughout the district, I regret being unable to report any material improvement in this respect. Our medical men are nearly worked to death and would, I am sure, be glad of assistance. There is really a very good opening here, since the lamented death of Dr. Purdon, for a duly qualified medical man, but “ no bogus diploma holder need apply.” The good folks at Sandon are agitating for the establishment of a post-office and tele-graph-station in their township. They have memorialised the Government on the subject, and also intimated that the opening of a savings’ bank in connection with the postoffice would prove a great social boon to the settlers. It is to be hoped that the Government may be induced to accede to their requests, but I am afraid the answer will be « premature.” The settlers in the district are quite a model class, —industrious, sober, and frugal, —and deserving of every encouragement in the laudable course they are pursuing. The great event of the week has been the Kangitikei Amateur Steeplechase, which came off at Parewanui (Lower Kangitikei) on Thursday. Though not of so much importance as to demand an elaborate report, I may as well furnish a condensed one. The day was just the one for a steeplechase, the weather brilliantly fine and the air clear and bracing ; and when I add that the ground was in capital order, and many- lady equestrians among the company, I have said enough to show that the meeting was held under highly favorable circumstances. Of the races, per sc, not ranch can be said. The first event—the Steeplechase, for £SO ; three miles ; twice round the course —was certainly a very pretty race, although after the first time round it was confined to Mr. F. Palmer’s Butcher Boy, and Mr. E. Stevens’s Gazelle, for at the first fence, the second time round, Mr. Gowar’s Warringate, who was leading, baulked, and Mr. W. Hammond’s General Maomahon fell. Then, as I said, the race lay between Butcher Boy and Gazelle, who ran neck and nock all round, the former winning by a short half-length. For the Maiden Flat Eace of £2O there wore five entries, and all came to the post ; but the racing was confined to Mr. T. Fraser’s Minnie and Mr. W. Mcßeth’s Steel Deer, the former winning by two lengths. A hack race (flat) won by Mr. W. Watt’s Polly, beating Mr. McKillrick’s Kanger and six others, filled up the interval between the Maiden Flat Eace and the Hack Steeplechase—the last on the programme. This brought out a field of seven ; but the only racing was between Mr. W, Hammond’s Kangitoto and Mr. D. Scott’s Ireland, the former of which won

by between two and three lengths. The one noticeable feature in this race was the clever way in which all tho horses took the leaps. The affair passed off without any serious accident. There were, of course, the usual number of spills ; but no one. came to serious grief. There was a meeting of the Kangitikei Highway Board to-day, but to attempt to give even a brief resume of the proceedings, which extended over five hours, within the compass, of any ordinary letter, would be. madness. There was nothing of very great interest either. One thing was painfully evident, and that is that the Board’s available funds are totally inadequate to meet the wants of this important district. The term of office for which the present Board were elected will expire on the 22nd August next. It will be difficult, I think, to meet with a more painstaking body than the present Board. June 6, evening. We have had continuous heavy rain all the night and early morning. About noon a slight breeze sprang up and cleared the sky. No doubt you will receive accounts of floods from the down country districts.