OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4521, 16 September 1875, Page 3

OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) , Marton, September 11. Since ray last communication we have been in the thick of local electioneering business. We have had election meetings for Highway Boards, Bocal Board, and the Board of Education. First in chronological order came the Local Board election at Bull's, when three new members —Messrs. J. G. Wilson, F. Evans, and T. Flowers—were elected. The Board consists now of the following members : Messrs. J. G. Wilson, F. W. Evans, T. Flowers, D. R. Lewers, and S. Fagan. For the Foxton Local Board there was a contested election, which resulted in the return of Messrs. J. W. Liddell. A. J. Whyte, T. U. Cook, A. Gray, and W. F. Loudon. The first two were members of the old Board, the others being new blood. The election for the Rangitikei Highway Board terminated to-day. Only two wards out of the seven hare been contested. In one, Dr. Curl, an ex-member, was opposed by Mr. Retemeyer, who, however, was defeated by three to two, the numbers being for Dr. Curl, 15 ; for Mr. Retemeyer, 10. In the other ward Mr, C. Galpin, ex-member, was opposed by Mr. G. Perry, who likewise sustained a defeat at the hands of the late member, 54 votes being recorded for Mr. Galpin, against 46 for Mr. Perry. There is only one new member—Mr. A. Simpson—who was elected without opposition in the room of Mr. Lethbridge, the late chairman, who did not come forward. The following are the wardens constituting the present Board :—Messrs. J. Bull, A. Milne, Dr. Curl, A. Cameron, R. K. Simpson, A. Simpson, and C. M. Galpin. The election of wardens for the Manawatu Highway Board has also been going on simultaneously. Only one ward out of six was contested—No. 2 (or Carnarvon) Ward—where Mr. H. Hammond was opposed by Mr. Herman Rockel, who was the victor by 26 to 22 votes. The following wardens constitute the present Manawatu Highway Board ; Messrs. D. Hughey, D. McEwen, G. M. Snelsou, J. T. Dalrymple, G. Farmer, and H. Rockel. The election of members of the Board of Education resulted in the unopposed return of tho Rev. J. Ross, Presbyterian minister of Turakina, and J. T. Dalrymple, Esq., J.P., for Manawatu. At the former meeting, Mr. PI. Lyon proposed Mr. B. Smith, of Wellington, but owing to some unexplained cause, no seconder came forward to support Mr. Lyon’s nomination. Tho return of Mr. Dalrymple seems to have given general satisfaction in the Manawatu district; would that I could say the same for our own. The Licensing Commissioners have been holding their usual quarterly sittings during the past week. At Foxton on Wednesday a transfer of the license held by Mr. Cook for the Family Hotel, was granted to Mr. Wakeford, with a caution, and the license held by Mr. T. O. Brown for the Feilding Hotel at Feilding, was cancelled. Much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Brown, who was confined to his bed in Wanganui during the time the misconducting of the house occurred. It is generally understood that he has been the victim of private malevolence on the part of the police officer

who brought forward the application for cancellation of the license. It is not expedient nor polite to question the decision of the Licensing Bench generally, but still I venture to think that had the Commissioners been fully aware of all the surrounding circumstances, which are pretty well known in the district, they would have hesitated to inflict such a heavy sentence, which is almost tantamount to ruin. At the Marton sitting F. O’Riley was unsuccessful in his application for a license for the Shamrock Hotel at Turakina, which was cancelled by the Bench at its last meeting. Having mentioned Feilding, I may as well state here that a meeting was held there last week for the purpose of taking steps to secure the services of a resident medical man. The meeting resulted in its forming itself into an association to be called the Feilding Medical Aid Society. A committee was also appointed to draw up rules and regulations for its guidance and conduct. The matter was taken up with great enthusiasm, and there can be little doubt that the desired object will very shortly be accomplished. The Palmerston and Foxton tramway has been achieving new notoriety. First of all the coach was delayed several hours on Tuesday week by the rails having been taken up and no provision made for traffic, and then it came into violent contact with a case of iron bolts that had been carelessly left on the line. The result was that the coach was disabled, and ihe passengers had to bo conveyed in trucks to Foxton. The iron rails are coming so slowly to hand that several of the men have had to be discharged. It is reported on good authority that a native chief informed the district engineer the other day that the natives were going to prevent the plate-laying between the Oroua bridge and Palmerston. If they attempt this, a little of the wholesome discipline lately enforced at Otaki would no doubt prove serviceable. There the natives were resolved to stop the erection of the telegraph line, and one man actually jumped into one of the holes dug for the posts. He was hauled out, handcuffed, marched off in custody, and fined £5. Since then nothing more has been heard of their interfering with the works.

The Marton amateurs gave an entertainment at Bull's last week for the benefit of Mr. Dicksonj late a school teacher, who has been rendered helpless by a paralytic stroke. It proved a great success, as did also one given at Palmerston on Thursday by the Good Templars for the same benevolent purpose. A report has gained currency that mine host of the Rangitikei Hotel, Bull’s, has sold out for £2OOO, and purchased the Albion at Patea for £3OOO. As there is not the slightest foundation for such a rumor—not a word on the subject having been said by or to Mr. Evans,—it shows how vigorously the inventive faculty flourishes in this charming district. Very desirable bodies of immigrants have been forwarded here and to Bull’s during the last few days. They are a portion of those brought out by the Rodney, and by far the best and most suitable that have reached this part of the colony. They have met with ready engagement here, and I believe at Bull’s also.

The Rangitikei ploughing match comes off near Marton, on Friday, and from all I can learn, is likely to prove eminently successful. The district may justly plume itself on what it has done in this respect. Prizes to the amount of upwards of £6O will be given, and as these are both numerous and substantial—• £SB in money alone being advertised—a very good muster may be anticipated. The present lambing season, which is rapidly drawing to a close, would have been an exceptionally good one had not the severe weather we experienced about the middle of last month caused such havoc amongst both lambs and ewes. During the last few days we have been enjoying some warm sunshine, and the land is now in good order for farming operations. Our settlers are busy getting in their wheat, which is later than it has been for years, so much so, indeed, that there will be no interval between the sowing of spring wheat and oats. There is to be a meeting of the MartonRangitikei Jockey Club at Evans's Hotel, Bull’s, to-night, at which the programme for the ensuing season will be arranged. From the interest evinced, it is generally expected that it will prove by far the best that we have yet had.