OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4536, 4 October 1875, Page 2

OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Mahton, September 30. Absence from my usual sphere of duty must plead my excuse for allowing so long an interval to elapse between my last and present communications. I regret this, as several events of interest have taken place, wlnch I should have preferred to have given more fully than I shall now feel myself justified in doing. The mild agitation with respect to a water supply for Marton, to which reference was made in a former letter, has resulted, as might have been expected, in nothing. We are politely informed that it is a Provincial and not a General Government matter, and our member promises to use his influence in obtaining the services of a competent Government engineer to report on the beat means of supply, at the end of the session. The policy of selfreliance is the only sound one in such matters The pernicious habit of asking Government to do that which comes more properly within the scope of private enterprise, is growing sadly too common throughout the colony. Why do not our owners of property combine and guarantee, as a bonus in case of success, a sum sufficient to induce men to prove whether an artesian supply is obtainable or not ? It would undoubtedly prove true economy in the end, for should such a supply bo obtained, the enhanced value of property consequent thereupon, would for more than recoup any amount, which, in that case only, they would be called upon to pay. The spirit of rivalry or competition is flourishing most luxuriantly in our midst just at present. This is especially noticeable in the matter of hotels, stud horses, and coaches. Until very recently there were only two hotels in the jdaoe, and though each is excellently managed, they do not possess that amount of accommodation requisite to meet the wants of our thriving township. At the last annual Licensing Court a license was obtained for the old Club-house, on the understanding that a better and more commodious erection was to be put up. The new hotel has been pushed forward with groat energy; the exterior is now nearly completed, and presents a flue, handsome appearance. The house is well de-igned, and when finished it will prove a weloomo acquisition to the travelling public. Mr. Batchelor, of the White Horae, not to bo behind in the race of improvement, is going to enlarge his present hotel, which, when completed, will afford greatly extended accommodation, and will also bo an ornament to tho town. Another splendid hotel is to bo built at Hull’s, by Mr. Dalzicll, late of Napier ; but of this more in a future letter. White upon the subject of hotels, I may mention that two at Palmerston I

have recently changed hands. The Clarendon has been purchased by the present tenant, Mrs. Atkinson, from Mr. G. Roe, for the sum of £I4OO. The Palmerston Hotel has fallen into the hands of your townsman, Mr. Nathan. The price paid for the house and land—some three acres—subject to the lease with purchasing clause of the present tenant, was £IOOO. With regard to horses for stud purposes, I fancy we are about as well furnished as any district in the colony. In both light and heavy entires we can boast of really magnificent specimens of this noble animal. In the coaching line, Mr. Young—the worthy representative of the immortal Cobb—is meeting with opposition in more than one direction. Mr. Cook, jun.jOf lateFoxton, has been for some time running a coach between Palmerston and Marton, going one day and returning the following. Last week Messrs. Cookery and Co. started a large fourhorse coach, to run between Bull’s and Wanganui, via Marton. It is contemplated, when the arrangements are complete, to run to and fro each day. At present it goes one day and returns the next. It is whispered that this is only a x*use, in view of the mail contracts, for which tenders have been sent in to keep others out of the field. Some say it has been placed on the line by Mr. Young himself, and others with equal boldness affirm that Mi - . Hastwell, of the Wairarapa, has an eye on the postal contract, and is the moving spirit. My own opinion is that it is a bond fide speculation, and I fear there is not sufficient traffic just at present to recoup the expenses of either this or the Palmerston coach. A new coach from Marton to Peilding thrice a week, returning on alternate days, is also announced. When the railway shall have been opened, this may possibly prove a paying spec, but not before. We recently had a grand ploughing match in close proximity to Marton. Unfortunately I was away at the time, but from persons competent to form a correct opinion I have heard that it was really very good; in fact, several assured me that it would not suffer by comparison with any country match at Home. The work was very creditably executed, the prizes were plentiful and heavy, bringing no less than twenty-four ploughs on to the ground, the day was brilliantly fine, and the company numerous, upwards of 200 horsemen having paid the entrance fee at the gate. Mr. Lee, the Inspector of Schools, whose earnest and indefatigable labors in raising the standard of education throughout the province are not without appreciation in this quarter, is now on his half-yearly tour of inspection. He has expressed himself satisfied with the improvement made so far. The examinations, both at Wandon and Marton, were very satisfactory. We are to have a public reading-room after all. The Hon. W. Fox having given a valuable site for a temperance hall to the Bechabites, that body, at a meeting held last Wednesday for the purpose, decided that a reading-room should form part of the scheme. The Cavalry ball, one of the pleasantest of the many pleasant meetings of the kind anuually held in the province, came off in the Town Hall, Bull’s, last Thursday, and proved a decided success. There were nearly one hundred present, and dancing was kept up with unflagging energy and spirit until an early hour in the morning. The Hall was pleasingly and artistically decorated with fern and nikau, and conspicuous amidst the embellishments were festoons of the beautiful wild convolvulus, which had a charu iug effect. The programme of the Marton-R mgitikei Jockey Club for the races, to be held on New Year’s day, has just been published. It comprises eight events, and about £3OO will be rim for. I am glad to be able to report that there will bo no further opposition to the telegraph and railway between Foxton and Palmerston. A meeting for the purpose of negotiating the terms upon which the opposition would be withdrawn, was held at the house of the obstructionist chief, Pute te Awa, on Saturday last, at which the Government was reoresented by Mr. Booth, and the native lord of the soil by Dr. Duller. It is to be hoped that the Government have not conceded the demands of this unscrupulous “ friendly ” Maori chief, whose friendship, I opine, is of a dubious, hybrid nature. When the Native Laud Court was being holden at Palmerston last summer, he made no secret of his intention to oppose the erection of the telegraph line unless he were paid either thirty shillings per post per annum or a lump sum at the rate of £G for each post. As there would be some 80 posts required on this individual’s land, he was demanding £l2O per annum rent, or a salve of £4BO for his wounded territory ! And all this fuss about the telegraph, and, latterly, about the railway, has been caused by the laches of the then Government in not gazetting the tramway, when made, as a public road.