OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4577, 20 November 1875, Page 3

OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.)

Turf matters are just now engrossing a large share of public attention, so I may as well send you the entries for two of the events that are to be contested at the next Marton-Kangitikei J, C-. race-meeting, to be held on blew Year’s Day. The nominations closed this evening at eight o’clock. For the Marton-Bangitikei Handicap:—D.' Fraser’s Hew Chum, XE. Stent’s Exchange,- O. McHellerick’s Mass Stevenson) (late Task), X Freeth’s Magnet, F. M. Betf s Phoenix, X Day’s Cornelia, W. Wilson’s Wildbriar, X W. Jackson’s Folly, J. W. - Jackson’s Flora, J. W. Jackson’s Gainsborough, F. Harrison’s Frowning Beauty, H. H. Harrison’s Zillah, J. Stevens’ Clymenics, J. Palmer’s Ben Hevis. For the Hurdle Handicap ;—B. Stevens’ Gazelle, D. Frazer’s Whitefoot, . Mcßae and Hicholson’s Medora, J. W. Jackson’s Flora. The Eangitikei people are looking forward to some excellent sport at our next races, and as good money will be run for, no doubt there will be some large fields.

The quiet little township of Bull’s presented a scene of unwonted animation on Tuesday last, for on that day the Eangitikei Educational Association held their usual half-yearly competition examination of children from the various schools connected with it. The competition took place in the Town Hall, and nearly all the schools in the district were represented. The proceedings attracted a large number of visitors besides the parents of the children and their friends. Some of the papers were rather “ stiff,” and many a university man would have found no little difficulty in flooring” these. On the whole the examinations were very satisfactory, and there can be no doubt that the Association is doing no small amount of good. If there were a few more of them throughout 1 the colony, I am persuaded that beneficial results would follow. As its nature and objects may not be very well known, I trust I shall be pardoned if, in making them more public, I encroach somewhat on your valuable space. It is an organisation supported by the voluntary contributions of the settlers of the district. The funds are applied to the purchase of standard wprks of high merit, which are distributed as prizes to those children who succeed in gaining the highest number of marks. The society hope by this means to induce parents to give their children a higher class of education than has hitherto obtained, by keeping them longer at school, and thus giving them a chance of obtaining honorable distinction.

The good people of Sandon had a grand demonstration on -Thursday night. A public meeting was held in the schoolhouse for the purpose of devising the best means of obtaining a railway between Sandon and Eoxton. The attendance was extremely numerous, and Major Mcßamet had the honor thrust upon him of presiding. The chairman, in his few introductory remarks, successfully corroborated the idea that there would not be sufficient traffic for a railway. Mr. Sanson showed the injustice that had been done to the whole district between the Oroua and Eangitikei Eivers, and extending to the southern boundary of the Manchester block, inasmuch as that while £120,000 of land revenue has been received from it by the Provincial Government, only some £50,000 had been expended in its purchase, and the prosecution of public works therein. Mr. Lomton read a statement which he had prepared, of the estimated cost of the railway, its annual expenditure and receipts. He entered at length into the various calculations by which he arrived at the various sums given, which were:—Construction, £20,776 ; annual expenditure, £2396 15s. 6d.; and annual receipts, £5380. As he was corroborated in his estimates of the cost by that of the Provincial Engineer, we may take it for granted that his estimate of yearly receipts is not far wrong. A balance of £3OOO odd on the receipts over the expenditure, after allowing 6 per cent, for interest on cost, would give a return of over 20 per cent, on the investment. Will not this tempt some of the millionaires of the Empire City to form a company for its construction ? The speeches were really very good, being temperate, forcible, and to the point, so much so as to create no little amount of surprise in the mind of your correspondent. I am afraid that the Farmers’ District Club, the inauguration of which was mentioned in my last, , has come to an untimely end. A committee was appointed for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the society, and they were to have met yesterday fortnight, but failed to do so, and nothing since has been heard of them or their doings. This is much to be regretted, as it is the opinion of the best informed amongst us that such a society would have done a large amount of good in the district.

There was a large pic-nio on Saturday at Weetoe, the seat of the Hon. W. Fox. It was given by Mr. Kotemeyer to his friends, and

ne tenants and employees on the estate, to celebrate his marriage with., the daughter ;ofO. W. Mountford, Esq., surveyor, of Eeilding. A valuable wedding present was given by the tenants and those employed on the estate to the bride, and the festivities altogether were to a most pleasurable character; Typhoid fever . seems rather prevalent at Eeildiug just now. There have been several cases. Some of the patients are convalescent, and others have yet to pass the crisis. Among the latter are the wife of Dr. Johnston—the resident medical man—and Mr. McNeil, the contractor for the artesian well that is being sunk there. Of course during his illness operations will have to be suspended. With sundry gaps, about thirteen or fourteen miles of the Poxton and Palmerston rail-, way have been laid with metals. X learn that Mr. Stewart, the District Engineer, is busy preparing specifications for the remaining portion, and that as soon as the gaps have been metalled tenders will be called for the balance. It is a great pity that the preparation of the specifications have been delayed so long, but.it is generally the case with Government contracts, they are never ready until the fine weather is almost over. Had these been out now we should have had the railway completed from Eoxton as far as Peilding by the end of the summer ; but better late than never.