PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5317, 11 April 1878, Page 3

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT). April 8. Mr. C. J. Wildbore, well known in the Rangitikei District as a blacksmith, had the misfortune on Saturday morning to have his shop at Awahuri totally consumed by fire. The origin is unknown; and as Wildbore is quite uninsured, his loss is considerable, he only having saved two chests of clothes. All his tools, besidesaquautity of stores, weredestroyed; but I trust that such a deserving tradsman will soon be set on his legs again. During the raging of tiie conflagration Mr. Meozies house was in considerable danger, and indeed the whole of his effects were removed from the house; but by the .exertions of his neighbors the house was saved. Mr. Menzies and family were in Palmerston at the time, and pleasant must have been his feelings on hearing as he did that his house was in flames. Blacksmiths seem determined to come before the public, as in addition to the above accident another local disciple of Vulcan, Mr. Williams, being a comparatively new arrival amongst us, I presume wishing to test the hardness of the metal used by the Borough Council, succeeded in demonstrating the fact that his own arm was more easily broken than a Palmerston road. I hear lie has obtained the services of another b.ack* smith to carry on his business. It is unfortunate for him to have met with an accident just now, as there is so much competition in the trade, and he was about to move nearer the Square. We have now three firms of blacksmiths in the place, and yet there is full employment for them all. Miss Leaf, assisted by Mr. Reed, gave us an entertainment on Thursday last, but it did not prove very attractive to the Palmerston public, and very few attended. This is a pity, as Miss Leaf (who, by-the-by, has lately developed from a Leaf into a full-blown Read) sang most beautifully, and I think it will be long before we have the opportunity of enjoying such a treat again. Incredible as it may seem, I hear it rumored that our school is tobeatlastsupplied withahead master, but after the numerous appointments we have had which have fallen through, X hardly like to say that I believe a Mr. Lockie has really accepted the position. Rumor first gave us Mr. Holmes, of Te Aro, then twice Mr. Thorne was appointed, and finally Mr. Major came to see how he would like the place ; since which nothing has been heard till this morning, when Mr. Lookie made his appearance. I suppose Palmerston, being situated between Wanganui and Wellington, may be considered as between two stools, but we, in school matters, have not come to the ground yet quite. Foxtou races (if such they may be called) took place on Friday, and although the sport was mediocre, —the townspeople and visitors being out for a day’s pleasure, and having determined, as the Yankees have it, to go in “ big licks,” —the whole passed off most successfully. Feilding did not show up considerable, as when the train passed me there was only a big crowd of one bound thence. I was not there, but I understand the Borough Council have brought under the notice of Government the advantages of the Kutt-Waikanae line, and also the desirability of a platform on the railway at the terrace end of this town. The two are not of equal importance, but no doubt both works should be carried out. I see the Palmerston Hotel is advertised for sale.