GREYTOWN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5414, 3 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

GREYTOWN.

(from our own correspondent.) As a consequence of the late disastrous fire at Masterton another effort is being made there to form a fire brigade. The He-/islet' thinks the same precautionary measures should be taken at the sister townships. The happy thought has struck me that, fluffing tbe Government does not possess a single rifle to serve out to them, our rifle volunteers might resolve themselves into a fire brigade, as useful and ornamental a body, though devoid of the “pomp and circumstance of glorious war.” The Grey town Debating Society has chosen a stupendous subject for discussion, and on Friday will inform the country whether “Sir George Grey has been a hindrance to the prosperity of New Zealand” One eloquent debater was seen taking homo about fifty Parliamentary blue-books, from which to extract the thunder he intends hurling at the devoted head of tho Premier.

The committee of tho Woriring Men’s Oluh met on Tuesday evening to select a couple to act in the joint capacity of custodians of their new establishment. Thirty two applications were received, chiefly from "Wellington. Jacob Hebberley was au applicant, but his merits were considered of too high an order. Much enjoyment was caused by one promising aspirant who, before applying pro forma, wished to bo satisfied on various points, particularly as to whether “ in the event of a confinement the engagement would terminate, or if would suffice.” Tho height of the joke was reached when; on reading his subsequent application, it trail- ; spired that he was not yet irrevocably mated, though he assured the committee the marriage “would take place immediately” if ho was selected. Pity’tis so thoughtful a youth should bo doomed to disappointment, as tho preference was given to J. Cox, of Wellington. The school committee met this evening and discussed various subjects of importance, Tho first was a motion by tho Rev. A. Knell, to introduce regular military drill in the school, which was left undecided upon until the next meefctmr, to allow the chairman in the interim to ascertain whether arrangements for the purpose in view could be made with the drill instructor of the volunteers, and at what cost. The next subject was Mr, Payton’s motion to bring the compulsory clause of the Act into operation, when it was shown that it would be impracticable to do so in this district, owing to the inadequate accommodation of the school building." It was also pointed out that to bring it into force was too great a responsibility for the committee to assume, and that the Legislature iu its paternal wisdom should have granted larger powers for enforcing the Act, and not have left .it optional with local, committees possessing such limited functions and narrow means. This motion was also postponed for further consideration. Tho next motion was one by Mr. Cowper, to establish a savings bank in the school, which was also deferred to next meeting, to allow the mover to bring forward a detailed plan .for putting the scheme into operation. It was resolved to write to the Board to permit the present teacher’s residence to be turned into au infants’ school; the head master to be allowed to find temporary quarters until a new building was erected. The petition praying to have Greytown declared a borough bias at last been despatched to Wellington. I am therefore in hopes we may soon rank ourselves as a full-fledged municipality. The Rev. Mr. Knell, our excellent rural dean, leaves on Friday on a tour of the Australian Colonies, ia search of much needed health. He will probably be absent three or four months.

We have on the tapis more transient pleasures, in, the shape of a soiree, to come off on th© 14tb, and a charitable art union of 100 prizes aud 100 blanks. Both are to assist in the liquidation of tho debt on St. Luke’s Church.