PALMERSTON NORTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9109, 8 June 1908, Page 7

PALMERSTON NORTH.

NOTES AND COMMENTS FOR THE WEEK.

((Prom Our Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON N., June 6. •On Saturday night, about 9 o'clock, the fire-bell sounded an alarm, and the Square, wiiich was already well-filled with people doing their week-end \ shopping, became quickly crowded with eager enquirers aa to where the fire was. The .Fire Brigade turned out smartly and took the hose reel to the northern boundary of the borough, from •whence a glaie could be seen many :miles away. It is astonishing what «n attraction a fire has for people. J and 1 suppose thousands travelled a ! ■great distance up Rangitikei line in the direction of the reflection. On a Saturday night nearly all Palmerston turns out to "do" the Square, many residences being left quite unattended, so that an alarm on the fire-bell would naturally give a number of people a bit of a scare, as of course the first thought in one 'e mind flies to one's own <h«l!me. The election campaign for the Oroua may be said to have opened. Mr R. E. Hornblow, a Liberal candidate, addressed a largely attended meeting at Kimbolton a night or two since, and received a very cordial reception. Mr Hornblow is receiving a lot of support, and I am told stands a very good chance of winning the seat. Strenuous efforts have been made to induce Mr J, G. Wilson to come out in the Opposition interests, but so far he has refused to be -freguiled by the blandishments of the "free and independent." Mr Wil- ' Eon, and many of his friends agree with him, thinks he can be of more • use to the country, with an entirely free hand—that he ran do more in the interests of the farmer particularly if he is unhampered with political strife.

Palmerston North possesses a Lie- • dertafel, a chorus of some twentyvsix male vo'ces, besides an honorary • membership of nearly one hundred. .11 has just given its first smoke concert of the season, when close on • three hundred members and friends assembled to listen to a really excellent programme of solos and part songs, the latter given under the baj*,n of Mr P. W. Mason, a great •-enthusiast in this class of choral work. It never rains but it pours, and we have had quite a feast of music. "The local Orchestra Society gave its • first concert for the season on Tues- • day, when the Opera House was filled with a fashionable audience, which thoroughly appreciated the many -good things on the programme. The • orchestral numbers over thirty instruments, and with a conductor possessing the musical knowledge and ability of Mr Maurice Cohen.it can be -quite understood the rendering of the various selections was a good deal . above country form. The Falmerstun North Licensing Committee held its annual meeting -on Wednesday, when the police report on the conduct of the various .hotels in the district was read. This was looked for with considerable interest at the present juncture by twu .sections of the community—the prohibitionistß being one of therewith -a general election within close view. The report was entirely favourable to the holders of licenses, the police , being perfectly satisfied with the ; manner in which hotel-keepers have • conducted their houses. The prohibition party is particularly active just how, and will make strenuous efforts .to carry No-License in December next. The spectacle of a motor bike and • a motor car racing through the street Wal witnessed in Palmerston North the other day, and people had to get -out of the way pretty smartly. The motor bike had a lead of two or three -lengths, and both rider and driver appeared to be enjoying the contest, ..judging by a glimpse I caught of their faces. 1 tried to "spot" the number on the car, but it was travelling altogether too last for me to make certain what it was. When . a serious accident happens perhaps .some steps will be taken to put a stop to this sort of thing. It is quite time the local bodies took the matter in hand, and mac e stringent regulations to deal with this fast diiving -evil. Palmerston North would appear to be particularly fortunate in counting amoi.g its citizens a number of vpeople who,are always and evtr on the •look-out for channels to impiove and add to the valuable institutions of ithe town.. Just recently the Techni <cal School Board bought a site fur a technical school within close proximity to the Square, and at a meeting - of the Board last night instructions were given to a Wellington architect k--«to.-prepare plana for a suitable buildiing in brick. Then last night a deputation from the local committee of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society waited

on the Borough Council to ask for a site on one of the public reserves for jfrfhe purpose of establishing a fish fßpond. Needless to say, Councillors readily fell in with the proposal, and the matter was referred to the Reserves Committee, with power to act straight away, so as not to lose the present season. * ', A Hunt Club' has just been formed here with a large membership, i . as a branch of the Woodlands (L'ahiatua) Club. Judging by the enthusiasm displayed, the new club prom•ises to have a successful career. There is quite a flutter in the social dovecot by the definite announcement that the Governor will take up hia residence here on 19th inst. There were quite a number of Wairarapa visitors at the Utaki Maori race meeting this week. .. Among the number 1 noticed Messrs C. F. Vallance, W. and A. McKenzie, Jas. Macarn, W. Cooper, and A. Clarke, whilst I also saw a couple of erstwhile Wairarapaites in Messrs G. 'fully and P. F. Tan- ■ cred. While the matter of granting a site for a fish-pond was before the Borough Council last night, one of the eulogistic reference ■ to the beauty and usefulness of the hatcheries in Masterton. He characterised'it as one of the most beautiful spots he had seen. There is no suggestion to build a hatchery in Pal- • rnerston North, simply a pond in which to hold the fiy until they are * big enough -to .take >care of them- ' M WWIIMI II » <IIII 11111 1111 l KtDHfIWU