MANAWATU.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 866, 6 September 1881, Page 3

MANAWATU.

(FROM ovr own correspondent, ) During the past week two stock sales have been held in .the,Manawatu, and at each the prices of cattle and sheep have ahowii a marked upward tendency, iti fact the market is almost rushed. This is only to be accounted for by the prospects of the Refrigerating Company's coming into activity. Messrs Hnlcombe ; and Sherwill on Wednesday experienced a great demand for cattle and sheop. 3year steers realised £5 and ,£6 ; 2-year steers from £4los to £5 ; cows from £5 to £7 10s; beef from £6..t0 £8; afore wethers from 8s to 10s per head j draught horses from £lO to .£'lß. In every line tho competition was keen, and all the above quoted prices are far in advance of any realised for some time past. _ Tho Manawatu has always bean considered free of tho rabbit pest until just within the last week, when it has been discovered that-they exist in alarming quantities on a run south of Sandon. Two , young men went there in quest of hares, and found rabbits numerous. They managed to bag something like sixteen of the vermin. Steps are about to be taken to form Rabbit Trustees, and to do something for the eradication of the pest. . The Feilding • Borough Council held their first meeting last week, when all the Councillors were present, and were sworn to the oath of allegiance. The Mayor having read the Gazette proclamation of the Borough, business of a routine character was proceeded with, in the course of which it was decided to go in lor borrowing a good round sun,, to be spent in the mueh needed improvement of the township, So on the prospect of this money being floated in, or rather being spent in the town, the people are greatly elated, in fact some seem to think that fortune is theirs already They want Councillor Kenall among them now. and then—- ' mighty deeds and great Btorms. The Kiwitea Block is, it is stated, about to be formed into a Road Board District. It has hitherto been under the legislation of the Manawatu Highway Board, but that body has very properly refused to legislate for Kiwitea any longer, it being Oil entirely separate district, besides being an extensive one. - It is separated from the Highway Board's; dinti'ict by the Manchester Block, and should therefore rather oome under the jurisdiction of that body than tho former. Tho saw-mills here, though so numer- 1 ous, are all in full swing, and full of orders. There are in all in the Manawatu about 20 mills, omploying altogether, it about 400 men, which means provision for something like 2000 Bonis ./told; and it is a happy thing to know that these mills aro kept going, and more, have a plentiful demand for timber. One proprietor has succeeded in oppiiing up a trade with Melbourne in white pine, and some thousands of feet are weekly sent away thither by vessels chartered for the purpose by himself. ■ I am glad to see that the Woodville people are bestirring themselves with regard to bridging the Manawatu River, and I sincerely hope that their prayers and petitions may be. heeded by the powers that be. I should think the County Council could be induced to fake tlia'initiativq, and bring (,liq matter in its necessity'before' (lie Government. They jyotild Only be doing their duty'. There' is much speculation going on here just now as to who is coming forward jh tl]e interests of Manawatu to flj in fti'i'lianieni. It js not eipe'iitpcl that Jj.r Walter Johnston will again seek the seat, as he aspires to something higher, but' ev'eu if lie did public feeling is so much against him tlkt his chances'l think would hut small, : '