MANAWATU.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 871, 16 September 1881, Page 2

MANAWATU.

[prom our own correspondent.] Palmerston North, Sept. 12th. The weather here during the past week has been something unbearable. Cold, howling winds, rain, and sleet have pre- , dominated, and the effect on all manner of outside business has been inark«d. Ai I write, there haß been no change, rain and wind still hold away. Still we must not complain too loudly, for " its an ill wind that blows nobody good," the heavy rains have done us goud in producing an , abundance of beautiful herbage for the"-) stock.

Although the weather has been so much against matters, and the lambing season in particular, still the increase in flocks has been most prolific.. In most flocks doubles and trebles are the average. The shearing season is fast approaching, and farmers are making all preparations for it. On one station—the Douglas—the proprietor is getting erected muster yards and sheds, in order to enable him to pen a couple of thousand sheep of an evening in case of the next day being wet. There are something like seventy thousand sheep in this run, so the owner's move isagood one, as no time will be lost. The election of three Borough Councillors for Palmorston took place on Saturday last, but the affair was tarat indeed. We do expect to see some excitemont on the occasion of the election of a new set of members for the Manawatu County Council, which takes place soon, It is quite time the present Council was disbanded, for they are .truly aqueer lot. When I say lot, perhaps I slightly overstep the mark, because there are no doubt some sensible men among them, but the majority are a senseless crew, to the very best of them. Fancy the Manawntu County Council getting the County advertising done in the Evening Post simply because it was the will, and wish of a few of the Councillors, who had grown indignant at the Local Press, and County Gazette, because they occasionally tread on their corns. There is a great amount of dissatisfaction among the ratepayers, on the matter as no one knows' what takii place at the meetings on account of their proceedings not being reported by a justly indignant Press. . There is some little talk rife just now as tn the coming representative of our people, It is asserted that Dr Bulltr intends soliciting our votes, but it strikes me his chances would bt small indeed, did he attempt it. Mr G. M. Snellen, our local auctioneer, is alio spoken of, but nothing definite or authentic is to hand as to the truth, or otherwise of the rumor, Mr H, D. Macarther is the man the people want, and if I mistake not, he is the man who will next go to Parliament to represent us. Land still keeps up its intrinsic value, and if anything, there is an upward te»dencyin prices. A bush farm of 150 acres, at Fitzhorbort, has just changed hands at £8 per aore. A \ acre section at Awa Him, a settlement eight miles from Pfllmerston was sold a few days ago at the tremendous price of £240 peVaore. Such a prioe for land, in suoh a situation is fabulous, yet there'is a demand for sections there, many people seem to think AwaHuri is going to make a nice township. It is situated half wffaßhtfM. Palmerston and Sandon, and i JJBffffa on the main road to Wanganu- Wnew hotel, and store has just been erected there, but the license for the hotel has been refused, and consequently, for the time, the house is a loss to the enterpris- ( ing man who built it. \