PALMERSTON NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 14525, 29 November 1910, Page 8

PALMERSTON NOTES

. Tho Anglican Church mission, which was conducted in Palnierston by the Rev. Cyril Heplipr, concluded on Friday morning' last. The success of the mission is evidenced by the fact of the holding capacity being taxed to the utmost at ouch daily service. The instructive, enthusiastic, and eloquent sermons delivered by tho missioner .should obviate the necessity of the local clergy conducting; services, as they havo frequently done m tho past, in tho presence of only tlic " beggarly array." Tho iiitoivliangouhlo terms of "Firm as a rock" mid "Pig-headed" are being; spoken of or fhinrj; at tho Wailieiini County Council by the county ratepayers as they np;rco or disagree with the Council's policy iu dispensing with tho services of tho county clerk and substituting therefor a county engineer who will also perform tho duties of clerk of tho Council. Tho Council, in carrying through their proposal, wero met with opposition—at first occasional and desultory, but which culminated on Wednesday hist (the day appointed to apply tho finishing touch to the now scheino) iu a pitched battle. Letters and tolegrams poured in to the Council Chambers from every corner of !Ik> county. Many of the scribes predicted a speedy dissolution of tho Council if they persisted in their nefarious work. Others, showing a more intimate knowledge of tho mind, pleaded with Cicerone persuasiveness tho causo of a county clcTk who for many years had served tho Council industriously and faithfully, and whom it was now proposed to incontinently dismiss. A very few, and one in particular, called on the. Council to listen to reason, and proceeded forthwith to set forth that sweetest of morsels. Tho ono letter in particular was an able epistlo by Mr A. D. Bell. Mr Bell was as "Daniel come to judgment,'' but. alas! he came too late. The Council, bavin;; listened to a porusal of a shoal' of letters, proceeded to hear sonic half-dozen deputationists in waiting;. Ratepayers from nearly every riding; of the county wero in attendance to support the spokesmen of the riding;-,. Again the Council listened patiently enough to persuasive periods, arguments, and threats, and when all were exhausted, the chairman, embracing alike with the sweep of the eye letters and deputationists, moved—" That, as ail the letter-writers and deputationists are out of order, tho Council do proceed with tho order paper." The motion was carried by one vote, and so the county clerk lost his billet and the county a Rood servant. There were sixteen applications for tho dual position of county engineer and clerk to the Waihcmo County. As not a few of the applicants were, possessed of high qualifications, the Council's task was not an easy one. The ultimate choice fell on the present county inspector. Mr E. Butt, who during bis short term in that capacity has proved himelf to bo a most capable officer. The sincere sympathy of tho people of the district will be extended to Mr and Mrs D. M. Philip in tho sudden and sad bereavement of their only son, a child of eight years, who, while playing in the Dunback school ground on Friday last, was killed almost instantaneously by accidentally colliding with another boy.—Own Correspondent, November 28.