The Passing Year.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1072, 31 December 1909, Page 2

The Passing Year.

Ring out the Old, ring in the New, Forget the things that wen€ askew; • Here on the Eve of Nineteen Nine We'll welcome Ten, and cry, "That's fine!" Foil fche prospect before ue is even better than were the prospects before the Israelites when they began a nev ora in entering the Promised Land. The year 1909 is an episode of the past , and we have no doubts 1 about it whatever. All our hopes, aims, and aspirations oi I^QB have had their

year, and our readers with a memory can now sit down aud count thoir blessings and balance their affairs, for in a few hours tlie year Avill have •fully run its course. Most of our readers will be more concerned, human-like, in the wonders of the coming year, 1910, than in thinking about the chances that have gone with 1909. Others, believing that even the past has its lessons, • will ponder for a little while upon the What Has Beon and the What Might Have Beon ; hoping that Dame Fortune will come their way just once more, even in 1910, so that she might be recognised and the opportunity that was let slip last year may be taken advantage of during this coming year. "Oh, happy Skirts of Ohance," they cry, " give us yet another Golden Opportunity!" However, as this is not a. matter of personal history, but a brief glance at the national events of the past, we must to our moutons. OUR POLITICAL PAST. Thk year has been marked with unusual' things political. AYe have had two sessions of Parliament, one being hold »t the usual time, in June, but only of one week's duration, in order to pass Supplies so that the Premier might personally attend the Imperial Defence Conference in London. There were strong complaints from all parts of tbo Dominion against the decision of the Government to abandon the usual winter session, but tho Premier persisted and prevailed. Sir Jo-soph Ward was a conspicuous figure ajt tiho Conference, and Now ZeakndV voice was heard thereat to distinct advantage— the Dominion having made a special impression in the Old Country by having, at a time of threatening trouble from a European nation, offered the Old Country the present, of a Dreadnought. The result was the formulating of ;i great scheme for a world-wide navy, details of which will be fresh in the minds of our readers. The Premier returned from London, bringing with him a million pounds and arrangements for our local bodies to receive much more money from London. He landed in Auckland, having been brought from Suva' by H.M.S. Challenger, had a week in the Dominion, and then opened the second session of Parliament on October 7, which session closed last Wednesday. On the personal side of politics there have also been some interesting Ir.tppeniiig.s. Ch-ingcs were mule in the Government consequent upon tho resignation of the. Hon. .1. MeOowan, Minister of Mines, who was translated to the I'PJmm- House, and the appointment of the Hon. 'William Hall-Jones to succeed Mr W. P.' Reeves as High Commisisoner in London. Those who attained to Cabinet rank as a consequence were Messrs Roderick McKenzie (Minister of Public Works), D. Buddo (Minister of Health). Thomas Mackenzie (Minister of Agriculture), A. AY. Hogg (Minuter of Labour), and A. T. Ngata (Minister without portfolio). During Sir Joseph Ward's absence in England the Hon. J. Carroll was the acting-Premier. In the course of the one-week session of Parliament, Mr Hogg, in an indiscreet moment, made a thrilling speech in the House which was of such an ultra-socialistic character that the Premier had to repudiate his new colleague's declarations — and Mr Hogg resigned his portfolio. Tlie surprising desult was that, at the call of the Labour Party, the exMinister for Labour made a tour of the whole Dominion, and was made much of by organised labour everywhere, so that for the whole period- of Sir Joseph Ward's absence the member for Masterton was very much of a hero. The vacant portfolio has not yet been filled. Towards the end of August, MiRemington, member for Rangitikei, died very suddenly in Wellington, and the by-election to fill the vacancy provided one of tho most exciting of political contests. There were five candidates — four supporting the Government Party and Mr F. F. Hockly being the sole Opposition candidate. At the first ballot, Mr Hockly was on top, but he had not a clear majority ; consequently, the next candidate, Mr Robert Smith, and Mr Hockly went to the second ballot, which resulted in the return of Mr Smith. Mr Massey took part in the second ballot campaign, and the Ministry was represented by Messrs Carroll, Millar, Mackenzie, and Fowlds. THE RECORD OF FEILDING AND ITS DISTRICT. The year 1909 was rod-lettered by a series of records in various departments of its life. The Cheltenham Butter Factory scored the championship for tho Dominion for butter at the Otago Show, ami also won the championship at the Manawatu Show. I'he Feilding Cricket Club, for the second year in succession, won the championship of the Manawatu District, and the Cheltenham Club won the trophy offered by Mr I). H. Guthrie, M.P., .for the chaTnpionship of the newly-formed Feilding County District Cricket Association. The Feilding Football Club once more won the Hankins Shield and the championship of the Manawatu Union ; and the first tournament of the Oroua SubUnion, which comprised country clubs in the Feilding District, resulted hi the honours going to the Waituna Club. The rink sent by the Feilding Bowling Club to the championship meeting at Napier just missed the champion honours, but came away with the prize given to the runnorsup. Nor were the honours confined to the 6ports and pastimes. Our Wesley Choir took part in the musical competitions held at Napier in August, and succeeded in sharing the champion honours with the Hastings choir. Miss Baddeley, of Kimbolton, who took part in the same competitions, scored two gold medals as, a vocalist. Tuesday, October 19, was underlined as a great day in Feilding's diary, for on that day fifteen ol the delegates who had come from Britain to attend the Imperial Congress of Chambers of Commerce, at Sydney, were the guests of the Council of the Feilding Chamber. The party, which was concluding a tour through New Zealand after the Congress, were entertained at lunoheon, after which they were taken for a trip through the district in five motor cars, covering come fifty miles in 2$ hours. The trip was greatly enjoyed, and the visitors were undoubtedly impressed by the fine stretch of country over which they were taken. In all, some fifty delegates and their ladies toured the Dominion. October saw the formation of a troop of Boy Scouts in Feilding, and within less than a month fifty lads were in the patrols, the Scout Master being" Mr Thos. Watson, with Mr J- R. Perry as his assistant. The most dramatic event in Feilding during the year was that which occurred early on the morning of October 5, during a fire which resulted in the destruction of Hastie's

i Hotel. Fireman D. R. F. Williamson, a young man of 2b. just twelve months married, and well known throughout the whole district, was working with :i hoso in the main por- ' tion of the building when a chimney collapsed, caught Mr Williamson in its debris, and killed him instantly. Deepest sorrow was felt for the family of Mr Williamson, and all parts of tho community were represented i" the very long cortege that followed his remains to the Feilding cemetery. OUR MUNICIPAL YEAR. Fkiuding was iii the midst of the expenditure of the loans for the generalimprovement of the town at the opening of the year 1909. The Mayor was able in the early days of the year + o officially open the municipal swimming baths, and these baths are nowrecognised as one of our most valuable public institutions. Before the season closed, it was reported that eighty school children had learned to swim. In order to expedite the expenditure of the loan moneys, thy Council engaged a second engineer, Mr Thos. F. Randall, who was givon charge of the surface drainage extension scheme, <and under his supervision this work has rapidly progressed, and is now nearing completion. Mr W. J. Roche, the Resident Engineer, besides designing and having constructed the ferro-concrete bridge in Manohester street, finished so far as was practicable the sewerage extension work of the Borough, and quite recently finished his term of employment under the Council. In April lust the annual Mayoral election and the biennial election of councillors took place. Mr W. J. B. Trewin was re-elected Mayor for the fourth term. All the retiring councillors who offered their services were ro-eleoted, and three ex-councillors wore chosen to fill the positions made vacant by retirements. During the year the Council gave a great deal of attention to the perfecting of the water supply system. A new intake was made, and some repairs effected to the pipe-line. There has been the usual trouble regarding the supply to Mr E. J. Riddiford's cattle troughs, but just recently the Council met Mr Riddiford on the matter, and it is hoped and confidently believed tliat a satisfactory arrangement will bo come to whereby the town supply will not. be interfered with in future. The service is now in good order. So,mo discussion has taken placo with reference to obtaining si. supplementary supply From the Kiwitea stream, but no decision has yet been arrived at. One of tlie borough's most pressing needs — a good public hall — was fully discussed by the Council, and it was ultimately decided to ask the sanction of the ratepayers for the raising of a loan for a Municipal Opera House. There are two urgent matters which still call for attention, and the Council has cursorily glanced at both. The first is the adequate lighting* of the borough. It is take^ for granted that there is no hope of getting an extension of the service from the Gas Company, and the Council is at present considering the question of installing its own electric lighting plant. Tlie second matter is the generally faulty state of the roads, owing to the scarcity of good metal. Efforts have been made during the year to obtain good metal at a reasonable price, but without success. Speaking generally, geod work has heen done during the year by the Mayor and his Council, who have devoted a great deal of time and attention to borough affairs. FARM AND FINANCE. During the firtt three-quarters of the year prices of our staple products Avc.re down, — and in consequence so were the spirits of our producers particularly and the people generally. Wool did not do too well until September and October, and in the latter month Feilding's biggest pastoralist sold his clip (some 400 bales) at lld per lb all round. In the same month mutton and lamb, which had slumped badly in London during August, September, and the first half of October, took a decided upward turn. Hemp had a very bad run for many months, but the New Zealand milleivi wero encouraged to set their works humming again at the end of September . Butter and cheese held their own fairly well, and, compared with the previous season, did much better than well. Wheat and oats had done so well that much larger aroa« wore occupied with the growing of those grains this year. The timber industry -suffered a decided slump, and was the subset of a large and expensive Royal Commission, the not result of which was a compreheiHive tour for its many members and some lOlbs weight of printed report. SOME OTHER MATTERS. Oth Bit happenings may be summarised. We lost Mr Gilruth, of the Agricultural -Department, who. accepted a professorship at the Melbourne I'niversity. In October Mr John Foster'Frasor, the author .and lecturer, made* n lecturing tour of the. Dominion. Sir Albort Spicer, M.P., of London, President of the Imperial Congress, made a rapid tour during the came month. Later ou came Mr Will Crooks, another I/ondon M.P., of the Labour Party. All these Britishers aro participating ip the elections at Homo. The Dominion has had the pick of all the good thing* theatrical that were enjoyed by Australia, and the enterprising managers did not lose by their ventures. In fact, the passing year has proved New Zealand to be -more firmly than ever established as the happy hunting ground of tho theatrical managei*, who gathers in treasure every trip, despite the heavy expenditure he must ibe under in bringing his companies across Tasniaii Sea. These companies, however, continue to pas-5 Feilding by, owing to the lack of a suitable Town Hall or theatre. W.th wool away up and our industrial life becoming more active than it !ias been for some time past, we can confidently wish our readers A Happy and Prosperous New Year.