WOODVILLE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7540, 10 August 1886, Page 3

WOODVILLE.

(FROJI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 9, 18S6. Since my last communication there has been very little transpired worthy of note. The most important matter which is taking tlio attention of the public at present is the Gorge contract, which is expected to be commenced in a short time. Preparations are already being made to supply the wants of the workmen that may be employed upon the work. Enterprising boarding-house keepers are on the spot, having shifted up from the present works. Buildings in the town continue to go up. At the corner of Yogel and M'Leau streets a good-sized two-storied building is in course of erection, and is to be opened as a store by Mr A. St. George Ryder. Ncxt'lothe auction room a couple of shops are just completed, one of which is to be opened by Mr Fergusson, storekeeper, of Palmerston North. Mr J. Beagley is erecting a block of three shops at the corner of Yogel and Ormond streets, and several other shops are about to be erected. A new drug store is about to bo opened in Vogel-sfreet; and is to be under the management of Mr Prior, formerly of Cbristchurcb. Messrs Wall and Co. nave opened a branch establishment in the premises lately occupied by T. F. Ruenancl, watchmaker. The drill hall is nearly completed, and the Volunteer company are about to make arrangements to celebrate the opening. The hall is in Ross-street, at the back of the post-office and police-station, being built upon ))art of the reserve. . The size of the hall is' 6o. feeOy 80 feet, and has a good sound floor in. The roof is well braced together by heavy beams spliced together, with strong iron. bands. The company are very fortunate in having such a splendid hall. Bishop Redwood arrived here on Sat- | urduy, and was met by the. Woodville Brass Band, and a number of Catholic friends. The Bishop will perform the ceremonies. of consecrating the Catholic Church and confirmation. Mr Matthew Burnett, the gospel temperance mission lecturer, is expected to lecture at Pahiatna on Wednesday next, and after visiting Ashurst, Palmerston North, and Fielding, will lecture here four nights, commencing on the 28th. Ho will then visit the various townships on the way to Napier. I notice that the bridge over the Manawatu at the lower ferry is fast approaching completion. The whole of the piers are in with the exception of the centre. The whole of the piles for this pier have been driven, but having come upon • vock it is thought necessary to bore through or into the rock and drive extra piles, so as to strengthen it. As soon as this is accomplished the bridge will soon be finished, and open for traffic. ■ That portion of the Gorge road on the Woodville side from the cemetery to the bridge is in a. very bad state, and unless something is done by the County before the Gorge contract commences the road will soon be in an impassable state. As there will doubtless- ue a lot of heavy •traffic upon it- a few pounds spent in metalling in the first dry weather may be the saving o( a good many. Palmerston and Woodville are having a quiet newspaper spar about the probability of the railway workshops being at Woodville. One paper is certain that the workshops will be at Woodville, seeing that 17' acres have been secured for the purpose, while the two Palmerston papers think it absurd to suppose that the workshops will be anywhere but at Palmerston. However, I think we have the best show of getting them heve— for one tiling it is more central to the Government linos, and the land has been secured, which is a great item towards it. However, time will show. Marriages are all the rage at present. About seven couples have been united during. the last fortnight, and several more are contemplating the same step. The weather is now warm, with heavy rn.in_ - *