HIGHWAYS BOARD REPRESENTATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 88, 4 July 1879, Page 2

HIGHWAYS BOARD REPRESENTATION.

From our report of the Highways Board meeting, ia last issue, it would be seen that Mr Rookel has given notice of motion for a readjustment of the representation upon a fairbasis of rateß. Another part of the report showed that the rates in tho different Wards amount to the follow ing: — Sandon &140 Carnarvon 550 Foxton 250 Karere 160 Sfconey Creek .. ..100 Fitzherbert 175 Kiwitea 300 It will be seen from the above figures that Carnarvon and Sandon together raise one»half of the rates in the district, being £990, against £975 raised in the other five Wards. Yet Car-* narvon and Sandon enjoy only the same representation on the Board as Karere and Stoney Creek, which to--1 gether have a rateable value of only £250. That theie is a great anomaly 1 in such a state of things no one can " honestly doubt. We do not know 1 in what way Mr Eockel proposes to 1 remedy matters, but presume he is in I favor of uniting two of the smaller ' Wards, and conferring an additional \ representative upon Carnarvon. That f Ward is, as a matter of fact, a most extensive one, rendering it difficult for one Warden to exercise the supervision which is necessary to the right fulfilment of his duties. The HighL ways Boards have been created to [ give local self-government of the beat , possible character to the outsettlers. , To secure this, a fair balance of repre- [ aentation should be maintained. We ■ trust Mi Kockel's motion will be dis- \ cussed in a fair and unbiassed spirit - by the Board at its next meeting.

Recubatios Ground. —At the Local Bodrd meeting held on Monday th« Chairman, Mr Crowther, mentioned the desirability of steps being taken to obtain a recrentfon "round for the inhabitants of Foxton. We heartily agree with this. We do not know wlvit reserves are available for fie DUWVwr'j hilt-. iy« qlimiir! 'S!!nn r >S<! fh^t fl? there is so large an extent of open land in the immediate vkinity of the town, no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining a suitable site. The advantages of a park to which the public would at all times have the right of admission, are so palpable that they do not need mentioning. If the present members of the Board during their tenure of office make a start in the matter of a public recreation ground, they will deserve the thanks, of tho present aud future inhabitants of Foxton. Rate. — At a special meeting of the Foxton Local Board, held on Tuesday last, ft rate of Is in the £ for the year ending 31st March, 1880, was struck. The notices already served by the Collector are valueless, and fresh ones will have to be issued. The Commissioners present were— Messrs Crowther, Cook, Easton, and Coley. Police Court.— The youth, Arthur Cook, whose arrest ivj mentioned in last issue, was brought before Dr Rockstrow, J.P., on Tuesday morning last, charged with being illegally on the premises of R. G. Palmer on the previous evening, with intent to commit a fe.lony. Constable M'Anulty, being sworn, briefly stated the grounds on which the charge was luid, and the accused was remanded till the following morning, at 10 a.m. Bail was allowed, accused in £20, and two sureties of £10 each. The lad being a minor, his father signed the bond on his behalf, Messrs Liduell and Reeve being tho sureties. He was committed for trial on Wednesday by the R.M. Stjukixo thh Rate.— A deal of j:oodhumored '' chaff" was indulged in at the Local Board meeting on Tuesday afternoon, regarding the forgetfulness of tli-it body to strike a rate. One can picture the blank astonishment with which the Chairman read the remarks in our last issue, stating that the most important function of the Board lud been forgotten, and that all its puissance was lying dornant; whilst the other members were forced to put up with several queries during the day, such as, " How about the rate r" The earliest possible steps were taken to remedy the error, as a few hours after the publication of tho Manawatu Herald, a special meeting was called to strike the rate. When the representative of the Press appeared on the scene, the first words that greeted inn? were, " You might have told us about the rate yesterday at the meeting." But tho inkslinger smiled and said, " Thau would be trenching on the privileges of the Board !" The Chairman remarked cheerfully, " Well, a mistake has been made, but there are worse mishaps at sea. ft o one's neck h<is been broken by it, at any rate." " Hear, hear," chimed in the Commissioners. After a little further banter the Board settled in to business, and in a shor t time the rate was an accomplished fact. A Bad Pay. — At a recent meeting of the Wellington Tramway Co., it was remarked that the Hon. John Sheehan has never paid a penny upon the shades he holds in the concern. A bilious shareholder remarked to the speaker, "It would take a cleverer man than either you or I to get money out of him." Pilot Station.— We have received a complaint from Captain Fraser, of the Jane Douglas, to the effect that on the occasion of his last down trip for Wellington, no sig-. nal whatever was hoisted for him at the Pilot Statiou at the Manawatu Heads. A considerable fresh was running down the river, so much so indeed that the steamer was swung round twioe just alter leaving the wharf, having been caught by a large eddy. Captain Fraser is positive that when about half way down Hartley's bend he saw a man on the look out from the signal staff. On getting into the narrows, the current was running so strong, lhat to stop and wait for a signal to be made was out of the question, and the steamer was headed for the bar, wheh was luckily crossed in safety. We give publication to the complaint as a matter of duty. Whilst at all times willing to give credit to public officials when they liscliar g-e their duty faithfully, it is neces sary at times to refer to masters such as that mentioned. Pilot Seabury and his assistant have hitherto proved themselves zealous and efficient officers, and we hope further explanation wil show that they are not so muoh to blame as appears at first sight. [Since the above was in type, we bave learned that the pilot says he was at the masthead, trying to make out the bar, and was unaware that the Jane Douglas Was on her way down the river until it was too late to hoist any signul for her.] Accident. — Captain Wills, of the ss Huia, informs us that on Wednesday even ing, just before his steamer left the wharf, a sad accident occurred on board the ss Rangatira. It appears the crew were engaged in shipping a heavy 2-ton monkey for pile-driving, when the chain by which it was susponded gave way, and the heavy weight fell upon the deck, smashing it in the fall, and seriously injuring two men who were at the time in the hold. Taken Over.— ln accordance with a resolution passed by the Local Committee on Wednesday last. Messrs Whyte, Qray, and Liddell attended at the Foxton School yesterday morning, and took over the build ing iiom Mr H. Fry, the contractor. The effect of this is, of course, to settle the disputes between MrFryandtheCommittee.the b uilding being taken over with all faults and imperfections, as the contractor has fulfilled the requirements of .Mr Ross, who was sent down by the Board to go over the specifications and building, and see if the former had been faithfully oamed out. We understand that the differences that have occurred were the result of the very defective manner in which the specifications were drawn out. "Divide!"— We understand Mr Hulke, head master of the local school, lias given notice to the Aoting-Chairntan of the School Committee, Mr Gray, of his desire thst the separation of the boys from the girls may take effeot before the t school reopens. Mr tlulke's position is a very fair one, we think. Strong efforts are b3ing at present made to procure ahead mistress for the girls' department, and when such an appointment is raado (and it may be at any time), a division will take place, necessitating a ro-arrangeinput of the whole school. This he desires to obviate, by dividing the sexes before tho re opening of the sohool. The necossity of such a division is self evident, and as it is part of the accepted programme for the future, there should be no objection on the purt of the Committee to acoede to Mr Hulke's request. "lr is Mokk Blessed to Give than to Receive." — Id a large number of persons the charitable feelings become frozen before the meridian of life is reached, by reason of the imposition and humbug of many suppliants. Not so with Captain Fraser, of the Jane Douglas. A few dayß ago he arrived in Foxton, having on board a young woman as a pa«»Beiiger, who slated that she had come from Wellington with the intention of going as servant at a house >n Pal. merston, but that she had completely forgotten the name of her new employer, and

was also destitute of money. Sb 9 stated, however, that Bhe bad a sister residing at Bulls, and that if she could reach that town" ship she wou'd be all right. Believing her story, Captain Fr.iser lent her £2, being sufficient to pay her passage to Bulls, and aleo leaving her a margin of a few shillings wlvn there. This vraa certainly a hsiz irrions gnmo to play, as the young lady was quite a stranger to the skipper. However : whether he is gifted with the pov.ors of a keen physiognomist, or with a spiritualistic power of reading character, we do not know, but certainly the young woman turned out trumps, for on Captain Frnser's arrival j yesterday, he found a Post Office order for the amount advanced awaiting him, it having arrived a few hours after he left on his last trip. A good action of the kind we have mentioned, carries its own reward. The character and happiness of many a young woman have heen blasted through being cask adrift in a strange town without either money or friends. Choral Society.— This Society held a capital practice on Wednesday evening last a*, the Public Hall. There was a good attendance of performers, and a very satisfactory practice was held in preparation for the next concert. Political. — It is understood that the Governor is opposed to all the chief items of the Liberal programme, including manhood suffrage, triennial parliaments, and payment of members. It is even said that Sir Hercules would like to ace Ministers have an absolute tenure for four years. Titat Key. — At the close of the oase for i housebreaking, on Wednesday last, at the I Court, Mr Thynne stepped forward and said he had heard it stated during the inquiry, lhat a key belonging to him was in pos- j session of the police. If so he hoped his ! Worship would make an order that it might I be returned to him, as it was rather a serious '. matter for the key of a building containing ■, stock of the value of £300 to be out of his i possession. His Worship replied that the I matter rested with the police authorities, ! but he should think there would be no ; difficulty in procuring it, on condition that ! it would be returned to them when wanted. , Constable . M'Anulty informed the Bench • that he would not feel justified in handing it over to Mr Thynne, whilst a suggestion from : hiß Worship that .Mr Thynne might borrow | Mr Palmer's key did not meet with appro- j val from either party. Should any robbery or loss take place while Constabla M'Anulty »s in possession of the key, serious complications might arise. Perhaps the easiest way would be for Mr Thynne to put on a new lock, and charge the cost to the Crown. The Awauubi Case. — We understand that Dc Buller, acting for Tapita, has applied to the Government for a remission of the fine inflicted upon her for a breach of the Surveys Act tit Awahuri, and that Mr Ballance, on behalf of the Native .Minister, j gave his consent to the application. Tho | Interpreter, Mr Baker, has told Tapita, j however, that the judgment of the Court j must be carried out, and the fine paid, and j that the Government can remit the amount afterwards. We also hear that acting upon instructions from the Government, Mr Gillet, the surveyor, will not proceed with the charge against Hanapska for a similar offence to that committed by her sister Tapita. Election.— The Hutt election has resuited in the return of Mr Henry Jackson, the numbers being as follows : — Jackson, 183; Mason, 84. Council. — The County Council holds its meeting on Monday next. Filed. — W. R. Dimond, of Paimerston, boot and shoe manufacturer, has filed a declaration of insolvency. Mail. — The San Fraucisco Mail arrived at Auckland on Wednesday. The Punt.— The Foxtou punt, which we announced in last issue had broken loose, and dropped down below Mr Liddell's residence, has been replaced in pDsition. Hearing of the mishap, Me Hayns, County Enginder, came down to Foxton by Monday night's train, and worked hard through out Tuesday and Wednesday to get everything right. The punt was on Tuesday poled up to the wharf, a boat assisting by towing. Arrived at the wharf, the Osprey started to tow it up to the ferry. Owing to the strong current ruuniug, and the weight of the punt, the little steamer had all her work cut out. Captain Gibson made for the west side of the river, the current being less there, but in crossing both 9teamer and punt lost a good deal. Arrived there, however, the steamer's head was put to her work, aud right gallantly sho puffed and tugged, but at the close of 5 minutes had not gained a yard. As the machinery soon worked more easily, and she got further out of the current, she began steadily to forge ahead, aud having onco made a start, the ferry Wc?s aoon reached. The new wire has been stretched across, and the ferry is again in good working order.