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Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 85, 24 June 1881, Page 2

Licensing Bili* — This Bill is slowly dragging its way through committee in the Lower House. The local option principle has been affirmed by a considerable majority, also that Licensing Commissioners should be elective, — both of which provisions are doubtful blessings, and if carried into effect we believe the Good Templar party will have cause to regret their haste in forcing them on before the country is ready for them. As the Bill still has to go through the " fiery ordeal " of the Upper House, it would be difficult to Bay what the features of the Bill will be when it is finally passed. Chess Club. — We are glad to see steps are being taken to form a Chess Club at Foxton. A meeting for that purpose is called for this evening, at the Athenaeum, and it is hoped all lovers of this ancient and intellectual though rather unsociable game will attend and enrol themselves. Harbor Board. — The adjourned meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board will be held this day. Sale of Trees. — Messrs Thynne, Lin ton & Co. yesterday held a sale of fruit trees, shrubs, &c., from the nursery of Mr Laird, Wanganui. There was a fair attendance, and good prices were realised, in some cases even more than the value. The Bandmann Trocfe — Herr Bandmann, assisted by Miss Beaudet and Mr Cathcart, appeared before a capital house on Tuesday evening, at the Foxton Hall. The performance consisted of scenes from Shakespeare, and included selections from "Romeo and Juliet," " Hamlet," and "Othello." The lack of the usual accessories to • histrionic performance, and the fact that only three performers were employed, necessarily detracted from the success of the entertainment, nevertheless making allowances for these drawbacks it was everything that could be desired. Herr Bandmann is without doubt a masterly actor. At the same time, we are not surprised that his reading of several of the chief characters of Shakespeare has provoked considerable criticism. His rendering of Hamlet's soliloquy on death was different to that usually given, and we think it is very doubtful if Mr Bandm&nn's rendering is an improvement upra the •rthodox on*. In

other parts of the entertainment, however, the audience enjoyed a real treat;, his acti'\y> beiug aplondid. As Juliet, Ojjtn lia, or D ipdemoua, Miss Beaudet showed great t dent, especially as Ophelia. Mr Cathcart, despite a rather weak voice, acted iv capital style throughout the different parts alU)tt d him. T c entertainment closed with the sparkling comedy, "Squabbles," (the parts heint( BU3tamed by Herr Baudmann and Miss Beaudet), the acting in which kept the audience in roars of laughter from be ginning to end. Upon the whole, a nw»t p casjvnt evening was spent, and our only r>v*ret was that we have not entertainments of a similar class oftcner. Mr Saitnders* Ball. — A grand ball was given by Mr Joseph Saunters at the Foxton Public Hall on Wednesday evening, to celebrate the completion of his contract for the new wharf and railway station. A large number of invitations were sent to the principal residents throughout the county, and all parts of the district were represented. The hall was beautifully decorated with flags, evergreens, pictures, and drapery, and wore a festive appearance quite unprecedented iv its history, the decorations being the subject of general admiration. About 65 couples were present, and dancing wag kept up with great spirit until an early hour yesterday morning. The music was provided by a band from Wellington, and comprised piano, violin, and cornet. Refreshments were supplied on a most liberal scale, and were of the choicest character, the cateringhaving beeu undertaken bj' Host Whyte. During a temporary cessation of the dancina Mr Thynne, who made a most efficient M.(.\, in a neat and appropriate speech proposed the health of Air aud Mrs S Hinders, making reference not only to Mr Saunders' business capacity and the successful manner in which he had completed his contract, but also to his many sterling qualities as a private citizen. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and was followed by "For he's a jolly good fellow," with three times three each for Mr, Mrs, aud Miss Saunders. In a few well-ohosen remarks Mr S umders replied, thankiiu; those present for the hearty manner in which the toast had beeu received. Ho referred to the hospitality and good feeling shown him by all the residents of Foxton wMi whom he had come in contact, and especially to the cordial manner in which the Public Works oificials had acted with himself and his emplnijcu. He paid a tribute to the able superintendence of Messrs ,1 ay and f » oodfello w, through whose management the contract had so successfully beon completed, and concluded by expressing a hope that when the con - struction of the much-talked-of West Coast railway was started he would once moro be found amongst the people of Foxton. , Dancing was then resumed, and was kept up with great spirit. The whole of the principal residents of the place were prosent, and both as regard the decoration of the hall, the manner in which the affair was carried out, and last but by no means leasr, the beauty and dresses of the ladies, the universal opinion of visitors from all parts of the district \i as that the ball of Wednesday was the best ever given in the Manawatu district. The Advocate Eats the Leek. — We recently found it our duty to expose the ridiculous pretensions of the Rangitikei Advocate, and "rammed the falsehood down its throat " in presence of the whole district by challenging it to prove an assertion it had in a bombastic spirit called "an absolute fact." The Advocate replies in Tuesday's paper, not by accepting our challenge and proving its assertions, but by making a personal attack on the Editor of this journal. Well, this was only what was to be expected. When Mr Ward, R. M., gave a judgment against the proprietor of the Advocate some months ago, it blackguarded him incessantly until for very shame it had to stop. Because Mr Macarthur had opposed a subsidy being paid to the Advocate out of the Count} Council's funds, it has villified, misreported, and attacked him ; the " fever" culminating in the first issue after the Council meeting at which Mr Macarthur administered a well-deserved snub to the E litor of the Advocate for his "cheek" and "impudence" in forcing his opinions on the Council while the Chairman was speaking. It was therefore to be expected that the floods of Billingsgate would be unloosed upon as when we hoisted the Advocate with its own petard, aad proved it to be what David said in his haste all men wern. As a matter of fact, we desire the hate of the Advocate far more than its praise. The more it hates us the better reason have we for feeling assured that we are meriting the esteem of the settlers iv this county. But what about the circulation of ten to one ? Try again, Mr Advocate. The Gravel Pit. — We understand that the Government demand a rental of £2 per ton per annum for the use of the 30-lb rails forming the tramway from Foxton to the gravel pit. The price seems ridiculously high, as being out of all proportion to the sum for which a quantity of the rails have been sold to one of the Australian Governments. An annual rental of say 103 per ton would be a fair price to pay for the use of the rails, and we believe the local bodies would not object to paying that sum. Meat Freezing.-— A public meeting is to be held at Bulls on Tuesday evening next, for the purpose of appointing a provisional committee to obtain information and generally to act in concert with a committee to be appointed at Wairarapa in connection with the formation of the proposed Company, and also to appoint delegates to meet the Wairarapa Committee at Wellington, and there prepare a prospectus and appoint Provisional direotors, etc' The notification calling the meeting is signed by Messrs R. Hammond, M'Kelvie, Willis, D. Fraser, Gorton, D. M'Kenzie, J. G. Wilson, T. Dick, A. Milne, Retemeyer, Marshall, and J. Stevens. Limestone.— On her last trip from Waitara to Wellington, via Foxton, the Tui took down a quantity of the Taranaki limestone and clay, used by Mr D<».oimn« Atkinson in the manufacture of cement. It is to be shipped to England, Mr Brogden having an idea that it may be utilised there. If the experiment proves successful, Mr Brogdeu intends to start a cement manufactory in the colony. Visitor.— Mr C. E. Button, fonneriy*a partner of our respected townsman, Mr Hanking, and at one time M.H.R. for Hokitika, arrived at Foxton from Napier on Wednesday evening, and remained here over yesterday. He expressed himself greatly pleased at the appearance of the township. He proceeds to his home at Christchurch via Wellington this day. Dried Fish. — We are glad to see that the curing of fish on a large scale has been started at Kapiti. After their sale of fruit trees yesterday, Messrs Thynne, Linton & Co. auctioned several cases of dried fish cured at Kapiti. It appeared to be in prime condition, and the consignment comprised kawhai, rook cod, hapuka, and other kinds. The hapuka brought 31 per pound, and the remainder realised prices that were considered most satisfactory. We hope to see a thriving trade developed in the Kapiti dried fish. Progress. — We notice Mr Henore, of the Cash Store, has jut imported from

Wellington a capita! land prettily-finished c.irt suitable for his business. Representation' Un.T,.— The above Bill is to be brought <lo*vn as soon as possible. The delay has occurred owing to soma of the Auckland census returns not having been sent in.