Untitled

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 52, 18 April 1877, Page 2

In compliance with, an advertisement which appeared m our columns, a meeting of Free and Accepted Mascns was held at the Clarendon Hotel, Palmerston North, on Friday evening last, the 13th inst. If we may judge by the brief resume furnished us by courtesy of the Secretary, the meeting was m every way a successful one, and we may -be permitted to congratulate the Brotherhood of the district on the good fellowship which pervaded this their first convention m Palmerston. The liberality of Mr W. J. Batt m presenting a valuable town section as a site for the proposed "United Manawatu Lodge" is worthy of especial notice ; and the donor received, as he deserved, the warm thanks of the meeting. There were present — Brothers R. N. Keeling (P.M.), A. Moinet, W. G-. Robinson, J. Young, W. J. Batt, Charles Batt, Thomas King, G. H. E. Warburton, J. H. Kent, O. Tiller, Geo. Gifford. David Donley, J. N. Owen, E. E. Metard, S. Coleman, P. L. Blixt, and Allan Skerman. Bro. W. J". Batt having been unanimously voted to the chair, it was agreed to apply to the English Constitution for a Dispensation and Warrant, on the ground that the English District Grand Lodge was nearest to this country. The following resolutions were afterwards fully discussed and unanimously carried : — l. That the name of the Lodge he the " United Manawatu Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons." 2. That the place of meeting be m Palmerston North. 3. That the time of meeting be on the Friday evening m each month nearest the full moon. 4. That Bro. William John Batt be laotninated W.M. 5. That Bro. Thomas King be nominated S.W. 6. That Rro. Gb. H. E. Warburton be nomi-

nated J.W. 7. That the Secret ary,Bro. J. IF Kent, act as Treasurer pro tern. l>ro. W. J. Butt ssrid that the clriei: difllculty m their way was the provision of a suitable place of meeting, and offered to present a section of land to the lodi?;o, explaining that it was for the purpose of building a M^onic Hall upon for the exclusivehencfitof the " United Manawatu Lodge." The brethren present warmly thanked Brother Batt for his very liberal offer, after which the meeting dispersed, having lusted about three hours. We are sorry to learn that an accident, the consequences of which might have been very serious, happened on the Gorge Rond on Saturday last to the express which Mr Peebles has started running between Palmerston and Woodville. It appears that Peebles lately purchased the express from Mr Murphy, of Woodville, and has since succeeded m making a good thing generally of the speculation. On Saturday night last, however, he enme to grief m quite an unexpected manner. Whilst travelling round the Gorge at a good pace the hind axle of his vehicle smashed, which resulted m a part of the load, and. one passenger who was on the top, being precipitated down a precipice into the river. Peebles and too 01-lier passengers were seated at the time on the box, and were all rolled off by the sudden jerk, but happily no serious injury was sustained by anyone. We cannot praise too highly the presence of mind displayed by Peebles m sticking to his horses, for had he not done so, we would probably have had to chronicle a fatal accident. We trust that the breakage will soon be set to rights, and that Mr Peebles will ere many days be m a position to do the trade between this place and Woodville. It is generally a simple enough matter to find fault with the actions of anyone occupying a public position, but it is not always so easy to produce good and substantial reasons for such fault-finding. It is to be regretted that men generally are not guided more by conscience and less by feeling or what is worse — personal animus — m judging of the actions of their fellow creatures. Some time since we published a report of a meeting of the ratepayers m No. 5 Ward m which were contained' certain very severe strictures upon the Seci'etary and Inspector of the Manawatu Highways Board. We are now pleased to noi ice that at its last meeting, a report of which appeal's m another column, that body has most emphatically signified its satisfaction with the actions of its servant, and m the most complete manner possible has thrown around him the shield of its protection. A meeting of settlers on the Rangitikei Line was held at the residence of H. McNeil, Esq., on Tuesday the 10th inst., at which it was proposed to form a School Committee for that district, and the following gentlemen were unanimously elected as members of such committee : — Messrs. H. McNeil (chairman), Thomas Knight, Owen Pleasant, George Richardson, William McDouall ; three members to form a quorum. It was further resolved that the Committee take steps to collect subscriptions as soon as notice should be received that a school site had been granted. We regret to learn that an accident of a painful nature happened to a son of Mr Allan, professional gardener, at Feilding, on Saturday last. The young man, who is about 19 years of age, was employed at one of the saw mills adjacent to the township, and being m the proximity of a large stack of timber it suddenly gave way, falling on young Allan's leg, and breaking it below the knee. We learn that Dr Johnston was soon m attendance, and did all that was necessary for the sufferer. Mr J. D. Thomson, manager m the assigned estate of Messrs E. and W. H. Bright well, notifies by advertisements m another column, that the whole of the Stock-in-trade of the above named firm will be immediately disposed of for cash ; and further that all outstanding accounts due to the firm must be paid within fourteen days from the present date. We trust that the uncertainty pertaining to the appointment of a Wesleyan minister to Palmerston is now at an end." The members of the connexion here have been not a little tantalised by the conflicting reports as to who the minister is to be. It is, however, now known that Mr Hammond has taken the' appointment. A telegram came yesterday to the Rev. J. H. Simmonds' stating that Mr Hammond had that morning started for Palmerston on horseback. He is, therefore, expected to preach m the Wesleyan Church here next Sunday, and, as will be seen by advertisement, the reception tea meeting and concert will take place on Thursday, 26th inst., (to-morrow, week). Any persons residing at. Foxton who* wish to be present on the occasion will find the day, Thursday, to be a convenient one, as they can come to Palmerston by the mid-day train and return to Foxton by the mail train late at night. Mr Snelson reports a large attendance at the sale of Mr. Palmerson's property and effects commencing on Saturday last, and bidding spirited. The household' furniture was disposed of at satisfactory prices. The sale of the land had to be adjourned until Monday, when the whole of the sections at Bunnythorpe found purchasers at prices ranging from £20. Two of them, consisting of 44 acres, realized the comparatively large sum of £225, which, looking at the general depression m the land market speaks volumes for the district. There are says the " Advocate " several rumours abroad respecting newspapers which are to be started at Wairoa, Petaue, Woodville, and Waipukurau.

Mi- E. S. Thynne's great unreserved sale of Books takes place at Foxton to-morrow, at 2 o'clock. See catalogues. Tenders are invited m the present issue for alterations and additions to the old Schoolhouse m this township. Our Feilding correspondent's letter unfortunately came to hand too late for insertion m the present issue, but shall appear m our next. The Napier is to leave Wellington for Foxton to-day, 'and is to return from Foiton again on Friday next after the .arrival of the morning train from Feilding and Palmei'9ton. The Marton Local Board did a very sensihle tiling nt their last meeting m appointing an inspector of nuisances. This officer has presented to him a fine field of operation, and if he only perform his functions m a fearless manner great benefit will result to the township. We trust that a stop will now be put to the dangerous practice which obtains at present of turning horses out on the high road as soon as it is dark. We have heard of several very narrow escapes from this cause. The board intimate that penalties for the infringement of the byelaws will be strictly enforced. — " Advocate." We hear, says the " Chronicle " of the 16th inst., that the official testing of the Turakina railway bridge took place on Saturday. A number of gentlemen from town went out by invitation of the Engineer. The result, we believe, was satisfactory. The revenue of the Borough of Napier (says the " Telegraph ") , apparently, just suffices for the payment of salaries, and the tinkering of some few portions of the public streets. If anything else be wanted a special rate is demanded, and the ratepayers are beginning to be dissatisfied. At the mere mention of the streets being, lighted the Councillors were horrified that such extravagance should be required of them. From the "Herald" we learn that "the case referred to m our telegraphic columns Ballance v. Carson, for libel, the legal technicalities having been settled by the gentlemen of the long robe, will come on for trial before a. jury at the next sittings of the Supreme Court m Wanganui, on the 23rd instant." It will be seen that the pleas put forth by the defendant m the action have been sustained by the Supreme Court. The special'jury were drawn on .Saturday. — Wanganui "Chronicle." The following letter dated Public Works Office, Wellington, 25th January, 1872, has been handed us for publication : — " Sir, — I am directed by Mr Gisborne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 12th inst., m which you enclose further signatures to the petition originally forwarded m your letter of the 4th December last, and m reply to inform you, as I have previously had the honor to inform Mr Eenall, that the question of the route of the proposed railway line m the Wairarapa will be carefully reconsidered, with a view to combine, as far as practicable, economy of constimction with the greatest devqlpment of the .resources of settled and unsettled land. Mr Gisborne will be obliged by your communicating this intention to the ■petitioners. I. have &<:, — John Knowles, Under. Secretary. 1 — " Wairarapa Stanclai'd." ■'•'•' •