PALMERSTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 118, 19 July 1873, Page 4

PALMERSTON.

('from our own correspondent.) July 13th, 1873. Meagre as is the correspondence from this locality, and uninteresting as it must be to many city readers, its publication is often of very great importance to everyone in this district. Stjll, I have no doubt that ere long we shall be able to contribute such reading pabulum to your columns as may not be despised even by city readers. More prosperous and more busy days are, I think, dawning upon us. That protracted piece of agony to Palmerston folk, the construction of the tramway, is all but completed, and in a very short time we shall be shipping timber from Foxton. Our resources, in the way'of timber, you will be glad to-learn, are. becoming known outside ; and as a first indication of this I may mention that the whole of the totara for the Whenuakura bridge and all the piles for the Waitotara bridge are being got ready at Palmerston. The General Government, I am informed, have, after unusual deliberation, decided upon accepting the tender of Hy. M £ Neil for the bridge to span the Manawatu at the upper ferry. No better contractor could have obtained the job, though it is not certain now that he will take up the tender ; very few in the district but would rejoice to learn that he had agreed to go on with the work. The thoroughness with which Mr M £ Neil turns his contracts out of his hands, and his direct and manly manner, have prepossessed the people of this district in his favor, who look upon these traits as sound indications of the man’s whole character*. With the exception of a small contract of fifty chains of road across the Palmerston flat, little in the way of Provincial work is being done. It has been let by tender to Messrs Brightwell and Crowe. It is to be hoped that our paternal Provincial Government is not henceforth going to leave us to our devices in regard to necessary works. Considering the revenue derived from land sales in this district, it is a wonder that the settlers have not begun to clamor at the parsimonious expenditure. As yet there is no road to the district of Fitzherbert, excepting a half-finished one made by the Road Board. It is no wonder, then, that the settlers should prill up stakes and hie them to the more eligible pastures of Patea. How else could it be, when, after seven years’ patient waiting, Fitzherbert still remains an unprofitable waste for want of an outlet ? I am afraid that the distinguished patron to whom it owes its name has all the indifference of a stepfather as to its welfare. How would it be if it were called £ ‘ Bunny ?” Joking aside, the claims of this district have been shamefully neglected by the Provincial Government, and they must not be surprised if a hornet’s nest is yet raised about their ears as annoying as the separation cries which have been ringing in their ears so loudly of late. The tenders for the new survey office, another provincial undertaking, has fallen to the lot of a Scandinavian named Beyersen. The building itself is more like a miniature barn than anything else, and for all the use it is likely to be, might still remain unerected. The Feilding barracks are now about completed, and a ready welcome will be given by those who are to inhabit them to our own countrymen whenever the chance arises for us to do so. After all, we prefer our own flesh and blood, and can entertain them better than those belonging to other countries wh© are ignorant of our ways and can’t appreciate our welcomes. A Poad Board meeting was held at Palmerston on the 11th. Present—Messrs Snelson (chairman), Dalrymple, Stewart, Farmer, and McKenzie. The treasurer reported the sum of £504 to the credit of the Board at the Bank. A petition was presented from the ratepayers in Foxton, asking the Board to appropriate sufficient money for the purpose of forming a road between the river end of the Motoa Poad and the road adjoining M‘Arthur’s house. A letter was read from J. T. .Stewart, Esq., District Engineer, asking for permission to erect a gate across the road at the river side, at Foxton Tramway station, in order to prevent stray cattle from breaking down the banks of the tramway ; also, for leave to take a portion of clay, for tramway purposes, from the side drain of a road in the swamp. Granted. A letter was read from Mr Halcombe in reference to the payment of

rates due on the Feilding estate still remaining unpaid. A letter was read from Mr Perreau, member for with accounts enclosed for work done in his Ward, and recommending the Board to undertake certain other works required. Owing to his absence, it was resolved to let the matter stand over until an opportunity of getting a satisfactory explanation. It was proposed by Mr Stewart — “That it is most desirable for each Warden to have the power to appoint two colleagues to assist him in the duties of his Ward, subject to the approval of the Board. Agreed to. An application was received from Mr M £ Kenzie for an additional £2O to be expended upon work on the river bank. Granted. Tenders were laid before the Board by Mr Farmer for work required to be done in his Ward (Sandon). That of Mr George Phillips was accepted for the following : —No. 1 contract, £27 ; No. 2, £l2 ; No 3, £27. Another tender was received from James Millar, for the same work, for £llO 9s. A tender presented by Mr M £ Kenzie, for work in his Ward (Carnarvon) from Messrs Rockel and Burne, amounting to £6O, was accepted. Tenders were presented by Mr Snelson for certain works required in his Ward (Palmerston), viz., forming and gravelling a footpath around the square in the centre of the township : —-William Crowe, £3 11s 6d per chain ; Thomas Brightwell, £3 10s 6 ; Stephen Rogers, £2 2s ; Alexander Stewart, £2 12s 6d ; Johansen and Boesin, £2 19s ; Raymond and O’Mara, £2 Is 6d (accepted). The secretary was instructed to write to several of the ratepayers in Palmerston and inform them that the Board intends to increase their rates for the ensuing year. Likewise, to advertise the rate book as being open for inspection to ratepayers from the 15th inst to the 15th of August next, at the office of the collector (Mr Linton), Palmerston. It was proposed and agreed to, ‘ £ That J ames Linton be appointed to act as assessor for the Board for all lands lately acquired in the district and not yet entered in the rate book.” It was also proposed “That Mr Keeling be appointed to audit the collector’s accounts before the next Board meeting, to be held on the 15th. August next.”