Country News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 387, 12 July 1879, Page 19

Country News.

Mr. George Anson, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, has been appointed second master of the Wanganui Endowed School. Mr. Campbell, cashier for some time past at the Bank of Australasia at Masterton, has been promoted to the charge of the branch of the same bank at Sandon.

An Italian barber, after a two months' career at Masterton, ha 3 quietly taken his departure (says the Daily) without settling for his board and lodging and other little liabilities.

It is stated that the employees on the line from Featherston to Masterton have struck for higher wages, Bs. per day instead of 7s. 66., the current rate. Commenting upon the fact, the Tfyairarapa Daily says :—" We have not a very high opinion of the worldly wisdom of the employees on the railway." Constable Pleasants, who has been stationed at Marton for some time, has severed his connection with the force, to go upon his farm. Constable Pleasants was in every way a most efficient officer (says the local paper), and one who did his duty without being overofficious. We doubt not he will make an excellent settler, and he has our best wishes for his welfare.

An inquest was held at the Empire Hotel, Masterton, on Monday, by Dr. Spratt, the District Coroner, on the body of the late Ronald Robertson, a cade 4 ; on Mr. Cockburn Hood's Station, at the Upper Taueru. The verdict of the jury was, of course, " Accidental death by drowning, on June 28." The deceased was supposed to be about twenty years of age. After the inquest the funeral took place, the Rev. Mr. Tebkle being the officiating minister.

At the last meeting of the Manawatu County Council, Mr. Halcombe moved a resolution applying to the Government to place £15,000 at the disposal of the Council to open up the Omatakapua Block of 140,000 acres, by a road in continuation of the Kimbolton-road, the vote to be recouped to the Treasury out of the 20 per cent, payable upon land revenue to the county. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Carr, and after some discussion, it was declared carried by the casting vote of the chairman.

A meeting of the Hutt County Council was held on Tuesday at the Council's office at the Hutt, when there were present—Councillors Mason (chairman), Chew, Dick, Lancaster, Monaghan, C. Morgan, Speedy, Smith, and Taylor. The following resolution was carried: —That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that the member for the Hutt Electoral District in the General Assembly endeavor to get provision made for the further prosecution of what is known as the Mungaroa to Waikanae line of road ; and that the Manawatu County Council be requested to invite their member in tho Assembly to co-operate. This Council is also of opinion that as the sum of £BOOO has already been provided and expended by the Government in prosecuting this important public work, renders it imperative that further provision should be made by Parliament in the ensuing session, and that the chairman communicate with the Hutt member and the chairman of the Manawatu County Council forwarding copies of this motion. The application of the Kaiwarra Local Board for permission to extend the footpath from the toll-house to the foot of Featherston's Hill was agreed to, subject to the approval and supervision of the County Engineer.—A committee consisting of the chairman, Councillors Taylor and Lancaster, was appointed to represent the county in the Hospital Committee. —Mr. Monaghan withdrew the notice of motion standing in his name, asking the Council for a grant of £SOO for the KaroriMakara Riding.—lt was decided to invite applications for the office of inspector of slaughter-houses, and to state salary required for the same.—Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £497 lis. sd.—Mr. Lancaster gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting of the Council that the sum of £2OO be granted to the Karori-Makara Highway Board, for the purpose of improving the Kavori road to Wellington,

The public library at Palmerston appears to be very successful, so far. When it was only a reading-room the attendance was very meagre, but since it has been thrown open to the public it is largely availed of. Mr, Cottam, who has been stationmaster at Palmerston for the past two or three years, has been transferred to Kai-Iwi, 'the first station on the line connecting Wanganui with New Plymouth. He will be succeeded in Palmerston by Mr. Dikes, who was, we believe, connected with the Railway Department here.

The following table will show the growth of some of the up-country towns in this Province :

The well-known racehorse The Don has died of lock-jaw at Aramoho. A pugilistically-inclined individual, named Thomas Reilly, was charged at the Police Court (says the Manatvatu Times) with assaulting James Carroll by striking him in the eye. The accused has lately arrived in Palmerston, and repaid Mr. Carroll's kindly endeavors to get him home by putting that gentleman's optics in mourning. Messrs. Dalrymple and McNeil, who occupied the bench, very properly punished the fellow's ingratitude by fining him £2, or £1 for each optic. When next Mr Reilly makes "his mark," he will avoid dotting the "i.'s." A meeting of the shareholders in the Sandon Flour Mill Company was held last week, to consider the desirability of letting or otherwise disposing of the mill. A resolution passed by the directors was read, recommending that the company should if possible either let or sell the mill, as they found it impossible to give sufficient time to manage it successfully. After some discussion, it was proposed by Mr. Lewers, seconded by Mr. Gower, and carried, " That tenders be called for the purchase or lease of the mill, plant, &c, but that no sale be effected for a less sum than £3000."

Under the heading of " A Conundrum for the Highway Board," the Manawatu Times says :—" When the deputation from the Palmerston Cemetery Committee laid their claim for assistance before the Board they were met by the statement—no doubt perfectly true—that there was no provision made for voting funds for such a purpose. We happen to know that there is no provision made for defraying the travelling expenses of the wardens, and yet they have voted themselves and receive a portion of the public funds, a proceeding for which the Act gives no authority. Perhaps the chairman would throw some light upon the subject, and explain why this is thus. For our own parts we give it up, unless, unless—well, unless circumstances alter cases."

As is well known (says the Manawatu Times) the Palmerston Sunday-school in connection with the Church of England has for some time past been held in the Foresters' Hall. On Saturday evening last that building was occupied by the Learned Pig, Prince, whose cardplaying propensities were being exhibited, and as the hotels had not accommodation suitable for his pigship, " Porkey" was allowed to take up his quarters behind the scenes at the back of the stage during the Sabbath. One of Master Prince's finest tricks is the celerity with which he grunts forth a reply immediately upon a question being put, and no little amusement was rendered by the promptness of his answers to the Biblical questions put to the scholars, he of course taking all the interrogatories as part of his legitimate programme, and conscientiously performing his part accordingly. With regard to the new accession to the Ministerial ranks, the Wairarapa Daily says : —" The Hon. Mr. Gisborne has accepted office under Sir George Grey. Perhaps the characteristic trait of this veteran Civil servant is a sincere solicitude for ' number one.' . This speciality has enabled him to sustain many reverses with manly fortitude. After the fall of the Stafford Ministry, eligible candidates for seats in the new Cabinet were scarce, and so Mr. Gisborne was picked out of the Civil Service, pitchforked into the Upper House, and made a Minister of the Crown. When, however, the Cabinet which he ornamented came to grief, and people were wondering what the civil ex-Minister would do without an official income, it was found that Mr. Gisborne had run to earth. He fell on his legs ! By some magic touch the Cabinet Minister changed into a Commissioner of Annuities with a fat income."

Quite a sensation was caused in Feilding on Friday morning (says the local paper) by a report that a child had been mangled in Warwick-street by dogs. The report was in a measure quite correct, although the injuries received by the child were not so serious as at first anticipated. From what we have been able to gather of the occurrence, it appears that a little boy, a son of Mr. S. Evans, of Warwick-street, had been sent on an errand by his mother, and when nearly opposite Mr. Klink's boarding-house was attacked by a dog belonging to one of the boarders residing there. Three other dogs came to the rescue, and began to fight over the child. A gentleman who was fortunately passing at the time noticed the dogs and thought they were fighting over a piece of rag, but on closer investigation found to his horror that it was a child. He managed to get the dogs off and rescue the little fellow. He was at once taken to his home, and Dr. Johnston sent for. He found that the child had been badly bitten on both sides, under his arms, and on one of his legs. His wounds were dressed, and by the evening he had considerably recovered from his fright, although at the time he was picked up he was quite insensible. Had it not been for the prompt measures taken by the gentleman mentioned above, it is not unlikely that the poor little fellow would have been tora to pieces by the savage brutes,

It is notified that the lower portion of the Waiwetu-road will be closed on and after the 14th instant, to allow of repairs to the Waiwetu Bridge. The following telegram was received on Tuesday by the Press Agency from Palmerston : "A meeting was held last night to express sympathy with Mr. Snelson in consequence o£ his prosecution for a breach of the Arms Act. The meeting was the largest ever held here. Notwithstanding that the night was pouring with rain, the settlers travelled long distances to attend. A resolution was carried asking the Attorney-General to enter a nolle prosequi." We are certainly not much surprised at the result of the meeting. Few men have worked for the welfare of any district in the colony with as much zeal as Mr. Snelson has done for Palmerston. The charge brought against him is a very trumpery one indeed, and in our opinion should never have been brought before a Court.

The following story is told by the Manawatu Herald of the genial old skipper of the steamer Jane Douglas :—" In a large number of persons the charitable feelings become frozen before the meridian of life is reached, by reason o£ the imposition and humbug of many suppliants. Not so with Captain Praser, of the Jane Douglas. A few days ago he arrived ia Foxton, having on board a young woman as a passenger, who stated that she had come from. Wellington with the intention of going as servant at a house in Palmerston, but that she had completely forgotten the name of her new employer, and was also destitute of money. She stated, however, that she had a sister residing at Bulls, and that if she could reach that township she would be all right. Believing her story, Captain Fraser lent her £2, being sufficient to pay her passage to Bulls, and also leaving her a margin of a few shillings when there. This was certainly a hazardous game to play, as the young lady was quite a stranger to the skipper. However, whether he is gifted! with the powers 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 Fraser's arrival 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 been blasted through being cast adrift ia a strange town without either money or friends."

At an entertainment got up in aid of the Halcombe school enlargement fund, Sir William Fox delivered an excellent address. In the course of his remarks Sir William said that the system of State education he considered about the best that could be devised, and he felt shame and remorse that they had allowed so many valuable years to pass without any colonial action being taken in the matter of education, as in consequence of this neglect not one-third of the youth of the colony had during those years received a proper education. The Provincial Governments which had been swept away were good at spending money, but they were not good at taxing themselves, even for so important a matter as education. In some of the provinces a household tax for education had been levied, but they dare not enforce it ; in fact, in Auckland it had produced what might be termed a rebellion. The natural consequence was that the education formerly imparted had been very poor, and the teachers were men ill-suited to impart instruction.—Mr. Halcombe also made some very practical remarks. It was difficult, he said, to foretell in their younger days what the future career of the boys would be, and what special education each might require. But there could be no doubt that to the girls would be committed the charge of the households of their generation ; and he would gladly see an effort made both in and out of school to give them some instruction in this direction. It was lamentable what ignorance existed amongst young women of the most simple domestic matters, and he trusted that the hint would not be thrown away.

1874. 1878. Foxton... .. 291 563 Palmerston ... 193 880 Feildiag .. ]95 759 Marton .. 339 593 Bulls ... .. 239 611