COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 677, 20 February 1885, Page 3 (Supplement)

COUNTRY NEWS.

MANAWATU.

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) February 12.

The favorable state of the weather for several days past has been taken advantage of by farmers. Harvesting is in full swing all through the district, and the thrashing machine brought into requisition. Bush fires are also to be seen in all directions, and a continuance of tbe present weather will prove a great benefit to the district at large.

A great many intending land investors are now in the district, and are to be seen wending their way to the Fitzherbert Block of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company’s land. No doubt the bidding will be pretty brisk on the 19th of the present month, and fair prices realised. Candidates for municipal honors are scarce in this borough. Two aspirants have, however, responded after the third time of advertising ; an election will therefore be held on February 13th, to nil the vacancy in No. 4 Ward. A lodge of the American Order of Oddfellows is about to be established here. A meeting of the promoters was held on the 11th instant. A charter has been applied for, on receipt of which the opening will take place. A branch of the Hibernian-Australasian Catholic Benefit Society has been most successfully established. The opening took place on the 4th instant. Several initiates were enrolled, officers elected, and altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent by the brethren of the St. Patrick’s Lodge, which bids fair to be an undoubted success.

At a meeting of shareholders of the Cheese and Butter Manufacturing Company, held during the past week, considerable discussion ensued with reference to the present position of the company, and also the desirability of commencing the manufacture of cheese instead of butter, as at present only manufactured. This question is to be brought on for discussion at a future meeting. In the meantime it has been found necessary to increase the working capital of the company by selling 200 additional shares. The* price to be paid for milk required is to be reduced from 4d to 3d per gallon, and the terms of purchase shall be by three months’ bills, dating from Ist of every month for all milk delivered at the factory. Mr Macarthur, M.H.R., delivered a post-sessional address in the Town Hall, on Monday, the 9th instant, to a very fair audience. The work of the session was very fully discussed, a most attentive hearing was accorded him, and a hearty vote of thanks and renewed confidence was carried unanimously. A couple of f ‘Latter Day Saints,” from the American Jerusalem, have been busy for some time past amongst the Maoris in the district. They have not yet made any attempt to convert the white population. Their last reception in this district is not to be forgotten, and discretion proves to be the better part of valor. If the Salvation Army has done no other good, it has secured the surplus emotional element to be found in t£e district. Without female converts the Mormon mission must prove a failure or in fact any other mission having a religious tendency.