FEILDING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 810, 9 September 1887, Page 11

FEILDING.

(from our own correspondent.) September 5. The record of last week is chiefly a chapter of entertainments, if such I maybe allowed to call the different events. First came the anniversary of the Primitive Methodist Church. On Sunday the 28th, the Rev Mr Tinsley (Wesleyan), of Palmerston North, preached two good sermons to large congregations, and the next day the annual soired was held in the Temperance Hall, there being a verylarge attendance, and the whole affair being a great success. That it was so eminently successful the promoters attribute largely to its being well advertised. As a contrast in this respect we have had a visit from Professor Herbert, a celebrated conjurer. He did not advertise at all, and the result was as might have been expected, a very small attendance, only about 40 to 50 being present. This was a pity, as I can safely say his tricks were the cleverest and most astounding of any illusionist that as yet appeared on the Town Hall stage, not even excepting the renowned Dr Lynn. The professor expressed his intention of paying a second visit shortly.' On Wednesday evening Mr R. C. Bruce, the late member, and now one of the candidates for Rangitikei, addressed a very large meeting at Makino schoolhouse. He declared himself a strong Oppositionist, a back-bone Freetrader, an opponent of women’s suffrage and land nationalisation, and an advocate of retrenchment and reform in various ways. He was frequently and warmly applauded, and a vote of confidence in him was ' unanimously and most enthusiastically carried. On Thursday the anniversary ball offthe Manchester Rifles was held in the ■, Town Hall, and was well attended. The > place was tastefully decorated with arms . and other things, and the affair passed offvery pleasantly and successfully. On Friday evening, notwithstanding. - the pouring rain, the Hall was packed to hear Mr J. H. Stevens, our postmaster,give an illustrated lecture on Rider Hag- . gard’s celebrated hook “She.” Upward-;; of 400 tickets had been sold, the pzoceeds , being in aid of the building fund of rtlie . Presbyterian manse, now nearly finished. Life-size pictures illustrative of the tale -, were shown with the magic lantern by Mr G„ W. Fowles. The large audience,, listened with great attention?, to . this;, strange and weird story, his Worship the*. Mayor presiding. The present Borough Council is probably the most harmonious one .that has*, yet been intrusted with the affhirs of ourlocal government, and on the* whole it has * the fullest confidence of the burgesses, a., fact sufficiently shown by the three mem-., bers—Messrs Chamberlain, and Hayhittle—who had. retired by-lapse-of time, having been ra-elected without., opposition. The candidates for Messrs. Macarthur and West, Save just each announced their respective platforms. Mu Macarthur goes in for a non-political railway board, liberal' land' laws, stern, retrenchment, Freetrad'e, the tion of only such, railways as show- a prospect of at leasts-2" per cent profit, and certain reforms iti, education matters, &c. The planks- on which Mr West stands are somewhat similar, excepting that he says nothing yet about Freetrado v. Protection*. Each of these gentlemen will, however*, shortly ventilate hia views in speeches to. the electors,