COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 850, 15 June 1888, Page 11

COUNTRY NEWS.

PALMERSTON NORTH, .f ■; 1 .

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) June 7.

The Borough Council, as now constituted, met last evening for the first time, aud the tn*jpr- part of the business was of a formal character. The members of the various Committee® were appointed, and have been I think judiciously selected. For the Finance Committee, whose duties at this time are perhaps the moat important of any, I am glad to see Messrs Linton, Beale and Cohen, men who have had a thoroughly good business training; appointed, and their first work will be to deal with the old Council’s financial statement, which the new Council, with sound judgment, have sent back for reconsideration.; and I trust as a result it will be found that the necessity for heavy additiopal taxation does not exist. Indeed, Councillor Linton hinted at a reduction. The Council went early into committee in order to open the new waterworks schemes; and I learn that from outside sources there is this time some hope of one or other of these proposals being adopted if approved by Mr H. E. Higginsbn, C.E., the referee, as they are capable ot being carried out for something less than the sum allocated. This, if correot, will be good news for our townsfolk. > '{ I notice that a fine lot—of bullocks has this week gone down by road to Johnsonville' for Messrs F. It. Jackson and Co.’s next sale, instead of.being forwarded by raiLas aeemsa somewhat retrograde step. >V ‘ '/•’■ : The Licensing Committee will sit tomorrow (Friday), .and will have before them an application from Mr Denis O’Neil, who is well known, in Palmerston as having been for 'a long time manager of the Clarjaqdonundnr Mr Carroll, for a publican’s:license to a building proposed to be erected on Mr L. G. West’s property, Rangitikei-stroet. Messrs Freeman ft. Jackson and Co.’s special sale of about 4000 Lincoln sheep, from the Napier district, took place this afternoon. The attendance was good, and the whole lot changed hands at the following prices, -viz Store wethers, 9s; breeding ewes, 9s to 10s. The sheep were of good quality. * At Messrs Stevens Jand Gorton’s fortnightly sale t his day there was a large attendance, the bidding, however, being hardly as spirited as of late. Most of the lots were sold, and prices were as under : -4-year old bullocks, L 3 13s fid ; 2£ do do, L2 12s fid ; fat co ws, L 3 6s ; dry do, 27s 6d and 23s • fat wethers, 10s to 10s lOd ; store rl«>, 8s fid ; woolly lambs, 5s 4d ; sbdrri cVoj 4s Id ruinall pigs, 6s fid to 7s ; larger do, 15s fid. The weather, which has been delightful for some time past, has suddenly changed. The glass has fallen three-tenths since yesterday, and a cold easterly wiud is now blowing, with rain, hail, and sleet. > June 8. I hear there is a probability of a company being formed; for the purpose of ac-quiring'-andJcastying-jon- the gasworks. Should this be the case, the shares will, no doubt, be taken up quickly enough, as there are few better paying concerns than the gas companies as a rule, and Palmerston-North is 'not likely to be au exception. .- - The Licensing Committee met to-day, when the application of Mr Denis O’Neil for a pnblican’B license to a building proposed to be erected on Mr L. G. West’s land in Rangitikei-street, was refused, owing to informality. The application cannot be renewed for 12 months'. Y . June 9. The Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association met this afternoon and are still sitting. I hope to be able to forward a report of proceedings by next mail. * At the sitting of the Licensing Committee yesterday, Mr A. Stewart, the chairman, cautioned each licensee against the practice of Sunday trading, which, he stated, had been carried on to a considerable extent in the borough. The Theatre R->yal will be opened on Wednesday evening- next as a skating rink by Mr L. Lyons, manager of the Wellington Elite Skating Rink. Special invitations have beeu issued for the occasion, and, judging by the enthusiasm with which this amusement was taken up here a short time ago, Mr Lyons will no doubt have a successful season. I hear that the Sorrowhenua Licensing Committee refused Mr McPherson’s application for a license to his house at Shannon, the reason assigned being that there are no police in the district. Our townsman, Mr H. McNeil, is again able to take an airing in his buggy, and I trust is now in a fair way toward recovery. ' , . - June 11. The concert to which I alluded last week, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the purchase of books for the Palmerston North Public Library, is now definitely fixed for Thursday next, and promisesHo be, if possible, a greater success than the earlier, ones of the series. Several first-rate amateurs, who have not hitherto lent: their assistance, will do so on thiß occasion, and marked features of the entertainment will be a solo (violin) by Mr Cohen, and one or more string quartets. •' . A rather smart shock of earthquake was felt here yesterday (Sunday) .after: , noon at oi? about 4.40.

At the meeting of the General Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society on Saturday there was a fair attendance. The chair was occupied by Mr A. H. Bassett. Business—general. Judges were appointed for the next show which will be held on November 14th a*! 35th. It was stated that one or two of the Committee had collected about £43 in and about the Square for special prizes, with the expectation that a further sum to a considerable amount will be collected. The Committee .voted £l3O for additional premiums. Contracts were let for permanent sheep-pens, parade rings, etc. At the mooting of the Man awatu Road Board held"this day, a circular was received from the Wairarapa 'North County Council setting forth objections to the County districts being amalgamated with largely populated centres for rating purposes in connection with Charitable Aid, and asking the Board>to request the members for the district to support any measure which may. be brought forward in the House in favor of separation. It was resolved to co-operate cordially in the movement. . In future the Board will meet fortnightly instead of monthly.