WOODVILLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 14

WOODVILLE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 11

The week had a very bad entrance here, last Sunday being wet and miserable. But that did not prevent a crowd filling the Presbyterian Church to overflowing to hear the Rev W. Stewart preach on Dr Salmond’s “Reign of Grace. -the reverend gentleman, who, as might have been expected, did not at all agree with the professor, took over an hour to deal, with the subject, and then did not find himself able to do justice to it, and will very probably have to recur to it again. As to the merits of his discourse, cf course opinions are divided, those who. agree with the professor disagreeing with the parson, and vice versa. But I have heard no one complain that it wa3 too long a sermon.

One of the greatest galas that Woodvillo has ever had took place on Tuesday night at the anniversary of the Ladies’" Benevolent Society. The big drillshed, one of the prides of Woodville, was crowded, and I met with several persons whom I have read of in history, but had never come across before, Henry Will. (Mr Bickerton), who appeared to be on very good terms with his wife ; Lord Darnley (Mr Rabone), who seemed none tho worse for having been blown np (perhaps he was used to it, many married men are, I believe) ; Mary Queen of Scots (Mrs Barkwith), who was altogether independent of his Lordship, while Macbeth (Mr J. Peebles), Romeo (Mr Loader), Queen Elizabeth (Miss Worgan), the Duchess of Devonshire (Mrs G. G. Murphy), Miss Farren (Mrs G. Moore), Ophelia (Mrs Elliott), and Grace Darling (Miss Carver) all jostled up against each other, and never looked surprised to meet folks who were born centuries after they died ; but, indeed, for dead folks they all seemed lively. I would not venture for the life of me to criticise ladies’dresses, and comparisons we all know are odious, but a dress representing winter looked natural and nice. The “young ” ladies were said by some to be the most interesting sights of the evening, and very nice they all looked. A Welsh girl (Miss G. Moore), a Spanish girl (Miss E. Moore), a flowergirl (Miss Carver), &c., &c., while Miss Jennie Peebles, of Ngawapurua, as Mayberry looked like a little gipsy. A waxworks show was held during the evening, in which Chang (Mr W. Bickerton), Hinemoa (Mrs Morrison), Queen Victoria (Mrs W. Bickerton), Queen Elizabeth (Miss Crawford), Mary Queen of Scots, a young lady wh"> died of a broken heart (Mr 3 T. Moore), a little girl who died from pricking her finger when sewing on a Sunday, Grace Darling, Miss Farren, and Tom Thumb and his bride were shown. Mrs Burgess ran the show as Mrs Garley. Other song 3 and shows were given during the evening, and at 11 o’clock the concert broke up and dancing took its place. About 500 people were there, and it produced about L2O. Last Friday Mr Biclcerton’s new hall was opened with a concert and dance, which was kept up till late in the morning, and which was very well enjoyed by those who were there. To-night “ Hans the Boatman ” is to be given in tho Drillshed. Yesterday a man named George Best, who vva3 felling bush on his brother-in-law’s farm on Bradfords-road, about five miles out, was killed by a limb falling on him from a tree. An inquest was held this morning, when a verdict of accidental deuth was returned. Deceased came to the Colony about two years ago, and leaves a widow but no children. He was a Birmingham man. The Borough Council met last Tuesday night, when several matters of interest cropped up. Messrs Campbell and Soott, auctioneers, asked for a refund of onethird of tneir auction license fee, as it was not taken out till August, (and it was resolved to give it to them, subject to a bond to refund if disallowed by the auditor. It was resolved to take the cemetery over from the trusteesat prosentholdingit. In connection with this subject, the Mayor said there had only been 74 deaths in Woodville for the eleven years of its history. A long discussion was hold as to the curbing of the footpath on the south side of Vogel-street. It appears that Mr Sian, who was an auctioneer and clerk to the Town Board, got up a petition to the Board from the residents on that side of the street asking the Board to curb and improve the footpath, and agreeing to pay half the cost. This was two years ago or over, and now the Council is sending out accounts to the residents. Some of these say they paid Sian, but the Counoil rejoins that Sian was acting as agent for the petitioners and not as Town Clerk in collecting the money ; that he never paid the money into the Town Board ; and the propertyholders must “ ante up ” or they will be sued. The case is complicated by the fact that some of the properties have ohaiiged hands since, snd the new owners naturally objected to pay. The Mayor stated in the Council that, “ the property was liable, and the purchasers ought to have seen that the rates were paid.” So it wa3 decided to sue. I don’t know under what Act the Mayor makes out that properties are liable for the amount of voluntary contributions promised by former owners, nor yet how a voluntary contribution can be properly described as a “ rate.” Others are in a similar puzzle, and are going to let it be cleared up in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. I think the Council is running its head against a stonewall. The Council also resolved to call tenders for clearing off from all the streets within or near the closely built parts of the town any stumps and doadwood that may be in them. This is a good step, and will do much to prevent fires spreading in the dry season. It also accepted tenders for felling the bush on the Borough Reserve, about 80 acres, half a mile from the centre of the town. The Pahiatua people have been bringing forward several loan proposals, and have, by some means or other, managed to neglect compliance with the requirements of tho Act in each case. As a result they have had to advertise them all over again, which is very pleasant indeed —for the Star. The Road Board meets to night to fix the ridings of the new " county, and it i 3 proposed to merge the Town District as well as the Road District into the county.