PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 23

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) December 20, Tlie annual meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday, at noon, when Mr Solomon Abrahams was for the second time installed as Mayor. Mr Abrahams, after thanking the _ members of the Council present for their support and assistance during the past year, and for their general..acquiescence in his ruling, took occasion to make a statement as to the progress of the loan expenditure durihg his term of office, premising that it was a coincidence that at the previous annual meeting the conditions upon which the scheme and tender for water supply should be accepted was agreed to, and at the present one he could state that the tender had been accepted and the work fairly commenced. In his statement Mr Abrahams showed that the schedule of works had been fairly adhered to* and the estimates had not been exceeded, but that provisions would have to be made for deductions which had not been anticipated by the originators of the loan scheme, and which will probably reduce the amount available for sewerage to a very considerable extent ; still, however, leaving sufficient for the present requirement. * At the adjourned meeting held last evening, it was resolved to close the borough offices for one week, commencing on Monday next. The business transacted was unimportant. At last night’s meeting of the Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge, No. 696, S.C., the installation of W.M. and officers for the ensuing year took place, , and the following is the list of those who took office: —Bro. Fred. Meyrick, W.M. ; Bro. W. T. Woods, S;M..; Bro. J. Walkley, S.W. ; Bro. D. M. Hanna, J.W. ; Bro. G. Hansen, S.D. ; Bro. Jas. Salmon, J.D. ; Bros. White and Bushan, stewards ; Bro. J. Hocking, I.G. ; Bro. P. Schlager, tyler ; Bro. J. H. Hankins (P.M,), Treasurer ; and Bro. J. S. Jolly, Secretary. The duties of Installing Master were most ably performed .by Bro. Archibald Stewart, J.P.M, assisted by P.M.’s Smith, Hawkins, and Sutton. After the formal business of the evening was concluded, the brethren, including visitors from sister lodges, parcook of an excellent repast, provided by Bro. Frazer, and the proceedings throughout were of the most enjoyable character, all present uniting in heartiest good wishes to the newly installed W.M. The assistance of Bros. Norberg, . Cohen, Kendall, and Rutherford in the musical part of the ceremony was highly appreciated. December 22. Owing to Native disturbances at Banana (London), on the Wanganui river, in connection with the disputed possession of certain lands in that district, Major Kemp, accompanied by a considerable body of followers, has proceeded to the scene in the capacity of peacemaker, prepared, if necessary, to restore order by force, the disputantp, as I am informed, having themselves taken up arms. This will, unfortunately, prevent Major Kemp being present at tlie wedding festivities which, as reported in my letter of 18th insb., are. to take place here and at Awapuni on Christmas Eve. He has, however, sent among other presents a magnificent bride cake, standing over three feet high, and bulky in proportion. Great numbers of Natives are arriving from all parts, and I am told that as many as 2000 will, in all probability, be present. lb will be good news to the public of Palmerston to learn that the much-needed new post and telegraph -offices are now in a fair way of being speedily erected. I was this morning favoured by Mr Rawsoil, engineer in charge of the Public Works Offices here, with , a sight of the plans, and ttie following is a brief description of the accommodation to be provided The building, which is to occupy the corner site adjoining • Mr James McDowell’s drapery establishment, will be of one-story, and will face the Square, the area occupied being 54ft by 40ft. There will be a double gable front, showing the roof, with two windows in each gable. The main entrance will be between these, and will be approached by steps leading into a porch or recess, having circular architraves with carved brackets. Double doors lead from the recess into the public lobby, the post' office proper occupying the centre of the floor space. In the north corner will be placed the telephone office, and the postmaster’s office will occupy the corner nearest the railway station, the remainder of the space being taken up by the instrument and mail room. The private letter boxes will be in a room 18ft x 6ft on the left of Jlie portico (which is to be 16ft x 7ft 9in), and opposite to the entrance to the postmaster’s room, which latter will occupy an area equal to 162 superficial feet. The rooms will be 16ft high in the clear, and have dadoed walls and panelled ceilings with.cornices. The building will be of red pine, . rusticated ; the roof of corrugated iron, and the eaves forming an ornamental cornice. The side elevation shows three windows looking into Mainstreet. There will be stables and an express house at the back. From the foregoing figures it will be seen that the accommodation will be no more than will barely suffice for present wants ; but I suppose we must be thankful for small mercies. Preparations for the gift auction, Christmas tree, games, musical entertain-

ment, &c., which are to be held on Boxing Night in aid of the fund for building new Church of England Sunday Schools, are being actively pushed forward, and with such weather as we are now having the result ought to be a great success. It must not be forgotten that on the following night the concert to be given in aid of the same good object by Mr Robert Parker, of Wellington, and the celebrated glee party, who afforded us such a great musical feast at the time of our local exhibition, is t > come off'. Doubtless numbers of the visitors who will be in Palmerston for the Christmas holidays, races, &c., will avail themselves of such an opportunity of listening to really good music as is seldom afforded. I hear that two lady amateurs, whose voices are celebrated, but who have never before sung in Palmerston, are to take part in this concert. The trains arriving at midday to-day from Wellington and Wanganui brought very large numbers of passengers, and the scene at the railway station, was an animated one. Extra coaches ran through to Woodville, and were literally crammed. Numbers' of course went forward by rail, but the crowd of visitors remaining augurs well for the success of the various amusements and other events of interest, of which Palmerston has a rare programme for the Christmas week. December 25. The concert to be given in aid of All Saints’ Sunday School fund on Thursday, the 27th instant, by Mr Robert Parker, of Wellington, and his glee party, assisted, as previously reported, will doubtless be very largely attended, and those who can appreciate a rare musical treat should lose no time in securing seats. The programme is said, by those most competent to judge, to be without exception the best ever produced in Palmerston. I cannot give you the order in which the various pieces are arranged, but the following are among the items to be given : Glees and part - songs by Messrs Parker, Page, Waters, Hickson and Grey, comprising “ Stars of the summer night,” “Tar’s song,” “Evening,” “Beware,” “Dr St Paul,” “Three chafers,” and “Comrades in arms.” Songs—Mrs A. Russell, “ Banks of Allan Water” and “Tell me my heart ; ” Mr Waters, “ Yicar of Bray ; ” Mrs Waters, “ The lark now leaves his watery nest.” Duets—“ The mermaids,” by Mrs Russell and Miss Williams ; “The Magicians,”by Messrs Page and Waters. Christmas carols —“ The first nowel ” and “Good King Wenceslas.” Piano duet, Hungarian dances, Miss Williams and Mr Parker ; piano solo, mazurka, Miss Williams ; solo, violin, Mr Cohen. The overture, “Barber of Seville*” will be given by an orchestra consisting of Miss Williams, Messrs Parker, Cohen, Isherwood, Drew and Scott. .