PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 24

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRKSi’ fI NDKNT.) September 4. It is clearly time that very prompt steps should be taken to increase the accommodation at the Central School, or that new buildings affording space to meet the requirements of a rapidly increasing population should be erected without delay. . At the meeting of the School Committee held on Monday, the report of the headmaster of this school showed—Average rsll, 510'5 ; average attendance, 409’2 ; highest attendance, 444 ; number admitted, 12 ; left, 11 ; now on roll, 509. The number of children attending is therefore nearly 100 in excess of the regulation space, a state of things which can neither he conducive to health or comfort of teachers or children, nor to the well-being of the school in any respect. The report of the Terrace End school did not come before the meeting, owing to the absence (from indisposition) of the Chairman, Mr Snelson, to whom it had been duly forwarded. Letters from Mr A. A. Brown, secretary of the Wan-

ganui Education Board, were read, the first stating that Mr Carson would visit Palmerston in connection with matters before the Board in connection with Mr Blaremberg ; and the second stating that owing to the Terrace End school being now over - officered, Miss Keeth would be removed to Foxton, and Miss Inness to the Central School. In connection with the Terrace End School, it is much to be regretted that the relations between the master and the Committee have become so strained as to necessitate an investigation by the Board, by which means of course the matters in dispute will be made public, and it will be seen which party is in the right. Alike to residents in Palmerston and to capitalists elsewhere, who may be on the look out for investments, good town properties, tho announcements that the numerous sections owned by Mr J. E. Nathan will, on Wednesday next, be offered at public auction by Messrs Stevens and Gordon, is of very considerable interest. Without there being anything like a “ boom,” property has been for some time past steadily advancing in value. Good sections have become, comparatively speaking, difficult to obtain, and many people will no doubt avail themselves of this opportunity, as the reserves fixed,and the terms of payment are said to be equally favourable to purchasers. The 7 Terrace End -Hotel, under its able management, has long been doing a capital business, atid many of the otherlots are very valuable, more especially those in David-street (opposite the site fixed for the new railway station), some of the handy six-acre sections in Featherstonstreet and Ivairanga-road, and the nineteen-acre, section, No. 291 (in good grass), which would make a capital little milk farm.

Unbroken boulders, as taken from the river-bed or gravel pit, and used for making footpaths, may be, and no doubt are, very durable indeed, -but as regards the comfort of the pedestrian, for whose comfort I presume the said footpaths were made, they are simply abominable, and consequently it is the rule here to see people take the riiiddle of the road. A rake is a useful and not very costly implement, and I would recommend its use, more particularly in Fitzherberfc-streeb and parts of Main, Broad, and Churchstreets.

The fine gentle rain which is now falling after a long continuance of bright summer-like days and frosty nights will be most welcome to the farmer, who, in view cf a longer continuance of dry weather, was becoming anxious as to feed prospects. The glass, after a rather rapid fall, now stands Rt 29’43, with a slightly upward tendency.