COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 24

COUNTRY NEWS.

m PA LMEES lON NORTH

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) January 2. Great numbers of visitors arrived in Palmerston yesterday by the forenoon and midday trains, but unfortunately the weather put a complete stop to outdoor sports of every kind. The Caledonian Society had provided a capital bill of fare, and would no doubt have had a most successful day, but from early morning the rain came down in torrents, and between 10 and 11 quite a sharp thunderstorm passed over the town, compelling the committee to postpone the meeting to the 22nd inst., when it is to be hoped better luck may attend their efforts. Much credit is certainly due to the officers of this society for the manner in which they to make the best of a bad bargain, and provided shelter and amusement at short notice for th 9 crowds of people whose only refuge, but for them, had been the friendly pubs, with which Palmerston is now so well set up. At 2.30 a piper marched round the square, discoursing most delightful strains of music, and speedily the visitors flocked to the skating rink, where the time was whirled away with Highland fling competitions, exhibition sword dances, sailors’ hornpipes, &c., for the first-named of which a sort of consolation prize was given. These and other dances kept the good folks amused for a time, and in the evening when the Society held its social gathering dancing was continued by one of the largest assemblies ever seen in Palmerston- The floor of the rink is a good one, and I suppose there must have been at least 150 couples tripping it when I looked in, the greatest order and most perfect decorum being marked features of the proceedings. At the Theatre Royal an amateur concert, in aid of the building fund of St. Patrick’s Church, was held and was very largely attended, the place being literally packed. The chair was taken by his Worship the Mayor, Mr §G. M. Snelson, and the programme was as under:— Pianoforte solo, Miss K. Hollis ; song, “ The Village Blacksmith,” MrG. Renall; song, “ I’ll take you home, Kathleen,” Miss A. McMinn ; s"ng, “ Speed on my bark,” Mr William Kendal ; song, “The Irish Emigrant,” Miss McLean ; song, “Wrecked and saved,” Mr George Kendal ; song, Ora pro Nobis,” Miss Fisher ; song, selected, Miss Nellie Rogers ; song, comic, Mr Rush ; song, “ Balfour’s Bogey,” Mrs Sullivan; song, “The last rose of summer,” Miss 'McLean. Without giving a full report, I may say the singing of Miss McLean and that of Miss Fisher was thoroughly appreciated, Miss McMinn, Mr Kendal, and Mr Rush coming in for their due share of kudos. While the concert proceeded, the drawing of the art union prizes took place, and the little ladies engaged seemed to have a busy time of it. The first prize, a valuable portrait of Archbishop Redwood, was taken, I am informed, by Mr Rea, a Wairarapa resident, the second prize going to the Rev Father Yardin, S.M., Meanee, and the third prize going to Mr McCarthy, of Manaia. Father Paterson tells me the amount realised by the art uuion was about L 270, less expenses. A conveyance "belonging to Mr A. H. Walker, of Fitzheriiert East, was smashed up yesterday owing to the horse bolting from the door of the owner’s residence. Fortunately no one was hurt. Another trap accident occurred in the Square to-day, when the wheel of a Whitechapel, belonging to the Equitable Insurance Association of New York, suddenly collapsed on turning the corner epposite the Bank of Australasia, the occupants of the conveyance, two ladies and two gentlemen, being thrown to the ground, but luckily without injury. A marked improvement has to-day taken place in the weather. The glass was standing at 29’9, with an upward movement. January 7.

At last evening’s meeting of the Palmerston North School Committee there were present Messrs G. M. Snelson (chairman), D. Sinclair, Mowbray, Edwards, and Stewart (secretary). A letter from the secretary to the Wanganui School Board, dated 19th ultimo, in repiy to the Palmerston Committee’s communication as to exchange of teachers as between the Central and Terrace-end schools, was read by the chairman, the purport being that the Board had resolved to place Miss Irvine as first assistant at the Central School, Miss Schofield, who had recently been removed to Terrace-end (vice Miss Irvine, being removed back again to the Central School as second assistant teacher,

and Miss Hobbs placed as assistant teacher at Terrace-end. Mr Edwards moved that the letter of the secretary be received and the arrangement agreed to, which resolution was carried, Mr Mowbray alone dissenting. A letter from the Board, recommending Mr Matheson’s removal to the Parawanui School, was received and agreed to. A vacancy on the Board, caused by the resignation of Mr Yorke, was stated to have occurred, hut as no member of the Committee was prepared with a nomination, the matter was held over for the present. A letter from Miss Schofield (who is at present on a visit to Christchurch) was received, this teacher protesting against the manner in which she had been dealt with as regards her removal from the Central School to Terraceend and back again. Resolved that Miss Schofield’s letter be forwarded to the Board at Wanganui. The report of Mr Watson, headmasterof the Central School, showed :—On roll beginning of month, 499’6 ; average attendance, 314’5 ; number entered, 7 ; left, 6 ; now on roll, 497, half days open, 30, the attendance having been very low and unsatisfactory for some time previous to the Christmas holidays. The report of Mr Blaremberg, headmaster of the Terrace-end School, gave—Number added, 3 ; number left, 16 ; now on roll, 271 ; highest half-day attendance, 202 ; lowest half day attendance, 146 ; average for month, 168’94 ; average for quarter, 173’46. Sundry small accounts were passed for payment, and the business ended. I may remark that I think it would be letter if the headmasters of these schools were to adopt the same form of return of attendance, etc)., for the two divisions. Mr Duncan Puole, C.E., of Burinythorpe, who is about to leave this neighbourhood in a few days to take the management of the silver-lead mines belonging to his family in Spain, met with an accident this evening which had nearly been attended with very serious results. Mr Poole was driving a Whitechapel, with a lady and two or three children in the trap with him, when 011 turning the corner at Mr Fenton’s Hotel a child ran in front of the horse, which, stopping and swerving suddenly, Mr Poole and the lady with him (Miss Bannister) were thrown violently to the ground, the wheel passing over Mr Poole, who was fortunately only slightly hurt, Miss Bannister escap’ng without injury. Much credit is due to Mr Gallagher, an agent of the Colonial Mutual Insurance Office, who, at considerable risk to himself, stopped the horse, which had made a bolt of it, arid thereby no doubt rescued the children from imminent peril.