FEILDING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 18

FEILDING.

On Tuesday evening last Mr Withy, ex-M.H.R., of Auekhud, and Mr Wilks, an aspiring M. fl. !•.., discussed the question in the Council Chambers of the .Single Tax—the former taking the afliimative, and the latter tho negative. The room was full of people, ladies forming a large portion of the audience. The president of the Debating Society, Dr Sorley, occupied the chair. Mr Withy prefaced his remarks by stating that the half hour allowed by the Society for each one to discuss the question was not quite enough to enter into such an important question, therefore lie would just touch on the salient points, and if an opportunity wore offered to him he would have great pleasure at any future time in fully discussing the matter. This question of the Single Tax had occupied his mind for a number of years past, and he was a thorough convert to tho principles set forth by Henry George. The speaker went on to show, in a very unassuming manner, the principles of the Single Tax and the benefits which, so he alleged, would be derived by tho adoption of the same, and was listened to with close attention. Mr Wilks commenced by asking Mr Withey a few questions, and then, in a bombastic manner, said that he did not believe in the Single Tax. He regretted that he only had a " wretched half hour " as he termed it to discuss the question, but, although he managed to fill up tho time, much to the amusement of the audience, he did not advance a single argument to show the fallacy or otherwise of the Single Tax theory. If Mr Wilks doe 3 not improve on the political platform, and make a better record than he did on Tuesday last, I am afraid that ho will stand a poor show of having M. 11. R. attached to his name. After some of the members of the Society had given their views on the question, a show of hands was taken on tho merits of the debate, and it was decided in favour of the opener. On Wednesday evening a meeting of the burgesses was held in the Drill Hall to discuss the question of lighting the town by electricity. The Mayor presided, and laid before the meeting what had been done in tho matter. He read correspondence received from Mr Turnbull, electrician of Wellington , and from an electric lighting company of Sydney, setting forth the probable cost of the plant, working expenses, &c, &c. He considered that it would be a wise step for tho burgesses of Feilding to take to have their town lighted by electricity, and to work it themselves instead of allowing a company to have the monopoly. A number of gentlemen spoke for and against the project. Some of the speakers considered that a water and drainage scheme was more required thin lighting the town. A poll of the ratepayers will now be taken to decide whether or not the scheme shall be adopted. The Queen's Birthday (Monday) was honoured by the Feildingites in hiving an outing—a number taking advanta.e of the cheap fates on the railway to take a trip to Wangauui. Tho Manchester Rifles had a .shooting match on their range. The Brethren had an all day meeting. Numbers of people from the country and visitors from other districts were present. Tho meeting.'! were held in the Temperance Hail. Abundance of provisions to satisfy the "inner man" were provided. Earnest addresses were given by Mr Hinman and others. Tho Rev .J. Cocker, the Primitive Methodist minister now stationed in Feilding, is a very zealous woikor, and leaves no stone unturned if it is for the good of the community. Lately, he has turned his attention to literature, and published a little pamphlet, the title of which is " People whom I have met," which is both amusing and instructive. Much sympathy was shown on Friday last for the bereaved parents and friends of tho young fellow Brown, who met with his death whilst felling bush at the Harbour Board this week, by a large attendance of settlers at his funeral. Three brothers were working together; ono had gone to the camp to get the tea ;

another was finishing cutting a tree, and the unfortunate young fellow wa3 under the tree that was being felled by his brother, when, in making his escipe, he was caught by a limb of the falling tree and killed.

There was a large attendance at Messrs Gorton and Son's stock sale held in Feilding on Friday last. There werobuyersthere from Rangitikei. Messrs Cox and Wing from Crotton b< light a lino of wethers at 10s—the highest pri?o given lately for store wethers. There were large numbers of stock, both sheep and cattle, yarded, most of which were quitted at and above the reserves placed upon them by the vendors.

There is a rumour that Mr James Reid is to be brought out by die Temperance Party to contest the Rangitikei seat. A meeting was held in the Wesleyan Church on Friday last to celebrate tho consummation of the uniting of tho Methodist Churches in New Zealand. Mr Carthew occupied the chair, and addresses wore given by the Revs. Quintrell and Harrison and Mr James Wood.

We are still enjoying beautiful weather in the country.

During my peregrinations through the country 1 see a lot of game, but, as yet, I havo not heard of many largo bags. 1 think the farmers are very cautious who they allow on their properties, ns I havo heard of a number of complaints about the carelessness of shootists in former seasons. Thero is a considerable mortality amongst lambs this season throughout the country.