PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1321, 24 June 1897, Page 28

PALMERSTON NORTH.

The ."Resident; Engineer's report upon the condition of the Fitzherbert bridge, upon which is carried the water-mains for the town supply, and which connects the town with the Fitzherbert district, is not by any means of a reassuring nature. It recommends replacing all the decayed and damaged timber comprising the seven spans with new and sound material ; the planking to be replaced by totara, a new pier to be built in lieu of the one damaged by scour, but to be of cylinders instead of piles; the span on the Fitzherbert side to be rebuilt, together with the addition of a new span of 85ft where the serious damage was caused by the last Easter floods. It further recommends the substitution of cylinders for timber piers from time to time. Even now a few cylinders would tend to greatly strengthen the bridge. Seasons are given in the report why cylinders are preferable to timber piers. "With regard to the all-important question of cost, the estimate is as follows :—"Repairs to new spans, £420; replacing pier at Fitzherbert side with cylinders, .£775 ; repairing damaged span, ,£160; additional span, £340; with other minor outlay bringing the estimated total up to .£2OOO. There is no doubt the matter will require to be considered without delay, as the bridge is not in a condition to withstand a heavy flood, and there are the possible contingencies of a second suspension of the town water supply, and the risk of injury to the Manawatu Company's railway bridge, which has already been officially brought under the notice of tho local bodies interested.

It is satisfactory to learn that the proposal by the Literary and Debating Society to arrange for a series of lecturss by gentlemen of special attainments promises favourably. Sir James Hector and Mr Hill, the last-named gentleman being school inspector for Hawke's Bay, have promised to deliver lectures on popular subjects. The idea is generally commended as likely to materially advance the welfare of the Society.

It is probable there will beat least two candidates for the Mayoralty election in November, the present Mayor (Mr W. T. Wood) and Councillor Haydon. Of the present Mayor it may be truthfully said that he has materially increased his prestige and popularity during hi 3 present term of office.

The Literary and Debating Society is having a phenomenally successful career. At its last meeting 23 persons were notnififtted for membership, and about a dozen •sw& (ieaUu-ttd, eleofced, Its meetings be -

come more and more popular week by week.

The urgency of the question*of immediately effecting needful repairs to the Fitzherbert bridge is recognised by the Borough Council, who is to confer with the Fitzherbert Boad Board with a view to decide what is best'* to be done, and the best way to go about it. The money will probably be found by having recourse to the Loans to Local Bodies Act. In a recent issue of the New Zealand Times was a reference to the extension of the premises of the Boyal Hotel, included in the additions being 10 bedrooms, besides other apartments. The new portion of the building is now almost complete, and the benefit was apparent on Tuesday night, when so large a number of guests were in the hotel—the Wairarapa footballers being temporarily domiciled there —that there was not an unoccupied room in the house.

Boarding-houses within the borough are in future to be licensed, and will be subject to periodical visits by the inspector, who will furnish reports on their management, sanitary arrangements, precaution against fire and provision for escaping therefrom. In some cases official inspection will be a desirable step, and in all it will be a safeguard so far as the welfare and comfort of the lodgers are concerned.

A gentleman who has travelled a, great deal on the Continent told me that when he was visiting a large manufacturing firm in Germany, interested in the sale of dye stuffs, he was astonished at the intimate acquaintance possessed by the manager with the capabilities of every woollen manufactory in New Zealand. He correctly enumerated the whole of them, and proved by his conversation that he was acquainted with the working arid capacity of each. On expressing his surprise at the correstness of the information given, my friend was told that the German manufacturers make it a point to acquire detailed information with regard to every enterprise of the same kind throughout the world. It was the special function of the Chambers of Commerce to institute enquiries of this nature. It was thus, he was informed, that the Germans had been so successful in exploiting new markets for their manufactures, and enlarging the scope and extent of their commercial undertakings.

The additions and alterations to the Clarendon Hotel have been put in hand. They will include an additional bar, to open into Rangitikei street, besides a number of offices, for which there should be considerable demand in so central a thoroughfare.

With regard to the vexed question of the proposed termination of the engagement of the truant inspector, the committee elected by the Wanganui Education Board to deal with the matter has recommended that the present inspector be appointed to act in that capacity for a number of the adjacent district schools as well as the town schools for a period of six months from Ist July, at a remuneration of ,£25 and the fines recovered, conditionally on the school committees instituting the prosecutions consenting to this course. The Campbell street School Committee is to be asked to consent to be the committee at whoso instance any necessary prosecutions are instituted. The head-masters of the various schools mentioned are to be asked to supply the required information. There have been several transactions in rural properties within the last couple of weeks, the areas being from 25 and 30 acres up to between 200 and 300. Little has been done in town properties, there being considerably more sellers than buyers. At present there is a satisfactory amount of inquiry for small farms, for which fair prices have to be paid. At the saleyards last week there was little improvement in prices. Fat wethers wex-e sold as high as 10s 9cl. There was a considerable enquiry for store sheep and ewes in lamb, but prices offered did not come up to reserves. The result is attributable, no doubt, to a large extent to the unsatisfactory state of the frozen meat market. Of buyers there were a fair number, but they continued to hold off, and thus the tone of the market continues depressed. Any improvement in the Home market for frozen meat would almost immediately cause a corresponding reaction in the value of store sheep. Generally speaking, the tone ox the stock market, as represented at to-day's sales, may be. described

as lacking animation, but nevertheless both yards were emptied either under the hammer or privately after the sale. The average for store wethers Avas from 7s 7d to 8s Bd. In cattle, but few transactions took place, and no perceptible improvement had to be recorded. Host Buddick arrived in Palmerston from Woodville on Monday, and took possession of the Commercial Hotel the same afternoon. lam quite sure that in his capable hands the Commercial will be well managed and continue to be a popular house with all classes.

I have been told of a somewhat peculiar natural phenomenon noticeable on some of the higher elevations round about Dannevirke. Visitors to those more elevated localities, prior to the destruction of the forest, found an outcrop of rocky formation, in some instances in very large blocks. After the bush was cut down, allowing the sun and air to penetrate to the surface, this rocky formation, in a very short space of time, resolved itself into soil, on which excellent herbage grows. I was told of this peculiarity by more than one who had noticed it, and who expressed surprise at the conversion of hard bare rock into fertile soil in so short a period.