PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Mail, 27 August 1902, Page 45

PALMERSTON NORTH.

• (By Our Special ■Reporter.'* Thursday. The annual ball of the Mounted Rifles, held in the Lyceum Theatre last evening, va, a briUianF »< hall had M.C-’s, and tue large number of guests spent a very eniThi C annuT l meeting of the Awahun Pairy Company was held yesterday. In woring the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman, Mr J. congratulated the company on harm-’passed through the most sue „ ss ful year suice its formation. the rpuort showed that suppliers had received during the year 9 l-10d per pound L, imtter-fat. A balance remained on the year’s work of £153 6s Id. Out of this a dividend of 6 per cent, and a bonus to the chairman of £2O are to be paid, leaving a balance of about £9O to be distributed among the. suppliers, which will bring their total receipts for butter-fat up to about 91 d per pound. Messrs G. Meads and P. Garrity were elected directors in place of Messrs Grove and Saunders, to whom votes of thanks were passed. Mr P. Sim was re-elected auditor. The Manawatu Racing Club has decided to call for competitive designs for a grandstand to be erected on its new racecourse, and the attention of architects is directed to an advertisement appearing in another column, which contains particulars of the competition. Tho Government Engineer is to visit Palmerston to-morrow in order to inspect and report on the damage done to the Fitzherbert bridge by the late flood. The outlook in agricultural matters is encouraging. The autumn is dry and favourable, and every indication is present of an early spring. Lambing is general over the whole district. The milk supply at the different creameries is showing a decided increase. Ploughing and cultivating are going on apace. It is probable that the prices of store stock will harden considerably in the immediate future. A fact which strengthens this belief is that very keen inquiries for fat .stock for Sydney are being made over the whole district. .Friday. -

The well-known dairy farm of iviessrs Hartsione and Sons, at Woodviiie, was sold this week to Mr Yeaie, of "Woodviiie. The farm, which comprises 300 acres, realised £ls per acre. The daily stock brought splendid prices. Cows and heifers averaged £lO, while £ls to £2O was given for the pick of the herd.

It is gratifying to know that tho persistent efforts of Mr F. Pirani, on behalf of the erection of a habitation for the recently constituted district High School are at last to be rewarded.. Yesterday the secretary of the Board received the following telegram from the member for the district:—“‘lnterviewed the Secretary of the Education Department tc-day. Rot the slightest doubt that tenders will he called by end of month for construction, of building. Simply waiting now for departmental approval of plans.” At a meeting of the School Committee lastevening a resolution was unanimously passed express've of regret at the school losing the services of Mr Gray, tho headmaster. Complimentary reference was made to Mr Gray’s work by the mover of the resolution, Mr G. R. ‘-cott, and Messrs Rmtherfurd, Hirschaud Barnicoat.

Evidences of the prosperity or Palmerston North are daily being made apparent by the remarkable activity taking place iu building operations, the appearance of llangxtikei and Cuba streets will soon be transformed. In the former, extensive additions are being made to the works of Messrs Holbon and Kirk. Messrs Bell and Co. are erecting a two-story factory; Messrs Bierre and Co. have just completed the erection of a large workroom and shop. Messrs. Keeling and mundy have arranged to build a large tactory and offices, and it is probable tiiat, the Loan and Mercantile Company will shortly erect extensive premises. Several shops are also to be hunt in this rapidly-growing thorough* aie. In Cuba street the recentlyformed Poultry Export Company will erect its depot and ball, and the proposed buildings of the Agricultural and pastoral Association on the Cuba street 3®, °f, tllP -ir grounds will add to. the appearance of the street., p ‘ ~.,e .junction of Cuba street with bfin- - street a substantial brick Biiihlvf tc \ be ere cted. for Messrs i. n . °rd and Bett. With dwellingp„,n springing up like mushrooms, it,S on wIU , soon firm ly establish lanrP + 10n the most important infartorsTv ? f , tUe p olon y- The main. l\ ave inc ?uced tho wave of Pros* f ls the rapid extension and flaxmilling. Coudltlon of dairying and

of tho Fari tJ ? e dlffe rent branches New e i rS nF mon mt ercsted in the will meet 1? d et the provisional directors ap-

pointed at the last meeting to receive their report. It is expected that some interesting disclosures will be made.

At the monthly meeting of the Fire Brigade last evening the resignation of Mr Patterson as a trustee was received., and it was decided to forward .*■' of-thanks to the mteresthis past ser- : -** Llie brigade. •h/kito annual meeting of the shareholders and suppliers of the Dairy Union takes place in Palmerston on Monday. The Woodviiie waterworks scheme, which lias just been completed -at a cost of over £IO,OOO, is to he officially declared complete next Wednesday. Visitors will be entertained at a publio dinner in the afternoon, and it is expected that the Acting-Premier will grace the occasion with his presence. Mr Gray, who ha.s resigned his position as headmaster of the District High School in order to take up the position of inspector under the Wanganui Education Board, has been presented by the pupils of the College street and High Schools with mementoes of liis connection with them. The teachers who have assisted Mr Gray in the admirable work -lie lias done on behalf of the school also presented him with a parting gift.

An important meeting of natives, under the auspices of the Kurahaupo Council, has just concluded. It wa9 held at Rangitani, on the Foxton railway line, was presided over by Raika, the Awahuri chief, and was attended by representatives of the Maori Councils of the southern districts of the island. From Lower Rangitikei there were seven delegates, from Upper Rangitikei six, from Wanganui ten, from Turabina three, from Reureu (Mart-on) four, and from Wairarapa fifteen. Tho principal business was the question of selecting a candidate to represent the Northern Maori electorate at 'the next general election. It was the intention of the majority to nominate a candidate in opposition to the present member, Kaihau, hut conflicting interests were too strong, and ultimately it was decided to make no selection between the four nominees, Heuheu (Taupau chief), Te Kalm (Turakina chief), Ngarangi (Patea chief) and Teone Teehi (working man). Ngarangi is being nominated to cut up the voting in favour of the sitting member. Though the meeting failed to come to a decision Te Kahn was generally favoured. Addresses on the Maori Councils Act were given by Eruera (Rangitikei) and others, in which the tenor of the remarks was to the effect that the provisions of the Act should he brought into force gradually. The natives were also counselled strongly to take European methods of living as a model, especially in regard to cleanliness of the pahs. It was decided that if a native practised as a doctor among tho members of a tribe without the Government or Council’s license he should be fined £SO. The question of the dog tax was considered, and the increase of the tax from ls 6d to 2s 6d for native dogs was approved. The establishment of a native paper, to act as the official organ of the Council, was decided upon. The object of this is to circulate reports of meetings of Councils, and to assist in generally advancing tho object for which the Councils were formed. The paper will be issued fortnightly, hut should it receive the support of all Councils throughout the colony, will be published weekly. A yearly subscription of ten shillings is to he charged. The paper will he published at Greytown, and is to he entitled “ Pnkekihikurangi.” It will be edited by Mahupuku, chief of Wairarapa. The Bush Farmers’ Club is an absolutely unique organisation. Its promoters were evidently bro-ad-minded men who believed that their common interests could he conserved and valuable information gained and imparted much better under the soothing influence of a cigar and a cup of coffee than at a solemn meeting, where dry tacts are retailed under a dry influence. The direct object of the club is to protect farming interests, and an indirect object is to bring members together at quarterly gatherings, where, besides discussing matters of practical interest, they may rub shoulders, and, getting away from the unceasing drudgery of farm work, spend a few enjoyable hours with one another. The headquarters of the club are at Woodviiie, where, with an admirable boniface in Mr Pool, of the “Club,” the enjoyable quarterly gatherings take place.. Last evening one of the most successful meetings of the club was held. The feature of the programme, of the talking part of it that- is, was a lecture by Mr J. A. Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, on diseases affecting the daily stock of the colony. The meeting was introduced by the toast of “The King,” proposed by the chainiian, Mr S. Bolton, president of tho club. Mr Gilruth’s address consisted principally of plain, practical advice on how to deal with three diseases which threaten to cripple the dairying industry, and will do so if not dealt with in a firm manner. These are blackleg, milk fever and abortion. The disastrous effects of the latter disease at present being experienced were referred to by Mr Gilruth, who stated that he was doing all he could, with the assistance of his staff, to assist farmers to overcome the disTho feeding of calves on nothing but skim milk -was,condemned by

Mr Gilruth, as were several other had practices in vogue by New Zealand dairymen. He ridiculed the pro sour milk t ~ young far _ <Js outlined, and in doing this Air Gilruth pointed out the necessity of a farmer having a knowledge of the internal construction of a healthy animal (and not hied, as with a beast slaughtered for consumption), so that, having that knowledge, ho would be able to realise what was abnormal in examining a diseased beast of his own, which he may be investigating. It was absurd, said Mr Gilruth, to attempt to examine the carcase of an animal for a disease if tho person doing the work had never seen the organs ill their normal condition. He gave ail instance in point where a farmer killed a lamb which was diseased, and finding the milk curdled in its stomach, declared the milk to he the cause of its death. As the rennet in a lamb’s stomach was tho natural curdling agent the absurdity of the man’s supposition was patent. The address was greatly appreciated by the members of „ne club. The full text will appear in the columns of the “New Zealand Mail.” After several complimentary references had been made to Mr Gilruth, a brief toast list was concluded. “Mr Gilnith” was proposed by the chairman, and other toasts were “The Press,” coupled lvith the name of the representative of the “Neiv Zealand Times”; “Visitors,” coupled with the name of Mr Warren; “Tho Vice-Chairman,” and the “Host and Hostess.”