PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4872, 26 January 1903, Page 6

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(By Our Special Reporter.) Sunday. At a public meeting on Saturday night, it was decided to tender a com - pumentary concert to Messrs Mcyriu and Tombs, the local members ox the Xow Zealand baud, prior to their departure for England. The concert will probably take place on 12th February. During a thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon tho operators in tho local telephone exchange liad rather an unpleasant time. Tile whole of tho shutters were knocked down more than once, and several sharp shocks were administered to the attendants, whose position was rendered none tho loss irksome by tho confusion which existed in tho working of tho wires, owing to tho general cifcct of tho electric disturbance. Similar experiences are roported from the Eoilding exchange. Denso clouds of vapour have been rolling over the town all day, accompanied by heavy peals of thunder and occasional flashes of lightning. Heavy rain has now set in, which prevented the Palmerston Band giving its promised concert on the show grounds. Out of sovon candidates presented at the recent examinations by the District High School, five succeeded in matriculating—a highly creditable mcm-A. Altogether fifteen who sat at the local contra succeeded in passing. Tho Athletic Association lias decided to send T. Stubbs to represent it at the Championship mooting at Dunedin hi March next. Stubbs ran remarkably well at tho Championship at Wanganui on Xew \ car* s Day in the 100 yards, 220yds_and 440yds events. Hewitt will also probably be asked to represent tho association. Tho memorial service at tho Congregational Church, in connection with tha lato Mr A. Buchanan, was well attended this morning by members of the friendly societies, with wliich the deceased liad boon intimately connected for many years. . The sub-committee of tho Borough Council which was set up some time ago to report upon tho possibility of devempiug electrical energy from some od the neighbouring streams paid a visit to tho Kauterawa river a few days ago for tho purpose of ascertaining its ca.’ in this direction. llj report has not yet been submitted t'o tfaq Council, but it is understood! it ii of the opinion that while there may be sufficient water to uevelop energy to light the town, it would not be possible to generate power for manufacturing purposes. Tho fall of the river is very hut its volume of water ij considered insufficient and unreliable! There are yet two otuer streams to IV visited, viz., the Pohangina and Manawatu Gorge, hut anything which th( committee may recommend will oii!s ho of a preliminary nature, as nothing is likely to bo done until the advice oj a practical electrical engineer bas bool obtained;

The local schools will re-open oi Monday morning, after the summer vai cation. It is gratifying to know thal the rector of the District High School has received applications from some forty now scholars, and those, together with the former pupils who will resum* their studies, will enable the school td begin the new term with an attendant of close upon 140. Both the College and Campbell street Schools also ah ticipate opening until substantial ih creases.

Mr Gray, former rector of the District High School, and now Chief liispectoi of the Wanganui Education District) was in Palmerston to-day en route t« Wanganui, from the south, w'hora L< has been spending his summer holidays! In the past one of the greatest draw* backs to the -eattloyards at the Pali merston Railway Station has been tiff want of facilities for watering stock; This however, has now been overcome by laying on a proper service, .a,convent once which will bo greatly appreciated by owners of travelling stool c. The Kairanga County Council ha* at last made a vigorous start to repaij the damage done to the Palnaerston ap preach of Awahuri bridge by the flood* of last winter. About fourteen mcij are now engaged in giving practical effect to the scheme which tras supplied some time ago by Mr Fultcm, C.E. Tiff protective work which Mr Fulton ha* suggested consists of rows, of woodeij and iron piles, between which crates o! stones are to be fixed, and this, to» gether with the planting of willows, « is-honed will have the effect of P'bnj up a'bank of silt which will check th< trend of the water in the direction cd the approach. A recent change in th« course of the river higher up has mai tcrially increased these hopes, and il is confidently estimated, that an exponditure of £IOOO will relievo the district from all anxiety in. this direction