PALMERSTON NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6314, 14 September 1907, Page 11

PALMERSTON NEWS

j.j Our Own Correspondent.) PALMLKSTON, September 13, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Tho Council of tho Chamber of Commet this afternoon. The president, Mr J. M. Johnston, occupied the chair. It was decided to -endorse a resolution received from tho Timaru Ciiumber as follows: “That tho Hon. the Muiisfer of Lahour bo requested to confin o tho operations of the Rectories Act Amendment bill to tho four centres, and if ho cannot sec his way to this that ho tako steps to proclaim one univeisal half-holiday, compulsory on all throughout tho colony, but, in any case this hhiimbcr emphasises the fact that tho present procedure of one part of a business bein'? compelled to clo-so on one day of tho week and another part of the same house oa another is intolerable/’' -Members 'were agreed that the condition.* obtaining in tho four centres were quite different from those iuiing in the other towns. Tho Department of Agriculture forwarded tho amended regulations governing the grading and export of New Zealand hemp. Tho chairman of tho Tla_xmiller:;’* Ass-ociatiun, Mr A. Seifert, said that that body had already considered the regulations. Ho did net think there was anything to be done, us the regulations v/cro already in force, Tho Auckland Chamber wrote, endorsing the action taken in regard to tho Philadelphia Museum, and offering to give any assistance possible.—lt was stated that Mr Don no had all necessary machinery at his disposal for sending exhibits if required.—The Council ordered a copy of the letter to bo sent to Mr Donne. A member complained of v tho bad state of the telephone service between Palmerston and Shannon, saying that ns the Government had installed the lino-it should keep it in working order. As a rule it was impossible to make out what was bmug said at the other end. — Thu president complained of the state of tho telephone service in Palmerston, it being mo-t unsatisfactory, in his opinion. However, he thought it would hardly bo fair to puss judgment until the operators became used to the now switchboard. As a matter of fact, the accommodation provided in tho new building was inadequate. and would won require extension.—The Council decided to ask tho department to remedy tho defects existing in the lino between Palmerston and Shannon. Another telephone complaint was that, whereas Palmer-ton could talk to Shannon, and Shannon could speak to Levin, Pcilmorston could not get a connection with the place hist named. Members could not understand why this should be. —It was resolved to request the M.11.R. for tho district, Mr W. r l. Wood, to ask for direct communication between Palmerston and Otaki, via Levin. MORE RIVER ENCROACHMENT. More damage has been done by the Manawatu river to its bank at Jlokowhitu, as the result of a partial flood which came down this morning, caused by tho heavy min yesterday. From a point at tho foot of Fitzroy street to one by the protective works just below ; Brightwater terrace, almost uninterrupted undermining of the bank has taken, place, and masses of earth have been falling into tho water all day. Tho erosion is going on at quite a rapid rate, and the river is working its way nearer to a natural depression which exists at the foot of the terrace. The damage is made greater and is accentuated by tho facts that the soil on the adjoining bank is of a sandy nature and that the whole force of tho swift current is directed thereon at what is almost a right angle. Should the river mico works its way as far as this natural ieprossion it would bo disastrous to Uokowhitu, as the water would make a .tew course right through that suburb. The hoary rain experienced during the oast two dove has caused all the streams in the district to rise, while in many directions paddocks arc wholly or partially under water. No rain has fallen-to-day, however, and further damage in this respect is not feared.