lhe election for Wardens in the Manawatu Highway Board has been closed to-day, resulting in the re turn of the old members with the ex ception of Mr Petsr Stewart of Karere Ward, who resigned—and it was only in this ward that any contest took place, the candidates being- Mr Mon rad and Mr D. McEwen ; the result of the poll giving- a majority of five to the latter g-entleman. The return of so many or the former Wardens must be very satisfactory to those gentle men, as giving them an assurance that their endeavours to promote the interests of the place have been fully appreci ated by their fellow ratepayers, and should be an incentive to them to work together with that harmony and impar tiality which have hitherto been so characteristic of their proceedings. Little of general interest has& trans pired since my l aS fc. The buildings in the township continue to increase in number, if not in quality, though we are also improving in this latter re spect. The Wesleyan chapel is rapidly progressing-, and will, when finished, no doubt add considerably to the ap pearance of the place, and the English Church will also now not be lon» in putting, in an appearance. The Royal Hotel is under its new proprietorship, receiving- considerable additions, consisting of an entire new wing containing eight rooms, and also a billiard room detached. The latter, when opened, in the absence of other places of resort, will no doubt receive abundant patronage. The stores have one and all, to keep pace with the gene ral progress, been enlarged, to afford more accommodation, as stocks have to be considerably augmented to keep up with the demand. The w©oden rails on the tramway are slowly, very slowly, being replaced by iron ones. It seems now pretty clear that it will be next summer before the transition will he complete, and the winter will have to be got through somehow with the wooden rails in their present shaky position. Mr P. Stewart's contract for the ex tension of the railway line should now be approaching "completion, as the time must be drawing to a close. He had an unfortunate break-down with the engine the other day, and had to g- 0 to Wan ganui to get the injury repaired. 