Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 5 January 1878, page 7


MACKAY.

December 24.

ON Wednesday last we were favored with another acceptable rainfall, an inch and a quarter of rain being registered at Mackay. Heavy rains also fell between here and Nebo

and farther to the south-west. Several showers were also experienced on the following day. A progress association was recently initiated, chiefly through the instrumentality of the working men of the district, and the committee appointed at the first meeting have adopted a code of rules to be submitted to a future meeting of members. Tbe objects of the society are stated to be " the advancement of the general interests of the district, the advocating of all measures tending towardß the development of its resources, by the encouragement of lbe settlement of Europeans upon the agricul*

tural and mineral landa of the baok oountry, tbe reasonable limitation of the employment of Polynesian labor and the strict regulation of the traffic relating thereto." The bazaar in aid of the Church of England Parsonage Fund was opened at the Olympic Theatre thiß evening, and was attended with very satisfactory results, upwards of £90 being taken by tbe various stall-holders. The sale of fancy and useful articles will be continued on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The completion of the Pioneer Bridge, the erection of a post-offioe, pilot's residence, and the commencement of a lighthouse at Flat-top Island, and a new lockup an amongst the events of the past year which are deserving of record, and which have rendered it an eventful one for the district