Country News.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 2, 27 September 1907, Page 2

Country News.

OTAKI. At the Police Court this morning before Messrs. Freeman and Dennot, JP., a man named William Skclloy, of Waikanac, was charged with drunkenness. A ' prohibition order was issued against the accused, who was also lincl 25., cost of con-' veyance to the cells. A first offender was convicted and discharged on a charge of insulting behaviour. Mrs. Quill has disposed of the Railway Hotel to Mr. Archibald Hall for £10,000. Our local golfers play the Palmerston club at Palmerston on Saturday. Tt Otaki team is a strong one, and is confident of victory. Land in this district is soiling at high prices, and a farm of 160 acres, belonging to Mr. G. H. Harper, has boon sold to Mr. Geo. Cat-ley at £43 per acre. Other farms have changed hands recently at from £30 to £40 per acre. Tho weather on Tuesday and yesterday has been exceptionally stormy and tho worst experienced for some timo. In consequence, young stock and fruit trees aro suffering considerably. Tho Native Land Court, which has been sitting here for some considerable time, concluded its business last night, but it is expected will resumo again at an early date. CREYTOWN. A company is being formed here with a capital of £10,000, to secure an area of 500 acres on the Moroa Plains. It is proposed to cultivate 100 acres of this for a. beginning,- and to use tho balance for grazing purposes. The Government expert has positively asserted that the soil has sufficient- silt in it to provide plant food for several years to come. Between 2000 and 3000 shares' at £1 each have already been applied for, and there is every promise of success. Wo have some of the best clay m the province for brick-making, and no doubt this will be used at a later date. Tho Wairarapa has great potentialities, and should come to tho front Before long. Our local public hall, to cost some £2000 odd, is now nearing completion, and will be the largest and most up-to-date in the Wairarapa, south of Masicrtou. Companies have already made applications for the "first nights," but nothing- definite has yet been done in this matter. The "staging accommodation is on a most liberal scale, so as to attract large companies. months has boon extremely wet, and jvoj qsTid en,} ioj ot[,t, has delayed all field work. Tho last few days have boon fine, and have boon taken full advantage of by the fanners. PALMERSTON NORTH. Tho Governor opened a bazaar in aid of the Terrace End Technical School Fund on Tuesday. He congratulated the promoters, and indicated that the movement should receive overy oncouragoment. lie was interested in technical education, and had assisted in this direction in tho Old Country, and would always bo' willing to assist tho movoment in the Dominion. Mr. R. Essex, Mayor of Palmerston, expressed his sympathy with tho movement, and Mr. Pirani, chairman of tho Wanganui Education Board, gave an interesting address on tho good results of technical education. "Messrs'. G. H. Bennett and J. A. Nash, chairman of the schol committee, also'spoke later, thanking the promoters for their able assistance. The bazaar continues for two days. .'.'_;'

uays. , Heavy rain fell yesterday,"and-the streams are in flood. Reports from the back country indicate that the rain is the heaviest experienced this ocason. Farming operations, 'which are already behindhand, will be still further retarded, and the weather will also seriously affect the young lamiv. There was only a small congregation of townspeople at the Pnst"~Offiee yesterday morning to hoar the proclamation resd by the Mayor. Doubtloss many were prevented from attend ing by the boisterous state of the weather. After the Mayor had formally .read the proclamation three cheers wero givon for the Dominion. Mr. M. Cohen then briefly addressed the audience A heavy thunderstorm set iii just before evening, and the festivities and procession had to bo abandoned. Despite the weather the streets were crowded, and fin adjournment was made to the Opera House, where addresses were delivered by the Mayor and Rev. Mr. Jolly. Tar barrels were burned in the Square, and a fireworks display. made by the youngsters. The hoavy rains on Wednesday night resulted in a considerable area of the country being inundated owing to the overflow of the Managono stream and tho Kavvan on the western side of Pajniorston. Some residents in the vicinity whose houses were surrounded by water were obliged to. get cut in boat. Others wore brought out on horseback. R-ain continues to fall, and at the time of wiring the weather is bitterly celd. The Manawalu and Oroua rivers are in heavy liood. Reports from the back country state that the weather is very severe, and stock is suffering considerably. In the Ivairnnga district many farms are under water, aud people are removing stock to higher ground. Lowlying country is covered with water. A heavy gale was blowing throughout the clay. Stock sales were poorly attended, and the entry was small. A wash-out has occurred on the Pal-morston-Ashhurst road, and the road is dangerous for traffic. •At a meeting cf the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers's Onion the Organising Committee's report was received, showing satisfactory work by the organiser in several districts, a i*cod number now members being enrolled. The report went on to state that the committee finds the work hampered by tho insufficient funds at its disposal, and also finds tlie present method of raising funds a deterrent to some farmers who would otherwise join. Tho committee finally adopted a resolution that, in order to make contributions bear more equitably on all members, the method of striking the low on graduated scale should bo as follows:—On £lCee or under—capital value, as, with a rise of Is for each additional £5110. The committee believes that the Union will make no real progress until the finances are put on a suror and sounder Tho death is announced of Mr. H. Sadd, who for niany years conducted a hairdressino; and tobbacconist business. The deceased was a popular and respected townsman.

MAR7ON. Church oxtonsion grants have been recommended by the Wanganui Presbytery, fl-hch mot at Marton m Ymlnesdav as follows :-Fordell £20, Tailiana outfields £20, Haotihi £30, Man"uweka £30, Rcwa £30, Halccmbe £30 wills £2 "> F° xtcm £2f) ' Lcvill £20,' Pohangina £30, Kimbolton £20, Tau'maranui £40. , The natives interested m the subdivision of the Te Reu Rot No. 1 block are petitioning Judge Hold, of tl'c Native Land Court, at Marton. The plea is a rational ono, as the owners reside in the immediate district. T . . • T ' The Ofoua Licensing League supports the provision in the Government Licensing Bill which secures that no general election shall he held without a local option poll, ami appeals to the Government to provide that electors

shall have a colonial as well as s local option vote, with a democratic provision that tho majority shall determine the colonial option vote. Tho moating of the Wangamii Pre* bytery at Marton moved an overture to tho Assembly giving presbyterioi greater liberty tlian at present ii granting home mssionanes powe: to baptise and 'many. Mr. Job Glasgow was thanked for his gift o: a site tor a church at South Makiri. kin. Nov,- Zealand was proclaimed as t Dominion by the Mayor (Dr. Skerman) at Marton Park to-day in the presence of two adults, a child, and a dog, winch, happily, was wandering through the recreation ground at eleven o clock. Another serious slip occurred on the Main Trunk Line a few miles from. Marton Junction last evening. A large gang of men are at work.and it, is hoped that through traffic will he restored on Friday. Farmers in this district have been ' nuioh interested in the proposal to abolish tho duty on wheat and f'our. Mr. Hogg's statement that, wheat can be grown and sold profitably at 2s and 3s per bushel is open to question. For ono thing, it is felt sure there would not he any wheat gro-.ni here at such prices. News of tho doatli of Mr. HcDry . Hammond, of Waitoki, Sandon, was ' received hero with widespread regret. ; The deceased settled at Waitoki 35 years ago, and lived there for tho ' rest of his life. He was ono of the i best-known figures on the coast, and ■ durin" gthe sixties took his full share j in the strenuous life of the times. As . a public man Mr. Hammond did good service on the Manawntu Countjj ' Council, representing tho Waitoki ; Hiding for more than twenty years, ■ uutil his retirement the other day.

FEILDING. A mooting of delegates frOm the ,' athletic bodies of the district was- , held at Feilding on Wednesday. Mr. , E. H. Fisher was in the chair, and ; delegates were ■•present from Feilding, > Awahuri, and Palmerston North. The • first annual report of the Feilding ■ Centre of the New Zealand Athletic : Union was presented to the mooting. It stated that the committee viewed the efforts of the Union in this Centre with considerable satisfaction. Sis- ~ teen clubs had affiliated, and 161 com- , petitors had registered. The Centre . had a credit balance of £30, receipts having amounted to £43, and expenses ■ to £8. Of the balance, £23 went to . the governing body. The report cm- ; tinues:—"To repress any abuse of athletic sports (one of the Union's ob- , jects) was generally recognised as a , large order, but your committee claim ; to have in a measure ameliorated the •; previously existing state of things." : Credit is' given to the headquarter's ; secretary and to Mr. Ulic Shannon, i Wellington, for assistance rendered : with regard to doubtful "sports." The : committee noted with pleasure the ' decision of the confercneo recently ' held in Wellington to endeavour to suppress betting at sports meetings. j Comment was inado upon the exces- [ sive proportion of registration fees ■ and subscription rates charged by ; the governing body. A tribute of praise was givon to the Centre's secretary, Mr.'W. R. Walker.' The re-, port was adopted.

The election of officers resulted in . Messrs.; Fuller and Walker being reelected as president and secretary respectively; and Messrs. •A.M. • Ongley (Feilding) and D. Munro (West Coast) as vice-presidents. The following committee-was also elected: Messrs.. I. J. Flake (Palmerston), M'Donald (Palmerston Caledonian Society), and J. Collingwood (Awahuri). ■ • FEILDING. Feilding farmers have a feeling that Providence has a grudge against them because of the long-continued rainy season. Day after day and week after week the rain has fallen, with a continuity that has _ become depressing. The land within the wide area of which Feilding is the hub is so thoroughly saturated that it does not seem possible to work the soil for weeks yet. And this despite-'the fact that all seeds should have been sown by this time. At this season of the year dairymen should be replenishing their herds and adding thereto; but, as a result'of the absence of sunshine aud succulence n the grass, the dairy farmers are chary of buying. During a recent week a Kimbolton "man sold, out. There has since been two days , of sunshiny weather, and the sellerout has expressed regret that he had ' been so hasty. ■-— ; Automobiles are so numerous that Feilding has a flourishing Motor Association, which holds its first run and , opens its garage early nest month—if j the weather permits. The Borough Council, the membera ; of which this year are a set of the town's best and : 'Git experienced < business men, are at pissent engaged i in preparing a scheme of works that ; should result in a decided improve- ; ment of the town, and make life in '; it more worth while living. One of the items in the new scheme is the provision of swimming baths, and it is expected that the. ratepayers will heartily receive this proposal. Preparations are already being made here for the general elections of next year. It is freely canvassed that the sitting member (Mr. Frank Lethbridge) will again be opposed by Mr. Robert Hornblow, and that tlie , latter has a rival claimant for the Government nomination in Mr. Fitz- ' horbert, both of whom aro known ia Wellington, of which city they are . ex-residents. - ■

LEVIN. The weather has been rather rough' of late, and as a result the later lambs have been suffering somewhat, fortunately the earlier, ones have grown strong enough to withstand the weather. Calves are being slaughtered this year in as groat, it not greater, numbers than last year. This is surely a mistake, for the farmers 3eem to be making no provision for the future. As showing the growing importance nnd strength of the Levin branch of the Farmers' Union, it is worthy of mention that no fewer than forty now monitors have joined the branch' within the last few weeks. A few days ago a Maori girl, evidently not. inexperienced at the work, was to be seen busy disc-harrowing a ploughed field at Waikanae. She rode on cue implement, driving and directing the horses just as a man would who was quite accustomed to tho work In the next iisid Natives of the male sex were playing cricket or enjoying a sui' bach. The Veil. Archdeacon Fancourt is at present on a visit to Levin. He arrived here to attend an Anglican Church social last night, but owing to the stormy weather that function had to be postponed. A very sad accidont occurred at Koputarua last Saturday, by which Mr. G. Pofcts's youngest -son, Rockwood, lost his l ; fe. It appears that tho boy, who was only 13 years of age, was carrying a pea rilla in tho house when it exploded and the bullet went into his brain, killing him instantly. This is another of the too frequent examples of what a curso these small rifles are »taougst youths of tender years. The Horowhenua County Clerk, Mr. McCullocli, is to be congratulated on tho fact that tho county balance sheet has been returned from- the Government Audit Office minus tag or adverse comment of any kind: Thn operations of tho Couuty Council now involvo a sum of nearly £66,000.