PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 12, 9 October 1907, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(from our special correspondents.) OTAKI. Tho annual general meeting of the Waikanae Hack Racing Club was held on Saturday evening, Mr. ;W. iJ. HoweJl presiding./ The report and. balance sheet were considered very satisfactory. A bonus of £10 was granted too Secretary for last year's work, and a sum of £15 as a salary for tho coming season. It was decided to increase the stakes from £80 to £90. the following were elected officebearers for the year:—Patron, Mr. W H. Field, M.H.R.; President, Mr. Vv. J. Howell; vice-Presidents, Messrs. Taylor and J. G. Duncan, judge, Mr. ired llae; clerk of scales, Mr. Kent; clerk of, course, Mr. Robertson; starter, Mr. Watson; timekeeper, Mr. H. Parata; handicapper, Mr. Shannon; lion, surgeon, Dr. Huthwaite; secretary, Mr. J. Muir; treasurer, Mr. Howell; stewards, Messrs Gillies, Parata (3), Hart, Williams, Watson, Cronin, Treadwell, Gapes, Samuel, Collyns, Hehir, Silvester, Smith, and Kent; protest committee, Messrs Gillies, Hira Parata, Treadwell, Collyns, and Tom Parata. BULLS. The Bulls School Committee met last week. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. John Stevens, M.H.R.,for Ins unsolicited donation of £10 10s. towards establishing a High School in Bulls. The committee conveyed to the headmaster and his assistants its hearty congratulations on tho successful result of last year's operations, and the favourable report thereon' received from the inspector. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. J. G. Wilson and to'the chairman for assistance in taking classes in agriculture. The Director of Technical Classes reported very favourably on tho work of the dressmaking class. GIIIA'TOWN. The Borough Council decided-'last night to consider a suggestion, from the Masterton County Council relative to motor car regulations. Tho secretary to the cemetery was voted a bopus of £20. The bill to tho Coun-, oil for sundry work, £48 16s. ,6d., was discussed at length and ordered to bo paid. . Tho Council decided to take over the local fire brigade and tho local brass band, so that they become municipal institutions. It was resolved to instal an acetylene gas plant in the new hall, which will be opened at about the end of November. FtiATHERSTON. .The annual meeting of the Featherston Cricket Club was held on Monday night, tho Rev. T. J. Smith in tho chair. The report and balance-, sheet, showing a satisfactory state of affairs, was adopted. ' Tho following officers were elected: —Patron, Mr. A. Matthews; President, Mr. W. Barton; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. Anderson, W. K. and J. O. Bidwill, F. Pearce, (i: Fenwick, C. Matthews, A. Hannay,' J. McCarty, Allan Donald, R. N. Burfc, A. J. Toogood, Drs. Deanier and Palmer; captain, Mr. L. I'. Keys; vicecaptain, Mr. A. Cundy; . secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. F. Keys;' committee, Rov. T. J. Smith, Messrs. F. Ifiveritt, A. Thomas, J.. It. Howlett, A. Cundy, A. C. Nibs, T. Saunders, and H. Buck; selection committee,. Messrs. Howlett, Thomas, and Ev'eritt; delegates to the Wairarapa Cricket Association, Messrs. Howlett and Keys, It was resolved to enter a team for the junior competition; that tho annual subscription be 55., the same as last year; that the season bo opened on Saturday next with'a match between toams representing the .captain arid vice-captain, and that .the secretary havo the pitch put in order at once. Votes of thanks wero accorded donors of trophies and cash, the secrotary, the ladies, and the chairman for presiding. Mr. E. Towill, Mothodist homo missionary stationed at Featherston, has tendered his resignation to the circuit.

HASTINGS. • At a meeting of the Hastings branch of the Farmers' Union,' held on Saturday night, Mr: H. Lan Simson resigned his position as chairman of the branch, owing to his intention to come forward as a candidate for the Hawke's Bay seat at tho general elections, and Mr. Cartwright Brown was appointed to tho position. The question of appointing a representative, to act with nominees of district local bodies on the proposed Hastings Technical School Board, was discussed. It was pointed out that the voting power of each representative wo\ild bo governed by the financial support extended to the scheme by each body. Whilst expressing himself in favour of technical instruction. Mr. J. Beatson opposed the of the branch' being represented, because the Farmers' Union was not a public body, but a body which had a mission apart from education, besides which the funds of : tho branch were not in a condition • to warrant tho expenditure involved. On the other hand, Messrs. Simsoir and Mastors called attention to the fact that the scientific farmer was to. bo tho farmer of the day and,,if. the branch were not represented, agricultural instruction might bo neglected. In opposing the proposal, Mr. Eustace Lane said the district was sufficiently important for . the Government to found an agricultural college. .It . was ultimately decided • to appoint Mr Cartwright Brown to represent tho branch on tho board, and to commit the branch to a contribution ot £5 for the first year. PALMEKSTON. Tho Chamber of Commerce has held a meeting to consider tho question of -the extension of tho hours of the telephone service Mr. J. M. Johnston presided, and reported that the deputation went to Wellington, but was unable to soo the Premier to ask for a continuous service. Mr. Cohen said ho could not seo why tho Premier had declined the. request. Tho extension was obviously necessary, and, out of 500 subscribers, two-thirds had signed in its favour. It gave reason to beliovo that the Premier had not considered the circumstances on thoir merit. Tho Chamber should not let the matter rest, but should raako further representation. Mr. E. 0. Hurley suggested that the matter bo adjourned for three months, which would give time for consideration.' Mr. Haydon endorsed the previous speeches, and brought forward tho argument that Hastings had a continuous service, though it was a town smaller than Palmerston. The President moved that Mr. Cohen and himself draw up statements of fact in .connection with the application for a continuous service, and forward it on co the Premier. This was carried, as was a motion by Mr. Laing that tho President and' Messrs. Cohen and Simmonds present tho statement to the Premier at/ an early date. The rainfall for the week.ending Sunday was 2.26 in., against. S.OSin. for the preceding week. Mr. T. A. Moody, tho local manager for Messrs. Dalgcty and Co., is to leave on Friday for the South Island on a well-earned holiday. Tho Palmerston bowling season opens on October 23, when the trial prizes won last season will be presented. i\. number of new members have joined. The Rairanga County Council met yesterday. Letters were recoived from the Borough Council stating that the complaint with regard to the state of tho boundary road had been attended to. No action was taken in connection with the request of tile Feilding Borough Council to have' the slaughtering area

for Feilding abattoirs extended into Koiranga County. A request to hav< Karero Road formed is to receive at" tention. Two settlers wrote protesting against boing included in tho loan for protective works at Stoncy Creek, but no action was taken. General complaints as to the roads are to receive attention. A ranger is to bo appointed for Fitzhorbert. The bankruptcy returns for Palmcrston North district for the quarter ending September 30 nro as follow:— Bankruptcies unclosed at .end of preceding quarter, 39; fresh bankruptcies during quarter, 11, making a total of 50 in hand on September 30. The annual report of tho Palmerston North Co-operative Building Society for the year ending July 10, 1907, states that the face value of a paid-up share in No. 1 group on that date was £23 95., to which must be added £2 2s. profit. Ordinary arro->rs of subscriptions in that group arc Hint to £187 4s. —just a little over 1 per cent, of the share capital. During the year 39 appropriations, of the value of £3900, were allotted, bringim; tho total loans since tho foundation of the society in No. 1 group to £20,500. Of this amount £6255 12s. 4d. has ')een repaid bjborrowers as redemption payments. Although during tho "year 144 shares wore allotted in No. 2 group, there woro, after an existence of two years and five months, 200 shares still to be allotted. No. 2 group carries forward a balance of profits cH £122 13s. 7d., after having paid all tho preliminary oxpenses incurred in its establishment. The not profit made during tho year m No. 1 group was £128 3s. Id:, and in No. 2 group £145 10s. 2d., making a total of £273 13s. 3d. PAHIATUA. /•"'. > The monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held on Monday night. The question of reguinting motor-car traffic "was held over until the next meetiug. Notice was received from the Public ■ Health Department of the appointment of Inspector Miller to fill .Inspector Dorizac's plico during tho former's three months' leave of absence. Tho Racing Cab's request to have water laid on to the course was acceded to, subject to the payment of cost .of tho connections and £2. annually. Owing to the considerable straying of stock in the borough, the inspector was instructed vigorously to prosecute offending owners. ,