PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 10

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

. FEILDING. Messrs. Albert Smith and C. Charles, of Kongokokako (Forty Mile Hush), have disposed of their properties to Messrs. Koherstnin and Giesly, respectively, of the Feilding district. . Everything points to a brisk time in the building trade in Feilding for the summer. Tradesmen in all branches of building and construction are now in good demand. Good progress is being made with the erection of the new Technical School building, in Fcilding, Mr. V>". Wilkinson, the contractor, express to be finished in January. The building will bo available for classes at the beginning of the new term next year. The members of the r-'eilding High School Committee, who are collecting subscriptions to purchase an additional area for the schoolground, have already received £73. The ground will cost £200, and the Government will subsidise all subscriptions. The Foilding "Star,'' in an editorial on the fires in direct liners, suggests the appointment tf a commission of experts who may conduct experiments in such manner and with such structures, say on board a hulk in the harbour, as will bring the conditions of a test nearest to those conditions pertaining m the hold of a Home-going vessel. It suggests that the commission should consist of such 'scientific investigators as Professor Easter-field (of Victoria College), Mr. J. A. Gilrutli (Government Bacteriologist), Mr. MacLaur'n (Government Analyst), Mr. 13. C. Aston (Chief Chemist of the Agricultural Department), and Dr. Mason (Chief, Health Officer), who is also skilled in original research and bacteriology.

MASTERTON. A revival in local Y.M.C.A. matters is to take-place in Masterton in November. Mr. N. H. Holmes. Wellington branch secretary, is to bo invited to conduct tho campaign, and it is proposed to appoint a permanent secretary at a salary of £'200 per annum. The Magistrate's 'Court had a heavy clay yesterday. An important case, involving charges of conniving at gambling and allowing drunkenness on tho premises against the licensee (F. M. Ross) of tho Mauriceville Hotel, engaged the Court for three hours. The caso was dismissed.. Mr. C. A. Pownall appeared for tho defence. The Magistrate made strong comments on the licensee's conduct in acquiring the lease of an old settler's farm, which was practically his only means of subsistence. Moses Paratine (o Maori) was fined £5 ami costs for having used grossly obscene language, and Alfred Ernest- Smith, a telegraph lineman, £2 and £2 costs for having used offensive language to a barmaid. .

The weather is keeping moderately' fine, and tlib grass country is rapidly improving. A few drops of rain'last night may retard shearing a day or two. Most of the largo sheds arc well under way, and wool-waggons are bringing in loads daily. The local sports societies have decided to hold their meetings on the showgrounds in future, and it is proposed to, beautify the grounds by planting ornamental 'shrubbery and erecting fountains.

v MARTON. ■ , : The monthly meeting of the Marton Council was held on, Monday evening. A 'letter from the Treasury was received provisionally apporving of a loan of £4000.'for street im provoments.—Mr. A. H. Knigge was granted an increase of salary from £25 to £35 ?s manager for the Opera House.—The receipts for the Opera House for last month amounted to £31 7s.—The gas receipts showed a margin of £31 in excess of expenditure for month of September.—Tho Firo Brigade Committee reported having inspected the Brigade'station and plant. The building was reported to bo in a disgraceful state, :.nd surprise was expressed that the Health authorities had not condemned it. It was urged that something should at once bo done, otherwise it was feared the Brigade '.. would,disband, which would certainly mean a rise, in insurance rates. ■■' It was recommended that the' Council take immediate steps to raise a loan of £50'' for a now station, fire alarm, and purchase of working uniforms and other plant— After a discussion, the consideration of the nuestion was adjourned till next meeting.—The appointment of Mr. J. F. Sicsly i as engineer for tho Marton extension formation of streets and footpaths was confirmed. ,/ '■ — ' ■ CARTERTON. " - ~

Among the sufferers from influenza is His : Worship the Mayor.. Mr.' W. Moore, whose condition for a while caused '-his friends .grave- anxiety, but who is now gradually improving. / ■'' Another Chinese has put his shutters up to-day. It is hoped for good. The town is full of strangers, many of whom are investors, and as Carterton offers, the best field it- is not to be wondered at. One local firm reports selling ten acres two niiles from town at £80 per aero cash. At the Gas committee meeting it''was' decided to instruct the gas'managor to arrange for a further extension of tlio gas mains far a distance of over a, quarter of a mile fromf present termimis, and to remove meters and mains'from those- streets in which-household-ers are too short sighted to avail themselves of the light. '.''■■■

WOODVILLE.v '■•.'." The Mayor has been asked .to proclaim November 1 and 11 public holidays, noplace of the usual half-holiday for this week and next. The People's day at the Palmerston show (Friday next) is usually observed, here as a holiday, and November 9, falling'.on a Saturday, it lias been thought better to' keep tlio usual celebrations on the Monday.

The upper standards of ,the State school aro competing for the. best essay, on "Trafalgar Day." Mr. E. Harding made Mr. Stevenson, head schoolmaster, an offer of a suitable prize for the best essay, and the children have taken the matter up readily. A son of Mrs. I. Edwards, Sidney,'drew one of the sections at; the Tamaki-...a110t last week. This is the second section that the Edwards' family have been fortunate Chough to secure at tlie two recent ballots for land held at Dannevirke. OTAKI. A meeting to resuscitate the Ot-aki Orchestral Society was held'on Monday night, Mr. Frank Pcnn in the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet were read ,tho latter showing the bank overdraft to bo £22 14s. Gd., while.the assets were set down at £39 10s. 4(1. Tho following officers were elected:—Patron, Mr; W. H. * Field, _ M.H.11.; president, Mr. W-. H. Simcox; vice-presidents, Dr. Hutliwaito, iv-cv. Father Do Lach, and Byron Ivrown ; lion secretory, Mr. A. E. Anderson; h.on. treasurer, Mr. L. St. George; committee, Messrs. W. Vaughan, Merry, St. George, Anderson, and L'enn; pianiste. -Mrs. H. Jones. It was decided to commence practice almost immediately. Dr. Huthwaito conducted the first of a series. of ambulance lectures on MoiuViy night, but, owing to the wot weather, the attendance was poor. , ; FEATHEESTON. ■ The Tauhorenikau (rained horse, Son Sim, was taken south ■on Monday for tho Cup meeting. Mr. and Mrs: L. Foster returned-home from their honeymoon tour on Monday. On the recommendation of the annual meeting, the.reading room at the Fcatherston Literary Institute is now closed oi) the Thursday afternoon "and evening. On Monday, Mr. C. Laing-Measou, 0.K., and Messrs. J. W. Card (chairman), and C. J. Kent-Johnston (clerk), of the Featherslon Town Board, inspected the bead walfcr works, and'tho engineer has recommended certain improvements, which will bo laid before the Hoard at its next meeting. A meeting of the Loyal Unity Lodge (Oddfellows) was held on Monday night, Bro. F. E. Merlet, N.G., in the chair. It was resolved to procure a number of copies of tlio general rules, and to visit the Greytown Lodge at the end of next month. . Two members reported on tho sick list, and llro. Merlet reported- that a number of brethren visited the Carterton Lodge on October 1(5, and had a pleasant time. Votes of thanks were passed to Bros. M. B. T.iit, F. K. Merlet, and F. A. O'Neale for'. providing the drag and horses on tho occasion of tho CarI terton visit.