PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 38, 8 November 1907, Page 9

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

« PALMEIISTON.■'.. (FROM OUH BrEOUL CORBEBrONDENTSt) ■- At'tho mooting of tho Manawatu Drainago'- Board yesterday \ - Mr. Guy staged that, during tho recent election, he had, in conversation'with sbvoral ratepayors, found that there was a vory strong opinion that a loan should'be raised' to improve the district gOiioriiUy.' '" He 'cOiisido'rcd that a sub-corn-mitteo should be sot up to decide upon the necessary work, and allocate tho monoy required by "eaoli portion of tho district. Even 'if they borrowed £20,000,' spread over tho wholo district; tho rato would bo vory small, and nothing m. comparison with the bonofit rccoived.' . He .thought if a sub-committee was appointed it could draw up a schemo to Bet before the ratepayors at a mooting at an early dato. The Board, after discussion, decided that a sub-committoo should bo set up to bring down a scheme. The. opinion was also expressed that, amalgamation with tho Aorangi Drainage Board was desirable. Considerable interest is being taken this soason by the. local schools in. swimming, and sports and competitions between the various schools aro to be inaugurated. Tho greatest disadvantage is the "want of up-to-date municipal baths. At the present time the only baths are run by private enterpriso, and aro too small to meet requirements. A rise of fully 50 per cent, is reported locally, in the vegetable markot, owing to the unsatisfactory weather. Local residents report that vegetables are hard to procure. Several .growers are also sending consignments io' outsido localities, and realising good..returns,. ~ . , The first consignment of iron-bark for erection of the Gorge Bridge at Ashhurst lias arrived.. . "\ ~ ■.' .... ■.'.•'. In .'.recognition \6i his past services, tho Manawatu A. and'P;'Association is forwarding a gold watch to Mr. L. Wallis, who left this district some'months' ago to reside in Auckland. Silver table ornaments for Mrs. Wallis also, accompany the gift. _ Active preparations are being made for a military tournament on Monday. A strong detachment of Volunteers will bo present; • from'Wellington'. . ■'~,, Smill /consignments of;wool are being brought but from, the back country, where shearing is"in full swing. It is reported that the clips are equal .to thoso of former. sea|-

,}Vedriesday was a regular field day for Palmerston bowlers, and large numbers spent an enjoyable:.aftornoon.:...Tho."president, Mr. ' Roed; presented the following prizes won last season!:—Rink trophies (medals presented by : the i,president). Messrs..'Malcolm, Dixon, and Hodgins (skip.); champion v singles trophy (presented by Mr. H. B. Tuc- ''' ker),- Mri' W.: L. Scott;' handicap singles trophy (presented by Mr. A. Pickering), Mr. S. Jjume (the Mowlem Cup given .with this competition .has to bo won twice in succession or-three.times-at iiitorvals); handicap singles; 1905-6 trophy (presented bv Mr. L. Simmons),''Mi-. F. Mowlem; Colts trophy ■(a fully share presented by Mr. M-Koljar, ■ and a set of military brushes presented rby Mr. Lissaman), Mr. ,T. Harvey : Box;ng Day pairs trophy (presented by the ■ ■ vPeglar and, W. L. Scott (skip'.);. NeW Year's Day. pairs trophy (presented /.by the- Club), Messrs. J. C. Swallow and,'J. A. Nash-(skip.); Easter purse trophy (presented .by. the Ciub), Messrs.. Mowlem and' Bunting (skip.); .Easter rinks trophy ■ (presented - by..'tho J Club), Messrs Aiken, W. L. Scott/ JaSi'. Young, and J. A.; Nash.

; FEILDING. ,-.■■■..■ A•' Wellington tennis team meets: the Oroua Club's team in/Feilding next Mondayl The following are the. teams:—Wellington: Messrs.' R. St. J. Beere (Victoria College), J. T. Watkins-(Brougham Hill)j'F. ;A. Lewis and' W. r Sheppard (Newtown)/> arid'Putnam and T. TEL, Jones (Khandallah): " Feilding: Messrs. T. Innes, W,. ! , Carthew,- .J. Sinclair, Gould, H. .B. Strange, and M'Corkindale; reserve, L.Pirani. _ . ' The.tennis seasonris .in full,swing,.-so .-far as' , ! the Oroua Club is" concerned,. and the courts are: in daily uso. •To induce members td bring; themselves ;up to form a series of tournaments has been arianged, and 'a number",-' of members have:signified, their willingness to compete. l ■ The Rauhino Tennis Club is sending'a''team to Taibape on Saturday next,;comprising Messrs. Roacho, D. .• W. Guthrie, Saywellj Jj P.- Quthrie, & Richardson, aha Gbrringe. '- i ' Scholars attending the -Feilding' District High School yesterday; afternoon/received, a half-holiday on the completion,' of their examinations. The three inspectors of the: Wanganui Education Board, Messrs. Braik, Milno, and Strong, are at present, engaged in examining the Feilding'State schools. - .:The.'Bunnythorpa correspondent of the "Star" says: "Tho weather having taken a sudden change^-we feel it somewhat too warmj'and..dry,-, and, strange Co say, we shall soon want rain again to encour'ago the growth of grass, and fill, our,i'ater.Courses." Mr.' and Mrs. A. S.' Aldrich, jiiri., and f amilyj leave, Bunhythorpe next month-; Mr. AldrichS'has":'.purchased 'a fine property Takapau, Hawke's Bay. A meeting. of'' the school gardens competition,'committee""was "held" in Feilding on . Tuesda'y r ,.Mr.'."A.: R.:.';-Mayo- .presiding. It was decided,to.judge tKo different gardens during the last week; in January.; Messrs. J. Weight man, senr., and A. R; Mayo were, reappointed .'judges'. ' ~ '| Mr."Brown,, the Dairy Inspector, of 'the Wanganui, Board; is to again .judge the book of'observation and records kopt by the scholars. ' / ■ The; San'don District Cricket' Club is to join the Manawatu Association. The .monthly meeting of the Rongotea Town Board was held on Tuesday, when ihcre were present Messrs. Penny . (chairman), Hickford, Sutton, and Rogers. At. last meeting the, man in charge of the electric light supply, .applied ,for an increase of wages, and it was decided to invite applica-, tions for, the position, applicants to state the salary required. There were only two aspirants for. the tposition, both asking £1 a week; during the time the'engine is running;.: It' was decided to appoint Mr. Mit-; chell to the It was decided to invito, tenders for the right to cut the grass off the reserves in the Square. Mr. Rogers • asked.-.if anything definite had- been dono in'regard to the proposalto.instal the electric light, in; business premises and private residences. The chairman explained that-it had beon' arranged that members of the Boards should make personal canvass of tho town to ascertain if consumers would instal 300 lights, the condition under which the contractor woiild undertake to" provide' the electricity necessary for private lighting at a charge equal to that made in Wellington, beside. lighting tho streets free. After somo discussion it was arranged that the commissioners should canvass the town, eaoh taking a block to ascertain what support could, be obtained. to the proposal for private electric lighting.

; CAETERTON. The annual meeting of the Wairarapa Poultry and Cage Bird was held in the - secretary's office on the. A. and P. Society's grounds this afternoon, at which a representative number' of mombors were present. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £9-18s., and the secretary (Mr. Moss) was- highly oulogisedfor tho splendid result of'his efforts, and lie in turn thanked the committee for the' hearty assistance and support. The following officers wero elected: Patron, Mr. H. R.' Bunyn (reelected); president, Mr. E. Eagle,, jun.; vicepresidents, Messrs. Q. Donald, W. B. Allen, J. M. Lightfoot (re-elected), C. Reid, D. lieid, R. J. Chapman; treasurer, Mr. J. M. Lightfoot (ro-olected); secretary, Mr. W. Toomath; auditor, Mr. R. J. Chapman (reelected) ; committee, Mossrs. Moss,' M'Pheo H...feller, A. L. Webster, Sunkel, 11.I 1 . J. Dillon, Standcn, Broad, Hughes, \Y. Fisher, A. J. Fisher, Tucker, T. W. Barnes, J. E. Blado. A donation of £5 was voted to tho secretary. It was decided to hold an art unibn In connection with the next show, and to apply to the N.I.P. Association for championships and ( the samo show days as last year.. «.■-'■'- Mr.'.Wi''Moore, Maydr of Carterton,,has recovered* from llis recent illness. The contractor, Mr. H. Trotman, is making good proEress with tho now police

station in Library 6 XI ivot. As it adjoins other Gbvofiiinent buildings tho towrispboplo aro not ns vexed us t-lioy might bo at its being erected in wood in tho brick area in spito of tho otfmts of'tlio local building inspector. Tlio Ciovori'iliiont carry their own insurances.

Tho southern influx still continues. A local firm reports tho sale of a town property to a recent arrival from Timani at £100 per ftdfoi Mr. G. W. Dellor is oomploting tho erection of tho necessary machinery for tho production of ico for salo. Hitherto tho littlo ico used has been proonrod from Wellington, but Mr. Dcllor's foresight frill placo ico within the reach of all.

Wool is coming in freely from out stations and is in remarkably good condition. SHANNON. Mr. F. W. and Mrs. Venn, of MakorUa, aro expeotcd to arrivo from. Homo by tho Mamari this week. The Hon. R. M'Nab is to prosido at tho opening of the Seifort Flax-dressing Company's mills on November'lo. It has boon arranged that all trains aro to stop at Makorua for the convenience of ; the invited guests. It was agreed at tho anuual meeting of tho Shannon Land and Sawmilling Company that the maximum sum of £100 bo divided among tho directors as remuneration for their sorvices: Mr. W. Shearman has won t.ie local Rifio Club's modal presented by Mr. E. F. Jeffries. . .■'.'. Owing to the unusual spell of dry weather: tho Manawatu River is vory low, and steamers, conveying green-flax to ■ Foxton, havd diTicultv in negotiating this stream.. Mr. J. Liggins, of Tokomaru, has imported 2000 sisal hemp roots, which he is planting, and with which ho intends to experiment. LEVIN. The Wellington Education Board lias sold 20 sections in the Borough of Levin by auction on the Glasgow leaso principle,, the total annual rentals realised (£197) being at tho rate of £800 per acre on a 5 per cont. basis. This is a record land salo for Levin. Messrs. Swainson, Bevan and Co. were the auctioneers. ( '■ . WAIMAEINO. ' '■■ Extensivo alterations are being effected at the Ohakune post olEco. • Tho -building- has been -moved back, and some additions aro to be made to tho front. . Roadmon have finished patching up some of the bad places on tho Raotihi road, the condition of which gave riso to so much complaint. The repairs are of a temporary nature only. ] ; ' The advancement, of the. railhead to Ohakune last week marks another epoch in tho construction of the Main Trunk lino. Ono train —tho early train from Waiou'ru—now runs into the station, and returns in the afternoon to connect with tho Taihapo train from Rahgitawa. The conch journey is now lossened by some fiyo miles, as the Raurimu coaches now drive, into Ohakune station, instead of RaUgitawa. . Business at Ohakune is reported as somewhat dull at present, but a> revival is expected when tile mills aro in full swing. Mr. W. Ashwell has. purchased four central Raotihi township sections, on 0110 of which he intends to build new business promises. It .is understood; that tho Row G; A. T. Rickaby,' curate of- St. Mary's Anglican Church, Raetihi,'has been appointed to the Inglowood parish, , and will leave Raotihi early in December. Mr, R. Mooro, who- for somo time held a position on tho Public Works along the southern stictionof tho Main .Trunk lino, and who, last'year, left on a trip to his hoiiid in Scotland; has returned to Taihapo. Ho expresses, his intention-of contesting tho Waimarino :seat'-'Sit?sjj'6'next'general election.

-' '■ •-OTAIL' ; ' A painfully sudden death .occured at Parapar/i.umii..on .Tuesday .niglit, when. Mr.. John. Cooper Trcadwell, a well-known and rcspccte! farmer, was found dead in a paddock adjoining his homo about 5.30. He had been encaged 'during the afternoon disc-harrowing. An ' inquest . was held on Wednesday before Messrs Simcox (coroner), W. J. Howell (foreman), Wyatt, Robinson, Heft'er, Weggery, and Hunt. ..Evidence was given by Tom Stewart (who found deceased), Henry S. Hadfield, Mrs. Treadwoll (wifo of deceased), Jas. Stewart, and William Henry M'Anterin (constable). A unanimous verdict of .death .from natural causes was returned. The following are the teams to play in the tenuis match at Otaki on Saturday :—Otaki: Bacchus, Nicolson, Swabey, Carter, H." Bills, L. St. George, Misses Ferguson. .Daniel, Simcox, and Whitchorn and '-Mestlame's Harper and Broivns. pnriinnrauiuu: Jones, ' Smith, Drewitt (3), and Brandt; Messrs. •Whiting, Drewitt?, Perry, and- Wallace . c; >, . FEATRERSTON.. ■ The supply of milk at the Feathnrstdn Dairy Factory has now. reached 4000 gallons. It is expected that an eighth vat will ; soon bo required. In tho school children's class at the forchcoming flower show, a special prizo is offered for"the best drawn map of New Zealaid. The vital statistics for this district for October were: —Births, .3; deaths, nil; marriages, 2. ■'.■•'•■ • Mr.. Hathaway, for some timo stationmaster at'Kaitoke, has left'the railway service t6 take up farming in the Lower Valley.