PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

PALMERSTON. (FROM Otm SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.) The annual general meeting of the Palmerston North Amateur Swimming Club was held last night, Mr. W. E. Bendall presiding. The report and balanco sheet was adopted. Tito report strongly urged present mombors to increase tho active membership, and to petition tho ' Borough Council for new baths. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. Bendall; vice-presidents, Messrs. Cohen, Tuck, Beck, and Vornon, and Dr. Martin; secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. Tuck; captain, Mr. Swallow; vice-captain, Mr. MGrogor; auditor, Mr. Spencer; starter, Mr. Swallow; handicappors, Messrs. Swalr low, Ellis, and Smith; committee, Messrs. Park, Tait, Callanan, Heed, Girdlestone, Smith, and Childs; delegates, Messrs. E..and n. A. Anderson. It was decided to affiliate with the AVellirigton Ontre.

FEILDING. BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. A special meeting of the Feilding Borough Council was ' hold •on Wednesday night' to consider' the loan proposals, etc. Mr. W. H. Tong was appointed actin'gtoini clerk and treasurer during the absence of Mr. John Rankin-, absent on health leave. A plan of alterations to the municipal buildings was laid on the table. The committee recommended that alterations be made at an estimated cost of £100. It was decided to have the work done. In connection with the raising of a loan for the' extension of the sewerage system, the Mayor said they could possibly,get the loan under the Public Health Act by, getting the Minister's sanction without taking a poll of tho ratepayers. Councillor Bramwell said he was in favour of taking a poll instead of going behind the backs of the ratepayers. The Mayor said be had .no wish to press the matter. , A committee set up to consider the question of swimming baths reported that the estimated cost was £1450, including the price of the land. A caretaker's cottage would cost another £200. It was resolved'that the Mayor take steps to get a certificate from the Health Department supporting the extension of the sewerage. It was thought that this certificate would strengthen the proposal coming before the ratepayers. The; Rev. J. R. Cassell will shortly take his departure from the Kiwitea' to fill a now appointmont. at Hawera. During the period of his charge of tho Kiwitea, district Mr. Cassell showed himself a model minister, and his departure causes keen regret. It is not yet known who will be the new minister for Kiwitea. Yesterday Walter Harris was charged in the Feilding Court with indecent behaviour. He pleaded not and elected to be summarily dealt' with. Accused was convicted and sentenced to two months' ■ imprisonment with hard labour in Wanganui gaol. In an editorial on Wednesday's land sale, yesterday's Feilding "Star" says: "It has hitherto been something of a boast that Feilding is about the only town of any importance that has not had a land boom, and it is certainly something like four - years since a block of land, subdividedl into residential areas, was offered for sale, but Feilding can no more escape from tho feeling of land hunger'than it can keep from growing, and there, was ample indication at yesterday's sale that there is a desire for land here. The sale is_ of deep significance to the town, for' it gives a striking indication of Feilding's progress and upward march towards that position which she should have already ocanpied. amongst the centres of-the Dominion, had it not been for the dog in the manger policy of the olden days." The Pahiatua ..Technical' School'management finally.-, decided.-61i -Wednesday!, evening on a site for tho school building, and authorised ■ the payment/of the purchase money. It is reported that good progress is being made with tho various classes. Dressmak- ■ ing is. especially- in -evidence, -being popular and well attended. ' - ... -■■ i; LEVIN. ' ' The Levin Amateur Dramatic Society has i started rehearsing the comedy "Charley's Aunt'," which it intends to produce at an , early ,dato as a benefit performance to Mrs. , Barratt, wife of the late -Mr. F. Barratt. , Mr. Barratt, who died in the Wellington . Hospital: a. few days ago as the result of [ an explosion of acotylino gas, was at one ! time a member 6f the society. Levin was visited on Wednesday night by . a large company of amateur singers from i Foxton, who played the operetta " Flower ' Queen" in a most creditable manner. The - dressing of the piece was most tasteful and , pretty, and tho, clevor dancing and singing made tho performance a particularly charnii in" ono. Mr. J. G. Hankins, of collio dog famo, was . most successful with his- new dog "Roslyn Regal" at tho Wanganui A. and P. Show on Wednesday. He won threo first prizes, a special prize, and a lady's bracelot. Many farmers and poultry' breeders in , the district are crying put at tho tremendous j prices ruling for food stuffs at present, and 3 if wheat, etc., does not como down in price a little, poultry and eggs will have to go 1 up in accordance with the .grain prices if t people arc to make any sort of profit from f their birds. J • . OTAKI.. ■ .. 1 Several cases of typhoid and scarlet fover . are reported in Otaki and district. A meeting of the Horticultural Society was held last night, when further arrangements a were made in connection with the forthcoming show. ~ r The Girls' Club here intends to issue a s journal, probably fortnightly, which will ba , edited by Miss Hurley,, late of Christ- . church. Musical ovenings will also be hold . at regular intervals. i A man named Ledin was beforo tho Court I on Wednesday chargod with drunkenness, l' He was convicted and discharged, and a t prohibition order granted against him.'' s Tho Elton Comedy Company appeared hero s last night to a fair house. The programme ' submitted was a varied one, and included 0 several fino items by Miss Elton. A portion • of the proceeds, will bo given towards the i local recreation ground fund. The company, 9 on leaving hero to-morrow, will travel north. 1 Mr.. D. Judd, one of our leading farmers, B has disposed of his property at the Otaki ? Gorge to Mr. G. H. Harper at a sum apI proaching £30 por acre. A fow years back the same property was sold at from £12 to |j £15 per acre.

WAIMARINO. The monthly meeting of tho Waimarino County Council was held at Raetihi on Saturday. After routine business had been transacted, the matter of the Horopito road was discussed. It was reported that tho settlers had signed for their thirds (amounting to £400) to be expended on tho Valley road. A thereupon mentioned that some three-quarters of a milo at the top end was in the Government township of Horotipo. Ho contended that tho settlers should not be required to metal that por-. tion, which was also the worst part of the road. The chairman (Councillor Brass) had no doubt .that the. Government would come' to their assistance if they had not sufficient hinds. It was finally resolved to call tenders for metalling the Horopito road. A deputation waited on tho Council asking that tenders be culled for metalling part of tho Raetihi-Ohura road, the sottlers interested having signed tho authority to have thoir thirds expended on the work. ■ Ultimately tenders were called for metalling at por yard tho Ohura road from the Devil's Elbow to tho junction of the Pukekaka road, as well as part of tho llukcroa road. Tho engineer's report showed that tho roads generally had improved with the fine weather. The worst places on tho EaotilnOlrara road had been filled in, and all was now ready for metalling. Slips and watortablos have also been attended to. Slips had been removed on the Pnkcokahu road to allow traffic to pass. The Eajiaitaroa road

had been repaired, and work would be'-com-plctcd during the week. The report was adopted. Tiio Axemen's Carnival, which was held on Monday, was marred by heavy rain, which continued throughout the day. A special train arrived from Taihape, and contained nearly six hundred excursionists, but many • of these did not leave the carriages. The -MakotuliU and Manga whero streams this year are very plentifully stocked with trout, and, in consequence, fishing has been good. Judging by the largo quantities of timber stacked on sections at Raetihi, activity in building is by no means diminishing. Besides private residences, tho main street will shortly contain several now business promises, which are expected to be ready by tho summer. ' A public meeting is.to be bekLshortly to consider the advisability of raising a £5000 loan for general town improvements at Raetihi. The steady rise of the township .would seem to warrant such a step, and no difficulty is experienced in carrying out tho object. .Tho Raetihi Sawmilling Company's new mill on Mr. P. G. Smitlrs property had a trial run last week, and conies quite up to expectations. , FEATHERSTON. . ... A meeting of the Featherston Town Board was held on Wednesday night, Mr. J. W. Card in the chair. Tho treasurer's statement showed receipts 75.. Bd., and the amotjut of' rates outstanding,' for which summonses have been issued, £18 os. 4d. Messrs. Card and W-. Benton'were deputed to inquire into tho matter of two complaints of neglect on the part of tho sanitary contractor. _ From three tenders, that of Mr. Carrig, for making high-pressure water,connections, was accepted. It was decided that Messrs. \V. Gilpin.and Card obtain'information on the matter of weed destroyers. The : Valuation Department notified that the valuation of tho town district would. be the first work next year. . - 1 The report of the Works Committee was adopted. . ~ Out of £734 4s. of rates struck this year, the local Town Board has collected £715 183..5 d. ■ :. ; ..: The Featherston Flower Show held on. .':■ Thursday went off most successfully. The ■ exhibits in many classes were in "excess of • tho previous show, and prizes were mostly won by Wairarapa district residents. ■ The Buchanan Rose Bowl was won by Mr.. A. Booth, Ha warden, Gladstone, the present. • holder. Mrs. A. Martin was second, .and Mrs. Elgar third. , The sum of £1055 7s. sd. is being paid ■ out by tho Featherston Co-operative Dairy ' Company-for tbo four weeks' supply of milk. The supply at present is 4500 gallons - daily,' and an eighth vat will soon come into:use. -.' ■EEETAHUNA. ; ■A public meeting on Wednesday night de». cided to.form.a Closer' Settlement and Railway League to urge the Government to go in for closer settlement, in respect of large ~ estates towards the East Coast from Ekota- •.;.'• huna, and the construction of a loop railway ' lino from Eketalmua to connect with the. \ ' main line in Hawke's Bay, running through 1 tho Pongaroa district. Mr. J. 0. Cooper is; v secretary and organiser pro tcm. UPPER RANGITIKEI. ;' Seven building sites situated in tho main : street, with leases of sixty-six years, were' ' offered at auction by the Taihape Borough ' Council yesterday. Tho areas varied from -. ' eleven to twenty-one ! perches, with upset \ annual rentals of -from twenty Ito forty ; pounds. Bidding was spirited,, prices rang- ' ing from £29 10s. to £48.; The biggest ad- '• vance on an upsot rental over £20 was"£32. ""' 1 Other ■ advances on upset were £10 10s. on ' £9, and £10 on £8. Three sections Went at . upset, namely £20, £20 and £35. ; : ..:: : , : •■ '■ The poll on'tho question of rating on the ■ , unimproved value resulted as follows: —For '■■' ; the proposal, ■ 104; against; ?38; informal* >3.*<'V 1 BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. —-—-+■ , :'■■"". ,".-;; ACTION.INWANGANUI. ..'.'''. 3 Some little' time ago the Wanganui Minis--3 ters' Association; representing the Wesleyanj . 1 Presbyterian,'Primitive'Methodist, Anglican, •■•' Baptist. Church of Christ denominations, and • the Salvation Army, approached' the ComI mittee of the Wanganui Public Sch'ools, and f intimated that they desired to give Bibla o teaching for half an hour one day in each week in the Wanganui schools, provided the ) r committee and a majority of the parents n agreed. Only those children whose parentsr and guardian's consent is obtained were to ■ 6 receivo. instruction. ' They purposed working 3 on the linos of the system that has been fol--5 lowed in Nelson for the last nine years, which, '• teaching consisted in Biblo 1 reading and in making the facts of the Bible known, and ! > would in no wiso bo denominational. S The committee, after hearing deputations . d from the Ministers' Association and the :t School Defence Leaguo, decided.to explain the proposal by circular to the parents and . II enclosed one voting paper to each' homo'of " | tho children attending the five schools.: • <* About 730 voting papers were sent out, of ;e which 572 were returned:— • '. |f 413 were in favour; \ n ■ | • lolwero against. ' 8 informal. '' : 573 ""■'.•;..:■ Of these papers returned, the percentage ifl respectively about--74 per cent. for. ,s • ' '' ' 26. per cent, against. , s As a matter of courtesy' the committee l " conferred with the Education Board,'and indicated its desire to give effect to tho wish a of the largo majority of the parents. The l 0 Board, through its chairman, indicated that, j whilst they could take no exception to Bible teaching being given outside of tho five. ,j. hours, they would not agree to any modifica- , tion of that time. ■ .• • ''~.'