PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(from oub special cowuisroNMura.)

MA.RTON.

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of tho Rangitike* County Council was held on Saturday. The treasury wrote stating that a loan or £5500 tor tho Pukeokahu road is available. The -telegraph Department wrote cancelling tho bond for the Lower Moawhango telephono, as the lino is now a payablo one. Letters we're received from Mr. A. Sutherland's solicitors to the effect that ho does not recognise any • legal road through his property to the Avangaehu river, and that it is his intention to erect a house on part of the land claimed as a road. The Council resolved to ask the Government to appoint a Commission to inquire into tho legality or otherwise of the road, and, in tho event of there being no legal claim, to take steps to compel the Wangauui County Council to acquire tho road. 'A strong committeo was appointed to go'into • the matter of alterations of the boundaries of tho Wanganui and Rangitikei counties. The Treasury wrote notifying reduction of • interest to 3J per cent, on all loans raised for a period of 41 years. A' letter wa,s received from Messrs. Gardner and Son, sawmillers, agreeing to pay the claim for £279, - provided tho whole of tho estimated amount '■"' to repair damages to-roads is expended this season. The matter was left in the hands' of tho engineer, Mr. Mair. Failing a satis-' ■ factory settlement; the Council'intends'to enforce its legal claims. A petition from ratepayers for a loan of £1300 for gravelling parts of the Murimohi and watershed roads was received, and the application was placed on the list of loans to be applied for in turn.... The question of valuation was brought and a resolution passed to the effect that the Valuer-General be informed that the v'alua-> tious mado in certain northern ridings are [ altogether too low, and that a list of certain ' sections be sent to him with tho request that ■ these.' ridings be re-valued throughout. The Mayor, Dr. Skorman, has resigned. : It is stated that his resignation is the result' of his recent loan prpposals being rejected.-: ? Mr. J. M'Eldowney, tho wcll : known draper,' is likely to be a candidate. pahiatua.' ..•. .-.■■ . The- Pahiatua Poultry - Association .held 8> general meeting on Saturday night, and decided to correspond with the North Island,, Association applying for ; tho. dates, of .the -'Woodvillo show, provided _the latter Association is not showing. ■ *-. " -,r : . •'" ■' otakL; ■• \V '■'■■■■ A little Native girl, Hetekia, fell from aj-, horse on Friday afternoon, with the result that the animal trod on her wrist and fractured.it. _ _ -~- ■/■■■. • A motorist,- irrespective of all- persons, was the cause of much annoyance here last evenr ing, and a couple of narrow; escapes are recorded. In one instance tho escape of a ' capsizo was so near that' it is reported that a lady occupant of the. trap fainted,'while,, just previous to' this,' the car niissed' another vehicle by inches only. ,: .::: , .; FEATHERSTON. ''■ '.;•.'' v<' A public meeting was held on Friday nighl} • to consider tho matter of forming swimmingbaths in Featherston. After discussion,'- it}' was decided to refer the matter to the Town; Board for favourable consideration. -'..'- : Mr. J. W. Martin was, on Friday"nightj. appointed nightsoil contractor for tho Town):. Board district in Featherston. There ..were", •three applications, ono of which was .-informal. The salary is £110 per annum., • The monthly meeting of the Fcatherstori County Council was held at Martinborough on Saturday, Councillor. A. Matthews in,the l .•' chair. Tho receipt* were-reporteiito amount)-. 'to £191 10s. r 3d/'for' the" thet. county fund account was.' stated :to' be,in-., credit £802 : 15s. 10d., and tho loans' account p in credit £308 4s. 4cl. ' Accounts totalling£ll6o ss. Id. were passed for.:payment;s<>The/.'•'-' resignation of Councillor John Gallie was ac-i ceptcdion account of his residing Tn Wellin^i-.. ton. The AVhangamoana Road formation as'.. to be gone on with. Tho offer of Mr. Charles: , Elgar to pay half the cost of hauling gravel- ■ on tho Stoney Creek'road was'accepted. '.Not action was'taken on a resolution from the.' Patangata County Council regarding sKeir,;;. 'Hardio's/ "visit; A letter was received from r tho District Roads Engineer in reference to :•:• tho Dry River water-race flumihg. The En- .', ginecr's report was adopted. ■'."".' .'•-' Featherston is negotiating for swimming baths. It is desired to build them- either,. '•■: near the Creek, at a cost of about'£l3o, or, ■ preferably, on the Reserve, where the cost . would bo*less. A water supply will have to'•• be got'from the Town Board for cither scheme, .. and the only ailvantago of tho creek side is', its convenience for carrying off spent water. Mr. J. A. M'Carthy.'a member pf the Town ;; Board, is the prime mover, and the Board .'.. has already had a preliminary—and favour-, •• able—discussion of this commendable , scheme. It is hoped that the Board will*' give a, free supply of water. It is proposed that a fee of. about 10s. a yeat shall be raised from members for the use of the baths to meet current expenses. .A public meet- ,; ing to discuss details was to'he hcld'lasij ' evening. .'. :