PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 6

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

... (fEOM OUR SPECIAL COP.KESrOKDHNTS.)

.- 3__ " ■- :, . PALMERSTON.. /'

Now that the Christmas season is over and the Manawatu racing fixture is recorded amongst 1 past events,' the .town/is resuming its'normal state. During the holidays, the accommodation was taxed to its utmost capacity, and in many' instances'visitors were unable to secure beds, tho' only alternative, being to. revert' to 'tho 1 open-air treatment in the Square. •-..■;. Business people havo informed mo that during tho past week trade has been very solid. The customers,, with .few exceptions, have boon of a;good, class, with tho ready cash well in hand

EEILDLNG,

Miss Bray, of the Oroua Tennis Club, left hero to-day for Wellington, where she will represent her I .'club' at the championship tournament. Ilr. H! B. Strange, the other Fcilding representative,'will leave to-morrow. Tho committee of. the Feildihg' Atbletio Club has. disqualified W. . Muflins, .and awarded the one mile-Manchester handicap to. V.'Carrol), with C. Stratford 2, and.G: Hall 3. Mullins was disqualified bec'auso lie did. not furnish a- full list of his performances. Tho matter is to be reported to tho Fcilding Centre of tho New . Zealand Athletic .Union. . .."'.'" Mr. J. J. { M'Lcnnan,; Chairman, presided over,an important meeting of the Waituna branch.,of .the Farmers' Union.. It was resolved'to .support the action of the committee set up in Feilding. in reference to : cases brought ; before, the Arbitration Court. ,At the "request,, of, the meeting Mr. Fred Pirahi gave some information, in support 'of the request of the Wanganui Education' Board that assistance should-ho given towards the salary of tho _ agricultural instructor. Mr. Carman said it seemed, to bo .easy for tho towns to get all.its wants satisfied, but tho rural community wis treated vory differently. He moved that tho branch vote £2 2s. towards the object the Board had in view! This was'eaitied. '-.Mr/M'Lennari. handed.in his .resignation,- owing to his early 'departure for the Old •' Country. The resignation 'was accepted:with regret/and, on the mo.tion-.of 5{r...E. Short, Mr. Ham was-elected''. Chairman. ] Tho -branch decided i not .to -.abandon its, picnic this" year, being persuaded'by.Mr. Short. ■ who said tliajt- there was. no doub.t the picnic' did, good in -bringing farmers' tor gothcr. It was decided to hold; tjic picnic on' January. 22. .' ''•'• '..':

OTAXL'

A narrow escape from drowning occurred near the-mouth of the O.taki Rivenon Friday, evening, /when Mr.,G. Gordon.'and two children almost met ■ an'untimely end..They were rowing- across; when the punt suddenly began • to leak, with ' the ..result that she sink. The two-' children clung to Mr.' Gordon, who happens to be a good' swimmer, and kept afloat till assistance arrived. The funeral of tho only child, of Mr. and Mr 3. Park, of Wanganui, took place hero on Saturday afternoon, Father Hurley' officiating at the ■ grave. Mr. W'. -Fisher has left here, having joined a boat en route for the Old Country! It is likely that ho will be away for several months. Fish is' at present vory. plentiful off the O.taki beach,! and, in consequence,- anglers aro-yory numerous/ The beach-is also being largely patronised by -holiday-seekers, while, local residonts attend in full force... •'• At Te.- -Horo-' on Saturday -the -local cricketers wero- defeated easily, by a-team representing tho. Wellington- branch of--..the V.M.C.A. •'■■ Street quarrels have been frequent of late, and' m consequence the various little differences will probably be decided at the next sitting of, the S.M. Court.

SHANNON,

There was a fair attendance on Saturday afternoon at. the pony race meeting, held by the Maoris at Moutoa. The town is resuming its normal aspect. Most Oi the flax hands have gone back to •work, though a few "dead-beats" still per* ambulato the streets/:- r -■--• .-- —

EKETAHUNA,

A young man named Andrew'.Anderson was arrested on Saturday afternoon- charged with the theft of £16 from a safe at tho Club Hotel. _ -Fifteen pounds of the money was found, hid. in. straw on premises at the rear of the hotel. Anderson was before a J.p. on Monday, morning,, and on the application of, the police.an adjournment was -granted till .January . 6/',.' ,-. ■;;'..;-.; .--.: ■.<:-... . > Fourteen entries have boon received bv the local branch' of • tho. Farmers'' Union |for a dairy competition'which is'being hold undor the auspices 'of that institution. ; •''.' Word has reached here that Court-Maka-fcahi, A.0,F., has tied for the medal presented'by tho District Lodge for the lodge gaining the 1 -greatest- number of members during the ..year. -.'.-.'.., . .. . •} During the Christmas, holidays two'woddings were celebrated, Miss Mah'el-Fauvel', of ..Kaipororo,.'being married' to Mr. T. M: Wattorston, of • Mast.ertbn,' and Miss Florence. Smith to -Mr.. Albert. Knowles',; of-' Atea. The sheep-farmers,',of:tho district are to on, Friday next'to discuss matters connected with the.shearers' dispute. '

FUATHERSTON

: A- trial run of the new silent totalisator, purchased hy the Wairarapa Racing Club, was made on Saturday, when the machine was found to work satisfactorily. Through' the- bursting-.of a. kerosene, lamp on Saturday night; Mr? W. Tiiinoy's' premises'had a narrow-escape from fire. It was only due to the assistance- -of- a passer-by that the flames-were got uu'der'control'hofor'o any'damage was done. -.-' .-,..■.-■' A . special "'meeting of tho Feathcrston Brjin'ch of the Farmers' : Union is to be hold noxt wenk; to considor what" attitude "the branch will take up. in connection with; the shearers' dispute filed with the Conciliation BoaTd. Mr':.'Mabpney is at present acting relieving. officer at' the local railway goodsbed, during the absence of Mr. A. Gray,, who is on sick-leave. In. 29 minutes the other day Mr. A. Everitt, at ■ Mr. J, T. White's ' slaughterhouse, killed and'dressed two bullocks. On. account of the holidays, the .Feathcrston Defence Rifle Club clid not continue its trophy shoot on Saturday.