PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 130, 25 February 1908, Page 5

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

V, (from ' ODB SPECIAL COREESrONDENTS.J <) PALMERSTON. ■The death is announced of Mr. John Samuel: Boon, one of the pioneers of -the _Manawatu. j A; .Press .Association message "states -tliafc deceased trod on a rusty nail several days . ago, ■ and -on "Sunday tetanus set- in, death taking place at an ■. early hour yesterday.-morning.-: • .:, ■i:A.petition .is being signed requesting ,the Beautifying Society - into;, tho mattor . of, Sir. Smith's resignation. Councillors have also petitioned _tho,\ Mayor to hold a Special 'meeting on. Friday, .to - consider. the; position fully;:, Ihereas strong feeling hore-that Mr. Smith's'services should'bo retained; :. • Owing- to the increased traffic upon. ,tho north express yesterday, it was found necessary to iun, a'special from Palmerston North half-an-hour. after the departure of tho ordinary: express. ~- ; ■ MASTERTON. /'Some months ago when it .was proposed to asphalt tho-principal roadways of this town, tho official estimato as to the cost was £60 per chain. . A' later estimate was '£40 per chain, but vurider 'tb'o superintendence of another authority tho is' costing- between £25 and £26 a chain. Tho difference in 'thehighest/estimate .'and the' .oxafct cost is.!owin'g to the-fac't' : that in the first place,it was "thought necessary to break-' lip the old roadway " before .laying down' with the broken tarredi-'metal,Awhile. in: t.lie preseiit' instance. the\ road is not mutilated: .but : simply i macadamised with;tarred metal which, is then asphalted. These facts aro- interesting, to local, bodios who- aro considering the ■ improvement of their streets. _-It is contended that, the/gain will' be in the increased : wear "'of-■ 1 the-streets. 1 : : Tho present -work will probably bo carried out for fully half a milo in Queen .Street. ,'- ': 1 ; V y-K : -v'

The:' Wairarapa Amateur' Swimming Club intends to hold, a carnival in: Masterton on March 5, when amongst other'items will be an exhibition of life-saving by Mr. T. Shields of, Wellington.J \A'.'ladies'; carnival will be hold on March 12; ... Swimming ; is at present very popular in Masterton, and all ages from tile oldest inhabitant to the infant of a year W so are represented at,tho baths. • Mr. Kvßawson', SlM.i is to. leave here on Monday' for the West '-Cdast of the South Island, > whoro ho is to take up his new duties. ,

Mr. and Mrs. D.-Caselberg are to leavo hero'shortly.upon a -lengthy ■ visit to Great Britain. . . •

Eyesores to Masterton and iin proximity to • it's beautiful'park. aro tho stockyards 'at the northern end of the town and the two bridges spanning'tho Waipoua. ■ Theso bridges aro old and cannot now cope with the volumo of traffic from'the north, and the: people aro • asking 7, whytho two local bodies - interested - do'something :to : meet .the j position./' :■ The Waingawa river lias dried right up in itsmiddle and lower courses.- The various' . irrigation-schemes along its borders aro now . absorbing-the wholo: of the flow. • It'is'.very many years since tho river has been so low; ; A young man named • Ernest Vatighan was arrested, in Masterton on Saturday and ■ charged, with' forgery,- a .warrant being issued for. his apprehension at Christchurch on that charge. He was remanded to appear at ChristchurchV- . .■ '■ >' PAHIATUA. 'In a-tennis-match played looally-against the-Woodville: Club -the-Pahiatua team was successful in beating: the/ visitors by 141 games to 85. ' ■ .. , ■ ,: .On Saturday night Pollard's Juvenile Opera .Company playedßluebell in Fairyland "to-a crowded house. I SHANNON. '/ - Now'..that ; :the. dark -.winter nights are oommg on,' steps should bo taken by those !' responsible■ to have the railway station ap-proach-improved. In wet weather the - road is very wet. / -. . . v- •* Over. 250 parents and children-attendee! the State s-chool picnic,to Paekakariki. • ,-The.outing was greatly ■' enjoyed, ' and. 'much' of> its success is duo to the offorts of tho secretary; . Mr; A.'Rawle,. and of the committee. '/. . Tho raco,. meeting hero-next' Wednesday promises'to/be-most "Considering the; drought, tho: ground is m excellent condition,: and tho appointments havo been greatly .improved.!. ; -, • ,v ; .

* } LEVIN. A: slight rain, lasting about two hours, i • fellon.; Saturday.-.- night, > but was hardly sufficiontvto do-much good.; . . /i . Mr. Hz Boggiss, who; recently sold' Ins I place at Levm to Mr. Bowker, is leaving I this week, for the Waikato, where he intends 1 to.tako up a small place. -' . •Mr.; Gray Phillips, reports the sale of Mr. I IT. Nicholson's plqco ot about. 100 acres to 'Mr.;]i\ Q.;Smjth at; a vety satisfactory price. ; [Mr.' Of.Potts. iS ; about'again, apparently none the worse 'for • bisi slight fmishap ,of ;a ago. Mr. Potts, was'fire-figlitingj and; 1 in rolling, a'- log ,away,' injured' his back rather v badly.'. ...; ; ' " The ; mohtli]y.meeting of the Levin branch 'of. the Farmers' "Union was held; on .Saturday, . the; president, .Mr.' James/M'Loavey, being.in 1 the chair., Fifteen members were elected.. Several members expressed themselves. asvery. well' satisfied with the results of the shearers' dispute.. It was decided to hold the annual meeting of this ibranch on . April; 11.. .The chairman stated that he would not seek re-election this year. Mr. Saxon and .others present stated that they were not at all] satisfied .with' the demands of 'the now dairy inspectors, many of whose requirements, seemed; unreasonable and • ab-' surd. .fOne'iOr twd important' mattdrs.'.woro Tield over till the riest meeting. ' One of; the- results: of - tho drying up of ■ the' Ohau River is ithat 'numbers' of fish—eels and trout—-are-left more or less high, and dry, and the: Maoris, who are particularly, partial to eels-, are - enjoying themselves' immensely feeding oil: their catches! ; . OTAKI. On Saturday .night a sharp shower of' rain fell,) but was not-' sufficient to bo of any bonefiti It continued for about' three -hours and then passed over." : •Bush :fires are.! still smouldering, but most of the .danger-is avorted, 'the grass having been biirnsd fairly clear. . : Mr;':;RobeH.'Bevan,- of Mariakau, has now in bloom n swamp mahogany, or' red gum which is creating great interest-! .Tha flower' which -is a bright red one,'resembles tbe Wefli known rata. • •'.. '. C". ' Tho; tennis matchj' Levin v.'Otaki, to have been played on Saturday at Levin, has been postponed till Saturday week. A light- shock of earthquake was felt here on Saturday morning. . FEATHEBSTON:. ' Mr. F. Rands 'left Featherston yesterday en route for Canterbury. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., has informed the local, Chamber of Commerce that he expects that the erection of the new postoffico will bo put in hand in two or . three month's' time. . , A-grass fire dostroyed a quantity of-hay and oats, .belonging to .Burt Bros, at South Featherston, on Saturday, but was prevented from spreading far. ■