PROVINCIAL NEWS. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.)

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 251, 16 July 1908, Page 9

PROVINCIAL NEWS. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.)

':.-•• (X . >■ PALMERSTON. The new by-laws of the Kiranga County Council, regulating traffic 011 the roads, will come into forco on July 30. The speed of ' motor cars is also to be restricted, and notico boards-to that effect aro to bo placed along tho-county roads. An. amateur dramatic company is being formed in Palmerston by Mr. J., Howard, who is well-known in the, theatrical world. . Over two citizens, representative of the Manawatu district, attended the conver'saziono tendered to Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Plunket last evening in. tho Municipal Hall. Tho entranco and hall had been tastefully decorated for tho occasion. The Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. J." Nash) received tho visitors, who eummcneed to arrive shortly beforo. 8 o'clock. Their Excellencies and party wero escorted into tlio hall at-8.30 by.tlio Mayor and members of tho committee. Tlio musical programme was provided by Mr. P. Hanloy's zingari striri" band, whilo vocal items wero also rendered'? The "Vice-Regnl party consisted of Their Excellencies Lord and Lady" Plunket, Captains Hardy and Lyons, and tho Holi. Kathleen Plunket. The excellent supper was supplied by Miss Wilson. Tho question of extending the tramway to Bulls was dismissed by the Manawatu County Council, it being proposed to tako it ovor tho traffic bridge. It was dccidcd that tho Council supply the diita required, and get an estimate of tho cost of extending tho tramway from near'Sandon to Bulla, tile route to go over tho Bulls traffic bridge. Incidentally tho proposed Lcvin-Greatford railway deviation was also discussed. Tho chairman stated that ho had seen the' Primo Minister,-and had invited him to visit tlio district and see the country along the contemplated routfi. Sir Joseph Ward had-pro-mised to do so if possible.- The chairman was,. however, of tho decided opinion that it would bo a number of years beforo this ljne was put through. In his annual, report, Mr. J. Hollows, lato Inspector of Factories for Palmerston North,

say's tho year under review has been, on tho whole, a very satisfactory one. Tho various trades liavo done well, and business generally may bo said to be on a sounder basis than prevailed in the earlier part of the year. ... . , No less a sum than £1911 has been spent by the Borough Council in conncction with sowcrago and other works, which found employment for a large staff of men. Mr. Tucker, of the Club Hotel, has consented to find accommodation freo for threo months for the I'hinket nurse. Tho movement has so far been well supported. CARTERTON. ' MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Mr. W. P. James, S.M., disposed of tho following undefended cases in favour of tho plaintiffs by default: —Roydbouso and Hornsby v. A. C. Nicliol, claim £2 65., costs os.; .Mutual Trading Co. v. T. Payne, £1 18a. 3d., costs 165.; B. Scannell v. Clias. Stevens, £21 it's, lid., costs £3 35.; Robinson and Robinson v. Jno. Tanofski, £2 25.; J. W. Paterson v. Claude Wiknshurst, £3 6s. 6d., costs ss. Judgment summonses were dealt with as follows:—Hugh M'Phee v. Pelii Matthews, claim £20 os. 6d., ordered to pay £1 per. month,' first payment-August 14; Mutual Trading Company v. Clias Stevens, claim £37 17s. 7d., ordered to pay forthwith, in default 30 days' 'imprisonment. In the case, Wairarapa County Council v. J. W. Orbell, after quoting various authorities, tho Magistrate found that the defendant was liable; The case was ono of damago to roads and bridges while drawing an execessive load of goods to Martinborough by traction engine.' Plaintiff was awarded damages £6 14s. 6d., costs 135., witnesses 235., and counsel's fees £1 Is. Tho Mutual Trading Company proceeded against Charles Blake for £52 14s. 6d., money alleged to be due on a prOmisory noto, and interest .thereon. The claim was disputed, and after hearing considerable evidenco his' Worship gave judgment for. tho amount claimed, les3 £10 10s. 6d., and without costs. 011 the application of tho Registrar of Electors, 142" names wero' removed from tho electoral roll. ; Messrs. /B. Scannol and W. F. Roydhouso were sworn in as Justices of tho Peaco by •W. P. James, -Esq., to-day. Thero were four applications for old age pensions; two were granted, one adjourned, and ono refused'. .There was one renewal.' The quarterly, return of business at. the. Magistrate's Court, Carterton, for tho quarter ending Juno 30 show that 49 cases were - heard, involving an. amount of £665 12s. 9d.; of which £539 3s. 9d. was recovered. Sixtyeight plaints wero entered, and nino•djstress warrants, and seven, judgment sum-, menses issued. Tho amount of civil fees paid was £41 95., -and of licensing fees, £13 lis. Criminal, cases numbered 17, being mostly for drunkenness and breaches of tho Licensing Acts.. Tho old ago pensions business was as follows:—Granted, 3; refused, 1; pending, 9; rencwnls; 21. EEETAHTJNA. The Eketahuna lßorough Council has decided to striko a general rate of ljd. in tho £ on tho unimproved value. - Numerous gifts of -trees and, shrubs are being received for planting . the recreation reserve. Tho planting will tako place oh Arbor Day. . Tho Ekotahuna sub-committeo of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society will this week liberate four young deer on tho slopes of the Tararua ranges. Two were : liberated earlier in tho season'.. The doer in tho vicinity aro reported to bo multiplying; and in a few years sportsmen may have the .privilege of " bagging" : some decent, gamo at this 'ond of tho Tararua ranges. . The Dawson suspension bridge, which is cheap and durable, and admirably adapted for spanning treacherous streams, is being gonerally constructed in this district. One lias just been completed at Nireaha, and will probably bo officially opened by tho momber for the district during tho next few r/eeks. •" , ' Tlio Eketahuna County Council, at the request of numerous settlers interested, has instructed its overseer' to. report on the cost of a bridge to span a dangerous creek near the Hukarui creamery. Somo while back the Eketahuna County Council purchased a road grader, • which is proving a greater / saving •in upkeep than ever anticipated by the body. At tho' meeting of the Council on Saturday, it was stated that' on-"0ii0 road alono the saving effected in maintenance amounted to £30 a year._ Councillors consider tho grades the best investment over made. By . reason of forfeiting , two matches ill succession, tho Ekotahuna Football Club is riot eligible to compete further in the Bush Districts, senior competition. Mr. M. Knight lias been appointed night watchman, ranger ,aiul inspector of nuisances to tho "Ekotahuna Borough Council. Tho Eketahuna Borough Council lias received tho plans of the proposed water supply scheme from Mr. Dobson, tho engineer.' The estimated- cost of the'scheme-'is £12,000, nijd an endeavour- is being mado to got tho Government to. supply tho money, provided t!ie loan is carried. One firm of bakers in the Eketahuna district lias reduced the price of bread-to Gd. tljo ,41b. loaf. A month back tho'price was Ba. ' • OTAKI. .. . iThe bazaar held in conjunction with the Iccal Methodist Church oil Tuesday night was a; success, despite bad weather. Stalls had been specially prepared,: arid 'from these good profits resulted. Competitions of vari-ous-descriptions were'also held: Tho promoters deservo every credit .for the manner ill which they worked. ' On Saturday the senior championship foothill match, Hui Mai v. Kia Toa, will bo played, and a splendid contest should result-. Both teams are-in hard training, and as they are in tho lead for the championship a largo crowd, -should bo present to witness tho tussle.' 'It is reported that a case of diphtheria has occurred in .the township. Sickness of all descriptions is prevalent. MARTINBOROUGH. A Martinborough correspondent, states that ■ those who went to the assistance of tho unfortunate man 'who was drowned during 'trio recent Hoods at Martinborough did all .that was possible to rescue tho poor fellow. His version of tho sad affair is as follows:— "When tho report reached the township that a man was crying for.help, it was mado to appear that a riian on horseback could easily rescue him. The constable and another man at oiico proceeded to the place on horseback, but when tho spot was reached it was found impossible to got near tho man, who was in tyinong somo willows 011 tho bank of tho river, fully, three hundred yards'from tlio place where tho water reached to, surrounded by a .terrific seething sheet of water, in which neither man nor horse would have had a possiblo hope of living. A boat and ropes 1 wero procured with all possible speed, but . as the.placo was about one and a half-or two miles from tlie town it-naturally .took somo ! .timo before they arrived. Owing to tho i darkness of the night and tho fact that cpveral wiro fences were lying across' tho ! road, it took some timo beforo the boat was 1 properly launched, and when the boat at ! last was in tho water the cries of distress 1 from tho unfortunate man had ceased. As 1 to the time the man was heard crying for help till tho timo when lie succumbed, it was only a matter of ono hour, not two as stated, ami everybody present was more than satisfied that everything possiblo. was dono to 1 cave tho man. As for those who wero not there—well, they had much better', keep quiet." . . ■ 1 FEATHERSTON. . j The friends of Miss Elsio Balo tendered her a farewell social on Tuesday niglit on 1 the occasion' of hor departure for Hawkc's 1 Bay. Thero was a large attendance, amka most enjoyable evening spent with progres- 1 siyo ouchro, and dancing.v Songs were con- 1 tributed by .Messrs. W. Tinney ; and A. Ham- 1 lnond. Mcsdam.cs Boyd _ and Wickens played ' tlui music for tho dancing. Miss Bale was 1 presented with a lady's 1 companion;. [i