PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 398, 6 January 1909, Page 5

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(»KOU OUR'SrECUL COEnES?ONDEtiTS.) PALMERSTON. / Despite tho stringency of money properties in the town and district have been changing hands at good price's. ."High-class dairying land in particular has been in good demand. The Longburn freezing works, which have been closed down during the usual period, will reopen on Monday. During the week ended on .Monday • 2.22 inches of rain fell in Palmerston. The corresponding week of last year, was also a wet one, 1.75 inches having fallen. The heaviest day's_ rain last week was on Sunday, when one inch-was recorded. ' The rain was accompanied by. a heavy.westerly.gale, which ptill continues, and shows no signs of clearing. .This, of course', must result in' a* great loss to the agricultural portion, of the community. ■ MASTEB.TON. ' Sergeant F. Hood,- 'of 1 the Masterton Mounted Rifles, has .been elected third lieutenant in_ the squadron. The selection was made prior 'to , the'breaking up of the annual'■ encampment. •At a meeting, of' the directors of the Workers'- Mutual /Benefit Building 1 Society, Mr. R.. Krahagen was elected chairman for the_ ensuing year, and Mr. J. Prentice vicechairman; Messrs: Krahagen; Prentice, and Ewington were appointed valuers for the year, and' Mr. 'W; M. Easthopp . directors' auditor. The treasurer reported ' a credit balance, of £124 i 7s. 3d. • A discussion took place on-the proposal ;to amalgamate with: the Workmen's Friend Building- Society, and •eventually terms : were agreed upon, which will be suomitted. to the directors of ' the latter society for their.-approval,or otherwise.. - .: . . ' •The ; Friendly; Societies 'Council has 1 agreed r to .-.hold' the. Hospital; Sunday demonstration this , year earlier than .last year.' . 'The exact date, has yet .to be fixed.'. The council has also under consideration a proposal to secure a Friendly■ Societies ■ bed for the local hospital. After severalty's of windy weather heavy rain fell, yesterday; \Thei atmosphere is now' very ■ muggy, ■ and : a seems likely. . ' ' : '■ FEII,DING. ; ,-Feildihg will be represented, at.the Primitive .Methodist: Conference. in ; Auckland, on Friday by the ,Rev. P. J. Cossum and ; Mr. J.. C. Thompson.. In an-editorial-article on "The Probationer Under, the. New. Education Regulations;" a .local paper concludes :' " There is a . difficulty now in securing s'uGiqieritV qualified pupilteachers,. especially boys, ..but .ihow can : the Department' expect . lads of over sixteen to take on 'employment which means a considerable:; amount of; study and self-denial,, in' addition .to the*.actual, work of ; teaching, - for slightly' under Bs. a week? If some inducement • wore offered .candidates at '-the-com-mencement of their;;: careers: tho openings afterwards are quite good' enough to induce a sufficient supply. Nothing less than £75 a year should be the amount fixed to attract . tho material .required.''"'" . -, GREtTOWN. ■' .At.• a. spccial. meeting .of the Greyt-omi • Borough Council it wa.s decided /to ; observe Thursday as tho legal- half-holiday. A proposal ...that, .it / be, ..observed on Saturday failed to find ■ support.'. The. dogtax ..was fixed at ss. for-house: dogs,, .and 2s. ,6d.- for 'sheep and 1 rabbit "dogs.'.* Councillor Trotman .complained l of cyclists riding .on the path and also of-not carrying lights at night' yti'me. ' It'was "decided' to ' communicate with ; ; the polico on ■ tho' matter. Tho Twentieth' i Century Gas Company, released the council ■ from : further, liability, ■ arid - Groytown can' .again, look for " more . light," ; ; . The. sub-. ','sidy; under 'the: Municipal Corporations : Act: ;'j of; £107, 6s. 9d. is . due .itp: the local council : ,as against, rates collected. . ••• ' : : The boisterous wind of Sunday, last -was responsible for a large ; quantity" of. : fruit being /blown :offthe trees.: .' A' local• grower aboutihalf- a. mile , of- : sweet "peas .growing. .They .are of beautiful;; colours', 'arid - make the brch'ard''look very at- ; tractive.' He supplies: the • Wellington market with these dainty flowers. EEATHERSTON < , The'. Featherstin; Town/' Board have fixed the/ follomng :of: charges for-.dogs for the ;coming year,:—Stock . dogs, . Is. -6d'.;;: rabbit t,d<sgs;.on .farriis. of; 40 acres or over, lsi ; 16d.;"' up to l ''tbree"d6gs.';All .other 'dogs !55. ; 'each.' ■ ' • The fire" brigade is practising hard in .view of the 'demonstrationat.' Auckland' in' March./,; : ,'.-/ .;/:,/. - ; -;- WOODVILLE. As far as Woodville is concerned the holidays have passed off very quietly. The /district was. favoured- with, fine .Jteitliefc.'for' .'Cliristnias and Now Year's. Day," but '/-'the' elements for the "past, fortnight have .been ;very .changeable. >, - A great, deal , : is liivpaddocks, and there seems. ■' / jbe very little charice ; of saving it. Shearing, itoo, - is -being hampered by. the "rain,'and'.- a number of small settlers will be late in, getting their wool in. Surprise was. expressed: that Mr. /Motley, : : who 'has .been .one of our foremost public; men',':'; should"! be to leave the district without some recognition- of-, his services. . The fact that his resignation has not been handed in to the borough council, may account for that body not taking "any stops in the matter. Messrs. ,A. Lawrence: and Teesdale; have ;dissolved' partnership;';. '.The'business I .mil-,be carried on by Mr. Teesdale. Mr. Lawrence ; intends, removing to Poverty Bay. ' PAIIIATUA. ■Bad weather has; Set'in.again, rain com-' mencing- on . Sunday evening, continuing, steadily .during Monday and yesterday. . The dowrnpour was accompauied.'.by .strong, variable winds, the rivers are swollen, arid'some low-lying ground is under water, but •no damage has occurred so far..';, . /,