PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 January 1909, Page 8

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

frnou our special corrosponoektb.) ■ ——* -r PALMEESTON. Tho death is announced of Mr. W. Rowlands, a well-known farmer of the Fitzherbert district, at the ago of 58 years. Debased tos born in Wellington, and came here 22 years ago s engaging in farming pursuits till two years ago, when he retired. He leaves a .wife (a sister of Mr. It. E. Bannister) and four children. . Brothers fi of deceased are well-known residents of Opunake, lokomaru, and Palmerston North. Three sisters, .Mesdames Miles, Mair. and Miss Knnlaiids, reside in Wellington. • An approximate balance-sheet issued by the llangittkei Racing, Club in connection with the . recent meeting shows a loss of £129. This .is majnly attributed to the decrease in totahsator investments and falling off in attendance on' the second day owing to boisterous weather.. t The Mariawatu Drainage Board decided yesterday to accept a conditional offer by the. Railway Department to permit the construction of a pipe drain beneath the line opposite the Longburn-Kairanga Road, provided that the chairman of the board could not, come to satisfactory arrangements with Air. 32, J, Riddiford regarding the construction of the drain.

MASTERTON

, The' Masterton division of St. Johii Ambulance Brigade has decided to hold Ambu'anco Saturday this year on February 27, ™ ' a st Saturday of next month. The Mayor (Mr. P. Ij. Hollings) is to be asked by the two superintendents of the brigade (Mr. A. Donald and Miss Gillespie) to call a public -meeting to • make, arrangements for- the bazaar proposed for May, the object of which is to raise funds to acquire the ■ services of a nurse to work among the local poor. As the movement is a worthy one, and colourless as regards denomination andcreed, it has been decided ,tq seek the aid of tliß various churches in town in equipping separate stalls at the bazaar. An adjourned meeting of the creditors in the bankrupt estate of Thomas J. Dwj'er, phonograph dealer, of Masterton, was• held <jt : the Masterton Courthouse yesterday. Mr. A. Simpson, 3 official assignee, of 'Wellington, and Mr- W. B. Chennells, District Official .Assignee, were present, together with 'a number ,of creditors, some of the latter being represented by proxy. There was some discussion as to ; whether . Mr. Chennells should'preside or not. Mr. Robinson,, who ' appeared for certain Wellington creditors,thought that Mr. Chonnclls should; hand over his powers to Mr. Simpson -for various Reasons, but'-this-was opposed by Mr.'Pownall,' who represented the bankrupt. Mr. Pow,nall asked Mr. Chennells to do his duty, and not allow himself to be dictated to by a handful of creditors. Mr. Chennells, however, eventually' delogated liis powers ■■■■,under the Bankruptcy Act : to r* r ' Simpson, and the meeting proceeded < with the' latter, as chairman. After bankrupt had beeii examined 'as to ,^' s affairs, the assignee said that hp thought that it was a case for public examination. That point would be.decidedly himself ; and the.deputy official assignee. Tho action of the latter in selling' .bankrupt's stock-in-trade for £37 10s. was .confirmed, .< and the meeting adjourned sine die:

CARTERTON,

8; wns appointed secretary: -to the tire Brigade Isist evening, vice Mr. W. Campbell, resigned. The following were appointed -_a Selection Committee.:—Captain .E. «riT/ en^lG ' Jackson; and Fireman Ef. M Kenzie. _ The brigade is practising ,hard in .view _of the.- demonstration ,to be held in Auckland in March.

. Much sympathy. is felt for Mr. A. M'Kon. zie, • irtaiiager. of the -Taritahi cheeso; factory! touching the loss.(after, a short', illness) of his nve-year-old son. 1 . . .

; I'EATIIERSTON

_ Following are 'the sheep: and wool ; returnsfrom the local railway station for the December months ' of 1907 and 1908Wool':' 1907, l,^ 68 ' 2875 bales. \ Sheep: 1907 15)730; .1908, 27,164. v Thus- there is .an- increase' for 1908. of 11,434 sheep and 444 bales of wool. . ... t is now being managed by .-Mr. -W.-.Tilson; until recently:' manager of . the Mofej station of Messrs. Tilson and M'Farlane. •• ..

Mr. J. O. Bid« 11 i onTVednesday dispatched from the local station liis last :load of wool fortnis.'seasoii.: '

PAHIATUA

' li'ff meeting of,the. Mangatainoka;.. Athletic Club., the balancc-sliGct b£'_tlie■ recent' m6otiug,'_ which showsi';a'.-.bi'^ditVbalahco'."of? nearly;£3o, was presented.andiadbptedj'aiid; a hearty-vote of thanks' accorded tfie'- officers: assistants for ; their.;,services iri : hslping': to make .'the -, meeting.'; a' success.-'} Aj bonus. was voted to the secrotaiy/ Mr.':J.. A:' Walsh, ,and.,to liis assistants, .and-it,-\yas de- : cided to. preseht Mr. E. Drysdale'with-a'suit-ably-m'soribed.. gold medal;in racognitibn - of. uis services.as piper to the meeting. An ompioyee at. Messrs;' Baucke and' Co;?s I Crown . carriage- works .'ji&ned Christiansen'met with what, might have proved a' fatal accident this-,morning.... Whilo tying,on his : - • apron,;-it'.Somehow got caught in the'shafting- of the; machinery, and he was';whirledround several -times. His'iclothes'were 'practically :..tomi off "nim ' before' ■ the machinery"' could be; stopped to release-him. He'was conveyed "to; the - hospital,: w here it was found that, fortunaijely, no bones had been broken, though otherwise the experience was a severe -one. --; ■" , • - : •■-, I

. Mr. J. R. M'Millan, who has resided in rongaroa - for many, years, loft, to-day on 'a .rip to the OH Country. In the earlier days ■he followed the profession of builder, and many . of ; the-present buildings in'and around '{■ onparoa are standing - testimonials to his handicraft.

SHANNON. ■

..Mushrooms are plentiful-.in the. Shannon district-afe present. ' . ■; • .. lho craiik shaft of one of the gas;engines or. the, A. and L. Soifert Company's flaxmill at Miranui broke last - Tuesday, . throwing three strippers idle. It is unlikely that the necessary repairs can be effected in the colonies.- . The remaining strippers will; probably be worked night and day. : ' The debentures' issued by the Shannon Land' and Sawmilling' Company have so far- been* well locally, about £435 - out of the £1000 asked for being taken up by share--holders. ' 1 . , '

A horse belonging to Mr. H. Petit met with a curious mishap recently; A small coil ot,black wire became twisted round one of its hind'legs between the: knee-and;:the fetlock,'; and penetrated right to the . bone;- Forttt-;: hately the wire did not damage .•the' tendons,' others lse' the • horse/ which was a Valuable °n,0, ; ..w0U1d have been ruined. The remarkable spell of wet weather experienced lately has rendered practically all' this coast-idle. Rain has" .•fallßa.'aJßrost;continuously since .lust' Satur-" ! jday. ' The. Foxtoh and Tokomaru .mills were' start at the; beginning of the week, , but i\vill not be able to .resume till the beginning ■ (of j next week, "• The. Manawatu Rhor 'hasten. considerably and backed into the lowlying country p.round Makeraa, filling up the A.,. and L. : Seifert Company's subway andcoterinc the Palmerston Road in places. Flaxmillerswere in hopes of getting their ,paH<locks~ cleaned up,, but . the wet weather during fhe holidays has prevented the fibre being' turned, dried,' or hanked up, and.verv little fibre... has been taken off the ground during the last fortnight. Consequently it has . gone off considerably . in. colour and strength. Tho .Awahou flaxmill in Foxton is about to instal ono of Mr. Walter Seifort's flax-dress-ing machines. The Miranui mill has now got three of these patents working.