PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 7

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FHOM Otm SPECIAL COMIESPONDKNTS.)

PALMKRSTON. A mooting of tlio Rangitikei County Council was held at Marton on Saturday. The Railway Department wrote declining to niako a railway crossing near Rata as applied for. The. Auckland City Council sent a circular protesting against the provisions of .section 25 of Iho Local Bodies Loans Amendment Act, providing for the appointment of t-iic Public Trustee as Sinking Hind Commissioner for loans raised by local bodies on debentures. The iminion of tlio Auckland Council was endorsed, and the council decided to co-operate in petitioning the (.lovciniuent in the matter. A petition was received from settlors, asking for a loan of £800 to continue the grnveiling on the Moawh.-ing<> Valley Road. It wan decided to place, the application on tlio list of loans, to be applied for in its turn. A similar decision was arrived at with respect to an application for a loan of $2COO lo acquire and form a road, and construct a bridge over the Rangitikei River, near Taoroa, where a cage, is at present situated. Tlio engineer was instructed to inquire into a complaint made regarding the metalling now being donoon theTaihape-Mataroa Road. The. engineer and inspector were authorised to sign and issue notices to have all gorso grubbed on the county roads. The statement of accounts, before payments werb made, showed the general account to bo in credit to the amount of £4592 12s. lid. During the month, £G207 Us. had been received for rates. C. H. Gcangc's tender for tho delivery of metal on tho Rata-Silverhopo Road was accepted. FEILDING. Dr. Wallis, Bishop of Wellington, will conduct confirmation services in fit. John's Church to-day. Tho Awahuri Sunday School picnic will be held to-day instead of on Wednesday. Tho quarterly meeting of the Licensing Bench was held yesterday afternoon, when there were present Messrs. A. 1). Thomson (chairman), A. Richmond, W. Carthew, and K. tioodbshcre. The only business before the Bench waa an application from Mrs. E. Kennedy for a transfer of the licenso of the Feeding Hotel to Mr. T. O'Neill. The application was granted. The Oroua County Council on Saturday received the plans and specifications of the proposed bridge over the Oroua River at Mcnzics 1 Ford. Consideration of tho plans was deferred till next meeting. Mr. Win. H. Powell, licensed lay-reader of St. John's Church, who met" with a bicycle accident at Palmorston a week or so ago, necessitating a period in hospital, returned to Fcildhig on Saturday. It will probably bo a week yet before ho will take up work. In the course of his statement, in bankruptcy yesterday W. 31. Whishaw detailed numberless transactions ill exchanges, purchases, sales, mortgages, etc., sections, houses, hotels, and oven motor-cars being involved. Ho joined a Mr. Rollet in partnorship, but tho latter went bankrupt; and this completely put a stop to all Whishaw's dealings, as ho was unable to give anyone a title to any of the property. Ho was satisfied that there was a very large margin on tho properties over and above all the encumbrances, and had ho had a free hand iti dealing, and not been hampered by the, delay that followed tho bankruptcy, he felt confident he would not have had to file. Whishaw said he had hoped to sell several mortgages and raiso sufficient to pay all charges owing on tho properties for interest, rates, insurances, etc., and materially roduco his priyato liabilities. However, he was served with two bankruptcy petitions, and being harassed by Court _ proceedings for small amounts, he was driven to file.

CAItTERTON

A well-attended meeting of settlers was held in Carterton on Saturday night, Mr. J. T. SI. Hornsby presiding, when it was decided to tender a farewell social to Mr. John Hart, who is leaving for Hawke's Bay to take up farming in that district. Canvassers wero appointed for various parts of the district, nnd the social will probably bo held next Thursday. The many friends of Mr. David Thomas, of Cartorton, will regret to hear that he is at present seriously ill. A large number of nominations have been received by tho Ahiaruhe Sports Club for their forthcoming meofciiiK. On Tuesday week the Bishop of the Wellington Diocoso will consecrate a church at Nireaha, and, in_ tho evening, will hold,a confirmation service i:i St. Mark's Church, Uartcrton. Elaborato preparations aro being made here by the Catholics for a concert, to bo held on St. Patrick's night. In face of the oppressive weather being experienced here, tho-supply of milk at the local dairy factories is keeping up well.

OTAKI.

A pleasant afternoon was spent on the local tennis courts on Saturday, when the Pnhautanui and Otaki teams mot. Somo cujoyablo and interesting games were pla.yed, tl'io local club eventually winning by nine sets to five. Afternoon tea was dispensed by tho ladies, and fully enjoyed. Following are the scores, Otaki being mentioned first in eacli case:—Mon's Doubles; Hnrtmann ami S. Simcox v. Keeling and Robertson, 7—9; M. and P. Simcox v. Blackie and Abbott. 9—3; Bacchus and Smith v. Stace and Bradoy, o—2. Ladies' Doubles: Airs, and Miss Simcox v. Misses (Jcar, 4--7. Comliined Doubles: Smitli and Mrs. Swnling v, Bradey aiul Hiss Jones, 7—l. Singles: Hartmann v. Keeling, 6—3; S. Simcox v. Robertson, 0—1; M. Simcox v. Blaokio," 9—3; 1 , . Simcox v. Abbott, 9 —7;, Bacchus v. Stace, 0—0; Smith v. Bradey, 9—7. Ladies' Singles: Mrs. Simcox v. Miss Gear, 4—7; Mite Simcox v. Miss Abbott, I—7; Mrs. Swaling y. Miss Jones, 4 —7. v Tho local cricketers easily defeated Paraparaumu on Saturday, making 163 runs for nine wickets, while i'araparaunm contributed a total of only 30 for both innings.

WOODVILLE.

Mr. Billnmii, of the railway staff, has beon transferred to Auckland. An 'article which was exhibited at tho Horticultural Show, and highly commented upon, was a magnificent sideboard, designed by the late Mr. il. IC. Grinlinton. Tho Licensing Committee- election, which takes place to-day, will be fought with cousjdei'sblo interest in this district.. Both partits stem determined to got their own nominees returned At tho meeting of the Licensing Committee hold last week a charge laid agninst tho proprietor of one of tho local hotels was dismi3ied.

SHANNON

The mill on tho -heights, belonging to the Shannon Land and Sawmjlling Company, Ltd., resumed work on Monday. Tho blacksmith shop, occupied by Mr. K M. Jcfl'riro, anil belonging to Mr. F. Lind, was burnt down between "eleven and twelvu o'clock on Friday night. About iUO worth of nmtorinl for tho new Druids' Hall was destroyed. The loss is estimated at about £300. There was no instiraitco. Playing in the Horowbenua Cup competition, M ana knit played tho Mirnnni Cricket Club at Shannon on .Saturday. Manakau scored S3 runs and the local eleven nuulo l'2o for 8 wiekota (1). Tremcwan 35). The match will be continued at .Manokau on Batunlny. Smile time ago a movement was on foot to connect the Wairarapa with this coast by means of a' road from Kketabuna U> Sluuinuli. I'nblic meetings were held in Shannon, and tho Kketahuna Chamber of Cotniiiurcc tnnk the matter up, but tho subject was dropped for the time being. Now that Ur. AV. 11. Field, M.l'., is mtorostinrhimself in the (Ireytown-Otaki roiite, niul the member for Mnsterton is now a Minister anil avowedly in favour''of all such advanIn .settlers as are supposed to be implied by the magic phrase "roade and bridges," tlio time feems propitious for rrviviuj.', the movement. It is likely that some movement will be mado in this direction.

FEATHERSTON

In a croquet match played at Fcatherstoß for Veitch and Allan's trophy, Everton (G) beat Roydhouse (7) in tho second round. Tho Foathcrston Tennis Club are trying tx> arrange a match with Martinborough for next Saturday. Another match was played in tho tennis tournament on Friday, when Aickin and Miss Howe beat Forstcr and Misa lloddor by 30—22. Tho Foatherstoii Dairy Company'arc sending away ICO cases o£ cheoso this week. While Mr. W. Whale was loading cheese at the station on Saturday a uhuntcd wagon , hit tho wagon which he was loading into, and tho latter bumped into his brake and' broke one of the wheels. Several of tho local Rifle Club members are shooting at the Trentham inciting. _ Notwithstanding the oft-recounted difficulties of the 'J'rontham range, it is an easier range ia shoot at than tho range hero, owing to its bettor background. The railway returns for lost week that 11,000 sheep were sent away, yesterday a consignment requiring about 54 truck* was sent. Ten of these trucks were put on. ihe first down train and the others on the U. 15 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. trains. I In the- match Foathcrslon v. played on the reserve on Saturday, Feather*, ston won easily by IGI runs for four wickets, t<) 163 runs. Among tho principal scorers, were Phelps 94 and A. Cundy 53 for th* winners, and S.. Hawke G8 (retired) and F, llawko 51 for the defeated side. The stone crusher is at work in tho bed of tho Tnuheromkau Rivor. Three draya aro fending tho crusher, and cloven are dictri. buting the metal. The Fentherston Gun Club wont to Grey, town on Saturday to shoot off an inter-elub match. In the first swoop of 9 birds, C. Burt put up a possible, and Feathorston wcro leading by over twenty. In the. second sweep of 12 birds, Balfour made thirty and Irving twenty-nine. Tho Fcatherstoa Club went to pieces in this sweep, and Grey town won by, 225 to 223. " A six-bird shoot was then fired, and won by T. Skippage, with C. Burt second. The last match was a six-bird, firstsweep. Rhodes won this, shooting, all birds with his first barrel. ■"' While Mr. P. Blatcliford and his wife and child were driving to Cartcrtou on Sunday, they met with an unpleasant accident. They had hist crossed tho Waiohine Bridge aJid pulled off to one side to allow a cyclist to pass, when tho horse stumbled and fell, throwing tho occupants of tho gig out on to tho road. Tho horse bolted up the road for some distance, but was stopped by the cyclist. Tho gig had a shaft broken, and Mr. Blatcliford sustained a sprained right' ankle. Mrs. Blntchford escaped with a severe slinking, and some nasty bruises, while tin child was unhurt. Tho Maoris living near kindly lent their buggy, and Mr. Blatcliford continued the journey to Carterton, whore Dr. Johnston attended to tho ankle. J