PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 9

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(PnOM OUR SPECIAL COBHESPONDENTS.)

• ; ; PALMEIISTON. ■ Arrangements are now practically complete for the meeting at the Opera House tonight, at which Mr. (Robert M'Nab will cpeak on tho necessity of universal military training../As'the ; Mayor (Mr. J. A. Nash) has to ha in Wellington at the Municipal Conference, ho will bo unable to.preside, and his «place will be taken by Councillor H. tlaydon. At the conclusion of Mr. M'Nab's speech, the citizens will bo addressed hy Mr. R. C. BrocD, and the Kgv. Isaac Jolly, M.A.—twoof tho ablest .speakers in the North Island,.while Mr. J!. M. Johnston will move and the Rev. C. C. Harper will second the vpto bf»thanks to Mr. M'Naib.

The Gorge Bridge is to be officially opened by his Excellency the Governor on Wednesday next; and the function - should be one of great interest to /'residents of. this district, once again, the important arterial "route between the East and West Coastswill be available for trade purposes. No ono will deny that this district has suffered considerably through tho cutting off, for so long a period, of communication with the West Coast, and general satisfaction is being, expressed at,.the..approaching restoration: of road communication..._ .-•■'..','.,.', -: Tho following remit has- been drawn up by the Palmerston North Borough Council, for presentation at the Municipal Conference, Which is to open at Wellington on Monday: '!Th«t the Local Elections"'and Polls Aot,. 190S, be amended so as to provide that the returning officer supply the town clerk with a marked roll after any local election, so as to enable him to purgo : the roll at tho dates .fixed by the Municipal ' Corporations Act rhd its resulations." The Mayor;will' represent the Palmerston North borough at, the conference.Mr. E. M'Donald, who has been in charge of the Eclipse Factory, Dannevirke, for the past three years, is leaving the district shortly,'and, on Thursday afternoon; ho was thognest of the employees of the factory and the creameries. During the proceedings Mr. Potter (of the Ruaroa Creamery), on behalf of his fellow cmploypes, presented Mr. M'Donald with a handsome silver -salad bowl. Mr. M'Donald will shortly, commence ,| manufacturing at Jackeytown, in the Mana'watu. district. , . . .

"The- sub-committees appointed- to canvass the town in connection with Industries Week have nearly finished their work, and hope to complete it on Monday. Tho idea has been enthusiastically taken up. by.'all. those viewed, and the committee is.' also receiving •considerable 'financial' support. 'Complete, success'is" now assured. Mr. Vf. Dickson, ■'■.he secretary, is 'being besieged, with sapphcations from manufacturers .for..window space for exhibition purposes, and many of the storekeepers' have placed portions of their windows.at the disposal of manufacturers, so that'there' should be now no "question of the comprehensiveness • of the display of New Zealand goods to be mado. The Railway Department is to be ■ asked to grant special facilities to excursionists from all parts of the North Island, and the combination of in-, du'stees Week and the National Dairy Show should be a,great attraction, All the manufacturers inTPalmerston have consented _ to throw- open: their premises'-for inspection, both to school children, and the public generally, 'and; inquiries, have 'been' .received from■■ various schools, regarding the conditions of the essay competition. Tho Indus-tries-.Week Committee will meet on Monday, either, in the afternoon or the evening, to receive the reports of the sub-committees, and finally discuss alLmatters in connection with the display;. . sV •' i : : The Battalion Shield, won by the Palmerston North Rifles at. Wanganui on Thursday, has .now" been competed for five times. 1 Tho first'competition took'place in 1905, the Palmerston'North Riflra proving the winners. In 1906 it was won by. the Wanganui Rifles. Palmerston North Rifles being second, and onlv fivo points behind. In 1907 it was won by" the ' Manchester Rifles (Feilding), P* l ' - merston; North again being . second, ; four points behind. In 1908' the competition waa a very keen - and exciting one, the Wanganui ißifles winning.by the narrow margin of ono point from the Palmerston Rifles. This year the Palmerston team had an easy win, being 48 points ahead of the second team. Thus it will be seen that the Rifles have a splendid'record for the shield. Out of the five competitions, thoy have been twice winners and, on the three other occasions, havo been runners-up. A point worthy of notice, as showing that expert' shooting is not confined to the rank and file, is that each of the commanding officers of the teams engaged' was a. competitor. ' -.- i.

LEVIN,

•.■■'.Tho'boys' department of the Y.M.'C.A. met on Friday evening, when Mr. Richirrd House addressed, them on' "llioioughness." During the evening, Master Teal was presented with a certificate, for improvement in gymnastic exercises. The- weokly mcotings of this' department are highly popular, and a large numbor of. boys attend each' Friday ) - The Horowhenua Boating Club entertained Mr. M. Wr.Poley, late, secretary .ofthe club, at a smoke concert on Friday evening, prior to his : leaving Levin for Napier. Mr, J. Devonshire, captain of the club, presided, and referred to the-ablo manner in which Mr. Poley,had carried otic,his duties as secretary, and, on behalf of the club, wished him every success in his now sphere. Mr. Poley, in reply;- thanked the company for their' good Wishes, and stated that anything which he had done for tho club had always given him pleasure. A presentation was also made to Mr. T. Jennian, vice-captain, who was married recently. , . The following -are the winners of trophies shot for by the members of the Levin Rifle Club during the past season:—Bullcr Cup, Rifleman -W.- Ingram; Ballantyne and Co. s trophy, Rifleman W. Ingram; salad howl, presented by tho Mayor of Levin (Mr. B. R.Gardener), Rifleman Li Ingram; trophy by C. Smith, Ltd., Rifleman P. Jones; trophies by Baldwin and Co. and Captain F. 0. Smith, Rifleman J. Muir; trophy by Mr. • Byron Brown, Rifleman H. WoodfW. R. Ingram's trophy, Rifleman H. Ward; H. Ward's trophy, Rifleman G. Jones; G. K. Douglas's trophy,- Rifleman W. Francis, jun. '. . '

WOODVILLE.

The following ofiioors wero installed at tho Ruahine Lodge last week:—W.M., Bro. D. Munro; J.P.M., Bro. H. Burloy; Treas., Bro. J. Ebbett; • Sec, Bro. J. Cartwright; Chap., Bro. P. H. Mules; Organist, Bro. H. Turvey. Rt. Wor. Bro. F. do Lislo, Prov. Grand Master of Hawke's Bay, conducted tho installation. •■ The Licensing Committee, which mot on Friday last, granted a renewal of. licenses with tho exception of Herbertville, which was adjourned , for three months. At tho close 01 tho meeting the 'chairman complimented tho retiring clerk, Mr. D. Brosnahan, on .the efficient manner in which ho had carried out his duties. : ] The concert given by Dr. Barnardo's children was well attended despite the counter attractions at. tho time,-of which there were no .fewer than three. The financial return was about £60.