PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 550, 3 July 1909, Page 10

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

j; l (fROU ofln BPKdAL couftttirOK9B-*TB.) r • , f ' , PALMERSTON. - ! Tho Opera Houeo Committeo mot on J Thursday afternoon, and dismissed proposals ! in connection with tho lighting of tho Opera House with electricity. A report on - tno ( { subject will bo'presented at the next meeting i of tho Borough Council. *j , The College- Street School Comtmttoo pni ! • Friday night approved and confirmed tho i* action ef tho chairman (Mr. Hodder) in ; nominating Mr. G. H. Bennett to, fill tho * vacancy on tho Wanganm Education Board [ cauted by his own retirement through I efflusion of timo. . Twenty now members wore oleoted , by tho T f / ©xeoutivo of tho ManaWatu Employers' Aswj- ! ciation at a meeting on Thursday night i This makes tho total membership 244, as » against 105 at the commencement of tho ; , yoar. It was decided to- support the suggesf • tion of tho Canterbury Association that Empire Dav should bo observed on tho Prince f of Wales Birthday. It was also arranged r to hold tho annual meeting on Friday, July 30. , , i r> , A? accident, which might have boon t l attended with very serious results, happoned f, ',on the Jaokcytown Road yesterday morning. L ' A trap and norw, driven Alvo, of i Oroua Bridgo, was capsissed into a drain y through tho horso shying at a passing motoric, car," Miss Alvo fortunately escaped with a f sevcri) shaking. Both shafts of the trap wero f broken, and it was generally knooked about, ' * Tho accident was a severe one, and Mies Alvo I was >fortnwito in escaping so lightly. £ A batch of unemployed woro sent to-day to f ,tho bash at Waitotafa by tho local branch J --of tho Labour.Department. Another batch , will )bo dispatched within a fow days. ;' ,In • Imaklng eoleotions, tho , i inspector 18 giving preference to married men whoso fin«B rosiclo :n this district, and thoso : h with tho largest families dependent upon them' roeeivo first consideration. In each j,' case tho men aro being required to sign cor* \ „ tain forms, giving consent for half tlioir wago ( ' being paid ovor to their wives ' / f Tho infant room at tho College Street f>. Schools very much overcrowded. At present \ i 160 Children aro boing taught in a room built t for tip accommodation of 80. At last Thursi day night's meeting of tho committeo it waa f , , rdported that tliero was a probability of an ' \ extension 6f tlio school bbing proceeded with >• at a comparatively early dato, Tho inspector r and sohool architect havo oach recently ' visited the school and discussed tho position ; , oft projected addition. ' i' The- statistics for tho quarter ending June 30 for tho Joeal Court business aro to hand, I In tho Magistrate's Court tho aggregate 1 amount sued for was ££649 4a.. and judgment 1 wag given for £3322 39. Id The number of ' i plaints entered was 294, while 4i judgment , eunlujoDsos,) 60 distress warrants, and 5 war- . - of committal were issued. The civil j fees paid amounted (to £232 6s, and tho amount of licensing fees was £17 Bs, 'On i tho criminal side , , 275 males and 22 females ' appeared before the Bench. 27 wcro discharged, 3, committed for trial, and tho , 1 remainder convicted The crimm.il f«s and fines amounted to £67165' The on!/ business in tho District Court was bankruptcy, the, i number of "petitions filed* being 7, and the feo3 pa'd amounting to £45 Os. The Supremo. -■ i ,Court returns showed a clean criminal sheet, ,bnt (our divorce petitions wero filed, and four , decrees nisi granted, One hundred and nine -, ' bills of snlo wore taken oat, and tho fees totalled '£143 6s. Del. ' T , ; I ,' '■ '' f ' . ' FISILDINO. ,'„ k ' The abattoir manager reported to the Bop* /' ,ough Couuoil oh Friday aight 'that tho ' ■ ' slaughtering for June- comprised SO cows, 63 ■•' he!fors,"2s bullocks, 879 ewes, 88 wethors, 19 S". lambs, 40 pigs, and 1 calf. Tho condemned animals comprised 3 co\vs, 1 hoifor 3 owes, ' 2 pigs. The fees for the month wore £81 Sβ. '' Tho Borough Council nas rcappointod Mr. ( O. J< (D, Skinner as borough ranger and , poundfeeoper for, tttolvo months. Whilo tho ! appointment was being disclosed Councillor . Goodbelwre sald-that neVor ui the history of 'Feilding had thoy had such a good ranger. A communication was received from the valuerGenoral, stating that tho rateable values of < tho borough (subject to alteration) v>ero: — .Capital value, £770,699; ummproved-value, £455,939,' value of improvements, £314,760. . -At tho meeting of the Orona County Conn>cil yesterday a letter was received from , tho ' , Wjinganui Eduoation Boaid dealing with tno i wool-classing classes. With reference to this * Councillor Pearoo stated that tho ' classes throughout the Feildirig district were a gloat / success. Perß6nally, ho Was , quite satisfied, " that ho had received his 10s worth from the

first lesson. 'Councillor YincMit also mon- " tinned that the claiS at Ashhurst uas being largely attended by old and joung. Tho | r benefits of tho classes were being everywhere acknowledged, (Mr. George Wheeler, chairman of tho i Oroua Council, 'is at present on a health trip to Rotorua. / 'The monthly meeting of the Oroua County ' , Council was hold yesterday Those presont I wore Councillors W. G. Pearoe (acting-chair-man), H Redmayno, Hugh Btirrcll, Thos. RowJmgs, J. 11. Vincent, and W. Held The Treasury Department notified £3122 los v - 6d. had boon .placed to tho credit of tlie 1 'Manawatu Gorge Bridgo aocount. Outstanding rates foi , 1905-1906 and 1907 w«ro ordered to bo written off. The Kairanga County Counoil wrote asking tho council to consider tho question of having the proporty owned bv Mr.(Sarding (Siberia) inoluded withui the ; /boundarios<of the Kairanga County—Held ovei. Tho engineer (Mr Roy'Harding) reported that the t new ' bridge acioss tho Mangaono Stream, on the F«ilding r Halcombe Road, had been completed. Tho following alterations wore made in roll —Section 6J Block XIX, Oroua Survey District, 48 acres 2 roods 4 porches, N.'Von Wepin to E ' A. Eado; section 18, Manchester Block, 94 acres 3 roods 11 pei olios, E. A Nicholson to R. Cameron; section 17a, Manchester/Block, 83. acres, R A Martin to C A Allorby, • sections 189, 183, and 185, Ashhurst, Ohas Selby to C. M. Port, sections 62 and 63, Ash- , hurst, 2 roods, O F Thessman to It M Lawronco, sections 31 and 32, subdivision H, Manchester Block, 333 acres 3 roods 25 perches, John Reid to-D. G. Forking, sections. 14 to 29 (inclusive), subdivision P, 31 acres 9 roods 23 perches, 11 C Seymour 10 S H Clark, section -18, Manchester Block 95 acres 1 rood 38 porches, Jensen Bros, to Christian Bros '

„ FJSATJIMSTON. , , - Tho Tidbwcll benefit matcli and 'danco . proved a great success. During tho day tho , GToytown Ladie&' Hockey Club played a match 'a Fcatbersfcon men's team A collection was taken up on tho ground Mr P. Benton, well known in Wellington hockcj circles, v,ns rofcrco. After the match the visitine Jadics wore entoitamed at toa' b\' 'tho lady mombore of tho committee, and, in tho evening, wore prosent at a dance •' Tho music was supplied by Mesdames Wickcns, Qoronson, and Watore, Misses Humphries, Skeet, David?on, tmd L. Hoddor, and Messri. Sorenson, .Wateis, and ' / Lust, Mr. P. G Robertson , , m thanking those present for ,thoirr attendance, stated that the amount accruing to tho benefit fund was £83 The total capeneoe would ho about £3, leaving a crodil of £30 that could bo handed over to Jlr. Tidswell Ho coidially thanked tho Grcytown ladies for coming to Fcatheteton to play tho mutch in tho afternoon, and also for oommg to the dance, and helping to make it a success. As tho la<lios left by coach for Grojtown. thre<J hearty cheers were called for and given.

OTAKI

While iexcavations were being cairicd out at 'ft'aikanae recently, some humati hones nero unoarthed on Mr. W. H Field's property. At the S.M. Court on Thursday, a Maori youth ivas committed for trial on a serious charge. Frank Rumsy, who appeared on an indecency charge, elected to bo tried by a jury, and was also committed. Bail was allowed and was forthcoming in «ach case, The local licensing bench met at noon on Thursday, when it mis decided to grant n renewal of- license to the Packakanki Hotel. In the case of tho Levin Hospital, tho matter of lonowal was left over till tho next quarterly meeting A movement is on foot at Waikanao to take measures looking to tho ercotion of a Town Hall This township has now two new public , buildings—an up-to-dato post office and a school.

Tho local Club held a successful social on Thursday night, when over 100 couples were present. Dming tlio proceedings n sum of £6—tho profits of the ovoning's tntertainmcat—was handed over to tho Otaki Orchestra. Exhibited in tho Waikanao School nro a number of first-class speoimena of noxious Weeds, which nro certainly a fine object lobson for tho children, Especially tlioso childien Who aro farmers in prospectu Callfornian thistle, ragwort, pennyroyal, and other weeds find places in tho collection. During Juno lam fell on 22 days, with a total fall «f COlm,, the heaviest fnll being 1.29 in. on Jnno 5. For tho corresponding month last year G 92in. fell. For the month just ended frost was registered on three occasions. ,

LEYIN.

A largo attendance was present at tlio entertainment provided by tho Y.MCA Literary and Debating Society on Thursday ovening Tho (subject was "An Evening with Sir Walter Stott," tho Rev. J. White readjug a very interesting piper on tho famous Scottish novelist and poot. During tho' evening Mr. T. G ViHcent recited "Loohinvai ," and Mr. Polo ft portion of "Marmion." Of tho eonge written by Scott, "Dunald Cairo's Como Again" was sung by Mr. D. Anderson. "Macgrogor's Gathering' , by Mr. J. Robertson, and "Bluo Bonnets Over tho Bowler" by Mr. W. J. Caton. Mrs. R. Anderson sang "Angus Macdonald," and had to respond to an encore with "Coain' tW the Rjo." Mr, Robertson also read an extract from "Guj- Maiinerinp;"— "lhndio Dinmont and Counsellor Pleydell" An orchestra, composed of Messrs. Silk and Moon (violins), Lolley ('cello), and Arthur James (piano), rendered a selection of Scottish airf in an artistic manner, whilo Mr, Silk contributed a violin solo with, all his wellknown ability. Tho programme closed with a duct by Mrs. It. Anderson and Mr D Anderson, "Scots \Vlla Hao," which received loud applause. On the motionjof Mr Jas Prouso, president of the society, the Rov. Mr. White and tho various performers wero heartily thanked. At Levm S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr A. D, Thomson, Walter Fawcett was charged with procuring liquor for a prohibited person, and was fined £5, in default 14 da\s' imprisonment. The prohibited person was also fined 203. and costs, Lovin Borough Council eued D. Ilatinan for rates After hearing ovidenco, tho Magistrate gave judgment for the- sum claimed, £2 4s. 9d., with costs. Tho Rev. J. A M'Nickle, who has been appointed pnncipajrof Otaki Maori Oollego, was at one timo vicar of St. Mary's, Lovin

FOXTON,

The weather conditions have been somewhat trying recently, the heavy showers that have been falling making pedestrians rather careful m their selection Ot stepping places, and cycling an impossibility. Previous to the wot weather of last week tho municipal authorities wero metalling the streets in the anticipation of winter and wet conditions. At first sight the metal that was being used did not seem to bo just first-class, but, when tho heavy rains of last week fell, tho streets whore metal had been kid becamo absolute QUttgmirps. ,1110 poor quality of the metal became Krtwy very-apparent that a special meeting of tho council was called, and tho iontract for the iiupply of metal cancelled. Frtish tenders were called for a supply of Shannon or J«ek*ytown gravel. It is to he hoped that the metal from either 'of theao places will be better than wo havo bad from Palmerston North. . _our experimental artesian bore has reached ;its limit somtreSQjfcflt, but no better supply of -water has boon tapped. Tho pipes having passed through tho water bearing strata and cut it off, it was decided to blow out tho pipes at tho depth whero tho best flow 'of water had been strode This has been done, and the water rose in tho pipo to within six feet of the surface. ' A pump has now been fixed upoiKthis supply, and n available for ordinary purposes with tho certainty of a perennial Supply 'of good .water. Tho experiment has not been as successful as was hoped, but it has aifoHle<nho knowledgo that no artesian supply with a strong force to riso above the , surface is to bo obtained here, and if a supply for the town h to be gamed by means or a well, then it must bo pumpod from tho 'prosont known strata carrying water to the height needed to give a highpressure system. However, the data is now at hand, and tho engineer appointed, j Sir. Chmio will be able to afford an accurate statement of tlio coat Of a water supp!y,from either artesian, bore or nver. Tho general fcehng'is m favour of a supply from a.good Well, well the nitration of'river water, fiom .tho,river may bfe effected* the cost of maintaining the filtratiop beds would bo a constantly recurring expenditure. This oxpenso would be saved Dy adopting the artesian supply, and, as pumping to a reservoir would in any caso have to be adopted, tho first cost is the only one, It is to bo hoped no unnecessary time will bo allowed to lapse boforo we have a satisfactory supply established in tho borough . Samples of' both uvei and artesian watej- is being subjected te analysis. Tho results' of this analysis will Co an important factor in deciding which scheme will bo adopted. ...Anjmppriant mpvoment j S being niado to-wmls-municipalising tho gasworks The Borough Council is boing urged to plttco this matter before the ratepayers when a poll is boing taken in reference to the water arfd drainage The ratepayers would then_ bo in a position to say whethor they are in favour of borrowing a sum sufficient to embrico tho gas'proposal as well as tho other. Then there- is a section of the community anxious to havo a municipal hall built * There is certainly groat need of a comfortable building for tho poodle's enteri tamment, tlio'present building being old, in sonous hoed of repair, generally unsuitable, i ana certainly not very comfortable, whilo it' presents no attraction for the hotter'class of travelling entertainers te visit, the place These proposals would probably total loans to the amount of fiom £25,600 to £30,000, This seoffi3 a large sum for such a small community to undertake, but when tho hoalth 3nd comfort of- , tho people are concerned, thoro should bo a willing response in favour of the whole thing Suth a response would bung tlio town into lino with other similar communities

■'"The. Sehbpl.Cdramifctoo liavtf recognised ; the importance'of'.doingrsoinething■to,;beautify '.tho sch&ol' grounds.''At;the last;; me6tj.pg ?pf. the. ,coniniittee..'a '.sub-committee .was'-appdin-: t«d to draw up a; scheme , ; of-improvements; Ellis';committee -Imet, , and; proposes/to. effect groat jnipivovomentaVon'th'e.grounds.. : impjtoy.6mehts'^mpiis6''f6ncine;th6. ! gr6uiiide J ' into, separate 'portions for the boys and- girls, soparat uie .the; front 'of .the • school ; froim ■* thoi perioral 'playground, laying 1 out ;of.-the. frttnt. lil. gardon-plots ■nncV:d«)Oratiye shtTJbsj'''and ploughing^-arid■■■jjivellihgi of. v the; while ci ■tho Rroiinds/At a special meeting'pf the General Committee held;.ori.;Tliursday,'..iiight'it '-was-i •unanimously, "agreed..to;adpptt^';6nb-oom-initteo's proposal,''aiid it;,was .decided t<o hold a-, graiid bazaar and^'scheol; entertainment: in OctQbei': > 'to;'. i"<vJso tltb^necessary, f uios :fof, the , purposeiv':'; The' s proposed';imprb'vbments will' probably cost £150, and a big effort -will have to bo made , to. mako it""a' euefcesa. .'Thoso.-who Have : complained of. the. barren.,state ; ,of : .ifclib school grounds now have, ati opportunity ,pf pUtting/their. hands ..into; their, pockets. ! ' matters,' it;is, to' takp lieadmastor'/yliai/recoii'ed hptico of trahsfer' to Mr. Jaflkson,- bf Slangaweka, ■ comos hero. Mr.;'. Gordon, > first assistant, has resigne'd,' and, is,entoring. into a business partnership in' Foxton, ; and Miss: SlnUcry .lifts.,apßlied;'*for a. transfer. ';; !;-.; '■}■. '..:' 'ilia. Harbpiir.BoardJ\seems;to haVe.got into sntisfaOtory iVorking.'-order -now,'and; n't'tho /regular-• meeting hold/last, Monda y-"p.: largo nmount,,Qf.,;.busine.ss,'was itrarisaoted. ■'•' l Th6

fresnng-works site jvas fullv discussed, and tho board's previous offer of a free site to tho proposed freezing companv confirmed Tho question of the bench residential sections came up for further cotieuloration, and n deputation of Palmorston proporty owners waited on tho hoard to urgo the necessity of something beinp done to conserve their rfphtq The matter was considered m committee, mul 'the , decision has not jet boon made public. The want of revenue was agiin emphasised in tho rnthor inndeqiiato returns for the month. tJntif tile Government hands over to tho hoard the revenue derived from TvhtvrfafN dues, thfc will ho in n chronic state of penurv It is hoped that the Houso will help to bring sufficient pressure upon the Government when the matter is brought Jbefoie it to do iustico to thy port.