PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 595, 25 August 1909, Page 4

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(niou oun srr.cui. couttearoNonTs ) , . ; ; . MASTERTON. . In parts of the Wairarapa some of tho late turnip crops, which are .now being utilised, havo suffered a good deal of damage from rot, caused by the wet weather experienced during July and the early part of August. ' At Tewhiti lambing has commenced. Feed is plentiful, and the prospects for tlio'coming season are good. Lambing also commenced at Genburn station last week, but is not yet general in the Stronvar district. Stock in this neighbourhood have wintered well, and there is plenty of grass. The following is the annual report of tho •Wairarapa Caledonian' Society, to be presented at the annual meeting on Saturday, September-4:—The society has, during tho past year, suffered a considerable loss, due in a great measure to an almost unaccountable falling off in gate and grandstand receipts. A drop of £38 16s. was experienced on Jast year's figures, and this, added to a loss of £11 10s. lOd. on last year's salo of privileges and programmes, is largely responsible for the hea.vy debt on tho sports account. Entrance fees more than held their own with those of 1808, showing an increase of £4 Is. 2d. The total -expenses of the sports meeting were only £8 7s. 2d. in excess of those of last year, so that, had wo been favoured with a; good gato and sale of privileges, there is no doubt ,but: that 'the, gathering would have ranked favourably with its predecessors. Put in plain figures the debits on the sports account for 1908 and 1009 were £52 2s. 7d. and £105 lis. sd. respectively—an increase of £53 Bs. 10d., and, of this increased debit, £50 Gs. lOd. is traceable to gates, grandstand, and privileges. No doubt the existing depression, added ■ to counter attractions nearer their homes, prevented the travelling public'.attending tho last gathering in as great numbers as heretofore. From their inception as a fixture, in 1906, the society's annual concerts have proved a great succeiis, the profits on each beiiig as follow:—1906, £26 8s; 4d.;.1907,''*ei5"85.'6d.'; 1908, £32' 4s. lid. This year the Concert Committee wisely decided, in view of future concerts, to introduce talent of a high order. This effort to'buildup the''reputation of the concert rah into an increased expenditure of £12 155., as compared with that of 1908, but the foresight of the Concert Committee will be apparent in the near future. The concert receipts amounted to £64 65., and'expenditure to £51. 4s. Gd.. thus leaving a ; credit balance of £13 Is. 6d."

PAniATirA. :.; The funeral of Miss Jessie Harvey tookplace at the Mangatainoka cemetery' on Monday afternoon.' Deceased, who was only 18 years of age, died suddenly at the residence of her sister; Mrs. M'Kinlay, of Nikau'. The grandstand on tho Mangatainoka Do-, main, erected last year by the Athletic Society, has proved a great boon during the Winter; especially on the occasion of banner football matches' The, amount owing on the structuro has been reduced to the small sum of £14, and at the annual meeting of the society, which is to bo held early next month, arrangements will be made to wipo' this debt off. ■

It is'understood that the Pahiatua'Brass ; Band' have offered their services gratis for the opening show of tho Pahiatua-Akitlo A. and I'. Association, v

. Mr. G. H. Brown, who recently resigned from the chairmanship of the Mangaramarama- Cheese Factory on account of illhealth, has' since been on an extended trip in tho; Auckland distriot. Mr. Brown's many friends will bo pleased to know that lie has greatly improved in health. , Mr. M?; .Gr'eathead, formerly of'the Parkvale Cheese Factory, Wairarapa, has been appointed manager of the now cheese factory at Mangamaire. j' .. About 70 tons' of cheese were manufactured at theTararua Cheeso Factory, Bal-, lance, during the past season, all of which, it is-understood, were sold at'.highest inarkot.: rates. ' . . ,

j -.;: 'CARTERTON. The annual meeting'of the Belvedere Cooperative Dairy Company was held on Monday afternoon; Mr; G. Stevens-;' presiding; Tile report and balance-sheet f were of • a highly satisfactory character. "■'■ Messrs. Mi O'Reilly and G. Thomas were returned as 'directors, and Mr. C. H. Cormack was reelected,, auditon ' It was decided to'reopen, the factory'on Monday, August 30,-and also to donate Is. on each supplier -to the A., and P. Society's butter-fat' competition. Votes of thanks were accorded the secretary (Mr. J; J. Mead), the manager (Mr. T. P. Saxelby), and the directors and staff for their past services. • ; ■ On Monday evening the quarterly. meeting of-Totarn Lodge, U.A.0.D., was. held in tho Foresters' Hall, Bro. K. Wallis, A.D., presiding over a good attendance. , Correspondence was received from a brother ill in AVanganui. and, from one brother declaring himself off the sick funds of the lodge. One new member was initiated. It .was announced, that Totara Lodge would play the-Foresters 'the third match of tho Friendly Societies' card tournament, on Monday: evening next. Receipts for the evening .-were £64 18s. 3d., ,and disbursements £25 13s. 4d.

A /sale of work in connection with St. Andrews' Presbyterian Church is to be held here on September 30 and October 1. ; The Fire Brigade are issuing , honorary tickets at'os. per. annum) the idea being to improve the state of their funds. 'The annual hor'so parado of the "Wairarapa and East Coast P. and A. Society has been fixed for September 18. ' FEATnEUSTON. The South Foatherston daily mail service is: proving .itself a great convenience to the settlers on the route. The delivery loaves ; the post office here every morning at halfpast eleven and goes'down Murphy's Line across to South Featherston, along to Kaiwaiwiii, then on to Tauherinikau, travelling altogether' a distance of about fifteen miles. : The settlers have their mails and parcels delivered into boxeS at their front gates. ■' v , Tho fire brigade,held its weekly.practice on Monday; evening. There was n good muster of the men. under Captain Rotter, and some good work was-put in on the green in front of the school. '. ; , •, ' ' ; "' "'"'."" SHANNON. '"' The local branch of tho TJ.A.0.1). intend' holding a social on September 3. The fraternity has also issued a challenge to the bowling club for a euchre tournament. About 60 people wore present at a plain and fancy dress, ball held at Tokomaru on Friday night. Miss ■ Parr, impersonating' "Dawii," carried off the ladies' prize, and Mr. A, Symes, as "Henry VIII, obtained the gentlemen's prize. Messrs. G; Judtl and K..' Dawson acted as M.C.'s, and Miss M'Kenzie and Miss Judd presided' at the piano. Messrs. F. Lambert and W. H. GunJiing were the caterers.