PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 894, 13 August 1910, Page 15

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Special Correaponacnu.) FEILDINC. The Borough Council has at last decided to. take a poll of ratepayers on its proposal to erect a Town Hall. This question has been before tho council for two years. . The now parish hall, which has beer, erected by tho Anglican Church to replace the one destroyed by fire, will bo opened by a social gathering next Tuesday. An unusual defence was set up in n case heard , ill' the Police -Court , yesterday before Messrs. Cioodhe.hero and Pirani, J.IVs, when John 'Cowdry pleaded guilty to a charge- of j selling a rug from Dr. Willis's niotoivcar at Halcombe on November 12,' 1009. Mr. Ongloy,. who appeared for the defence, said that while his client had pleaded guilty to the qft'ep.co he really , did not know anything - about it. The person who had taken tho rug hnd.lefti.it at Ilia place, and. ib. had remained there ever since. He did not- give the name of tho ; thief beoaiisu, if hi) did, he would lose his billet, and therefore he (Cowdry) was prepared to take the consequences. Mr. Ongloy asked that the case bo.dismissed. Sergeant Jackson expressed'the opinion that tho tale was "too thin." When tho rug was loumt at accused's .place ho said ho would plead not. gujlty as ho 1 did not know anything about it, yet.lie lived next door to. whe.ro tho theft had been committed. Tho Bench decided to fine accused £5 'or.a month's imprisonment, pointing out that the defence aggravated the case- as it was accused's duty to give -information about the thiof instead of shielding a third party. If his statement was correct lie should have handed the rug over to tlio authorities before tho fine was imposed. : OTAKI. . ; For the hockey championship tho two local teams and Manakau are now pracr fcically on;, nn oven, footing, and the result of each match will bo awaited with interest. In the last match Otaki, for tho'second time, in succession, defeated- Rahui,- Otaki's country team. : ..'....• • A young man named Daniel Murphy, who came- from Wellington, died on Thursday night at the Otaki Hospital. Deceased lias been in failing health for some time, and had been in tho sanatorium since December last.' ! A meeting of St. Paul's Anglican Church Council was hold in'the vicarage, Paxaparaumu, on .' Wednesday. The Re\. J.'. Edwili Jones presided; and Mosdames Heffer, Edwin Jones, Uio Misses A. Berretti, R. Filton, W. Whiting, Messrs H. 'Brandt, M. Maclean, It. Kelson, C. Miillis," ■ W. J. Wyman, 'and Mr. A. Dempsey (lion, secretary and treasurer) wore present. j(t was decided to hold a concert at an early, date, arid a sports and salo of ivork in October. The necessity of liaving the church painted was discussed, and other business transacted. Reports from • tho different ■ societies wore receivedi- • : -: ■.

; A meeting of the Paeknkariki.Anglican Church Council was hold, on Monday last, the Rev. J. Edwin Jones presiding. Members present wero: Mesdames Tilley, .Hoi-e, Lloyd-Drewitt, Jliss Tilley, and Messrs.' It. Johnson; Lloyd-Drowitt, and Mr. H; T. 'Cooper (lion, secretary and treasurer). It jvas decided to hold a concert in aid of the church:'funds' as soon as possible; Reports of the different, societies were received. ' , .' A court case of interest to a number of Otaki business men is set down for hearing at the Mmerstoii North ..Court;') at tho end of this month. It is alleged that, somo time ago, a cauA'asser,;booked, spaces for six business ineri on a pictorial almanac, promising to distribute six'hundred copies (including one hundred each with cncli.firm's special advertisement in , different' coloured ink). It is now alleged that the contract was broken, arid tho court will be asked to decide. ' ;. SHANNON. ■ About 200 peopta were present at slr. J. R. Stanscll's clearing sale on Wednesday and 2-10 lots were disposed of in four and a half hours. : Good prices wore generally realised. The Rev. C. A. Sims, who is vialing tho churches of the Wellington district on behalf of tho Primitive Methodist Conference, and in the interests of Sunday school work, will preach in the local church on Sunday morning. On Monday evening he will meet tho Sunday school teachers arid their friends, and later in the evening, will givo an elocutionary 'recital. Mr. J: R. Stansell, J.P., who is shortly leaving the district, has convened a public meeting for this evening, when he proposes to turn the searchlight on certain. .local matters. He will particularly deal with the necessity .of, and the objections to, a new post office.;. In connection , with tho petition whicli lie has been circulating asking the Government not to grant a bonus for an improved process for dressing flax, he will also deal with the question of "royalties" on flax, contending that tho granting of such a.bonus will increase the revenue ol owners of flax country at tho expense of the community. CREYTOWN. The .Moroa Water-race Committee met here' oil Thursday, and after discussion decided to approximate the cost of head works and main water-race at £1200. It was also decided that the Greytown-Borough Council bear fiveeighteenths of the cost, Moroa. "water;, race six-eighteenths, and tho.Extension Committee seveu-eightebriths. The lastnamed body is also to bear the cost 'of. any necessary widening of the existing main'trunk water-race. Mr. Hare Parata states that he has received ten tons.-of marble in connec-' tion with the monument which is to bo erected at Papawai in honour of Tamahua Mahupuku. 'Die sculptural work has been done by Mi - . Inglowofth, of 'Wellingotn, and Messrs.'Helyer will erect tho monument. Tho panels will not be put in till just previous'to the unveiling. The Maoris unanimously desire his. Excellency the Governor to unveil the statue. Mr. Parata will call a meeting of the trustees, including Mr. Hamilton, the procurator of the museum, in September next. The business before the meeting will be appointing • a chairman, secretary, and custodian. The unveiling wi'll taku place in March next.

CARTERTON. The. Cartcrton Gun Club held a "shoot" on Thursday afternoon, when there was a good muster of competitors, and soiiio fino shooting was witnessed. Sir. J. S. Lnurciison (Cartcrton) won tlio first prize, a rifle, given ijy the Colonial Ammunition Company, ol Auckland. The second prize fell to Mr. J. Warrington, heing a pipe and case, presented by Mr. W. Howard Booth, who, it is understood, has promised another trophy. Court Marquis of Nonnnnby, A.0.F., have ro-clecUxl Bros. H. H. Armstrong and C. Moore as their representatives on the Cnrtcrton United Friendly Societies' Council. In the card tourney the court defeated tho Oddfellows by m games to 3'!. , The local butchers and bakers met Masterton members of the trade in a fricridly name of football on Thursday afternoon, on the local recreation' reserve. All interesting game was witnessed, ending in favour of the home team by 11 points to 6. In the evening both teams dined together at tho Marquis of.Normnnby Hotel.