PALMERSTON DAY BY DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1051, 14 February 1911, Page 2

PALMERSTON DAY BY DAY.

(If3m Oar Own Correspondent.! • Palmerston North. February 13. , The Palmerston Guards, who have been in camp on .the show grounds for the past week, strike camp to-morrow. Under Captain M'Murray a considerable amount of solid work hasjieen done, helping very materially to bring the men up to a state of efficiency. A number of grass fires haTe caused ,v considerable amount of loss in the district lately. In most cases tho fires have been caused through sheer carelessness in throwing.down lighted matches. After ■ seven or _ eight weeks of hot sun and drying winds, with scarcely a drop of ram in the meantime, it is easily understood that most of the pastures are .like tinder, and,' with the heavy winds prevailing, a serious fire is easily started. Thp annual picnic in connection .with the_ l'ohangina'branch of the Farmers' "Union is to bo held at tho Awahou Forest Eqserve :on Saturday next. This gathering is a most popular one, and is attended by settlers from all over the ■ district. •; Tho new stationmaste'r at Ashhurst, Mr. Stansell, will take up 'his duties there about the end of this month. . The local Saltation -Army Band is. becoming quite a powerful organisation, now numbering over thirty members. Three new silver-plated trombones have just been received from tho Army's instrument factory at -Borne. Mr. T. Harland, who has resigned the position ' of engineer to the Pohangina County Council, to tako charge of the roads in the Ohnra district,, has been granted six 'weeks' leave on full pay. • Mr. W.-Short, King's trumpeteri who is here to .judge tho competitions at the band contest,, is the guest ,of Mr. E. • Pees, while in this town. In company, with tho Mayor, Mr. Pees took his guest yesterday for a motor ride around the district, and Mr. Short was . greatly struck with many of the things'he saw, more especially some of the. orchards, which. he considered were' marvellous sights. Yesterday afternoon Mr.- Short gave a number of trumpet selections at the Hospital, which were greatly appreciated. A hearty vote of thanks, moved by Mr. W. Stubbs, secretary oi the Hospital Board, was carried by acclamation. .The monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held on Saturday,•! Councillor E. W. Brown, (chairman) presiding, The. chairman and treasurer were authorised to sign the debentures in conrtction with the loan for London's ford' bridge. 'In;connection with the.Junction ford bridge, tho clerk was instructed to take tho necessary steps' to secure a fnTthcr 10- per cent, on the loan for this work, with which to, pay Mr. Eoundth.waite's account. It was resolved "to caneel the leases .of-certain reserves-unless the rent is paid up within seven days. The treasurer's Teport showed that only <£62. in rates, jvero outstanding.A considerable amount of routine correspondence and business was dealt with. Ac- , counts amounting- ,to '.£455 - were ..passed for. payment..; ;- > - ; .' . ' -

.The second stace of the competition for tjis Palmerston Rifles' Company Belt was .completed .on Saturday 'at 500 and 600 yards, the top scores./being: Volunteer Mills. 49— Volunteer Griggs,\ 47r"42—50; Volunteer Hudson, -30--16—85; SerRrajjt; Stock; -43—42—85; Corporal _,BaH, ikrvlO—B4. The highest aggregates in the lirst two stages are:* Volunteer 'Mills, ; 176, Volhnteer Griggs ,176. .Sergeant Stock ; 169,-' Volunteer Hudson 168, ; Corporal., Ball 107. for the non-coms'.^shield, 1 200, "500, and '60# yards, tho best. scores are-.:Volunteer' Mills 94, Volunteer:-Griggs -92, Corporal' Ball 90, Sergeant; Stock. 89. • '

Tho Palmerston.::Tennis Club, has . received 230-. entries: for, its ' tournament, .to ■be held on Friday aiid Saturday next, among them being representatives from AVrilinsiton. Christchurch, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Australia, . Wairarapa,' AVanganui, Pahiatua,. and Eangitikei.