PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 10

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Special Correspondents.) * WOODVILLE. The monthly meeting of the Woodvillo Borough Council was held on Thursday evening, tho Mayor presiding. Correspondence was received from the Oroua County Council similar to that received by the Woodville County Council respecting the interest clue on tho Gorge Bridge. An answer to the letter is to bo given next month. The Mastertcn Road settlers wrote expressing a desire to discontinuo negotiations for water supply to be carried down their road, on tho ground that they could not agree as to the area over which a rate should be struck to pay costs. Mrs. G. Perfect waited on the council with a complaint that a resident was keeping pigs in an enclosure eloso to her residence, and these were becoming a nuisance. The resident is to be notified that he must conform to the by-law respecting the matter, or bo prosecuttd- Mr. W. 11. Nelson applied to havo water laid on to his house, which is outside the pipe boundary, but the question of costs of continuing the main proved to bo a stumbling block. Eventually the question was referred to the Works Committee to decide. A deputation from the Bowling Club waited on tho council and induced them to rescind a former resolution regarding the rolling of tho green. The green is now to be rolled immediately before a match is played. Building permits were granted for the mouth, the figures amounting to £700. The fee charged to the Anglican Church for its new schoolroom is to be refunded. Coal will for the future be charged at a high rate, with discount given if the amount is paid within 15 days. Tho discount allowed will practically bring the price down to tho charges that have previously been made. Those who neglect to square their account by tho given date will bo required to pay the higher rate. Seventeen thousand feet of gas is now being used in excess of that used for tho month of February of last year. Mr. F. J. Ilutchins lias been appointed town clerk, but the ofDco arrangements will be carried on the same as hitherto, Mr. Sturmer having a year yet to run oil his engagement. In connection with the drainage works, Mr. Metcalfe recommended that settling tanks be used for th'o treatment works.

Members of tho Racing Clubs' Conference paid a flying visit to Woodvillo this week. They inspected the local Jockey Club's property on Thursday.

FEATHERSTON,

Mr. H. D. Bedford gave an address hero on Tuesday night on tho subject of tho liquor traffic. Only a moderate audicnco attended, but the speaker was listened to with eloso attention, and received a vote of thanks. The Kacing Commissioners paid a visit of inspection to tho Tauhcrinikau racecourso yesterday, and afterwards went by motor-car to Martinborough, for the purpose of viewing the racecourse there. They left for Wellington in tho afternoon. The Feathcrstou Golf Club ha« arranged with J. C. Johnston, tho Manawatu Golf Club's professional, to give lessons on the links hero from March 13 to 20.

OTAKI,

Bishop Walliß and Mrs. Wallis arrived here on Wednesday evening, and left r for Wellington i. again yesterday afternoon. They, were the guests of rM'ri'ixhncboMrs. iGWrA. W.'Monckton during their brief stay hero.

Mr. Murdoch, who intends to contest tho Otaki seat, begins bis campaign early next month.

Prospects for the Easter bowling tournament are bright, hut -Wellington will probably be poorly represented owing to an annual fixture with tho Nelson Club. Tho local club aro arranging for each club to send up to two teams each.

The avorago attendance at tho local Stato School last month was IG3, which was considered by tho committee at its last meeting to be satisfactory. Permission was given to Miss M'Mahon to hold elocutionary classes at tho school.

At a committee meeting of _ the Horticultural Society a discussion took placo as to whether to have the show "officially opened" or allow no opening speech. Tho latter courso was almost unanimously agreed to, several mentioning that speeches wero considered "a bore."

, Mr. Larkin, stationmaster, is at present on furlough, his placo being filled by Mr. H. Bennett. Mr. Bust, clerk, has been transferred to Timaru, and tho vacancy thus created is boing filled by Mr. Gallagher.

It is likely that one of our hotels will chango hands in tho courso of a few day 3. Somo 28 motor cyclists passed through hero to-day en route for Wanganui, in connection with" tho reliability trials. Tho majority passed through between 9 and 10 a.m., only one mishan occurring throughout. It is expectccf the cyclists will return hero about noon to-morrow. ■

At tho last meeting of the Eoad Board only routine business was transacted. A complaint was received by Mr. Clifford, who had had his trap capsized owing to tho narrowness of tho Te lioti Koad. lie claimed los. damages. The matter wa9 left in the hands of the chairman. It was decided that tho board could not spend any further money on tho X. Manakau Koad, which gavo access'to land owned b'y a syndicate, but any money available is to be spent on the Beach Koad. Tho wardens also agreed that tho installation of a telephone was desirable, and this it was decidcd should l>o carried out. Tho matter of a stone-crusher was dismissed, and it was decided to procure information regarding tho machine now nt work at Levin. It was decided to improve tlio Main County Road near tho railway station.

SHANNON

Mr. G. 11. Gibb presided over a Rood attendance in the Druids' Hall on Tuesday evening, when the annual general meeting of-the Literary and Debating Society was held. Tlio following officebearers were elected, tho election of the president being deferred until tho first ordinary meeting of the society president, Mr. Selby; secretary, Mr. E. J. .Tudd; treasurer. Mr. E. Perry: committee, Mrs. Laurrig, Misses Moutcath, and G. Gardner, Messrs. Gunning, Clayton, and Honsman. The question of forming a debating union on this Coast was discussed, and it was decided that an attempt should bo made to form such a union, and that the district should extend from Palmerstall North to Otald, including Foxton. Tho following wero amongst the recommendations made to the incoming committee:—(l) That tho social evenings should be limited to tv;o during (he session, exclusive of (he ladies' night; (2) that oratorical competitions and competitive debates should be held. Mr. Gibb, the retiring president, in his address, emphasised the necessity of members taking tho debates seriously l>y closely studying the question under discussion, and, instead of indulging in general and somewhat rambling statements, by conforming themselves to the salient features ol' the subject. He exhorted members to show enthusiasm and spirit in the discussions, and not lo be afraid of taking mid giving hard knocks. During the session just concluded, the membership comprised 52 ladies and 51 men. The balanco in hand is -C 3 9s. 7d. At the conclusion of tho meeting. Mr. W. Clayton presented Mr. Gibb with twenty-five volumes of "Everyman's Library," as a memento of his term of office, and a token of the good work which lie had done for the society, and the esteem in which members held him. Other speakers also made very complimentary reference to Mr. Gibb's work in connection with the society, and wished liim success in his future career. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Clayton, tho retiring secretary, for the services rendered during the past two years.