DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1759, 26 May 1913, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM ALL SOURCES.

LEVIN. Air. and Mrs. W. .1. Heading, who fiavo been living in Wanganni for the past year or livo, have returned to Levin, and 'are about; to settle here, permanently. lCoputa I'iki residents gave tho local schoolmaster a send-oll' on Thursday evening, on the eve of his departure to Ngaio, lo"'whieh M'heol he has received proniot ionTim annual general meeting of tho Levin Horticultural Society was held on Thursdily night, Mr. Marco Fosella presiding. The receipts for the year totalled XI.III 18s. Ltd., and tho society has a credit balance in hand of J212 18s. lOd. The year was stated lo havo been very Hilisf'aclory on tin.' whole. All'. James I'rouso was re-elected president, and other olliccs were tilled as follow:— Treasurer, Mr. I.'. W. Goldsmith; auditors, Messrs. T. O. Vincent and W. S. Park; secretary, Mr. li. D. Wallace. FEILDING. By the s.s. Manuka, which left Wellington on Friday, Air. G. Fitzpatrick vovag'is to Sydney, accompanied by his wife and son, for a month's holiday. Other Feilding folks on the Atanit'ka are Air. and Mrs. .1. Darragh and Ali?.s Joyce Darragh, anil Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Darragh and their daughter, of liongotea, all of whom are going to tho Old Country. A meeting of tho creditors in tho bankrupt estate of F. S. 11. Waitc, late of Kinibnlton, was called for Thursday afternoon. At the appointed time, however, the onlv persons present were tho D.O.A. (Afr. G. J. Scott), tho bankrupt, and his solicitor (Air. Graham). In accordance with the instructions of the Wanganni Education Board, Empire Day (Alay 2-1) was celebrated in tho schools of this education district on Friday, owing to tho regular dato falling on a Saturday. All the lessons of tho day were made specially applicable to tho occasion, and at a suitable interval tho Hag was saluted and addresses were given by members of school committees and other local bodies.

STRATFORD. At the meeting of tho Stratford County Council 011 Wednesday. Councillor Smith expressed his views with considerable emphasis regarding tho heavy contribution which tho council is compelled to pay to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board funds. He pointed nut that the Comity Council, with an annual payment of nearly £1000, had had less than sixty patients in the hospital, while tho Borough Council, paying about a sixth of that sum, had had between GO and TO in tho same period. An interesting debate was held at_ tho Egmont Club on Wednesday, Mr. N. J. King, tho president, being in the chair. Tho committee recommended a list of rules for the Literary and Debating Society, which will hold meetings every Wednesday. Mr. R. M'K. Morison, who has for a number of years. acted, as speaker for the Parliamentary Union, was asked again to take the chair.

The Druids' dance held on Wednesday in the Foresters' Hall proved a success in spite of bad weather. ■ Messrs. Reader and Jones acted as M.C.'s.

The Stratford correspondent of the "Taranaki Herald" remarks that the local general rate now equals "about £1 per head of population, or ill 15s. per head of the special rates are added.

WANGANUI. The Borough Council has passed a resolution on the motion of Councillor Luxford "that in respect to all works of the borough special committees be set up to inquire into every department with regard to the administration of details of i-uch and every department, the objeet being to ascertain if there is any possible way of reducing the cost per annum of administration."

At a meeting of tho trustees of tho Trinity Methodist Church on Thursday evening it was .resolved that immediate consideration be given to. the question of subdividing the church property in the Avenue for business purposes.

The Caledonian Society made a loss of over .£72 on last year's working, due chiefly to the fact that tho prize money had been increased and that wet weather seriously aiTected'ithe "gates" on sports day. It was also'explained by the secretary that the expenses in connection.with tho banquet last year were greater than l previously. . ' .

Mr. "Bob" Johnston, late of .the Fordcll Hotel, has been seriously ill for some time past.

Mr. N. Mackenzie Forbes intends to leave on a trip to tho Old Country shortly.

A series of entertainments is being arranged for the purpose of wiping off the debt on the Wanganui East English Church. Tho first was got up bv Mrs. Liiul' and Miss Helm and took placo on Tuesday. HASTINGS.

Work has been commenced upon the Ngaruroro River mouth, and is proceeding satisfactorily. The staging is now in course of erection.

A farmer in tho Hastings district has picked 150 cases of winter pears from twelve trees.

A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Frcdorick Jlorston Frankland, architect, was held on Thursday. Tho statement of liabilities and assets wns as follows:—Liabilities: Unsecured creditors, £209 19s. 7d. Assets: Stock-in-trade, .£11; book debts, £96 9s. Sd.; furniture, £22; total, £129 9s. bd. Apparent deficiency, £1(0 9s. lid.

Tho nominations for tho vacancy on the Borough Council close on Tuesday, Juno 3, before noon, and tho election takes r'ace on Juno 9. A meeting of tho Nursing Brigade was held on Tuesday, Miss Rctemeyer presiding. It was dccided that the St. John first aid class should start next month.

NAPIER, Mr. D. A. Strachan, M.A., recently appointed by the Hawko's Bay Education Board to fill tho position vacated by Inspector Smith (resigned), arrived ill Napier on Thursday evening, accompanied by Mrs. Strachan.

Tlio Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown) told tho Napier Borough Council at theit meeting last week that they would be in a very serious financial position for tho next six months. Very many of tho loan works, which were at first presented to them as very rosy, were not looking so well at present, and ho instanced tho electric lighting in this conncction. "Wo have got to be-very careful this six months, gentlemen, to see whero wo are," he concluded.

The Borough Council has decided to request the Valuer-General to have tho borough valued as foon as possible jo as to have everything ready for the introduction of the rating on the unimproved values system iu March next. . Attention was drawn by Councillor Plowman at tho council meeting to tho cash receipts at the baths. Ho said for .March l.liev were -MS Ms., and for last month JJIG Is. 10d. He thought it) was just about time to reduce expenditure. It was agreed to ask Jlr. Black, consulting engineer, if he could devise any schemo for wanning the baths during the winter season by moans of the electric power.

CARTERTON. The funeral of the late Mr. G. W. Deller look phco on Friday afternoon, and was very largely attended. A number of beautiful wreaths wero sent by the various public todies with which deceased had been < associated. Tho cortcgc included representatives of the Masonic Lodge, Oddfellows' Lodge, Wnirarapa P. and A. Society, Borough Council, Bowlill" Club, and other institutions. A short service was held at St. Mark's 'Church, and this and tho service at the cometory was conducted by the Rev. li. Young. FEATHERSTON. A hockey match was played hero on Thursday between the Featherston Hockey Chili and Maslerlon Post and Telegraph leam, I lie latter wining by six to nil. Tlio iii>|: half of I he game was played by the Featherston team, with two men short. The local Debating Society held a Parliamentary •evening on Tuesday, when Messrs. G". T. Baker. A. C. Holms, and J. 11. Fieldhouse formed the "Government," and introduced a number of debatable measures. Next Tuesday will be an open night, when a musical programme will be provided by local vocalists. Prospects locally far the opening of the shunting seaMin on Juno - are reported to he good. Ducks and swans are plentiful Ibis season in tho vicinity of tho lake, I Additions are now being made to tlio

South Fen I horston School, and when these aro completed tho erection of a residence for tho head teacher will lx> gone on wit]).

Tho balance-sheet of the Featherston Town Board for tho year ending March :il last shows a crcilit baalnco of .£lB 3s. 7il. in the general account. 'J'ho rates to ho levie(l for the current year will be tho same as last year's, m.:—General, .'lid.; library, 1-6(1.; water loan interest;, l l-Ud.; sanitary charge, 10s. per • place, anil in addition, a rato of 1-lld. will be .struck on account of tho Coronation Bath. It is intended lo hold a special meeting on Weiine.-silny to consider the question of enlarging and improving the Town Hall. TAIHAPE. The 'l'aihupn railway staff are making arrangements for holding a fancy dresrf ball at an early date. At the horse salo at Taihapo saleyards on Tuesday, the proceeds from tho salo of two horses were donated to (he District Hospital fund, tho one given by Mr. Berch fetching £<$ 2s. Gd., and Sir. Peacock's gift producing 10s. With tho Government subsidy tho gross amount will reach about .£2!j. Tho amount of Mr. G. A. Somervillo's donation to the Wanganni Hospital Hoard for the Taihape Hospital was .£4B 10s. With the Goverlinient subsidy of 21s. in the .£, the sum represented by the donation will be ,£lO6 14s. Tho "Taihape Daily Times" complains that it seems impossible to move the authorities responsible for the insanitary state of the police sergeant's residence. FOXTON. Tho "Manawatu Herald" states that it is about time the railway authorities took action to prevent what it describes as tho scandalous and riotous behaviour of a nuniljer of men who, on certain evenings, board the Foxton bound train at Palmerston, under the influence of liquor, and with a plentiful supply of liquid refreshments in bottles.

Mrs. Wrigley, who underwent an operation at a private hospital in Palmerston North last week, is reported to bo making a satisfactory recovery. Much regret has been expressed at the death of Mrs. H. Osborne, which occurred on Wednesday evening after a painful illness. She was actively connected with the local Alethodist Church, and officiated as organist for a considerable period. OTAKI. The following have been elected officers of the Otaki No-License League:—President, Mr. W. H. Herd; vice-presidents, ministers and Salvation Army officers of the district; secretary, Atr. H. Andrew; treasurer, Afr. Sims; auditor, Afr. T. G. Vincent. After tho election, the Rev. J. Dawson, secretary to the Alliance, gave the meeting useful information. The local Dairy Company paid out Is. per lb. for butter-fat last month. There is a great decrease in the milk yield at present, compared with this time last year. Winter has set in much earlier, and the weather conditions hate been worse than, for some time.

Tliuro has been a fresh fall of snow on the Tararuas, and although bright sunshine prevails there is a wintry feel in the air.

Mr. Jamieson, of tho local staff of Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., has been transferred to Palmerston. His place will be taken by Mr. W. G. Lyons, of Palmerston North. At tho Manakau Debating Club's last meeting, a "newspaper" night was held. Mr. M'Bain presided, and there was a good attendance, moio new members being added. The subjects treated were: Leading article, Mr. M'Bain; cablegrams, Mr. Andrew; correspondence, Mr. Quayle; personals, Mr. A. Askew; shipping, Mr. A. Atkins. A good deal of discussion took place, and a profitable evenill" was spent. Next meeting a debate will be held on the kincmatograph, Messrs. Thomson and Andrew being the lenders. .... Mrll Hildreth has sold lus property, North Manakau, and leaves. shortly for Palmerston North. Since purchasing Mr. Hildreth's farm, tho buyer has resold lo Mr. Johnson, of Masterton, who will tako possession at once.

MARTON. The Rangitikei County Council's expenditure tor tho year ending March 31, 19.1 i, is estimated at .£25,011, and it is expected that the year will close with a debit balance of slightly over .£3OOO on tho general account. Tho general rates in the various ridings arc estimated as follow:—Rangiitoto Riding, .£1590; Otakapu Riding, £1310; Porewa Riding, ,£1750; Wangaoliu, £1390; Rangatira, £1520; Otairi, £2000; To Kapua, £3000; Aivavua, £2100; Erowlion, £1100. Tho following is the estimated expenditure on road works in tho ridingsßangitoto, £1242; Otakapu, £1379; Porowa, £1018; Wangaehu, £1895; Kangatira, £1552; Otairi, £1515; To Kapua, £2GSO; Awarua, £2190; Erowlion, £1120. ■ A meeting of tho Rangitikei Rugby Sub-Union was held on Wednesday night, when thorp were present Messrs. 11. M'Manawav (chairman), H. Y. Cameron, A. Way, W. Hoskings, W. Carter, and g' Argo. Permission was granted to affiliated clubs to play in tho seven-a-side tournament at Palmerston North on June 3. The senior shield match, Bulls v. Hunterville, at Bulls, was altered to bo played on Juno 11. The llun-tervillo-Marton junior match will bo plaved on June 3. Tho secretary was instructed to write to Huutervillo Club re playing a League player in last Saturday's match, and also to inform all affiliated clubs that players must play in club colours, otherwise tho referees will be instructed to stop players not properly attired from playing in shield or cup matches. An effort is to l)o made to compel playors to insure under tho Union insuranco 6chemo.

EKETAHUNA. A spccial meeting of tho Borough Council, held at tho electric lighting powerhouse, on Wednesday evening, adopted a proposal to instal a Pelton wheel at an estimated cost of £310 f.o.b. Wellington. Tho engineer explained that the wheel would savo the best part of .£2OO yearly if installed; it would give a larger motor revenue, as motors would bo alilo to run all day instead of from 1 p.m. as at present; and it would take tho load off tho batteries. Tho oells would in the course of time peter out, and tho whMl would replace them . Councillor Herbert, in moving in favour of obtaining a Pelton wheel, said tho question was, whether I hey should spend moro money to make the plant well, or continue to run it at a loss. Councillors Wise and Piko voted against the proposal, and Councillor Wiso gavo notice of motion to rescind tho resolution. At tho ordinary monthly meeting of tho Eketaliuna Fire Brigade on Wednesday evonin", Fireman Anderson, who is leaving tha district, tendered his resignation, which was accepted with regret. On tho motion of Captain Grcnthead, it was decided to hold a, social in the Public Hall iu 3"**Tho team to represent tho Eketahuna branch of the New Zealand Fanners' Union in tho Dominion riflo competition will bo selected from tho following:Messrs. Marenzi, 11. Kobbell, J. P. Lowes, T. Wilton, H. Ashworth, T. Groves, and N. Waldin.

Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, For Coughs and Colds, never fails, Is. 6d."