DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1767, 4 June 1913, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM ALL SOURCES. WANGANUI. Tho Customs duties collected at the port of Wanganui for May totalled =£(U9i Is. 3d., as compared with ,£7103 18s. 3d. for May, 1912. The Waitotara County Council has prepared a schedulo for tlio badly-needed road formation in the. Rangitatau and Kauarapoa districts. The total cost is (C 1750, and it is intended to apply to the Government for that amount, as the'work would lie a boon to a considerable number of settlers, whose pliglit in the v,'inter, owing to want of communication, is very bad. When the Mackenzie Government was in power, a promiso was made to the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce that u telephone sorvice would bo installed between Wanganui and Raetihi. On going into the matter, however, the present Government decided that it was not advisable to carry out the work, and, in rcsponso to fresh representations l>y the chamber, tho Prime Minister has replied that as it would involve a metallic circuit, the expenditure could not be arranged, while the earth circuit (which the previous Government had intended to use) would not be satisfactory. Members of the chamber expressed great indignation. when tho Primo Minister's letter was read at last night's meeting, the president, Mr. D. MTarlane, saying that a copper circuit for such * comparatively short distance was absurd. Ho pointed out that the Government had just gone to the oxponso of IGO tons of copper for a metallic circuit between tha cities of Auckland and Wellington, yet refused a telephone service to tlie back-block settlers, who were thus handicapped whenever they wanted a doctor. Finally it was left to tho exeeutivo to continue to press the matter. The Chamber of Commerce has decided to endorse tho Wellington Chamber's proposal to get all importers of manures to use bags of a uniform size. Tho chamber has also decided to call tlie attention of tho chambers of commerce at Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill to the varying sizes of grain sacks, and to suggest the use of a sack 2(iJ inches wide and 4G to J8 incites long. The death of Mr. Wm. Atkinson at the age of 62 years, which occurred! at his residence, liiver Bank, on Sunday afternoon, will be received, with peneral regret. Deceased was an old identity of Wanganui, and leaves a widow and an adult family of four sons and three daughters. At Maxwelltown School on Friday last a presentation was made to Miss Piercy, who has been, appointed first assistant toacher at Ashhiirst. NAPIER. The missing tramway plans, which at first were thought to have been stolen, were found lying on the road in one of the main streets >of the town.. It seems that some children found them and took them home to their mother, who, apparently thinking the paper was eminently suitable for covering jam jars, placed them on a shelf for that purpose. A meeting of the Napier Thirty-Thou-sand Club was held on Monday evening, seventeen members being present. Mr. H. Latham presided. Falling into line with some other centres, the Napier Borough Council will, at a special meeting to-night, consider a by-law regulating the wearing of hatpins in public places. The Napier Bowling Club's green closed down for the season yesterday. r

Mrs. Georgo M'Kenzie, honorary secretary of the Ramabni Mission to the Child Widows of India, received word on lionday of the sudden death of her husband at Queenstown, and left by the Monowai for tho south.

A Cinderella dance was given in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening by the Mcroantilo Hockey Club in honour of tho visit of the Gisborne (Mercantile) team. Between 30 and 40 couples were pi'esent. Music was provided by Mr. Redshaw (piano) and Miss M'Carthy (violin). Mr'. Rudolph Anderson acted as secretary, and Mr. F. W. Melhuish as M.C. The supper' tables-were supervised by Mrs. and Miss Muriel Swain. On Saturday evening a country resident left his motor-car on tho Marine Parade. When ho returned 45 minutes later the car was not to be found. Next morning it was discovered in Clive Square and,-the meter showed that it had travelled 40 miles.

Tho band concert given by the boys ] of the Wellington Central .Mission on the j parade on Saturday night was much ap- ■ predated by a large crowd of spectators. ] On Sunday the band favoured tho inmates of the hospital with a selection of sacred music. A final concert was given in the Princess Hall last night. NEW PLYMOUTH. For tho month of May, 40 births, 11 deaths, and 7 marriages were registered in, New Plymouth, as against 25 births, 12 deaths, and 5 marriages last year. A block of land at Tariki, recently purchased by the Government, is to bo opened for selection on renewable lease some time this month. The area is considerably over 700 acres, the land being considered very fair dairying country. Mr. J. Brown, chairman of tho Taranaki County Council has been appointed delegate to tho Counties' Association to be held in Wellington. Mr. C. W. Uovett leaves on Tuesday nest by the Athenic for tho Old Country. On Monday, Mr. J. C. Webster was presented by New Plymouth merchants and travellers witl a handsome address in appreciation of his services while agent at New Plymouth for the Northern Steamship Company. Miss E. F. Maco has resigned her position as typiste of the Taranaki County Council. Mr. T. G. Hirst, manager of the local branch of the Bank of Australasia, left on Saturday night for Eotorua to undertake relieving duty. He will also umdergo medical treatment at the same time. Mrs. Reginald Bayley had the misfortune to break her leg on Saturday afternoon, and is at present an inmate of a private hospital, where she is progressing satisfactorily. Mr. 11. 13. Crust, late of the Royal Pictures, has been appointed manager of one of the Sydney picturo shows. Local Territorials who have been attending the "casual" camp returned to their homes on Saturday. On Sunday night the New Plymouth Orchestral Society gavsj a concert in the Theatre Royal, in aid of the funds of the hospital, the hospital will benefit, adding the Government subsidy to tho net receipts, to the extent of about .£2O. HASTINGS. An exceptionally fine day was experienced for the holiday and practically tha whole community s|.ent tne day out oi doors. The eighteenth annual ' shoot for the Coleman Shield took place on the Tutaekuri Rifle Range yesterday. An extremely tricky wind was blowing across the range. Six teams, comprising three from Napier, two from Hastings, and one from Woodville, took part and notwithstanding the wind some very fair scores were registered. Tho winners of the shield the last time it was shot for in 1911, were the' Napier Guards, and in 1912 a drill competition was held which was won by tho Napier machine-gun section. Sergeant Ryder, Hastings Rifles, was the winner of the champion belt in 1911. On the present occasion the Hastings B Company won by the narrow margin of two points. Corporal Batt won the belt. Tho winning team comprised Corporal Batt, Corporal Glassford, Sergeant Guthrie, Private M'Lean, Major Hoklerness, Corporal Miller, Corporal Night, Private Whitlock, Privato Lambert, Private Crompton, Col-our-Sergeant George, and Private Davis. A special meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce called for Monday afternoon to consider a telegram from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, :n regard to the suggested comnact between the Union Steam Ship Company and the Federation of Labour, lapsed for want of a quorum. In a letter apologising for his absence, Mr. Eustace Lane stated that he considered that ail unJiccc«arv fuss had been made by the Farmers' Union of the supposed compact between the shipping compv ies and !tho workers. He thought it would be a grand thing if there was a compact which would bo. kept. •V meeting of tho nowlv-formed Hastings Orphans' Club was held in the Grind Hotel last evening. Mr. A. L. I). Fraser presiding. The following officer:, were elected:—Chief Orphan, Mr. A. L. D. Fraser; deputy-orphans, Dr. M Ivibbm and Mr. E. Basil Jones; secretary, Mi, A. E, Dllewa; treasurer, Mr. G, Tlaitshozaj

committee, Messrs. N. Bc-nt-Kin, H. .J. Nlingers, J. Craig, E. J. W. HalMt, and F. B. Ryne. , Tlio following; is the full list of nominations for the Borough Council sent rendered vacant as tho result of Councillor W. Hart having been elected. Muvor•: Messrs. W. Lane, AV. Turner and • Whit®. The last-mentioned hus been nominated bj; the Labour party whicti is making special efforts to securo hia return - . , Mr. W. H. Cook, who has resigned the combined position of engineer and town clerk to tho Hastings Borough Council, was. met by the members of the permanent clerical and outside staff at noon on Saturdav, vlien Mr. IV. fi. Oallendor, assistant town clerk, on their behalf, asked Mr. Cook to accept a case of pipes as a. token of their regard. Keen regret was expressed at Mr. Cook's severance from his official position, and best wishes were extended to him for "a prosperous career in business on his own account. Mr. Cook will remain in office pending the appointment of his successor. MASTERTON. The annual conference of the Wellington Dioceso of the Church of England Men's Society was concluded to-day, when a long discussion took place on tlio question of Bible-reading in schools, and a resolution was carricd: —"That this conference urges all members of tho Church of England Men's Society branches in this dioceso to vigorously support the Bible-in-State-schools movement." A hockey tournament was played here to-day, in which six teams competed. Section "A" was won by the P. and T. team, and Section "B" by Carterton. In the play-off Carterton won by three goals to ml. . The Masterton Gun Club fired a match to-day, which was won by J. Harvey, while a sweepstake fell to A. Irons, of reatherston. The Masterton and_ Wairarapa Golf Clubs played a match on Lanrxlowne links to-day, which ended in a draw, each side securing seven 'games. DANNEVIRKE. Dannevirke received a couple of earthquake shocks—one on Sunday morning shortly before twelve, and the other on Monday 4.45 a.m. They were not severe enough to cause any damage. The funeral of the late Mrs. Hawkins took place on Sunday at the Mangatera Cemetery, being conducted by the Rev. C. E. Nicholas. On Saturday the Wellington Central Mission Boys' Band, while passing through Dannevirke on their way to Napier for the week-end, played several selections at the station in honour of Ensign Garner, of the local Salvation Army, who was at one time Superintendent of the Mission. A settler cf Upper Piri Piri, while returning from town with his wife and family in a gig, had a rather narrow escape from an accident at the now somewhat notorious Piri Piri crossing, where Mr. Dean recently lost his life. The Taramoa Road cheese factory, Piri Piri, finally closed down for the' season .on Saturday last. This is much earlier than last year, when it continued operations well into July. PAHIATUA. The Rev. R. Richards and Mrs. Richards are on a visit to Wellington. Mr. T. E. Corkhill, of the inspecting staff of the Bank of New Zealand, is at present on a visit to Pahiatua. Mr. W. A. Taylor, who has been farming at Mangatai'noka, has disposed of his property to Mr. Crosswell, of tho Nelson district. Mr. Taylor intends settling at Levin. The bakers of Pahiatua have decided not to raiso the price of broad in consequence of tho rise in flour, but in future will conduct a cash business. A sharp shock of earthquake, preceded by- a low rumbling, was felt in Pahiatua at ten minutes to five on Monday morning. The direction of the 'quake seemed to ,bo from north to south. A slight shock was- also experienced shortly after 11 o'clock on Sunday morning. Tho Pahiatua County Council has applied for grants totalling to ,£2900 inclusion in the next Public Works Estimates. 1 After a protracted illness, Mr. K. J. M'Lennan, a well-known and highlyrespected resident of Pahiatua, diod on Sunday. The deceased gentleman, who was aged 53 years, loaves a widow and) four children—three sons and one daughter. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon. . , During the month of May, ram fell in. Pahiatua on 15 days, against 10 for the ;amo month of. the previous year. The otal fall during - the month was G.ll nches, tho maximum being 1.40 inches on-' Kay 2. The total rainfall during May >f 1912 was 2.31 inches. TAIHAPE, At tho Lyceum Rink on Saturday night Mrs. Bray sustained a nasty fall which resulted in an injury to her ankle—tho 'racture of a small bone. The fsneral of the late ex-Sergeant Beattie took place on Sunday, a large number of townspeople being present, including the Mayor, and the ex-Mayor, several'-justices, and prominent business men. The first part of tho burial service was held at St. Mary's (Catholic) Church, the Rev. Father Connolly officiating. At the cemetery the Druids' service was read by Bro. Turnbull. WOODVILLE. Another chimney fire startled the residents living at the lower end of M'Lean Street on Saturday night. . The fire was in Mr. E. H. Rhodes's residence, and shortly after the arrival of tlio brigade was got under. The concert and social tendered by the Methodist choir and friends to the Salvation Army on Friday evening was fairly well attended. Early on Monday morning a rather severe storm struck Woodville, for some hours the wind and rain being very heavy. At five minutes to five -o'clook a sharp earthquake shock was experienced. It was preoeded by a loud rumbling, which awakened many. On Thursday last the annual Methodist missionary meeting was held in tho M'Lean Street Church. featherston! Mr. E. O.Turner, of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has received notice of his transference to the Wellington office. The match between the Iteatherston' and the local defence rifle clubs, was fired at Papawai range last Saturday, and resulted in a victory for tho home team by seven points. : Mrs. T. R. Sanders is at present laid aside with a serious illness. A dauce was held in the Morison's Bush hall last Friday evening, visitors from all parts of the district' being present. Tho music was supplied by Miss Hodge, assisted with extras by Misses Hood awl Morison. Messrs. C. Olsen and J. 8.Brickell were the M.C.'s. CARTERTON. The Postal Department proposes to introduce into the Carterton district a system of advance payments for telophono bureau fees. As the bureau officers find it troublesome to rend-sr separate accounts for each of a subscriber's oureau calls, it is suggested that subscribers should pay in a cash deposit of .£1 against their probable calls, a statement being supplied monthly as to the extent to which tho money lias been absorbed. Mr. R. Duncan, of Belvedere, has disposed of his farm to Mr. J. Sage, of Dale-

FOXTON. Mr. H, Witcliell was on Friday evening elected president of the local Horticultural Society in succession to Mr. Alex. Spiers, who was unanimously clectcd a, life member. Ensign Potter, in charge of the local Salvation Army Corps, has been transferred to tho social work in Wellington. Messrs. Pope and Duncan, of the Agricultural Department, paid a visit to ( tho Fox to n district on Friday last with ' the object of petting a practical insight into the flaxmilling industry; Tho attendance shield at tho local Stato School was won last week by Standard IV, with an average attendnce of 93.1 per cent. EKETAHUNA. A motor-wagon which passed through Ekelnhunn on Friday attracted much attention. it was a 35-h.p. vehicle, cajiaUe of carrying up to three tons, and with a speed of from 13 to 18 miles an hour. It had just toured Taranaki, and it was stated that it could climb almost auv hill and negotiate moderately muddy roads. Tho p.rioo of tlw wagon jvu about JCBOO.

The Bachelors' Bull' in Eketahuna will take place in August. . Ton cans of trout fry wore liberated in the -Ma I; a!: ahi liiver on Thursday. The rainfall registered in Eketahuna for the month of May was G.(U iuclics. covering sixteen days. The maximum full was 1.71 inches on tho 18th. The fall for the corresponding month last year was 2.41 inches for 14 days' rain. At •llakomako last week, Mr. Richard Larson, schoolmaster at Olcato, and formerly of iMakomako, was married to Miss Elsie .Tait, third daughter of the late Mr. C. Tait MOKAKA. Mr. Boss's beautiful residence "Willow Flat" was totally destroyed by fire on last Wedacriday." Nothing "whatever was saved, Mr. and Mrs. Ross and family and a young lady visitor, Miss Hazel, escaping in what they stood up in. Tho family were fortunate in having tho whsarers' wliaro to shelter in, as "Willow. Hat" is a long distance from any other habitation. Tho house and contents wero covered bv an insurance policy for .£IOO. Mr. P. J. Ryder, of llakai'iki Station, continues to improve steadily, but is slill a patient of Dr. Moore's private hospital at Isapier. There has been a continuation of hard frosts the last fortnight, and settlers are becoming naturally anxious' about their stock, as feed is very scarce, and getting more so daily. MANGAWEKA. Tho Roman Catholics of Mangaweka and district are to hold a combined "social" and dance on June 19. A ladies' hockey club was formed in Mangaweka on Friday night. "Woka" has been decided upon as the name of the club, and Miss Hyger was elected captain, Miss Hecrdegen secretary and treasurer, and Mr. Roy Crowtlier will act as coach. Mr. Abe Gtjange, who recently underwent an operation in Taihape, is now stated to be making satisfactory progress towards recovery. A euchre tournament and dance in connection with St; Matthew's Ladies' Guild was held on Thursday evening. Mr. Edwards and Miss M. Smith won the prizes. A preliminary meeting of tho newlyformed Mangaweka Fire Brigade was liekl on Thursday evening, over by Mr. H. Stewart, who was appointed captain pro -tern, and Mr. T. .Tames lieutenant; Mr. J. Moore foreman, and Mr. I?. Crowtlier secretary.