DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS PROM ALL SOURCES NAPIER. ' At Friday night's meeting of the Napier South Town Board it was decided to strike a rate, of 1 34-37 d. in the A' on the unimproved value. 'the Napier Thirty Thousand Club have under consideration" a proposal to plant tho face of the hill extending from tho Cathedral to the Municipal Theatre proporty with red (funis. Permission to carry out tho work has already been obtained, and financial assistance is being sought, a couple of donations having been already received. The club also has in hand a proposal to plant trees in Browning Street, from Hastings Street to the end of tlifl thoroughfare. An unsightly corner at tho end will be improved and beautified under tho scheme, which is to be submitted to the Borough Council.

Tho funeral of the late Mr. R. J. S. Riddell on Saturday morning was largely attended, r-epresenta.Hves from Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co.'s staff and all the other agencies'in tho town being represented. The Rev. Canon Mayne conducted tho service at the grave. Ihe coffin, was carried by Messrs. Wellwood, Cunningham, Bourgeois, Miles, Mackay, A. D. Brown, C. Brown, and A. Cornford. WANGANUI. Mr. W. A. Ford'hain, of tha head office staff of the Public Trustee's Office, Wellington, is acting as the local district manager for the Public Trustee during the absence on leave of Mr. T.i R. oaywell. ... Mr. Bowes, who has been director ot the music at tho King's Theatre in has been appointed conductor of the \\ ellingtan'Tramway Band.

NEW PLYMOUTH. The following amounts have been paid out for the month of May by dairy factories:— Lowgnrth, ,£503; Cardiff, <£520; N'arere, ,£750; Rahotu, <£117; Ouiata, ,£319; Wares, £374; Uruti, .£241; OkatoPimiho, J.SO7; Bell Block, ,£947; Mangora, .£1041; and Oakura, J2424. Masons attended in large numbers at St. Mary's Hall on Thursday evening, wh&n Bro. J. W. Haydcn this installed as W.M. of Lodge Dr. Burgh Adams, No. 448 1.e., by v.* Wor. Bro. A. Gold water; V. Wor. Bro. E. Whittlo officiating as master of ceremonies.

An appropriate and interesting souvenir of 'l'aranaki, neatly framed and inscribed, has been presented to Captain Hakev and the officers and men of H.M.H. New Zealand .by Mr. W. F. Gordon from liis collection of the portraits of two gallant sailors, and jolly companions, viz., Jack Crawford, who earned fame by nailing the colours to the mast long ago at the Battle of Camperdown, and William Odgers, Captain Cracroft's coxswain of 11.M.5. Niger, who gained tho first Victoria Cross in New Zealand at the Battki of Waircka, near this town, and n photo of Captain Cracroft's crest. Mr. E. P. Greatbatch, for several years with the legal firm of Messrs. Govett and Quilliam, left last week to take up a position with a legal firm at liotorua. HASTINGS. The operations of tho Borough Electrical Department have exceeded beyond tho most sanguine expectations. The additional generating plant and spares which tlrs council has decided to import for the power house to cope with the demand for electric current is estimated to cost about v£3ooo. . Mr. L. ICenny, of the Waipukurau Post Office, has been transferred to Wellington. On Friday evening the Hastings Crickct Association held their annual plain and fancy-dress ball. The music was supplied by Tombs'a Band. Messrs. V. Taylor, Claude Sellgren, 11. Stone, and G. Poppelwell acted as M.C.'s. During the evening extra dances were played by Misses Moulton and Dunne and Mrs. Dunne and Mr. . Avery. Miss Harlcness and Mr. Adams won the first prizes for the best lady's and gentleman's fancy dress respectively. The enthusiasm of some Hastings amusement seekers was shown by the fact that three o'clock, on a frosty morning last week found several persons at tho door of tho local bookseller s, tlie id&a being to secure front seats when the box plan opened at seven o'clock that morning for a forthcoming pantomime. The accommodation at the looal theatre is so distinctly inadequate (says our special correspondent) that when' an important company comes along the competition for seats is exceptional. This factor .is responsible for a movement at present on foot to form an Opera House Company, with, a view of providing Hastings with a theatre worthy of tho town. DANWEVIRKE. The annual general meeting of-members of tha Dantievirke Horticultural and Industrial Society was held in the sooiety's office on Friday evening. The following officers ' were elected Patron, Mr. G. Hunter, M.P.; president, Mr. G. .T. 13. Bickford; vice-presidents, Mesa's. W. I'. Knight, and H. A. Bamford; treasurer, Mr. C. C. Coxj lion auditor, Mr. G: Thorburn; secretary, Mi*. Algernon Green; committee, Messrs. C. D. Blakiston, I'. 0. Clark, J. 11. Faii-hurst, H. Graham, H. Quigley, G. ltaukin, F. W. Smith, and K. P. Soundy. A committee of ladies, consisting of Mosdames Bickford, Dawson, and Soundy, was appointed to revise the classes for needlework and liomo ind,Mr!eE. L. Walton, of Hastings, is at present relieving Mr. S. Tansley, clerk of the Court, who is away on holiday leave. Tho Works Committee will shortly report to the council on tho kind of steam roller which it is intended to obtain, and when High Street has been laid down m tar macadam it will remove for ever (says the "News") the many reproaches of the past as to its condition. A land salo of somo importance has just been negotiated in Dannevirkc, the Bank of Australasia having purchased two vacant sections in Ward Street for the purpose of erecting new premises. The sections adjoin the office occupied by Mr. Stubbs, and have a frontage of 5G feet. One section was the property "of Mr. M. Morgan, while the other belonged tf) tho Carlson estate. At tho Magistrate's Court on Friday, Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., decided, after hearing evidence in support of the application, to recommcnd D. Johnstone, ot Raumati, for the New Zealand war medal. Permission having been granted by tho Danncvirke Borough Council, Messrs. Gollett and Son, the local engineering firm, have commenced tlie erection of a weighbridge in front of their business premises. Tho bridge, which is designed to weigh loads up to 10 tons, will be ready for practical use so mo time next week.

MASTERTON. Thirty-threo patients are at present receiving treatment in tho Masterton Hospital, including nineteen fever patients. A considerable. area of land is being put under the plough in the Homebush district, near Masterton. Some ot the oat crops aro already well above tho ground. There is a very keen demand for residences in this town. Several recent arrivals have been compelled to store their furniture as thoy havo been unable to procure houses. " Jlr. C. Hausmann, who has been chief engineer .at the AYaingawa freezing works since tho company commenced operations, has resigned his position. Mr. Messenger is now acting as chief engineer. It is considered improbable that Mr. A W. Ilogg will be opposed for tho representation of the AYairarapa ward on the Wellington Education Board. The AYairarapa Rugby Union has received a cheque for .El 2 from the New Zealand Rugby Union for the encouragement of school football. Footballs' have been provided' for the chief schools in the district, and tho smaller schools are now to rcceivo attention.

It is understood that tho estates recently acquired by tho. Government in this district for closer settlement will not bo thrown open until after the nest shearing season. A number of settlers in-the Mauriceville connty are petitioning to have their properties transferred to the Eketahuna county. Messrs. Dalget'y and Co.. Ltd., report having sold, on account of Messrs. Anderson Brothers, of Eketahuna, their jiroporty, consisting of'T.W acres of freehold and -50 acres education loa c o, with all stock thereon, to Mr. 0. A. Bunny, of Masterton.

At Saturday's meeting of the AVairorapa Caledonian Society, it was decided' to ask the Finance Committeo to report unon tile question-of leasing or building a liall in which to hold inglesidcs, ctc. At tho conclusion of the service in St. Patrick's Church on Sunday night, tho members pi cligir presented Air. AY,

Minett and Miss O'Dowd with a pair of framed pictures in honour of their op- j proaching wedding. At its strangers' tea on Sunday the local branch of the Y.M.C.A. passed the following resolution: "That this meeting of members of the Muslerton Y.M.C.A., hearing of the death of an early friend and strenuous advocate of the interests of this institution, hereby place on record our appreciation of the sterling worth of the late Mr. N. C. Marshall, to whose ellorts the existence of I his branch of the Y.M.C.A is largely due." NELSON. A letter was received at the C'itv Council committee meeting on Friday night Ti 0m Trillin, architect for tho Church Steps, stating that it had been suggested that a. tablet be placed in a suitable position commemorating tile fact that tho steps had been presented to the city by Mr. Cawthron. The contractors were willing to supply a polished granite tablet, inscribed, for ,£l2. It was decided that the tablet, be placed in position. , At a series of meetings held last week ni Collingwood County otMJainham, Rockville, and Collingwood respectively, tile ratepayers of that county decided, almost unanimously, to sanction a proposal for the erection of a new wharf at what is known at Marshall's Point, at the mouth of Aorere* River. The scheme is estimated to cost about .£2200. rile proposed wharf is expected to remove many of the disabilities under which the port now suffers. The County Council intend to take final steps at its July meeting towards putting into effect the wishes of the ratepayers in regard to the matter.

Miss Mac Lean, Assistant-Inspector of Hospitals, has been In tho Golden Bay district making inquiries as to the necessity or desirability of establishing a cottage hospital in that district. After being driven nver various parts of tho district, Miss Mac Lean said from what she had seen of the locality, and its growing importance, she thought Takaka and Collingwood were entitled to tho establishment of somo provision for local treatment of emergency sickness and accident—if not a cottage hospital, then the appointment of a district nurse, with residential quarters and emergency accommodation.

PAHIATUA. The borough protection works against the encroachment; of the Mangatainoka River will involve the throwing-out of several groynes, and will be started at the point of encronchment at the lower end of the Palnierston North Road. The wire-netting required i'or the various groynes, of which over a ton will be required, will be of a special design, and is being made locally, a contract having been let to Mr. S. Wallis. The estimated cost of tho protection works is .£2OO, towards which amount the Government has promised <£10fl, and the Wellington City Council, which lias land along the river, ,£SO, The works will be carried out under the direction of the resident Government engineer (Mr. W. Nathan).

Mr. Thomas M'Konzie lias been, appointed a meinl>er of the Pongaroa Domain Board, vice Mr. Bon Yitsky, who has resigned. Mr. C. H. Gray, who lias been fanning in the Kaitawa district, is about to leave there for the Danncvirke district, TAIHAPE, At Friday night's council meeting the Mayor announced that he would donate SCO books to thp municipal library. It was an exhibition of public spirit that was eminently characteristic of his Worship, says the "Daily Times," and should inaico a very Rood nucleus of a library worthy of the town. According to a return laid on tho table at- tho council meeting on Friday night the cost of maintenance of the footpaths in the main street of the town last year was ■£%, and for the side streets Ji 11 10s., making a total of ,£lO7 10s. Gd.

The Railway Social Club held the second of tho scries of eucliro parties in tho Railway Social Hall on Friday night. Tho gentlemen's prize was won by Mr. Stroud, after playing off with Mr. T. Williams, the consolation prize being awarded to Mr. O'Siillivan. The lady's prize was won "by Mrs. Fergus, who had to play off with Mrs. Kiddler, the consolation prize going to Mrs. Campbell. FEILDING. At Saturday's meeting of the Kiwitea County Council the president, Mr. E. C. Haythorne, the secretary, Mr. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Levieu, on behalf of the Kimbolton Chamber of Commerce, requested that the council ask Mr. ;D. H. Guthrie, M.P., to use his endeavours to get the Government to make u trial survey, anil supply an estimate of cost. of the proposed light-line branch railway from Feilding. The chamber intends to ask the Poimnginn nml Oroun County Councils, the Feilding Borough Council', and the Feilding Chamber of Commerce to pass a like resolution, to give weight to Mr. Guthrie's efforts. It will rest entirely on tho amount of tho estimate of cost whether the project is further proceeded with. The council, on the motion of Councillors Johnson and Strachnn, acceded to the request of the deputation.

Tho chairman of the Kiwitea County Council (Mr. H. Fowler) has been appointed delegate to the Counties Conference to .be held in July.

OTAKI. ' An old Native, Wirihana Taupo, was found dead in liis whare on Sunday. Not feeling well, ho refused to take his dinner the previous day, and on Sunday, when his breakfast'was taken to him, lie was found dead on the floor. He was a sufferer from asthma, and it is surmised ho was suffocated. Mr. C. L. irartmaim, who has been on furlough, has resumed his duties at tho Bank, of Australasia. Four degrees of frost is the heaviest registered here so far this winter. At a meeting of the Jlauawatu branch of tho Educational Institute, held here on Saturday, the report and balance-sheet were considered very satisfactory. Arrangements were made. to circularise country M.P.'s relative to country teachers being placed in better positions. The introduction of tho Bible-in-Schcols was considered, and adversely criticised.

MARTON. On Saturday morning at the Wanganui Hospital the death occurred of Mr. Charles Edward Bell, of Forgan Farm, Upper Tntaenui. Mr. Bell was operated upon lor appendicitis, and tho operation proved successful, but complications sotin. lie leaves a widow ami three young children. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon. Out of 11 applications, Mr. Allan Craig, of Timaru, has been appointed working foreman for Marton Borougli Council. At tlio annual meeting of the Marton Brass Band on Friday evening "the election of officers resulted a 9 follows:— Patron, Dr. Skennan; president, Mr. J. J. M'Donald; vice-presidents, Mesdames E. Humphrey and P. Howard, Drs. Scott and Crawford, Messrs. J. H. Miles, E. Newman, M.P., E. J. Wilde, C. P. Mather, A. H. Sutcliffe, S. E. Lewis, ,T. Hannan, W. Signal, S. J. Gibbons, W. Rees, A. Wav, J. H'Manaway, E. Lloyd, W. J. Birch, F. R. H. Brice, C. E. Gibbons, W. Spindeler, H. Prebble, F. Holder, and Pi. 11. Carey; conductor, Mr. A. E. S. Crozier; bandmaster, Mr. B. Parkes; drum-major, J. Bell; sergeant, W." Bickers; corporal, .T. Ebbett; secretary, B. P. Wnnsbrough; treasurer, A. Blair; custodian, B. P. Wansbrough; as-sistant-custodian, L. Edwards; committee, Messrs. W. Humphries, F. Robsou. C. Meited, J. Gibson, It.. Anderson, and officers ex officio.

EKETAHUNA. A meeting of the executive of the Hospital Committee was held on Friday afternoon, there being present: Messrs. Herbert (in the chair), Morriss, Turnor, Matheson,' and AYales. Dr. Aalintine wrote supplying an amended plan of tho proposed hospital, which it was decided should be sent on to the Hospital Board, stating that it would be acceptable to the executive if provision is made for «■ residential caretaker. Nurse Nickloss wrote stating that she had taken a house in Eketahuna, next to • the post office, and as it was 100 large for her rcciuireIV',cuts, she asked the executive to take part of it for omei'Kcncv wards for patients. On the motion of Jlr. Herbert, seconded by Air. Turner, it was decided that the board be informed that the executive considers the offer mentioned by Ihe district nurse should be accepted in the meantime, pending the erection of a new building. Mr. Loekwood lia« be™ granted six weeks' leave of absence from the District High School on account of ill-health. Miss Lazurua, of Mnslertou, is acting ns jsliuviue twifeqj ncrioiL