DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1798, 10 July 1913, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOT.TINGS FROM ALL SOURCES. /PALMERSTON NORTH. Notification was received by tlio Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening from the Hon. li. H. Rhodes, PostmasterGeneral, that lie hoped to visit I'alnierston during tho session, at some weekend, tho date of which lie would notify later. Mr. Edwards, manager of the.Bunnythorpe Dairy Co., tendered his resignation to the directors on Monday. A bolt under peculiar circumstances occurred on Tuesday afternoon, in the right-of-way running from Fitzlierbcrt Street to the Borough Council yard. A hai-se attached to a butcher's cart made ft rush from the yard where it was standing, collided with the gate-post, overturned the cart, and threw out the carcass of a pig, which was fortunately all that the vehicle contained at the time. The horse then took the wrong turning, and, after traversing the Tight-of-wa.y. dashed through the Borough Council yard, and became stuck in the narrow passage reserved for pedestrians. the shafts were snapped otf short, and tho cart and horse appeared to be in an 111oxtrioable tanglo nntil they wore liberated by careful hands. The only serious damage was to tho cart. PAHIATUA. The services of the Pahiatua Rifle Defence Club have been accepted by the Government. The club was formed tiiroa months ago by Captain Clifton, and has at present a membership of over 40. Tho Pahiatua Racing Club is renewing tho agitation for the reinstatement of its totalisator permit, and the stewards have askecl Mr. J. H. Escott, M.P., to introduce a motion in the. House as soon as possible this session. , MASTERTON. The annual meeting of the Masterton Fire Police and Ambulance was held on Tuesday evening. The secretary s report and balance-sheet w.ere read and adopted, The election of officers resulted as follows: —Captain, J. Dixon; first lieutenant, F. J. Bobbins; second lieutenant, 1. Fear; third lieutenant, R. Russell; secretary, D. A. Pickering; treasurer, F. Robbins; auditor, R. Russell. Two new members wore proposed, and one elected. A grant was made to the widows of two ex-mem-bers, who had been left in distress. There was a distinct, hardening of prices at the stock sales held in Masterton yesterday. The demand for fat sheep was very keen. The Masterton Counfcy •Council has decided to' take the opinion of its. solicitor with regard to its liability to recoup to a poundkeeper any he may incur on stock sold out of a public*, pound. The Masterton Harriers have arrangements well in hand for the provincial cross-country championship to be > held here this month. About seventy visiting athletes are expected, including a .number from Wellington. A five-mile crosscountry test is to be held at Carterton on Thursday. It was pointed out b.v Councillor Cameron at tno meeting of the Masterton County Council on Tuesday that although the valuation of the county was t three times that of the borough, and it contributed three times ris much in hospital and charitable aid rates, the population of the borough was three times ereater than that of the county. It was contended that tlic system of providing hospital funds'on a valuation basis was unfair, and a population basis was suggested a 9 more equitable.' .Mr. Primrose M'Connell, of the Agricultural Department, is delivering addresses in the Wairarapa this week under the auspices of the Farmers' TJnion.' Miss Hayward, matron of 'the Masterton Hospital, has been granted a month's leave of absence, in consequence of indisposition.

TAIHAPE. Recent heavy frosts have been responsible for checking tho growth of grass in this district, but as there is a large amount of rough, fm\ available sheep are keeping in good .'condition. 'The dry winter has been responsible for farmers _in tho southern part of the district sowing oats much earlier.than.usual. .Areas were sown down last week,, which under normal conditions would not have been sown till August. Given favourable weather conditions harvesting in this district will be much earlier this year than it was last year. The building trade is very brisk in Taihape at present. Mr. 11. J. Docherty, aj-chitect, lias work in hand aggregating .£3622, and all the buildings, with the exception of a .big boarding-house at Ohakune, are to be erected in Taihape. Mr. A. L. Luke has three shops in lwnd, and is also erecting a residence in Ifaka Road. Mr. G. W. Wrightson is erecting a fine residence for himself in Kaka Road, and has other work in hand. Mr. Thompson lias just finished one contract, and has started on the erection of a residence of Mr. A. Williams, in Ifaka Road, In addition to these operations Mr. T. 'JE. Wilson is completing shops damaged by fire in Tui Street, and is also finishing off the offices recently erected in the same street.

SHANNON. The winter lias been exceptionally dry in this district, though present indications point to wet weather. Farmers and flaxmillcrs are well pleased with the weather so far, and for the season of the year thers is considerable activity in local flaxinills. Business people say that the winter has no far been good for trade, and there is talk of another shop, a hairdreeing saloon, beinz shortly opened. The building trade is brisk.'

Miss Hughes, who has been absent through illness for some time, has resumed her duties in the school. Jliss M'C'oll, who was relieving her, lins returned to Wellington. ' Mr. Norman Hyde, who is leaving to take up Homo Mission work, was recently entertained by the members of the Methodist Church, and was presented with a handsome (ravelling bag:. CARTERTON. A lad named Charlie Tabell had the misfortune to have a leg broken while playing football at the Carterton School. It is understood that Mr. C. Hayes has disposed of his farm at Paxkvnle, to Mr.' Burling, and will leave the district shortly to take up bis residence ill Mnsterton. 'Mr. F. S. Hunt, stntionmaster atShaiv noon, will succeed . Mr. ,S. Wright as stationmster at Carterton. Mr. Wright, who has been .stationed here for the past three vears, will leave on 'Monday week to take up the duties of stntionmaster at Waipukurau. OTAKI. An innuest was held yesterday on the bodv of Mrs. I'urdie, who was found dead on Monday afternoon with her throat cut. . All the witnesses testified' to the lianoy nature of the deceased. • She had suffered recently from sleeplessness. A verdict of suicide while temporary insane was returned. An inauest was held on John Milnes who died suddenly at M.inak-iu. _ Evidence showed the deceased to be in failin? health, and a verdict was returned that he died from natural causes. Millies, who was a widower, was 77 ycar.s of age.

MARTON. The death occurred at the residence of his son at Bulls on Monday, of Mr. Allan M'Donald nt the age of 8G years. The funeral tool: place at Mount View Cemetery yesterday. A lfian named James Hannigan, who lives by himself in the Marton district, had a rather narrow escape from being burned lo death a day or two ago. Tt appears that he went to sleep in front, of a big fire and a log of burning wood rolled out of the fireplare on to his foot which, as o result, was very severly burned. He was taken to the ' Wanganui Hospital where he is doing as well as can be expected. WOODVILLE. At Papatawa on Saturday Charles o'.\ : eil was thrown from his horse and had liisjeft collar-bone broken, and also received a nasty wound on the side of his head. He was picked up unconscious and remained in that condition up till Sunday night. The accident happened 011 Manga-atua Valley Hond. Another old pioneer of this district died on Sunday in the person of Mr. William Martin, formerly of Pinfold llond, and lately of Upper M'Lean Street, at the age of 74. lie landed in N'ew Zealand at Napier in 1876 and soon afterwards inined the Woodville Small Farm,, Association, and in April, 1877, he camo to Woodvillo

and had resided here ever since. He leaves a widow and four sons and four daughters. The funeral will take place tliis afternoon. HASTINGS. Alterations to tho railway goods shed at Hastings are to be put in hand shortly. Tho length of the shed will be extended, anil better facilities are to bo provided for unloading goods from the wagons into tho goods department. It is considered improbable that the question of a new railway station will be faced for some considerable time. The stall' of the Hastings District High School met on Friday morning to offer their felicitations to Mr. T S. Atkinson on his recent marriage. The headmaster (Mr. 1,. F. Peglcr) presented Mr. Atkinson on behalf of tho>"o present with a set of carvers, a vase, and a set of serviette rings. Farewell was also said to Miss liosie, tho late headmistress. OTAKI. An early morning mail service was initiated from Paraparaumu to l'almerston on Monday, connecting there with the Auckland - express for tho northern city. A morning service from Palmerstbn to Paraparaumu will also be tried, and this will carry letters back to Otaki that were carried up on the previous day. By this arrangement Otaki will get Paraparaumu letters earlier. Tho local Town Board is shelving the matter of high-pressure water and drainage on the ground that money is tight. LEVIN. Mr. B. R. Gardener, as Mayor of Levin and a member of the Foxton Harbour Board,, made a statement to the Levin Borough Council on Monday night concerning! the advisableness of acquiring Foxton Wharf from tho New Zealand Government. He said it was no use mourning over the fact that years ago tho board had allowed the wharf to pass into the hands of the Government, tho position had to be faced and, the board must buy it back. After discussing the financial aspect of the question Councillor Franco moved a motion as follows:— "That this council will not support tho Foxton Harbour Bill in its present form, ond that steps be taken to object thereto." On division, the motion was rejected by fivo votes to three.