DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS PROM ALL SOURCES. PALMERSTON NEWS. The new field guns with which the J Battery has recently been equipped were seen by the general public of l'almerstou for tho first time on. Wednesday, when, the guns were brought through tho town in connection with the battery movements which are being carricd on at tho camp. Iu accordance with tho resolution passed at last Manawatu A. and P. committee meeting the useful work of banking round the oval is now being pushed ahead. A metalled track is now being formed from the entrance gate, extending alongside the buildings. At the annual meeting of Palmerston Fire Brigade the following officers were elected Secretary, Fireman E. Hitchings; treasurer. Superintendent W. H. Barnard; committee, Firemen G. M. L. Dredge, D. Watson, and S. Haycock; auditor, W. Hunter. Members of tho Bowling Club and their friends were entertained in. the pavilion on Thursday evening by the president, Mr. J. A. Nash, at a social. A euchre tournament was held, and tho prizes went to Mrs. F. Mowlem and Mr. S. Russell. After refreshments were then served, and a short programme of musical items was given by Messrs. Pees, Olliver, H. Pal-, mer, Jolly, Eetlman, and Tasker, and the accompaniments - were played by Mr. J. U. Whitehead. The occasion was also the president's birthday, and he was accorded musical honours. It is stated to be the intention of poultry enthusiasts to. erect a hall of •their own-on the show grounds, where the birds can: ba decently accommodated instead of having to double-bank as at present. The society is to raise money by debentures and pay off the amount year by year, the hall eventually becoming the property of tho A. and P. Association. A meeting of the. Kairanga Herd Testing Association was held at the A. and P. Association committee-rooms on. Thursday afternoon, when there was a large attendance of farmors interested in the movement, and Mr. Singleton, of the Dairy Division, gave some interesting particulars on the subject of herd-testing. He said the Department was withdrawing from cow-tf sting in order .to devote more time to general instruction, as the staff of the Dairy Division was limited. He advocated testing should bo carried out by an independent officer, and Mr. Kyles's motion, that all Kairanga suppliers be written to asking how many cows would be forthcoming and that tho Dejjartment be asked if the desired nuftiber is forthcoming to supply 'a man'at 2s. per cow, was carried.- If- the association could not manage on its own then it should co-operate with some other party. ■ It was Mt. Singleton's opinion that a good man could be procured for £200 per annum, together with travelling expenses, and he considered that the testing could be done for 2s. per cow. WANGANUI. Dr. M'Kenzie, who has visited Putiki and other pas, according to a local paper, says the amount of skin disease among Maoris is awful. Sometimes ho could not find a clean space on which to vaccinate, owing to tho dirt and old s scars. He had. to scrape in order to reach the skin. The skin of the arm was sterilised by means of pure alcohol, which really has the effect of making all- the microbes and germs drunk for a. couple of days. It was recently stated that Mr. Hector M'Kenzie intended inaugurating a hydroaeroplane service on the Wanganui River. The machine has now arrived at Auckland so it should not be long before the sensation of flying up and down the river will be experienced in Wanganui. There is a possibility, however, of the machine being retained in Auckland until after the exhibition opens, in order that demonstrations of skipping over tho surface cf the Waitemata might be given. NEW PLYMOUTH. Mr. W. H. Laughlin, of Vogeltown, died on Thursday evening after being in poor health for nearly two years. Deceased, who was 62 years of age, cam© to New Plymouth from Canada twenty year ago and was born in England. He is survived by his wife, but no family, his only son being drowned in Canada some years ago. The chairman of the Opunako Harbour Board recently said: "Twenty-fivo years ago we had a more expeditious service than we have to-day." This was in relation to harbour facilities. When these words were spoken the s.s. Rimu was out at sea waiting to dump 100 tons ashore as soon as the winds veered to calmer quarters. • MASTERTON, . A large number of Natives were in Masterton yesterday, expecting to parti-, cipate in the distribution of rgntals coming from Whakataki, Hastwells, and other lands. They were disappointed, however, as the clerk to the Ikaroa Maori Land Council telegraphed on Thursday that, owing to the epidemio among the Natives, the distribution of rents and the meetings of assembled owners had been indefinitely postponed. Mr. A. G. Pilmer has sold his property at tho Tauere, comprising 1500 acres, to Mr. E. Cresswell, of Foxton. The bore at the Mangaone oil-well is now down to a depth of 2350 feet, and the indications are considered good. _ Operations wore suspended for a fortnight to enable new pipes to be put in.' The Masterton Harriers had another trial run on Thursday in anticipation of the provincial cross-country championship, which is to be decided on Saturday, July 26. J. Bradbury was tho most successful runner. At the annual meeting of the Masterton Friendly Societies Council, Bro. W. Gourlay . (Druids) was elected, president, and Bro. F. Youle (Oddfellows) vice-presi-dent, with Bro. S. O'Regan (Hibernians) as secretary. - • The Masterton Pipe Band held a "social" in the Drill Hall on Thursday. The object of the function was to provide funds to enable the band to compete at the Auckland Exhibition. The Masterton musical and elocutionary competitions, for which very satisfactory entries have been, received, open on Monday next. At a meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce to-day the question of better railway facilities in the Wairarapa was discussed and on the suggestion of tho president it was decided that a deputation representing the whole of the local bodies of the district wait upon the Minister for Public Works at Wellington on Thursday, July 31, and further urge the claims of the district a committee was set up to make the necessary arrangements. Between four and five hundred residents of Masterton have been vaccinated during the past week. So far no suspicious cases have been reported to the Health Officer/ The Hospital Board is allowing vaccination at its offices which are to be open on Tuesday t for the purpose. The .£IOO live bird championship pigeon match was firod in connection with the Masterton Gun Club yesterday. Messrs. R. Buick, W. D. M'Calmont, T. H. Harvey, and A. H. Coo killed the whole of tlieir birds (fourteen), and divided the stal«\ There wero forty-four competitors. SHANNON. The average attendance at the local school for the quarter ended Juno 30 was 209, which entitled the committee to an increase of 10s. on the amount of incidental allowance. The funeral of the late Mrs. George Woodraass was very largely attended on Wednesday afternoon. The vicar, the Rev. Mr ; C. Palmer, conducted the service. Mrs. Woodmass left a family of nine young children, and much sympathyis felt for Mr. Woodmass. > OTAKI. At a meeting of the local hockey clubs or. Thursday night strong exception was .taken to the manner in which the association had graded teams—playing all teams on an equal footing for tho second round, and thus robbing winners of the first round of their points. It was decided to allow teams to disbanil and take no further part in tho championship matches. CARTERTON. The Carterton Borough Council staff are at present engaged in cleaning up the footpaths and road at the northern end of the borough. As there is never much traffic on the portions of the thoroughfares that aro bow roccivina attention,.

it is suggested that the authorities use some kind of weed destroyer aud keep the needs in check. A valuable business site, together with the buildings erected thereon in High Street, Carterton, are, it is understood, to como under the hammer nest month. The sale will be the means of ascertaining the valito of town sites in Carterton from a speculator's point of view. The annual meeting of the Wairarapa Past Grand Lodge of Oddfellows was held ac Carterton on Thursday eveuine. some 25 brethren being present. Prov. G.M. Bro. J. A. Boake, president, was in the chair. Tho resignation of P.G. Bro. A. 0. AVatkins, of Loyal llartinborough Lodge, on account of his having left for Australia, was accepted with regret. Officers were elected for the ensuing. term as follows:— President, Bro. J. P. Wallis; vice-presi-dent, Bro. C. J. De Lacey; warden, Bro. A. J. Lindop; auditors, Bros. I). P. Loasby and M. Maxton; lecture master, Bro. A. J. Boake; committee, Bros. Loasby. P. Smith, and M. M'Lennan. Tho officers were duly installed by Bro. P. Smith, the retiring lecture master. EKETAHUNA. The Eketahuna Chamber of Commerce has de...cided to make a move in the direction of securing an expression of opinion regarding a continuous telephone service. Sufficient subscribers for this installation are now on the exchange, and it is only necessary for two-thirds of these to signify their desire for the extended service, when it will be granted. The slightly increased charge, £1 per year (ss. per quarter) will be moro than compensated for by the increased facilities. The first social of the Eketahuna Volunteer Fire Brigade, held on Thursday night, was a great success socially. The music was supplied by Sir. and Mrs. Watts, piano and violin, and extra dances were given by the brass band and by Miss Grey and Mr. Kelly. The duties of M.C. were carried out by Captain Greathead. During the evening songs were rendered by Miss Blick, and Messrs. Clayson and Wales, while a recitation was given by Miss B. Knight. Opportunity was taken by Major Herbert of presenting SergeantMapor Greathead, who is also captain of the fire brigade, with the 12 years' long service medal, he having been a member of the Eketahuna Mounted Eifles for the period stated. MANGAWEKA. A line of 2500 fat wethers from one of the stations in the Mangaweka district was disposed of the other day at 255; per head, the deal representing £3125. A pastoralist also sold 28 fat steers at .£ls per head, representing The destination of both sheep and cattle was Auckland. MARTON. Papa-burning on the Ko«ke Koad has been suspended, but a great deal of firewood 1 has' been carted in readiness for tho resumption of operations at any time. The burning and distribution of papa is a pretty costly proceeding, as a great deal of firewood is required, in addition to which a good deal of labour is involved. The approximate cost is about .£1 per cubic yard; but as metal is not available the substitute must be used. During tho past dairying season the Cheltenham Dairy Company manufactured 156 tons of butter representing a value of .623,000.