DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. {From Our Own Correspondents.) PALMERSTON NORTH. ' Though Palmerston welcomes Horowhenua. into its hospital district, it apparently does not want Otaki's hospital and sauitorium. At the last board meeting the secretary presented the follovyinjt comparative figures:—Total expenditure ior the year ended March, 1912:— Palmerston Hospital, JC4SC3; Otaki Hospital, .£1574 Otaki Sanatorium, ,£33io: excess of Otaki over Palmerston, .£sl, Total expenditure, less patients' payments:— Palmerston, X3IGB; Otaki, <£1143; Sanatorium, ,£:>li4G; Otalci excess, .£1143. Patients treated: Palmerston, 781; Otaki, 135; Sanatorium, 77: excess Palmerston over Otaki, 5G9. The secretary alsi estimated Horovhenua's probable contributors as follows:—Horowhenua County (valuation equal ICairanga), ,£350; Levin Borough (valuation half Feilding's), .£54: total, ,£404, which, with the subsidy of i'36B, aggregated .£772. Tho expenditure in excess of patients' payments was ,£3789, leaving a debit balance of .£3017. The chairman said that, on these figures, taking over Horowhenua district could not bo contemplated, and tho executive recommended the abandonment of the proposal. He suggested deferring tho question for a month, to enable the Horowhenua delegates to consider tho matter, as they had asked. Mr. Hornblow moved the rejection of the project. Tho motion was carried on tho chairman's casting vote. At the Arbitration Court on Thursday, the butchers' dispute was heard. 'ihe employers agreed to the addition of another holiday (Boxing Day). Tho Otaki River was fixed as tho southern boundary of tho Manawatu district. The Court will fix the northern boundary. MASTERTON. A triangular Morris-tubo 6hooting match was' fired at Mauricoville on Thursday evening between teams representing tho Masterton, Mauriceville, and Ihurana Clubs. The 'teams consisted of thirteen men aside,, and the event was won, after an exciting finish, by Mauricoviilo. Tho scores' wero:—Mauriceville; 438 points; Masterton, 437; Ihuranii, 431. A return match is to be fired at Masterton on Thursday next.

The Masterton Gun Club now holds tho live-bird and clay-bird championships of New Zealand. Tho former was won by Mr. W. Woolven, and the latter by Air. E. Buick.

The polico made a raid on' certain promises in the neighbourhood of the town yesterday, and as a result a charge of a breach of tho Licensing Act is being preferred.

Another slight shock of earthquake was experienced hero shortly after midnight last night. At a meeting of the Chamber of Comir.e~co yesterday afternoon the chairman reported that the railway committee, after its rciturn from Wellington, had drafted a letter to the Minister for Public Works urging that a commission be set up to determine the railway routes and that this includo one or two commercial men <15 well as experts. The Minister had replied promising to give the matter consideration.

The Chamber of Commerce deoided yesterday to join with the Farmers' Union in welcoming and entertaining Mr. Boddoe, Canadian Commissioner, who is to give an address here npxt Wednesday. OTAKI. The most brilliant- social function yet held in Otalri eventuated last night when Messrs. Bright Bros.' new theatre' was opened by the local Bowling Club, who held their annual daneo therein. Visitors in large numbers were present from Wellington, Palmerston, and all parts of this district, and tho gathering was a. happy one. Such a display of dresses has never before been ' seen locally, and naturally the gov.-ns were much admired. An electric -light installation also helped materially in the effect. Thero were nearly 200 coupbs present, and as all arrangements were complete, everything passed off most successfully. An orchestra from Marton supplied the music. Messrs. Thomson, Bright, Hartmaun, St. George, and Ling were M.GVs, and Mr. A. Sathorley secretary. BLENHEIM. Blenheim settlers have experienced a long spell of dry weather, which retarded all growth seriously. In fact, it has been freely admitted that thero has not been such- a fine, dry winter ' for many years past as this one of 1913. However, a welcomo change set In on Monday morning last, and splendid rains have fallen since.

Tho 'Marlborough Education Board, at its last meeting, decided to set up a committee to confer with representatives of tho Teachers' Institute and tho School Committees' .-issociation, to go into tho question' of formulating a scheme for the promotion of its teacliers._ Tho result of tho election of members of tho Education Board is as follows:— Western "Ward: I. S. Storey, 52 votes: H. M. Reader, 13 votes. Central Ward: R. M'Callum, M.P., 1G votes; A. W. Jackson, 11 votes.