DISTRICT NEWS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1873, 6 October 1913, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (From Our Special Oomsspondenta.) IPALMERSTON. The star item at the boxing tournament arranged for next Friday, as a farewell compliment to Dr. O'Brien, will bo a professional light-weight contest between Allan Maxwell, of Hawera, and Peter Cook, of Christchurch. A banquet will follow tho tournament. At their meeting on Friday, the W.C.T.U. decided not to contribute to tho Stead Memorial, but to concentrate all efforts towards the establishment of a local hostelry for women. It was also resolved to ask the Hospital Board to take into consideration the urgent need for a resident surgeon in the local hospital.

By a trick known as "ringing the changes," John Leo beat a oarmaid for ten shillings. He entered a local hotel, and ordered two drinks tendering a half-sovereign. The barmaid gave 9s. change. Accused then tendered 10s. in silver, arid asked for the half sovereign. When the barmaid plaoed the gold coin alongside tho 10s. he pushed it all toward her, saying: "Here, take the lot, and give mo a sovereign, or a pound lioto will do." She became confused, and did as requosted. When arrested, accused volunteered to refund the half-sovereign. To his twenty-two provious convictions, Mr. Poynton, S.M., on Saturday, added a further term of three months for this offonce.

At tlio' inquest on Saturday concerning the deathv, of Walter Folks, who was found poisoned, Mr. Scott, the chemist, said that it was not necessary to have .- the particular poi* son signed for. He ' Explained, in answer to an inquiry, that Dr. Frengloy had stated certain fluids could be sold without signaturo, and that ill respect to a prosecution previously instituted at Wellington, the Department withdrew it, as they could not establish their case. AVith respect to this fluid, Kempthorne, Prosser and Co., by whom these inquiries were made, had informed witness that they believed that the Department was framing a new regulation covering this matter. A verdict was returned of death by poisoning, there being nothing to indicate tho state of deceased's mind at tho time. ""

Madame Clara Butt's visit (for which tho College Street School concert at tho Opera House was generously postponed) has now been definitely cancelled. Captain Jickell lectured to the Officers' Club on Friday evening on "The Defence of Australasia by Sea and Land." NAPIER. Residents of To Auto are not taking kindly to tho nanio Opapa given to their station. A few days ago the new sign was tarred and feathered. A man was arrested at Hastings on Saturday morning on a charge of stealing two £5 totalisator tickets, which showed dividends totalling a considerable sum. The tickets wero presented but not cashed, the owner having notified tho secretary of his loss. There appears to bo somo doubt as to whether the outbreak at Pakipaki, which was said to be smallpox, is anything more than a severe case of chickenpox. Dr. Thomas M'Kibbin, of Ha-stings, is to bo asked to contest tho Hawke's Bay seat at tho next general election in the Liberal-Labour interest. WANGANUI. The reports of the Harbour Board's officers, presented at Friday night's meeting, showed that the depth on the line of tho old bar was now 23 feet at high springs, and 30ft. at high neaps. There was also a steady improvement in the river channel to town', which tho dredge was now cutting down to a minimum depth of 16ft. 6in. The north mole has been raised during the month by tipping a thousand tons of large stone, .while 1150 tons of rubble lia.s been tippod on the river trainingwalls. Preparations havo also been made for landing stone on the south mole for the extension of work there. Somo discussion took place as to tlio advisability of continuing tho deepening of tho river channel with tho present dredge, in view of the probability of the board soon purchasing a largo and up-to-date machine. It was resolved that the engineer be askedlo report on this matter next meeting.

MASTERTON. A lieavy frost on Saturday morning did great damage to vegetable crops and fruit trees in Masterton. _ Many acres of potatoes havo been ruined. At a meeting of the executive of the Wairarapa branch of the Teachers' Institute on Saturday, called to consider the Education Amendment Birij the following resolutions were carried (1) "That tlifs executive strongly opposes the principle contained in Section ' 4 of the ' Bill. If a distinction must be made between primary education and secondary education, it should bo made in favour of the former." (2) "This executive desires to express its appreciation of Sections 8 and 9." (3) "This executive does not regard Sections 11 and 12 as satisfactory, and is of opinion that the measure to bo presented' next session sliould provide fair 'increases of salary to the primary teachers: of every grade." (4) "That, as senior secondary male teachers in district high schools are degree men and trained teachers, this executive is of opinion that the proposed increases of salary for first teachers aro quite inadequate, but that the increases to other _ district lijeli school assistants provide reasonable salaries." OTAKI. During thei month of September the rainfall in Otaki totalled 3.41 _ inches. The heaviest day's rain—l.2 inches— occurred on September 6. Rain fell on 14 days. On September' 7 there was a very 'heavy peal of thunder, and the power-house at the hospital sustained i some damage to dts electrical apparar [ tus. The eclipse on September 15-16 was obscured locally bv lieavy. fastdriving clouds, whicli allowed only occasional glimpses of the phenomenon. Last year's September rainiall was 4.78 inches, and the average for this month for nine years was 3.61 inches. CARTERTON. Mr. A. Tunnicliffo, son of Mr. C. Tunnicliffe, of Dalefield, left on Friday for New Britain, via Auckland and Sydney, where ho is to take_ up work as missionary among the natives of thoso islands. On Thursday evening his friends and old schoolmates assembled at his father's residence, to bid him farewell. Tho teachers of the Sunday School where ho was first a scholar and afterwards a teacher for many years, took the opportunity to make a presentation of a Bible commentary, as a token of esteem. It is expected that shearing operations on some of tho stations in tho Wairarapa district will commenco in about a fortnight. The annual meeting of tho Carterton Thursday .Cricket Club was held on Thursday evening, Mr. F. Fairbrother presiding. Tho report and balancesheet was read, and considered satisfactory. Officers wero elected as under: Patron, Sir \V. C. Buchanan, .M.P.J president, Mr. W. Mooro; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. H. Keltic, H. Dooly, It. Rcnall, W. l'\ Roydhouse, J. A. Dudson, W. Redmond, E. Wilkins, and T. 11. Hughes; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. W. Mansfield, juur. Votes of thanks were accorded the past officers. A pleasant function was held at Dalefiold on Thursday evening, in tho form of a ball t-ondofji in

tho vico-presidents of tha Kiwi Hookey Club to the Wairarapa hockoy ladies, who wore unbeaten in the Now Zealand tournament, held at "Wanganui recently. About sixty couples were present. The musio was supplied by Mr. and Mrs. W, Soronsen (piano and violin), and Mr. Adams (piccolo). Mr. R. J. Gayfer wa3 M.C., and Air. P. Lorenzen provided the supper. During an interval in the proceedings, Mr. J. Standen, one of the vice-presidents, congratulated tho Wairarapa ladies 011 their success at tho tournament, and expressed a hopo that they would stick together and repeat tho performance. A party of throe went to tlio mouth of tho Wairarapa Lake last week, and in the course of an hour captured more than half a saok of whitebait. Oil Friday evening in .tho- Fire Brigade Hall another very successful card tourney and dance was held under the auspices of" tlio Carterton firo brigade. The winners were Miss Minahan and Mr. H. Hutchinson. After supper the room was cleared for dancing, the music for which was supplied by Mr. C. E. Lee. ' On Friday evening Colonel Chaytor inspected tho local Territorials. Ths men were, put through riflo drill in» tlio hall, and then Major -Hart _ marched them to the reserve, and tactical movements were carried out. The muster was a good one, and tho men acquitted themselves creditably. ~ , ~ A small cottago, occupied 1 by Mr. Stoodley, at Gladstone, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday morning, together with its contents. CREYTOVVN. A .meeting to form a swimming club in Grevtown was held in the Fire Brigade flail on Friday evening, and Mr. Dudson and son came from Cartertou to assist. The former was voted to the chair. Mr. Oliphant proposed that Mr. Renai be secretary and treasurer, and this was carried. Sir. C. Armstrong wai; elected auditor. A committee was then set up consisting of Messrs. Murphy, Goldsman, Ohphant, Armstrong, and. Trotuian. Mr. Pryko was elected captain, Mr. Thompson deputycaptain, Mr. Loasby president, and Messrs. W. H. Day, Dr. Boy. W. C. Divfles, J. M'Hattio, Thos.. M'Cracken, and F. J. White vice-presidents. The club is to be called the Greytown Amateur Swimming Club.