DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1875, 8 October 1913, Page 9

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (Prom Our Special Correspondents.) PALMERSTON. At its meeting this week, tho Palmer-ston-Kairauga ltivor Board appointed Mr. Fisher, of Lower llutt-, engineer. It was decided to'join the properties of Messrs. Anderson and Jouglnn to tho Board District.

Tho headmaster 'of the Campbell Streot School/which has a roll of 700 pupils, stated in his monthly report to tho committee, that owing to various juvonilo complaiuts which at'prescnt aro prevalent in the vicinity, tlio attendance is lower than usual. Tho absentees averaged 64 por diem. At tho Chambor of Commerco meeting this week, Mr. Fred Nathan urged tho chamber to take action to resist any movement to transfer Supreme Court business to Wanganui. Mr. Johnston suggested enlisting the support of tho Local Law Society and tho Registrar of the Supreme Court. The "Standard" publishes the following:—"lt is reported that tho Opposition aro taking steps with a view to selecting a candidate to contest tho l'almerston seat at next election. We aro informed that two prominent residents wero in turn approached, but business arrangements prevented either from acceding to tho request. So far, it i 3 stated, no definite decision has been arrivod at as to who shall represent tho party at the election. In tho meantime an effort is being mado to induce Opposition members of Parliament to address a mooting at Palmerston with a view to strengthening the, following of the party in this.town." Mrs. F. Hanna is resigning after eighteen years' service as a teacher in the Campbell Street School. WANGANUI. Wanganui trado returns for the last quarter show satisfactory increases over tho figures for tho corresponding period' last year. Tho imports for tho quarter totalled 1 £69,091, or £8600 more than for th° same quarter of 1912, while exports amounted to £76,799 — an increase of £22,200 over tho same period of last year. These figures aro for tho oversea trade, _of which the bulk was with tho United Kingdom, from whence goods valued at £53,099 were imported, and' to which exports totalled £74,821. The imports from Australia wero £7000 odd, but the ex-, ports to Australia only totalled £1400. The Wangamii Chamber of Commorce is bent on keeping alive tho agitation for the promised railway from nere to tho Main Trunk via Raotihi, and is moving to set up a committee composed of representatives of all local bodies in tho districts affected. The duty of this committee will bo to endeavour to push! tho matter to a conclusion. Settlers' on the Rangitatau Block complain that,, though only' six miles from the railway at Waitotara, thoy have only ono mail a week. An effort is to be mado to induce the Postal Department to grant at least another weekly mail, tho cost of which, it is ■said, will be- small. ; _ . Local bodies on this -coast continue to experience difficulty in letting road contracts. This week the Waitotara County Council found that only one tender had been sent in for tho extension, of the Wanganui River "missing link" road. The road is badly needed, but, as> the only tender received was considered far too high, it was declined, and fresh tenders are to bo called. GREYTOWN. The monthly mooting of tlio-Gr-oytown' Borough. Council fra's'tield in- th&" Council Chambers on Monday. A letter was read from the secretary, of, the Greytown Amateur Swimming Clnb advising that a club had been formed, and suggesting that tho captain, vice-captain, and-Mr. Goldßman be elected members of tho Borough Bath Committee. On tho ' motion of Councillor Webster, seconded by Councillor Shanley, it was resolved that the mattor be dealt with at tho next mcoting. The District Health Officer wroto re tho failure of medical men to report tho occurrence of two infectious disease cases, and pointing out that tho Wairarapa Hos-.' pital and Charitablo Aid was tlio local authority, and that the body had been duly notified of the cases in question. A letter was roceived from the Foxton Borough Council re tho right of municipalities to run moving pictures, and asking the council to support a request to tho Government to male it legal for municipalities to do: so. It was resolved to support the Foxton Borough in the matter, and that tho Minister of Internal Affairs bo written to asking that a clause be inserted an the Municipal Corporations' Act authorising tho running of moving pictures, and that tho meinbor of tho district bo asked to support the requost. On tho motion being put it was carried, Councillor Olifent dissenting. The Wairarapa Automobile Association asked the council to removo the centre lamps in Main Street, as they impeded motor traffic. Councillor Webster moved, and Councillor Shanley seconded, that tho council decline to do anything of the sort. The motion was carried. Tho To Awamutu Chamber of Commerco wroto re level crossings and the loss of human life thereby. Tho council moved in tho direction of petitioning tho Government to take steps to reduce the risk at such level crossings. _ _ A meeting to form a First Aid Class was held in tho Council Chombers oil Monday night. It was resolved that, instead of giving their surplus money to St. John's Ambulance Sooicty, that it be voted to tho local fire brigado.

MASTtRTON. Mr. G. R. Sykes, M.P., has received a communication from the Minister of Financo, stating that tho Solicitor-Gen-eral is considering the advisability of submitting to tho Supreme Court for consideration tho question of tho power of tho Govorumcnt to levy increased interest on all loans to local bodies issued since tho passing of the Amendment Act of last year. ! Inspector T. C. Webb, of the Agricultural Department, has written the Masterton Borough Council, complaining that foxglove and othor weeds from local gardens are emptied into tho bed of the AVaipoua River, whence they are conducted by flood waters to the farms of settlers. Foxglove is gazetted a noxious weed in the Masterton County, but in the borough it is cultivated in flower gardens. There is, apparently, no legal moans of protecting farms against tho refuse of tho borough. At a meeting of the Masterton 'District High School Committee last night, resolutions were passed to the effect that the proposals in Sections 11, 12, and 13 of tho Education Act Amendment Bill aro not Bulficiontly liberal; that tho proposal to alter tho dato of closing tho financial year of school'conimittces is retrograde; and that - first assistants in secondary departments are not sufficiently remunerated for their services. Tho Masterton Poultry. Pigeon, and Cage Bird Soci«ty has already a membership of fifty-nine. At tho last meeting the rules wero discussed, and it was decided that officers bo elected at a meeting in a fortnight's timo. Mr. J. AV. AVilson, of tho clerical staff of the Masterton railway station, has been transferred, to Penroso, in the Auckland district, for which place ho will leave in about a week's time. At the monthly mooting of tlio Masterton District High School Committee, it was decided to write to the Minister of Education, recommending that book-keeping b'o added to the syllabus for primary schools, tho subject to bo taught in the Fifth and Sixth Standards. It was also decided that it bo

a recommendation to tho Minister that., uniform books Ijo used in the schools of tho Dominion. Scarlet fever, which has been prevalent, in tho Wairarapa during tho last few months, has cased considerably of late. Tho official opening of the Mastorton bowling greens takes place on Thursday. Visitors will be present from sovoral of tho Lower Valley clubs. It is reported that the Poro Poro and othor estates acquired by tho Government in thd v Wairarapa will bo thrown open for selection early in tho New l'ear. Thirty men, twenty boys, and ono so far taken out trout-fishing licenses in Mastorton. No big baskets have yet been reported. NEW PLYMOUTH. The efforts of tho various Chambers of Commorce in Taranaki to secure tho checking of luggago from Taranaki station to Auckland, via New Plymouth and Onehunga, have not proved successful. The council of tho local Chamber have been notified by the Hon. W. H. Horries (Minister of Railways) that tho matter had been given full consideration, but that ho could not see his way to grant the desired concession. Mr. R. George, who haa been on a business trip to Sydney and Melbourno during the past six weeks, returned to New Plymouth on Monday. The Rev. A. H. Colvillo, vicar of St. Mary's Church, is making good progress towards recovery, and hopes to bo ablo to take the services as usual next Sunday. ■ DANNEVIRKE. Mrs! Watson, wifo of Mr. A. Watson, stationmaster at Dannovirke, was seized with a sudden illness whilst returning from a visit to Wellington last week, and, in. conseqiienco, is now confined to her bed. At Maharahara on Friday night Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Goldfinch and family, who arc leaving the district after a continuous residence of 28 years, wero farewellcd by a larg egathering of settlors and friends. During an interval Mr. M. 0. Grainger, the chairman, presented Mr. Goldfinch with a gold watch, Mrs. Goldfinch with a handsome dinner gong, and Miss Goldfinch with a gold bangle. Up' to the present 72 licenses have been issued to anglers in. the ■■ Dannevirke district. Most of the rivers and streams in the Dannovirko district received a good whipping from anglers on Sunday, fishermen being out in all directions. Ono angler's operations in tho Mangatera Stream returned him 35 splendid fish, whilst othor sportsmen secured good catches.

NELSON. Two shocks of earthquake— 0110. at about 1 a.m., and tho other at 7.30 a.m.—were felt in Nelson on Monday. Mr. S. C. Levicn, of tho firm of Messrs. Tasker and Lovion, was entertained at dinner at tho Masonic Hotel on Saturday evening; by a number of friends, on tho occasion of his approaching marriage. Mr. W. W. Squires presided. A very pleasant evening was spent. \ A largely attended social gathering was hold in Wakefield to-bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Harris and family. Mr. S. Baigent presided and the guests of tho evening were present-, ed with a silver tea and coffeo sorvice from the residents of tho district.