DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1876, 9 October 1913, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (From Our Special Correspondents.) {SB?., PALMERSTON. . In consequence of a press papagraph indicating that all fences enclosing Christchurch reserves are being removed, some discussion occurred at this week's meeting of the Palmerston Borough Council ns to adopting a similar course. The matter was referred to a committeo. A farewell social gathering in connection with the departure of the Rev. D. Herd, who is leaving Palmerston, was well attended, soveral local ministers being also present. A number of presentations wero niade. Tiie'Rov. Macdonald Aspland, of tlie Courtenay Place Congregational Church, Wellington, succeeds him. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday George Reid was remanded on a charge of theft and forgery of postal notes. Councillor Beale, having entered partnership with tho Borough Solicitor, resigned from the council on Tuesday evening. Mr. Fred. Nathan will contest the Beat. At its annual meeting the Palmerston Tennis Club elected Mr. T. A. Moodie president, Mr. T. Taylor secretary, and other officers. Play begins on October '26. Members of the Church' of Christ are holding a sale of work. Rain which fell yesterday was greatly welcomed by farmers, whoso pastures have benefited by tho downpour. WANCANUI. Two more cases heard at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning against milk vendors charged with selling milk containing more than tho legal percentage of water. In ono case the analysis showed 9.8 per cent, excess of water. Defendant denied watering tho milk, pleading that he had bought it from another person. The magistrate imposed a fine of £5 and costs. In the second case the analysis showed 18.2 per cent, of water in excess. Counsel for the defence raised the point that the certificate of analysis did not contain the information required by the regulations. The magistrate upheld this point, and dismissed the case. The Gonville-Castlecliff Tramway Board's scrvice has now fcpen running eighteen months, and the statement presented to the board on Tuesday evening showed that, for tho whole of the period, the deficit on working expenses (which were expected to be considerable for the first two or three was only £37. The board's inspector reported that there was a noticeable incrcaso in the regular traffic, and members spoko very hopefully of future prospects. A. busy time is expected during 'the coming summer. It is tho intention of the board to further popularise the seaside traffic by installing attractions of the "Wonderland" type on tho beach. The Public Works Engineer in cliargo of the new Dublin Street bridge reports that all the cylinders have been sunk to the full depth and all but two live been fullv completed, while three spans of tho bridge are now in position.

Mr. F. P. Talboys, tramways engineer, will represent the Wanganui Borough Council at the Tramways Conference at Wellington at the end of this month. The Wanganui Borough Council has decided to endorse the Foxtail Council's request to the Minister of Internal Affairs to hav» a clause inserted 111 tlio Municipal Corporations Acf> authorising municipalities to run picture shows, and has also resolved to ask the member for Wanganui to support this. The auminl conference of tho New Zealand Baptist Union opens here on Tuesday next, when some 130 delegates from all pat ts of the Dominion aro expected to be present. A case came before Mr. ICerr, S.M., yesterday morning of some. interest to unionists. Tho General Labourers' Union sued one of its members for £5 retiring fee on resigning, and 3s. 3d. arrears of dues. The magistrate decided that the defendant never legally retired* from tlio union, and tho £5 could not therefore be recovered but, being still a member, he must continue to pay dues till ho got his clearances. Judgment was therefore given for the arrears only. The existing dual control of the town and suburban tramway servicts came in for some adverse criticism at tho monthly meeting of the Gonville-Castlecliff. Tramways Board. A suggestion was putil forward "that the time had arrived for setting up a. Tramways Board for tho whole of tho town and suburbs, as that course was likely to effect a* considerable saving, give an improved service, and avoid the friction which occasionally occurs with the Borough Council (which controls ths- town portion of tho system). A'committee was set up to draw up a scheme with a view to laying it before tho Borough Council. Complaints having been made of the insanitary state of certain buildings and the dirty and dilapidated condition of some shop verandahs, the Borough Council has ordered a goneral inspection of buildings, with a view to a ' cleanup" j< TAIHAPE. At the monthly meeting of the Upper Wangaehu Road Board on Saturday, the tender of Mr. P. Carmody was accepted for tho formation of tlio Waiaruho Road, and that of Mr. J. M'KnigJit for t'ii6 formation of the Owhakura Road. The committee of the local branch of tho Society for tho Promotion of the Health of Women: and Children has decided to hold a concert in aid of the funds on the.evening of Labour Day (October 27). The timber industry in the Taihapo district reached another stage on tho road to extinction the other day, when tlio Manawatu Company's mill closed down on account of the bush being cut out. A few yonrs ago Taihapo had the reputation of being a timber centre, and tliero were a large number of mills in full swing between Utiku and Mataroa. One by one the sheds hay 6 been abandoned, and only one mill is now working in the district between Mangawcka and Taihapo, while heaps of sawdust and decaying slabs mark the site of more than a dozen mills that wero all working within tho past ton years. There are still three or four small mills near Marta-Toa, but so far as the Taihapo district is concerned, tho industry seems to be going. It is expected that tlio Kgmont Box Company's big mill at Ohutu will bo silont six or seven years hence, and by that t-imo even the mills as far north at Hihitahi will bo cut out. Sheep and cattle aro grazing on' land that was covered with virgin bush ten years ago, *but tho replacing of the timber industry by tlio moro profitable industries of sheep-farming and dairying has been of great advantage, and the district has suffered no serious loss in the cutting out of the bush. For some time past tho local branch of tho Society for tho Promotion of the Health of Woifion and Children has been endoavouring to securo services of a Plunket nurse for this district. Dr. Valintino has now approved of Nurse Jones, who has gone to tho Raretauo Harris Hospital to complete her training. Nurse Jones will tako up her duties hero in January. masterton. Six pens of poultry aro to bo shipped from Wellington by the Tahiti on Friday, to take part ill the egg-laying competition at the Missouri, United States. Mr. R. 0. Jarrctt, of Mastorton, dispatched a pen of White Leghorns yesterday. The Rongokokaka Maori Council met yesterday, and passed a resolution urging- Natives, in view of the smallpox outbreak, to kcop their v-hares clean.

A sitting of the Ikaroa Maori Land Board is to be held liere on Tuesday next. The continuous dry weather is having a depressing effect upon the stock market, and prices aro beginning to recede. I _ At its meeting on Tuesday evening the Borough Council dccided to set up acjmimittee to framo a by-law dealing with "noxious weeds within the borough. Tho use of the Park Oval was granted tho Amateur Athletic Club for evening meotings and training purposes. It was decided that tho rato to bo struck for tho proposed water loan shall not exceed 5 per cent. After some discussion it was resolved to inform tho Fire Board' that tho council cannot see its way clear to provide further fire-wells in tho borough. A committee was set ud .to communicate with tho local brass bailed with a .view to placing them on a more satisfactory' footing. An application from tho Municipal Band for permission to hold a sacred concert on a Sunday evening was declined. A resolution by the Foxton Borough Council, asking for an amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act to permit borough councils to conduct picture entertainments was endorsed. A school for girls and young children is to be established in connection with St. Matthew's parish. Miss E. M. M. Whitehead, of Wellington, has been appointed principal. The committee, which is controlling the institution, has decided to adopt a matriculation standard. An eight-roomed house at Mauriceville West, owned by the Wellington Education Board and'occupied by Mrs. Jacobsen, has been destroyed by fire. The causo of the outbreak is not known. Mrs Jacobsen had barely time to escape. Tbo building was insured for £150, and the furniture for £75 in the Standard Office. • Tho police yesterday made a raid on a boardinghouso at Alfredton, and seized a quantity of liquor. A prosecution will follow. The manager of the Masterton Gasworks reported last evening that the contract with the Westport Coal Company was about to expire, and lie had been advised that a higher price for coal would be charged in future contracts. The monthly meeting of tho local branch of tho W.C.T.U. was held on Tuesday when corresiwndcnce was dealth with. A donation was mado to the organising fund, and arrangements were set on foot for the annual social gathering. The Butchers' Union has arranzed with the master butchers to forgo the Labour Day holiday in favour of Easter Saturday. NEW PLYMOUTH. "The past month has been tho finest and best for general horticultural work experienced in New Plymouth during the last five or six years," said Mr. W. W. Smith, curator of the I'ukekura Park, in his report to tho board meet- ; ing on Monday night. The rccent prolonged spell of dry weather has had a wonderful effect on the clav roads of the district, and the unmetalled portion of the main road between Waitara. and To Kititi is now in a very good' state. There aro still some very bad holes, especially on the south side of Mount Messenger, and again between Moliakatinn t mid Moknu, and Mokau and Awakino. which will not be properlv negotiable for some time yet. A well-known settler of the district considers that with a reasonable con-tirinanco of. tho fine weather the nionntain should lie fit for motor traffio in a month's time. _ A motor-car left on the rise in Street Central on Tuesday caused a slight sensation by proceeding backwards for some distance on its own account but a verandah nost brought tlu> car to a sudden stop. The only damage, was a bent mudguard. Tho car had been left with the brakes off. PAHIATUA. The Pori settlers are now inviting tenders for the construction of a party telephone lino between Fori and Pahiatua, a distance of 14 miles. Miss C. Mckalick has been appointed delegate from tho local Baptist Church to the Baptist Conference at Wanganui on October 14. Mr and Mrs. L. Zillwood, who re. contly left Pahiatua to live near Dap. novirko, intend resettling in this district. Mr. Zillwood will, however, still retain possession of the farm he purchased near Dannevirke. The Mavor of Pahiatua (Mr. David. Crewe) lias been confined to his house for the past two months through ill-health, and was liot well enough to attend the monthly meeting of tho Borough Council on Monday night. Ho forwarded a letter asking for leave or absence, and also for the coune.il to appoint a Deputy-Mayor during his absence. Leave of absence was granted tho Mayor, and Councillor Hewat was appointed Deputy-Mayor. OTAKI. The death occurred at tho Otaki Hospital yesterday morning of . Mr. Edward Willoughby Homberslcy, son of tho Rov. W. Hornbersley, of England, and brother to Canon Hornbersley. Ho was 59 years old, and for sonic time has been in failing health. Deceased was a civil engineer by profession. , Various improvements have been made at tlio cheese factory at Te Horo, these including a large curing-room. CREYTOWN. A meeting of tho Groytown Lower Valley Horticultural Society was held this week. Present: Messrs. Wallis, Dockery, W. Knapp, Mrs, Wigg, Miss Donald, Mrs. M'Cracken, Miss M'Cracken, and Mrs. Boy. Correspondence was read from Featherston intimating that their spring show would be held on the last Thursday in November. The balance-sheet as read was adopted. Ihe election of officers resulted as follow: Patron, Sir William Buchanan; president. Dr. Bey; vice-presidents,' Messrs. F. J. White, 1 M'Master, and 11. W. Tate; committee, Mesdamcs Bey, M'Cracken, Wigg, Wallis, Drummond, Shanley, Balfour, Fisher, Trotman, L. Thompson, Misses Humphries, E. V\yett, Jackson, Drummond, M'Cracken, and Donald; Messrs. Tate, Fisher, Sliaiiloy, Kempt-oil, Kidd, Kent-Johnston, Haigh, Knapp, Wallis, Dockery, lteiiai, and J. A. Hutton; treasurer, Mr. D. P. Loasby; secretary, Mr. A. L. Webster; auditor, Mr. J. S. Kent-Johnston. It -was resolved that two shows be held —a spring show on November 27, and an autumn show on May 9. Committees wero appointed as follows: —Catalogue Committee —Mesdames Wigg, SFCracken, Trotman, Balfour; Messrs. Tate, Fisher, Kempton, Wigg, and the convenor. Canvassing Committee— Airs M'Crackcn, Sirs. Drummond, and Miss Donald. It was resolved that two catalogues bo printed, one for tho spring show and one for the autunin snow. Mr. Wallis proposed that, 'n future, the namo of tho society bo 'Vllic Groytown Horticultural Society. Tins was seconded and carried. Mesdames Fisher, Wallis, Shanley were appointed to make arrangements for tea rooms. A fire broke out at Miss Wyett s yosterday morning, but was put out before tho brigade arrived, and littl edamago was done. A meeting of the Groytown Rjnc Club took place this week, Mr. Walden being in the chair. Correspondent from J. 0. Bidwill and tho Defence Department was read. It was decidod t-o ask tho Ilinakura Rifle Club to fix a for a match with the Grey town Clnb. Tlio secretary reported that rifles wero unprocurable till tho next shipment arrived. The opening day was fixed for Saturday, teams to bo picked on the rango. The secretary was instructed to make application to tho Deienco Department for tlio year's allowanco or ammunition. It was resolved that the conimittco suggest to the Kiflo Association tlio necessity of putting a 1000yard match, on their .programme