DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 9

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL . CENTRES. . (From Our Special Correspondents.) NAPIER. Poter Johanna: Schmidt, grocer, of "Waipukurau, has - filed a petition in bankruptcy. In tlio ballot for Scction 1, Block 8, W oodvillcj held at the conclusion of the Land Board meeting yesterday, John Halpin, of'Waipawa, was successful out of fourteen applicants. A special mooting of tho Hawke's Bay Itugby Union will bo held next Thursday to consider a proposal to divide tho Hawke's Bay area into three districts—Northern, Central, • and Southern, cach district to control its own affairs uuder tho Hawko's Bay Rugby Union. Tho Northern district will include the present,Wairoa district; tho Central .will embraco Napier and Hastings; and"' Southern, Waipawa, through to Woodvillc. PALMERSTON. Archbishop Redwood and Coadjutor 'Archbishop O'Shea wore in Palmerston this week, and attended the prize-giving of the Convent School at .tfic Empire Hall, wliich was very Ijirgcly attended. Tho Napier .High School., cricket team was hero yesterday to play their annual match against tho "Palmerston High School. Harwood ' and ,Bennett (Palmerston) batted not.out. till the luncheon adjournment for 24 runs bach. After tho lunch interval heavy rain Bpoilt tho game, and tho ground was very soft. Tho local pupils are billoting the visitors, who return to-day. Tho Minister of Railways !has further' communicated with tlio Borough Council concerning; tho fencing, of the rail-' way through tlio town. -Ho states that it is impossiblo to have:tlio fencing done' at tbo-present time, but the matter will Tcceive consideration wlion tlie new Estimates are'framed. Tho boromjli antliorititss have decided not to call tho proposed indignation meeting.

CREYTOWN. A special meeting of tho Town Lands Trust was held .on-Thursday. Tho subcommittee appointed. (Messrs.. Loasby and Humphries) ..reported on. tho cottage in Wood Street; and recommended certain repairs and - alterations at an estimate cost of ; £110. - The report was agreed to. A'good deal of routine business -was transacted.. A verv eriioyablo-evening was spent in the Fire' Brigade Hall on Thursday, when a dance was given, in aid of tlie brigade's funds. '- Tlicre were a good number present, and' tho. gathering proved most successful. OTAKI. A function organised by Nurse Lewis, and held in tho: Town Hall on Thursday afternoon, was attended by about 200 Native .children, 'for whom the entertainment had been arranged. Each child was the recipient of a present. Prior to the distribution of tho toys, "Father Christmas" - was driven through the town, greatly to the delight of tho'childrcn.'; ' Over two tons'of cheeso aud sixty boxes of butter arb being mado at tho local factory daily. Tho supply of milk continues to keep up, and the tests are satisfactory, ranging up to 4.5.

The Sunday school, built as a memorial at Paraparaumu to tho late Mr. H. S. Hadfield, was opened on Wednesday.' - The attendance was large, 'while great interest was evinced ill' the . proceedings; : ; '■ The .weather is muggy, and consequently blight threatens to make its felt iu tho potato crops in the district. MASTERTON. The annual ■ entertainment in connection with the Lansdowne School was held on Thursday evening, when the piipita staged a delightful piecd; : entitled" "The Magic. Ruby .of . RajahporeJ'L There was a larg;c audieiico, and the entertainment was much enjoyod. A welcomo change in tho weather oc- ■ currcd yesterday 'morning, but in the afternoon it.-.agaiii became overcast and threatening. The .. .hay harvest has been practically spoiled., - , Iu tho Magistrate's.Court', on Thursday, Mr. .H...C.. Robinson introduced tho question of references-made at thedast Court sitting by "one counsol to another., Mr.'.lleid, S.M., stated that tho matter- was not one for the Court to deal with; -If it was felt that an impropriety had been 'committed, the Law Society should be communicated with. The Mastcrton Homing Pigeon Club flew an old-bird, raco. from Wellington on Thursday. The event was won by Messrs. Drako Bros.' ; "Little Mary," which traversed tho distance in 2 hours 45 minutes'.' ■ Messrs. Drako Bros, are now leading for the aggregate points' prizo in connection.'with tho club. The opening of tho season bv the nowl.v-formed Wairarana Polo 'Club, which was" to' have taken place' to-day. has been postponed in consequence of the unfavourable weather. Tho quarterly meeting of the Masterton Fire Boajd rwaslheld.'>pn"-TJiijrsday. The treasurers' statement- showed a credit balainco at date of £257 19s. 9d. Accounts 'amounting to £580 Bs. were passed _for' payment. It was decided to again communicate with the Mastertan County Council in reference to fire protection at Lansdowne. Inspector Hugo was thanked for his report on the high-nressure water supply <jf tho town. . The reports of the superintendent were received, and action thereon left to the local committee. It was resolved to reconsider the wholo question of the class of motor-pump to be procured.

■ WANGANUI. Various colleges arc holding their nnnual; brcaking-np ceremonies this j i ar( ' presented "tlie prizes at the-,Girls' College last night, and this evening Mr. Walter Empson (a former.headmaster) presided at a similar function at tho Bovs' Collece. The State schools close for tho Christmas holidays ,:iioxt week. Speaking at the nri/.c-giving ceremony at the Technical Collego on Wednosdav evening, Professor. Marshai! stated that he had been much struck with the excellence of tho college equipment, which in certain respects was superior even to that of tho Otago University. : The collego was ono of 'which AVangauui.'should be- proud, and with numerous other schools of the town indicated, the existence of an admirable public snirit wisely directed. Speakin" with reference to ' the "fill-place" system, Dr. Marshall emphasised its importance and the grent'advantages to ho fWived from it, with tho help of the State. Some peonle thought that tho State should provide free education from fh«> infant class to the university. He did not .agree with this, holding that the State had a duty only to educate to the that a boy or girl when grown up would in return he of benefit to tho State. If any pupil did not, turn out a good/citizen, the money snent on his or her education was a dead loss to the country.

FEA7HERSTOM. On tlio occasion of his-relinquishing tho active, proprietorship of tlfe Royal Hotel, which ho has conducted for tho past sixteen yoars,' Mr. -Tames'Crawford was entertained by his friends at n complimentary smoko concert in the Town Hall on Thursday evening. Mr. 3. W. Card presided, and there was a largo attendanco. _ Mr. Crawford was presented with a silver and oak liqueur stand. Sonps and other items woro rendered by Messrs. G. Fen wick, W Tinner, H." Stewart, M. H. Kendall.

0. M'Guimicss, E. El Icy, J. W. Card, H. Spackman, and H. Walker. Mr. Crawford ia giving a return entertainment to tlic citizcns of Feathcrston and residents of the district on December 23.

TAIHAPE. Mr. M. Gardiner, of tho Taihapo railway staff, lias been promoted to tlio charge of the loconiotivo department at Gisborue. Prior to his departure on Thursday, ho was entertained by the members of tho locomotive and "traffic staffs, and was tho recipient of a caso of pipes and a silver-mounted umbrella. Mr. D. Miller, chief postmaster for tho Wanganui district, paid a visit of inspection to Taihape on Wednesday. Heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday caused numerous landslides, with tho result that a number of the roads wero either partially or completely blocked. Tho damage is being repaired.

At tho half-yearly meeting of the Macka.v Lodge, U.A.0.D., on Thursday, tho following officers wero . installed:—Arch. Druid, Bro. Aplin; vicearch druid, Bro. Cribb; secretary, Bro. Stringer; treasurer, Bro. M'Cormick, A.D.B.'s, Bros. Mayhow and Hanbury; V.A.B.'s, Bros. Hyland and K..'Smith; 1.G., Bro. Billinghurst; 0.G., Bro. Turnbull; press reporter, Bro. Crawford; district president, Bro. Trunbull.