DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1957, 14 January 1914, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTMGB FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. PAtMERSTON NORTH. An alarm of tiro brought tho brigade to a lioueo iu Main Street yesterday, next door to tho iioiiND burned last week. Tho roofing and wood of tljo house "ere alight, but the flames were extinguished with tho aid of buckets. Tho fire brigade held a teams eompotition on Monday night, "i'hreo teams were engaged, and the winners aro to g«t tropniea and have their names ongraved on tho champion sliield. Tho times wore: Fireman D. Watson, F. Wusvall, Follas, and Lewis, 4mm. 12 a-faec., 1; Firenwn W. Passmore, T. Hoss, W. White, and E. Hitchings, 4mm. 15sec., '2- Fiwniwi (.i. Hitchiiigs, friend, Mortknd, and Ucwis, 4intn. 3. 'i'itero will. Lβ further competitions next month. Mr. W, Lamb hae been appointed focal manager of Fullers' Pictures. llio lerraco End residents oil Monday entertained Mr. D. MiVrsnn prior to his retirement from tiic proprietorship oi tho .l'riiicoßs Hotel, aad prosented him with a gold sovereign case. Ho is succeeded. ))y Mr. M. O'fieilly. . As & result- of an agitation by motor* ists and otners in regard to-the dangerous nature nf tho Manawatu Gorge a contcreneo to devise safeguards will u<3 held at woodvillo on January 21, Councillor Bryan and Moody will represent the Kairangi County Cmiiioii. Mr. J. Jam's and Mr. 3J. K. Pratt will judge tljo professional classes at the Horticultural Show on February 15, Messrs. A. J. Sh.liler and F. M'ason tho amateur classes, and Mr. l>. Black, tho borough curator, tho vegctablo and miscellaneous. The High School Board election to fill tho vacancy of governor promises to bo of very Keen interest. Three candidates arc mentioned—Mr. W. F. Purward and Councillors Woon and Crabb. WANCANUI. At the first meeting of tho year oi tho Wangamii Harbour Board it wss reported that a depth of 23 fcot at high springs is still consistently maintained at tlio entrance; to the port, and that tho channel outside the cuds, of the Moles continues to .improve, tjio depth of 23ft.' now being uniform over a width of seven .hundred feet. Tho work of strengthening and. raking tho moles is still going steadily forward, pending tho lengthening of them later in. tho year, when it is hoped to have tho harbour extension work in full swing. Reports from tho country districts state that, favoured by tho recent fino weather, tlio settlers havo had very successful biwh burns. The Wanganui 'County Council has passed tho necessary formal resolutions, authorising tho raising of a, loan el £'4000, in conjunction with tho Wat marino Oounty Council, to complete the Parapara Road. Tho damage doflo hy tho heavy rains, of a month back U tho inland roads of tho WaitotaraA County involves such a heavy tax on tho County Council's resources that it has been resolved to ask tho Government. for * grant to enable it to rastoro communication to settle-re, many of whom are still suffering hardships in consequence' of being isolated: Another lßfitter agitating tlio Wailotera County Council is tho closing of tho Upokonga.ro ferry (owing to its working being a financial loss) uy the Wanjjauuil County Council. The Waitotara Council contends that oa it forms a lino between, the two counties, it is j-eally part of a public highway, and that its closing would therefore bo illegal. The council will probably tako steps to have the point legally settled. Stifrandtlier bridge over tho Wa-nga-nui River is mooted. A petition is being largely ■circulated in both countries ftsSing the local' bodies to eroct a s«s« pension bridge at Sparrowcliff, about four miles above the town. _ If the scheme materialises, it will relievo tho present inconvenience caused by the closing of tho Upokongaro ferry. The harbourmaster reported to the monthly meeting of the Harbour Boarc. that the shipping in part tinnne December amounted to 20,285 tons. Magistrate's Court returns show that durijjg the last quarter of 1913 tho snraiber of offences heard was 107, and of civil suits 436. Tn the latter total tho amount claimed was £6002, of which £2350 was recovered. Seventeen now old-age pensions were granted, and 5|3 were renewed, while three- widows pensions were granted and two were renewed. _ ~ . Tho Waimnrino County Council, _in whose territory tho unfinished portion of the Parapara Hob* is -situated, is making an energetic effort to finish the same, a large gang of men being engaged. It is hoped that the lomHolayerl linking np .of the termini of tbo two-portions of this important highway will bo an accomplished fact this year.