DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2302, 9 November 1914, Page 9

DISTRICT NEWS.

JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (From Our Special Correspondents.) . NAPIER. Daring the past month Napier's Plunket nurse had 125' babies under her care; visited 159 homes, and received visits from 287 mothers. The society is doing a most valuable work in this district, and is daily extending its operations. \ Mr. Chas. S'piller, who is leaving the Napier staff of Messrs. Niven and Co. to take up a position in Queensland, has been presented with a set of carvers and travelling rug by his fellow-workerß, as a token of their esteem. Wairere (Napier South) Bowling Club's greens were officially opened on Saturday afternoon by the president, Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M. A special feature of the club is the fact that no intoxicants are to be allowed on the premises. The splendid appointments in connection with the greens and the large membership indicate that the club has entered on a successful career. "A Country Girl," produced by the Hastings Operatic Society, has .already attracted full houses for three nights, and is undoubtedly the most successful venture since the society came into existence. PALMERSTON. "Tokoraaru, which used to bo a thriving little township, is now like a deserted village since the flaxmills were closed." With these words Mr. J. Liggins, a well-known flaxmill owner, summed up the depression in his industry in his remarks at' the meeting of the New Zealand ' Flaxmillors' Association. The meeting was' specially convened to discuss the- seriousness of the position and to consider a suggestion to seek Government assistance. The president (Mr. H. Seifert) said it was thought that they should ask the Government to contribute toward the extra shipping freight which had been increased from £3 ss. to £6 per ton. Mr. Liggins said it was impossible to work the mills under existing conditions without loss, and he had shut up his mill, though it was one of the most economical to run. Mr. W. Ross Bpoke in a similar vein for the Foxton millers, and foreshadowed a further freight rise, next month. Mr. Bell thought that possibly shipowners were making hemp.exporters pay for the losses incurred on contracts with butter and meat.' It was resolved to ask the Government to subsidise shipowners to the extent of the increased freight. Messrs. H.' Seifert, J. Liggins, W. Ross, -and A. Seifert were appointed to interview the Government..

The Allies' Tea Rooms! , which were a,notable feature of the show and conducted by tho ladies of the town, produced a profit of £425 for the AVar Distress Fund. It ran in three sections, dispensing shilling luncheons and teas, sixpenny , counter lunches, and ice creams from a penny upwards. The ordinary caterers were ' considerably affected. ' Mrs. L. A. Abraham was the leader in this handsome result. The' efforts of, thb ladies, however, ' were overshadowed by that of "Kaiser Bill," tho wild merino ram from Ruapehu, by Whose auction proceeds again proved the power of the sporting sentiment at opening pockets. It realised over £600. The first bid came from the president (Mr. Ernest Short), who had donatod tho animal, amounting to £150, Mr.. P. A. M'Hardy, of Newbury, followed with £110, Mr, T. A. Duncan, Hunterville, £105, L. M'Hardy, Hawke's Bay, £50, Mr. and Mrs. Kensington, Palmerston North, £55, and other bids were from ten guineas down to the humble threepence, whereat young children-speculated. Mr. J. F. M'Kolvie bought the Belgian flag wrapped round the sheep for £26 6s. ' The two sources gave an aggregate of nearly £1100 for the distress funds.'

The • total attendance at the recent show is estimated at 60,000, including the record People's_ Day of 28,138. The weight-guessing bullock of Hereford extraction and huge size, commonly reputed to weigh a ton, turned the scale at 2140 Jib. Mrs. Hannah, of Feilding, guessed correctly. MASTERTON. The Masterton Racing Club, besides voting £10 to the Huntly Relief Fund, on Saturday made a vote of £100 to the Belgian Relief Fund. The club lias decided to interview the Ministor of Internal Affairs, and ask for the restoration of the license for the day cut out of the Spring Meeting by the Racing Commissoiners. The Mastet'ton Golf Club' concluded ita season on Saturday, when the members were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Williams. Mrs. Williams presented the prizes won during the season. • A slight shock of earthquake was felt here at 12.45 on Sunday afternoon. FEATERSTON. Mr. R. J. Rowe, an old and muoh respected resident, died on Saturday morning, after a brief illness. Deceased was for many years in the service of the Post and Telegraph Department, retiring on pension about tnree years ago. He is survived by a widow and family of four sons and two daughters. Sir Walter Buchanan, the Wairarapa Reform candidate, will address the electors in the Town Hall here on Tuesdayevening. ... CREYTOWN. A' meeting was called by the Mayor of Greytown ori Friday evening to place the question of water and drainage before the ratepayers. There was not a, large attendance. The Mayor said that it was essential that Greytown should have both systems. That the cost'of installation to a small cottage of, say, £12 10s. annual, value, would probably be £3 for water and £14 for drainage, plus a charge, of 10s. per annum. That a rate of 2s. 3Jd. would have to be i struck, but not necessarily collected. The poll will be taken nest Thursday, and. it is understood there will be strong opposition to the proposals. _ Some 10 per cent, of the rates are paid now on the annual value, and this year there was no river rate struck. The present rates are:—General, Is.. 3d.; library, Id.; water, 2d. and] Id.; Hospital, eto., | 2d.; hall, 2d.; special water, 2d. ' | v OTAKI. I The monthly sitting of the S.M. Court was held on Friday, when several oivil cases went by default. Several j judgment summonses wero also decided. Archibald Glennie, for riding a motorbioycle at an excessive speed, was iued £2 Dan Ransfield, Ellen Bevan, and Solomon Parata were each fined 10s. tor failing to ; send their children to school tho requisite number of times. Hema Whata and Charles Bell each agreed to pay £1 weekly towards tho support of their .wives, and John Ropata was ordered to pay £1 weekly towards the support .of three illegitimate children, and also £5 medical expenses.