DISTRICT NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2305, 12 November 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

« JOTTINGS FROM PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (From Our Special Correspondents.) PALMERSTON. (From Our Own Correspondents.)

Mr. C. A. Loughnan, Crown Solicitor here, who, as a disputed rumour says, on tho commandeering of his motor-car iu England, ho followed it by volunteering as a chauffeur, was in London less than three weeks ago. He will have his duties performed at the forthcoming Supreme Court sitting by Mr. Marshall, of the Hutt.

'During the continuance of tho River Board inquiry, Mr. J. A. Nash, chairman of the board and Mayor, gave evidence that previously over £12,000 had been spent in river protection by the Government and municipality, and nearly all the old efforts were failures. The present board was initiated by the Borough Council. ' Mr. Fisher, the board's engineer, described his scheme of straightening <ho river by the gradual action of groynes in conjunction with willows, thus eliminating and reclaiming the bends and! removing tho pressure which the curved flow inflicted on the banks. He described it as. similar to the Hutt works, which were car-, ried out during his twelve years there, and declared them to be eminently successful. He expected tho erosion at the Fitzroy bend would entirely cease within a few years. Mr. Charles D. Kennedy, rh'er expert, 6aid Mr. Fisher's work was on ' sound engineering lines; the groynes would stand against floods and gradually stop erosion. The Terrace End School, Committee is acquiring an old gravelpit adjoining the school at a peppercorn rental for 21 years for the scholars' athletics. The school roll exceeds 500, and tho crowded conditions are brag urgently submitted to the consideration of the authorities. The annual picnic will be at Plimmorton, and will be held on the first Friday in February.

The Glen Oroua Cooperative Dairy Company paid a shilling a pound for butter-fat for August and September. The Mangawhata Cheese, Company paid out 13id., and is shipping Homo on consignment. ~ Bowling men are greatly interested in the centre match playing hero to-day-(Thursday) between Manawatu and the Wairarapa. The visitors will , motor over. The local programme includes lunch at the Grand Hotel and a smoke concert in the pavilion. Woodville, Feilding, Dannevirke, Pahiatua, Shannon, and two local clubs are included in the Manawatu teams.

The thunderbolt of the week has been the disbandment of tho Shopkeepers' 1 Holiday Association. The trouble started with trie recent resignation of Mr. G. E. Bennett, stationer, who protested against the disloyalty of some members to the committee's holiday decisions, notably that concerning the British cricketers' visit. Disbandment was

then mooted, hut was not seriously ex-pected-to eventuate. The end came at the annual meeting on Tuesday night, when there were flashes of recrimination. Tho chairman, Mr. Clausen, crockery merchant, said he was full up of the whole husmess and had found that the chairman got'more kicks than ha'pence. To this Mr. Park, stationer, replied that Mr. Clausen secured his own desire by haggling, but the chairman repudiated this. ; Mr. Page,» of Hannah's boot shop, Sir.'Pratt, hairdresser, and Mr. Sinclair, of Watson's general store, were among leading disbandors, and carried a proposal to; that effect. The meoting terminated with a graceful tribute to the chairman, and secretary. It is stated that'-a:meeting of shopkeepers will be called to form the association afresh. The Rev. D. B. Forde Carlisle, of the Baptist Church, has had a difference with the No-License League, and has resigned the chairmanship.' He explains that this action is because the league went beyond its province and accepted Mr. Crabb, the Oppositionist, as its candidate, when two candidates, Mr. Crabb and Mr. Thorn (Labour) had both accepted the league's stipulation to support bare majority legislation. He says the signatories to a democratic pledge should be free to support either of the two. " A social and dance in aid of the funds for the Pipe Organ Fund of St. Peter's Anglican Church produced over

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church has given £14 to the Huntly Relief Fund. ■ MASTERTON. At the meeting 'of the Masterton County Council on Tuesday, the chairman paid a tribute to the work performed by the staff during the past year. It is worthy of mention that' the clerk (Mr. T.' G. Moore) has been in the employ of the council for thirtytwo years. A sum of £27 Bs. 6d. has been collected by the Mayoress in aid of the Huntly Relief Fund.

Messrs. G. A. Jones and C. Hoffeins have tied for-the Dagg Shield in- connection with the Masterton Chess Club, and will play off. The season will close with a sides match on November 23.

The contractors for th'e metalline of the Alfredton-Weber Road, in. the Masterton County, are making fair progress. Six teams are employed. The completion of this work will mean the establishment of through road communication between Masterton- and Dannevirke via Pongaroa. OTAKI. A meeting of the Otaki Gorge settlers was held.on Tuesday evening, when Messrs. Russling, Ray, Bockett, Murray, Lethhridge, and Palmer .gave in their names as willing to become subscribers'to a party kne .for telephone purposes. The erection of one wire at least is therefore assured, and in all probability a second one will bp erected at an early date. The installation will he commenced in the course of a week or so. It is expected that the party telephone line will bo open at Manakau for communication within a week's time.

Three lads from tho Weraroa Training Farm escaped on Saturday, two journeying to Paekakariki, and one going north. The former entered a house and' stole food and money. Constable Satherley, who has been investigatuig the matter, traced the 'lads through a swamp, but later lost all sign of their footprints. Constable Satherley had the misfortuno to bo capsized from a vehicle on Tuesday through a wheel falling into a hole on tho sandhills at Waikanae. He was thrown out, but luckily escaped uninjured. , , The matter of extension of hours in connection with the local telephone exchange is now well within sight, and in the' course of a week or so subsecribers will have the benefit of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. service. ■ Mr. Cate, who has been on holiday leave, has resumed his duties at the Otaki Post Office. Mr. S. A. Ambler, a resident ot Shannon, died in the Otaki Hospital on Sunday morning. Mr. Charles Peers, who died at the Sanatorium on' Saturday, was also a resident of Shannon. Captain Dovey, of Palmorston. to-day visited Otaki, 'and with Mr. Morgan Carkeok inspected sites for a rifle range. His report will bo made known at an earl',- date. ' . . , Mr G. Tulloch, of Otaki, has received word that his son, who went with tho Expeditionary Force to Samoa, has been invalided and sent to New Zealand.