COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 166, 8 April 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS

CENTRES

MANAWATU

The "joy-rider" or the motor-car thief Ims been very much in evidence in l'nlnierston iS'orth lately. A iive-seater car was removed from Colemnn Place on Saturday night, and has uot yet been heard of. Another ear, which disappeared some little time ago, was found in ono of the back streets of the borough, niiiali the worse for wear, showing that it hud been driven for some considerable i dis. tanco by the party who-had first'>:om. mmideercd it. Complaints are made of the ravages of droves of cnttlo at the new Anzno Park. Many of the tree's have been smashed down, and the steep banks have been knocked about and are left full of holes. Should heavy rains fall slips are bound to take place, and there will be a general erosion of the banks.

"The Manawatu Croquet Club's fiemi(inals were played on Saturday, when Miss 'Randolph was. successful in beating Mrs. Louis Seifert, after an . exciting game, bv one point. Pour "members of the Manawatu Croquet Club went over to Dannevirke on' Saturday to try conclusions with the local players. The homo players sustained their reputations as experts with tho mallet and ball in the singles, winning all the games, Mrs. lverr beating Mrs. Baxter, Mrs. Nymon Mrs. Lnurenson, Mrs. Robertshaw Mrs. Wilson, and Mrs. AL'Dowell Mrs. Corbridge. Manawatu turned tho tables in tho doubles, which were won by Mrs. Baxter and Miss Laurenson. A return match will bo played next Saturday. A team of bowlers from the Palmer, ston Club challenged Fcilding, the holders of the Dixon Cup, and tip game waa played on the Peilding green on Saturday,' when' the visitors succeeded in wresting the trophy from tho holders in a very easy manner, the scores being 27 to 11. The holders of the cup were Wnllace. Fletcher, W. Tapp, and Rankiii (s), and the challengers Mickie, Dayliss, Seifert, and N. IL'Nash (s.). Fending managed to hold their own until .the eighth head, when they seemed to go to pieces and left their opponents an easy .The cricket match, Palmerston, High School v. Bailway, was continued nt Palmerston on Saturday. Railway,, in completing their innings, made 58 runs for four wickets, bringing their total up to ill runs, Pickard being the most successful- batsman with 23 runs. High School thus wins the match, their score on the previous day's play being 198 runs. At Palmerston on Saturday games ot tennis were played between girls from the Dannevirke High School and the local High School girls The matches were fairly evenly contested in all coses, and resulted in tho visitors winning by fivo "amee against l'ahnerston's four. Ihe n-wregate scores were: 3GO for tho former and 350 for. the latter. The detailed results are as follow'.-Singles: M. Pickerin" beat I. Simmers, 40-35; J. Hollier lost 'to L. Cox, 33—10: B. Laurenson lost to J Thorburn. 21—40; E. Patterson beat W. Crooks, ifl-31j J. "Clavis lost to ? M'Lean, 35-40;' D. Robinson beat I. Scott, '10-39.■ Doubles: M. Pickering and J. Hollier beat I. ■ Simmers and L. Cox 50-35; B. Laurenson and .T. Clavis lo*t to ,T. Thorburn and P. M'Lean. « -30: E Patterson and D. Robinson lost to AY. Crooks and L. Scott, 43-50. Rer.nlt: Palmerston,' 4 games, 350; Dannevirke, .5 games, 3GO. . Tlie executive of the Manawatu Hunt Club met on Saturday, night, when it was decided to open the season on April 23. with a run from Bunnythorpe to "Rangitikei Line, iixturps to follow bein":—Saturday. May :), at ICairanga; Saturday. Mny 10, at Awflhuri; Saturday. May' 17. at Mr. AV. Reid's farm; Satur--'■'y, May 31. at Te Matai,; Satuniay, .Tune 7. at Parorangi; Saturday, Juno "■, at Bunnytliorpe-P.aiißitikei Linojlnday, June 20, hounds' display at winter show. Six new members were elected. iiHiidins} two ladies. Rather a smart piece of work was performed on Saturday afternoon by Constable Ferguson, of the Palm.erston North, police staff. It was reported to him in l the street, that a nmii had been robbed of a largi sum of'Hioney, On getting particulars from 'the loser the constable immediately instituted a luiiit lor his man. Within half an hour hi had arrested tho man he suspected, and taking him iifto a shop made a cursory examination ot his percon, without success. Is'ot biiiiig satisfied, however, he took the prisoner to the Police Station, where, n thorough search revealed the fact that tne man had a, roll ot note to the valuo of about J,"iltl concealed between his liaiiiu;l and liis shirt. At tlie Police Court yesterday the culprit, a middle-aged man mimed Kobert Edward Brassell, was charged with stealing J!!IO from (lie person of huM I'iiwon. <t blacksniith, who said he arrived in l'nlnierstoii A'orth on Saturday, morning with JilOO 'in -liis ri.sisession. He met the accused in the Central Hotel, and cashed a Jiso note and put the change in his pocket with aiiother Jc'M note- Alter leaving the accused he found that his money had gone, and gave the information to 'the police. Urassell, ,who pleaded not guilty, \nw committed for' trial. .

A young innn employed on the railway as a cleaiKT was brought before the Palmerstou North Magistrate's Court yesterday morning on if charge of stealing iv pipe, valued at 55., and was' senSliced to two months' imprisonment. .Accused had already been convicted of theft and forgery, and uttering in W'elliglon, mid was wauled for fniliii" to obay (he terms of. his prolwlion. At the Manawalu JJrainase Board meeting yesterday discussion arose as io the letting of. contracts, it being iminted' out that .some contractors neglected their worlUjy nUomling race meetings, and it liad been that in some , cases even though' they were the lowest tenderers, they should not be given contracts. The chairman said that so long as.ho was on the board he would-insist on seeing that the lowest tender was accepted irrespective of whether the tenderer was a "wowser" or not. The only exception he would make was in tho ca.vo of a man who had refused io take up arms for his country. Ud would use every endeavour to prevent >\ shirker Betting an.v of tho board's work , the matter.of lh? spread of goat's rue in the lower portions of the district mis brought up, at the meeting of Hie Mannwatu Drainage Board yesterday. It was stated that the pest was being brought down the river nnd deposited on the lowlying, lands . which were being overrun with it. the chairman said it was the worst pest which had. ever been intradßced into the country. .The Kaira.ma County Council was spreading it daily b>; waiving metal out of tho Ihiinirati, River bed, each load containing n certain amount of seed. ]f something was not done to ston it .it would overrun the whole coun ry II formed a dense „ which killed all other vegetation, ami endered land practically useless. The we«i four t^^^-^ootintTCntr-