COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 171, 14 April 1919, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS

CENTRES

MANAWATU

Constable E. 1?. Jones, of tho Palmerston North Police Force, is under transfer to jUarton to - replace Constable Squires, who' has been appointed assistant clerk in the Palmerston North district office, Constable Jones? wlio is well known as a member of the Pirates Football Club, was on two occasions instrumental in saving persons from drowning, in recognition of which ho received an award from the Royal Humane Society. , . , Mr. and Mrs. Oke, of Awahun have received private advice that, their son, Private Stanley Oke, who left with the twelfth reinforcement, is returning to New Zealand by the transport Earanga, due to arrive about April 23. Private G-. B. Hunt, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Hunt, of Pukcpii, Rongotea, who has been a prisoner of war in Germanv, is on board the transport Earanga. A 'hockey club has been formed at Otaki. It will be known as Tainui, and tho colours will be white jersey and blue band. At a meeting of the Mount Hector Track Committoe at Otaki it was decided to ask the Greytown Committee to assist with the clearing of the track instead of allotting tho money for a hut. The estimated cost of improving tho track is .£6O. At the first meeting for 1919 of the Waikanne Girls' Club, which was held this week over 20 old members and some new members were enrolled. The president, Mrs. Elder, intimated her intention; of resuming her monthly talks on homo nursing. This year's work is to inolude the making or infant outfits on Plunket patterns for soldiers' children. Plain 6ewing and fancy needlework classes will also be resumed. Tho Otaki-members of tho Pioneer Battalion were accorded a very enthusiastic welcome on their arrival home. Thesoldiers, some 20 in number, were mot nt tho railway station by a large crowd of natives anil Europeans. On, reaching tho township they were met by a great concourse of Natives, who gave them a splendid reception in true Maori fashion. The meeting house and tho Raukawa enclosure were very handsomely decorated for the occasion. Tho Pioneers were also accorded a social ana' dance.

Sergeant A. R. Rudkin (M.M.), of Otaki, who has been an inmato of the soldiers' hospital at Rotorua, is expected home shortly on discharge, he having greatly improved in health'. A good many teams have entered for the Manawatu Bowling Centre's Easter tournament. Tho entries include twelve rinks from Wellington and suburbs, eight from Palmerston North, four from Wanganui, four from Woodville, and three from Masterton. There are also entries from most of the clubs in the districts between Morton and New Plymouth. The greens aro in excellent condition for the tournament, which commences next Friday. The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce has written to the Minister of/Public Works drawing his attention to "tho fact that owing to the closing, of the flaxmills it is probable a large amount of labour will be available for pushing on the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme.

v At a meeting of the Manawatu Patriotic Society on Friday ovening the Minister of Defence wrote regretting that the Government could take no action in the matter of erecting tablets Wring tho names of thoso New Zealand soldiers who had won tho Victoria Cross during the war,, as suggested by the society. The society deferred consideration of the matter till its next meeting. At the monthly meeting of the directors of the Palmerston Y.W.C.A. it was reported that there were 36 permanent boarders, while 22 casuals were also boing accommodated. Mrs. J". Downie, of Palmerston North, has been advised that her ...husband, Private J. B. Downie, is due back in New Zealand about April 23. A reply has been received by the Manawatu Patriotic Society with regard to their protest to the Department of Lands against tho alleged practice of' the Department iii insisting oil substantial deposits from applicants for advances to purchase homes. The Commissioner of Crown Lands pointed out that there was evidently some misunderstanding. It was the practice of the Department in every case, to point out to the applicant the advantage of making some deposit, however 6mall, but it was certainly not the practice to insist upon it In'the great majority of cases, no deposit was mnde, and provided the two essentials were complied with, viz., the value of tho property as a security for tho advance, and the ability of the applicant to meet his obligations as they beoamo due, tho applicant was given full advantages of tho benefits under the Act. The Manawatu Patriotic Society has decided fo close the 6th Squadron Wellington Mounted Rifles' Fund, and to transmit'the balance in hand, ~£29. to the Advisory Board for transmission to the O.C. tlio'battalion. ■ The inadequate grant in necessitous cases to returned soldiers for the purchase of civilian clothes formed the subject of a discussion by the Manawatu Patriotic Society on Eridaj. The chairman (Mr. J. A.'Nash, M.P.) reported that of late a number of applications had been received 'for grants from the society s funds to supplement the Government allowance; i! 5 ss. would not buy a suit— SS or £& would be nearer tho mark. Thero was nothing left to the men for underclothing. Mr. H. M. Haycock considered that tho society should not keep on paying out monoy, as the obligation was one which was for the State to shoulder. It was up to the Government to move in the matter. After further discussion, in the course of which all were agreed as to the insufficiency of tho Government allowance, it was decided to continue to mako grants in necessitous cases. It was pointed out that it was too late to bring,the matter under tho notice of the Government. • . . A renresentalivo conference of swimming enthusiasts was held at Palmerston North at tho week-end for the purnose of forming a Manawatu Swimming Centre. There was a large attendance of all the clubs in the district affiliated to tho Now Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, including Palmerston North (7), Dannevirke Ladies' Club (3), Dannevirke Men's Club (4), Woodville (3), and Levin (1). Messrs. A. N. Enmall, North Island representative on the New Zealand Association, and Mr. G. S. Hill, a member of the Wellington Swimming Centre and president of the Royal Lifesaving Society, were also present, and addressed the conference. Mr. H. L. Young was in the chair. Mr. Fnrnall nointed out that although the Wellington district did not wish to lessen its strength by the loss of- clubs which would go to the new centre, the present district wa6 top wide to control, nnd it was only fair to the Manawatu district to give it a chance to develop along the most favourable linos. Under the present control Manawatu did not have proper representation at the championships, and the children were not being catered for as they should lie. He had advised Woodvi'lle, Dannevirke, and Pahiatua of Ihis meeting, but could not interfere i, with Marton and Fcildiug owing to their being under tho control of the Wanganui Centre. These two places must come in if the centre wero formed, nnd ho did | not think Wanganui would raise any objection. Palmerston North was the natural headquarters of tho projected centre. As to the rules ho suggested that the centre could not do better than adopt those of the Wellington Centre in toto, Mr. Hill, in the course of his remarks, mentioned that the Government subsidised swimming in New Zealand, and in Wellington tho City Council had materially assisted the local centre in the matter of concessions to children. He saw no reason why, if the centre were formed, the New Zealand championships should not lie held at Palmerston the year after next. After some discussion 'it was unanimously decided to form a swimming association in Palmerston, to be called the Manawatu Centre, and to affiliate, with the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The boundaries were fixed, subject to ratification by the association, to include that part of the island from the'Turakina River to the east coast, including Ormondville and Marton, down to Leviiron the west coast, nil towns in that area to be included. Tho question of colours was left to the incoming committee. The following officers wero elected:—Chairman, Mr, H, b. Young; president, Mr. J. A. Naeh, M.P.;

vice-presidents, Messrs. G. Harris (Dannevirke), and S. Turnbull (Woodvillo), with others to be apointed; lion, secretary, Mr. A. T. Bates; treasurer, Mr. C. H.'Bowon; auditor, Mr. W. Bendall, temporary committee, Miss Quieley and Messrs. Biggs, Lawn, Horn, Matheson, and Roekel. Prospects for tho centre next season are exceedingly bright. At the quarterly meeting of tho Ouiba Street Methodist Church, PalmenSton North circuit, tho stewards reported that thero was a substantial credit balance, and .£lO was voted towards a new church scheme. The membership returns showed a roll of 233, with 50 junior members. Arrangements were made for i-vangelistic work during the winter months. The question of supplying evening services at Bunnvthorpe was discussed, and it was decided to give one ministerial evening appointment during the current quarter, the whole question to bo leviowed at next meeting. ' At the annual meeting of parishioners of the Anglican Church at Fitzherbert the following committee was elected for the ensuing year:—Messrs. Hopcroft, Chatfield, T. Shaw, Gosling, Hibsll, and W. P, Field (secretary and treasurer). The Telegraph Department has advised the Dannevirke Borough Council that it is intended to mako a start with tho reconstruction of the Dannevirko Telephone Excbaugo in order to bring it up to date. The first work undertaken will be that of laying an underground conduit i to accommodate the wires now carried ' overhead. After completing over 40 year? service, Mr. A. Watson, stationmaster at Dannevirke, has retired from the Railway .Department, and left on Saturday on a three months' tour of the Dominion before' settling down in Christchurch. His successor has not yet been appointed, but Mr. Coomber is relieving in the meantime. Last week's competition, which was got oft under the auspices of the Dannevirko Rifle Club, was won by J. Gagliardi with a score of 85 ■ points. Sergeant-Major Wat6on was runner-up, with fcl points. There were "eleven competitors.