COUNTRY'NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 183, 29 April 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY'NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES

ffIANAWATD The Maniiwatu hunt, which has carried on under considerable difficulties during the war, held the opening run of the present season on Saturday afternoon, and if the success attending tho initial meet is any augury, the club should have an excellent season. There was a largo gathering at Jepsou's farm, whero the hounds threw off for tho first run, and considerable interest was taken in tho proceedings, not only by those who joined the hunt, but also by the large crowd which followed along t,ho road in traps and motor-cars, and on horseback. The going was'fairly hard, in spite of the rain which had fallen during the night and the early morning, but at tho time of the start there was just sufficient drizzle to keep the scent down, and in this-respect the conditions wero ideal. The first run was a zig-zag course from the back of Mr. Jepson's house to the Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road, and a short distance down that thoroughfare, and the course was negotiated without a mishap. Somo of-the horses were scarcely iu condition . for hunting, and the committee therefore cut the course into three runs of about a little over a mile each. On resuming aftor the first check a road double had to be'crossed, and some.very pretty jum'ping was shown. From here to the second check the run was close along the roadside, and the onlookers therefore had a splendid view of the proceedings. The final run had another Rood double, but on the whole the course was a fairly easy one, and the final check took place close to Rangitike Line. Amongst over thirty 'who..followed the hounds was only one lady, Miss Mends, whose mount was Miss Gawker, and she took the wliole of the obstacles in splendid stylo. Mr. N ; J Short, the actingmaster, was on Beacon, and the huntsman on Papa. Mr. D. E. M'Ewan, on Belle, laid the drag, and the hounds were in very, good condition. Amongst those ■ who followed were Messrs. W. D. Buiek on Dr. Jim, R. Scotton Coker's Prince, W. Scott on Jumbo, E. Watson on Green Stripe, G. Davey on Coker's Chestnut, J.' Shaw (Honorary whip) on Silvorhair, R. Pettinann on Chautauqua, W. Kitchen on Nedlow, W. E. L. Banks on Blaze. J. T. Hill on Plain Bin, N. 'Avery (Pahintua) on Jack. L. H. Collinson on Punjaub. 0. V. Oxley (Pahiatua) on Bob, P. Coles on Martinella, 11. Fletcher on Sam, S. Olliver on Doctor, M. M'Connell.ori Mystery, E. L. Northcote on Balmoral. II D. Batchelar on Khamsin. W. Neylon on.Ohabt, J. Shaw on Graylight, 11. R, Lancaster on Princess, J. Crook on Sail' Home, A. Helleron on Scout, and M. Wood on Wnlkgr's Ridge. At the •conclusion of the run the hunting party and their friends were most hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs..Hugh 1 Gillies'at their home on Rangitikei 'Line. Tho next meet will bo 1 held this Saturday at Mr. Balsillie's farm, Kairanga. Sunday morning marked another chapter in the history of All Saints' Church, Palmerston North, on tho occasion of the laying of the foundation-stone of the new Sunday School building. As the successful culmination of much effort on the part of the congregation sufficient money has been raised to make a start with the erection of a new building in brick. It is intended to build only part of tho school'nt first, and later on to add to it. The ceremony of .laying tho stono was performed by the Rev. R. Young, vicar of Cnrterton, who was curate at All Saints-' Church under the Rev. Mr. Harvey twenty years ago. Collections, in aid of the Sunday School, taken up at the different.services during the day, realised over .tMG, . Mr.' J. -L. Barnicoat, who for tho past quarter of a century has held the position of manager of the Union Bank of Australia, at Palmerston North, retires on superannuation in Juno next, and will take up his residence in Wellington. Mr. Barnicoat has a lengthy record of service in that institution He joined the.bank in September, 1873, at Nelson, and five years later he was transferred to the West Coast. In 188" he became manager of the bank at Greymouth, and at the end of 1891 he,moved to Blenheim as manager, and two years later he was transferred to Palmerston North to take charge of the bank's business there. In ni 'unostentatious manner Mr. Barnicoat has accomplished much good in the community,! especially as a prominent member of All Snints' -Church.- and in educational and' musical circles, he having been a member of the High School Board of Governors siuce its inception. The number of votes recorded'in the Palmerston North electorate nt the recent licensing poll was 788 G. It is interesting to note that of this number 3712 were tho votes of men white 4171 were recorded by women. No fewer than 217-t persons, who wero eligible to vote, failed to exercise' their franchise, and their names have, accordingly been si ruck off the roll. Absentee voters in tJ»t« electorate numbered .101, out of which there was a prohibition'majority "of 59. The final count for tho whole electorate revealed a prohibition majority of 759. A dance and euchre party was held at the Anzac Club, Palmerston North, on Satiirdav evening, under the management of a committee of ladies, headed by Mrs. E. Perry. The function was a success both from a social and financial standpoint, and tho proceeds, which amounted to .£lO. are to be donated to the. fund .which is being raised to supplement the Government grant towards the establishment of a. Girls' High School. A series of dances will be held fortnightly during the winter, the proceeds to go towards the same object. The annual report of the Campbell Street School Committee, Palmerston North, shows that tho sum of .£lB2 3s. Cd. was received from the Education Board during the year. Expenditure amounted to ,£lsl, and with the sum brought forward the credit balance stands at .£33 13s. Ud. The average attendance for the yiar was 649.2 out of a total of 719.4; on the roll. The highest number present on any school day was 712, and the lowest 553. During the year 291 pupils were admitted and 309 left. Private advices received state that Flight-Captain Phil Fowler, of Feilding, .lias been appointed by the British Admiralty to an aerial torpedo Squadron, which was under orders to proceed to Northern P.ussia. A traction engine, owned by Mr. Hewitson, went through the bridge over the Mangaone Stream, on Roberts's Line, on Friday. The engine fell right through the bridge into the stream, the driver and his assistant, luckily escaping with only minor injuries; The -bridge is now closed for all traffic till repairs are effected. .'