COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 193, 10 May 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES MANAWATU

Tho Levin .Athletic Club brought its series of competitions to a closo (his week! The guid medal presented by the Rev. F. W. Grove for the competitor gaining the greatest number of points was won by A. Fox, whose total was 39. Tho next best scores were:—C. Adkin and J. Cork, 21); E. Clark, 22; and G. Fox, 17. .

At a meeting of the new school committee nt Levin this week the headmaster reported" that the average roll numbers for the month was Eil. It was decided to apply to the Department for another room, the present accommodation being overtaxed.. Mr. D. S. Mackenzio attended, and submitted a proposal for the dental treatment of scholars, tho proposed scheme to apply to the district from Waikanae to Shannon. Tho, committee commended the proposal, and unanimously endorsed it. Mr. Mackenzie intends visiting the various centres along the coast with the object of furthering tho scheme. At tho first meeting of tho newlyelected borough council at Shannon this week the meeting day of the council was changed from Monday to Friday, the next meeting to be held next week. A deputation from the local Peace Celebration Committee waited on the council to hand mcr tho funds collected. After a discussion in committee it was ■resolved to ac<[uiesc6 in the arrangements of the committee, and to assume control of tho funds, Inwards which it was decided to donate J!10.

At tho next meeting of the Palmerston North Borough Council Councillor E. L. Broad intends moving that consideration ho given to the question of acquiring a site suitable for housing the whole of tho council's offices, library, showrooms, etc.

Mention was made by Mr. Dramwell at the meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board this week that the Feeding Ladies' lied Cross Society was desirous of regularly supplying tho soldiers' ward at the hospital, Palmerston North, with hot water bottles and other comforts and necessaries. The society dosired tho permission of the matron for 60me of its members to pay regular visits to the soldiers' ward, with tho object of getting in touch with the men's requirements. Tlte society wanted to be in a position to help the men during their sojourn at tho institution, and, where needed, after their discharge from there. The chairman of tho board (Sir James Wilson) accepted tho offer with thanks and promised to sccuro tho necessary permission from the matron. 'On tho recommendation of the matron, Probationer-Nurse. MacFarlans, of the Palmerston North Hospital, has isrtii placed on the permanent nursing slalr of that institution. Nurse Nora A. M. Neylon has resigned from the staff, as has also the anaesthetist, Dr. Stendahl, 'who is leaving shortly for Norway.

Sister Scanlon, who resigned from tho Pahverston North Hospital staff nearly three years ago in order to go on active service, lias returned and is visiting I'almerstjm North 'at present; Sho will probably be, attached to tho Military Convalescent Home at Rotorua.

.. Tlie death has occurred at the Paljnerston North Hospital of Mr. Georgo Henry Belfit, youngest son of Mrs. Louisa Belfit, The late Mr. Belfit, who was in his thirty-first year, returned from active service at. the front some timo ago, and was caretaker of the Municipal Opera House.

On 'tho suggestion of Ifrs. 7i. S. Gill, the Palmerston North Hospital ( Board has decided to write to tho borough council pointing out tho necessity of sterilising all second-hand linen and bedclothing before it is put up for sale at public auction. The chairman of tho board mentioned that .the board would bo glad to allow its sterilising chamhor to bo used for tho purpose.

DANNEVIRKE AND WOODVILLE

The debit balance of the Dnnnevirko Borough Council oh March 31; 1011), was .£1715, 'a of .£(iOa on- that of the previous year. The actual inc.v-ijced-ness of tho borough is now .tSi.nti'. Fourteen theatrical companies visited Dannevirke during the year ended March last, apd the receipts from all sources irom tho Town Hall amounted to ,£744. Thu amount paid out for maintenance was J3S9.

Permits for tlie erection of buildings to tho valuo of ,£51,202 wero issued by the Dannevirke borough Council last year. Tho borough library account at the end of tko financial year had a credit of ,£IOO, with accounts totalling <£50 outstanding. During tho year tlie council contributed' .£IM to the Fire Hoard, which expended over .£7OO m lire fighting appliances.

Messrs. V. Ford and G. Anderson have been elccted secretaries of the Dannevirke Wesley 'Guild, ami tho liov. J. lticliards president.

Mr. G. J. Is. liickford has been reo'.ected chairman of tiw Dannevirke Library Committee, and Mi. P. J. Knight honorary secretary. Tlie committee lias agreed, 1 at the rcqtu-ii of tho Borough Council, to accept mnct.' tor another term. Tho subscribers at present number 257.

Jockey K. Hunt, wnu was injured 011 tho Dannevirke racecourse while schooling Lady Kilworch, is making good progress towards recovery 111 tiie general hospital.

At a meeting of tho Woodville Borough council this week it was decided to have a clean-up week 110111 May 14 to to 19. It was decided that the whole council next Wednesday afternoon should go on a tour of inspection of the' borough, some'of the sheets being reported* to bo in very a bad state. .It was resolved by six votes to three to support the l'almcrston North Chamber of Commerce's resolution in reference lo Government action in connection with main arterial roads.

Messrs. Jorgensen and Wnsche, of l'allnerston North, havo secured tho contract for the erection of tho new cheese factory at l'apatawa. Owing to the unsettled condition at prosent prevailing, Mr. J, Harris, chainmm of tho AVoodville County Council, inn deferred his departure for England and Gnllipoli (w : hero lie lost a son) for twelve months.

Messrs. E. Harding and J. D. MTarlano (Woodville), J. Gildea (Maharahara), and.T. Moss (Newman) are candidates for' the 6eat on tho National Dairy Association, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. A. M'Farlano, of Pahiatna. In addition to those named, there dte three Manawatu candidates, who have been nominated by the butter men. Hawke's Bay factories are supporting Mr. Gildea, Woodville-l'ahiatua faetorlv; aro favouring Mr. Harding or Mr. MTarlane, while Mr. Moss is finding favour in tho eyes of the Wairarapa factories.

At a meeting of the Woodville County Council his week an interesting legal opinion was read from the county solicitor relative to the erection of rural mail boxes on the roadway. Tho opinion stated that the council was liable for any accident .that might occur if it gave permission for the erection of the boxes. Tho solicitor suggested.that certain conditions should govern the erection of tho boxes, and that holders of iho boxes should indemnify the council in tho event of any accident. On the motion of Councillor Norman, seconded bv Councillor Galloway, it was resolved to notify tho settlers i that the mail boxes should bt on the 4'enco line.

There was somo discussion at the last meeting of the Woodville County Council over the action of the Public Works Department in handing over an unmetailed road to the council. The road in question is on tho returned soldiers' settlement on the Gorge Block, and it was pointed out that it would cost more ehan XI per yard to metal it. The matter was left in the chairman's hands to interview the authorities in Wellington. The Department is also being written lo by tho council.

WAIRARAPA ITEMS

An interesting decision as affecting sheep-owners tmd shearers lias been given bv Mr. S. L. I'. Free, S.M. In tho last'shearing season a shearer named William Higgins was employed by Mrs. A. XJ. Butherford, of Alfrodton. The man was dismissed because he refused to shear when requested to;do so, on tho ground that tho sheep we wot. Ho

brought; an action for <£17 14s. for alleged wrongful dismissal The evidence showed that tho shearers had tested the sheep and found them too wet for shearing. On the other hand, the defendant showed by ovidenco that the wool was not too damp for baling, and that neighbouring sheds had actually shorn on the same day. Tho Magistrate held that tho effect of clause 11 of flie sweaters' award was to make the shearer the judge of whether sheep penned for shearing aro sufficiently dry to shear, and if he honestly exercises the discretion vested in him tho owner must submit. Judgment was piven for the plaintiff for a sum of ,£lO, with costs. Tho .automatic telephone! system in Masterton is now complete, and all tliat remains is for the installation of tho new receivers. , The price of meat is being reduced by 6ome of tho Jlasterton butclicrs. Another old identity of Masterlon, in the person of Mr. William T. Robins, passed away on Thursday, at the age of CI years. The deceased, who served in the British JNavy from 1852 to 1801, was tho holder of a medal with clasps in connection with the China War. Ho was for over thirty years Tyler of the Ma9tortoß Masonic lodge. An old settler of the Lowor Tauem, Mr. J. Page, pawed away this week at tho age of 81 yeara. He leaves a grown-up family.