COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS ■ CENTRES ) MANAWATU A meeting of hockey players was held at Palmerston North on Friday night for the purpose of forming a now hockey club. Mr. F, Cousins presided.. 'It was decided to form the club and to call it the Palmerston North Hockey Club. Officers were elected as follow:—Patron, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.; president, Mr. J. O. Havwood; vice-president, Alessrs. Nicholls, L. H. Collinson, H. Collinson, and E. Shep, Dixon; captain, Mr. F. Cousins; vice-captain, Mr. Mayo; secretary, Mr. B. v Watson; committee, Mossrs. W. Boon, L. Martin, nndPerrin. White was chosen as the club's colour. The following team was picked to represent the olub in the nssocilaion's competition :— W. Boon, H. Voyce, D. ..Mayo, O. K. Perrin. E. Watson, E. Cousins, L. Martin, .1. Brown, F. Cousins, W. Dredge, Tonks, and D. Sponcer. \ At a meeting of the Palmerston North Peace Celebrations Committee at the week-end the Manawatu and Kairanga Dairy Companies wrote, donating i£lo and iEG respectively towards tha erection of. an arch' in Rangitikei Street. —It was resolved to reply' idling that owing to insufficient funds the arch in question could not be erected, and asking permission to spend the money on tho children's - onteriainment. The Returned Soldiers' Association wrote forwarding the following resolution passed by its oiecutiva:—"That it is hoped that no feeling of misunderstanding exists as far as the attitude of .the Returned Soldiers' Association is concerned in regard to the Peace celebrations, and that this association does all in its power to help with such celebrations."—lt was resolved to call a special meeting on Friday next to "consider the question of arches. The following appointments of teachers have been made in tho Palmerston district:—Longburn, second assistant, Miss K. Harris; West End, fourth assistant, Miss E. Pigott;- Campbell Street, actingeleventh assistant, Mrs. Ferguson; Mies D. I. Dove has been appointed a probationer at College Street School. Relieving teachers appointed include 'Mrs. E. Orgias, acting-tenth assistant, Terrace End: Mrs. Guymer, acting-first assistant, Rongotea; Miss D. Argyle, acting-fourth assistant, West End. I Miss M. Rawson, iunior teacher, Campbell Street, has resigned her position. . A court-martial sat at - Palmerston North at the week-end, ' when Private Francis Briscoe. Bushman, Wanganui, was charged with absenting himself without leave from the concentration'of tho Seventh CI Reinforcement draft at Wanganui in April, 1918. The accused, who was apprehended in the Wairoa district last month; was represented .by. H. Cooper, and pleaded guilty. Speaking on behalf of prisoner,, counsel said that had accused produced a doctor's certificate at the time of his medical examination, which he had then in his possession, "he would probably : never been classed CI at all. Accused had nevor denied the fact of his absence without leave. • He bore a good character, and had been a resident of the Feilding district for some time. The reason that he had not turned up at the concentration was that shortly before ire date he're-, ceived word of his brother's death at the front, which. caused him to go on a drinking bout at Taihape. When he recovered he found that he had miesed the concentration, and he had not the moral courage to deliver himself up to the authorities. Since, then he had been living iii the back-blocks,.avoiding civilised ix) rts. Sentence will be promulgated shortly. j A very interesting paper on "The Island of Kapiti," compiled by Mi , . W. Benuall, was read at the meeting of the Manawatu Philosophical Society. last week. The paper, dealt with the early history of the'island in tho days before Captain Cook discovered New Zealand, and also wave some valuable information as To what is being done on the iarand at the present day. On the /ootion of the chairman, Mr. .51. A." Eliott, Mr. , Bendall was _ accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his paper. Mr. 11. I. Young, of Palmerston; tendered a social' and dance to his employees and friends in 'the Umpire Hill at'the week-end. A musical and vocal' programme was contributed to by the following :—Songs, Mrs. Blechynden, Miss Bett, Miss Blechyndon, Miss Yeo, Messrs. Pizzer, Sehwabe, Cyril Young, Bett, and W. Tabor; recitation. Miss Eona Day! violin solos, Messrs. Basil Young aud iiaffls: classical dance, Miss Cecily Tabor. The quarterly summoned meeting of the Liud Lodge was held at Tokomnru last week, when the election of officers resulted as follows:—A.D., Biu A. Boote; I V.A., Bro. W. H. Parr; senior treasurer, Bro. H. M'Laggon; secretary, P.A.- Brp. : Eade; A.D.B.'e, Bros. B. Rowlands and B. Russell; V.A.B.'s, Bios. J. Lee'and 0.■ Oeman; P.G., P.D.P. Bro. Steward; ! 1.G.. Bro. F. Gameson; auditor, Bro. C. Osman. .

The bowling season has now closed at Palmorston North, and tho various Kreens have been shut down for the winter. The last game of. the season was the final in the Valmerston North Club's colts' competition, which was played between Messrs. Wilton and • Bouiface, the former winning after a-closely-contested mmie ; The final of the Palmor-ston Club's handicap pairs has been held over till next season. • . ' The death occurred at Mnnakau last week of Mr. Paris Brooke Anderson,- at the age of 72 years. The lato Mr. Anderson! who' wne widely known throughout the Manawatu, comes of a prominent Jinjrlish military family. Two of his surviving brothers are Major-General A. W. L. Anderson and Colonel E. Brooke Anderson, of the Imporial Army. Two of deceased's sisters are also residing in England. Captain Eric Anderson, ,n nephew of the late Mr. Anderson, was the first British officer ,to win the D.S.O. in the war. "

The scarcity of timber and the question of planting trees for fruit case's was discussed at a meeting of the Horowhenua Fruitgrowers' Association last week. Mr. G. H. Cunningham, biologist at the Central Development Farm, in an address advocated the planting of pinus insignia. The cost of- . planting, would be . about .£3 per acre. Tho meeting resolved that the', association take steps to arrange a conference of local bodies, farmers' unions, dairy companies, and other bodies interested to diecussthe timber question and the matter of future supplies.

DANNEVIRKE AND PAHIATUA 'At its meeting last "week the Dannevirke Borough Council decided to withdraw from the Wivikaremoana League, as it now finds that it is included in the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme. It was also decided to support the Chamber of Commerce in inviting Mr. L. Birke, Chief Government Electrical Engineer, to .give an address in Dannevirke, explaining the local- position. The council decided to institute a clean-up week and publicity campaign in connection with it, to start on July 7. The Mayor,and Councillorfl Drmnuiond and M'Gibbon were appointed the council's representatives on the Fire Board. ' The estimates, which.were adopted, 'provide for a 2;] d. genoral rate, an increase of M. on last year.- ~- .-

Mr. 11. J. Cornwall has been appointed conductor of the Dannevirke Operatic Society. Mr. W. S. Hales has been elected a member of the Weber County Council, defeating his opponent, Mr. Harvey, by 18 votes.

At a meeting of the I'innnce Commit--tee of the Dannevirke A. nnd P. Association !aßt week, over which Mr. R. 11. Chadwick presided, it was reported'that members' subscriptions collected so far totalled i£4oo. There were outstanding subscriptions to the amount of SfSb.. A progress report was received of the canvass that was being underlnken on l)0v half of the showgrounds improvement fund. So far ,£BOO had been raised. According to the president, the now sheepvards would have been built some time ago but for'the epidemic. Ho thought that they might complete the sheepvards with the money they had in hand at' the. present. After some discussion it was decided to obtain quotations for

tho necessary timber, which will bo considered bv the coniinitteo as -soon as they are available. The canvass for funds will be continued in the. meantime. Tho ineetiiiK also resolved to support suggestions for ■ tho New Zealand Council of Agriculture for the. amendment of certain rules governing A. and P. associations. Mr. 11. Griffith, of Pahiatua, has been appointed to succeed Mr. ingrain, of Master! on, who has been transferred to Hiiwera. as stock auctioneer for the Loan Co.

Flora Olliver, -daughter of Sirs. Olliver,.postmistress of Mangatninokn, broke hor. leg in school last week, and is now in the hospital. Master .T. A. Graham, of Pahiatua, has been awarded a junior free placcj fcholarslup, and he also won the Heckler Memorial Scholarship.,

ENTERTAINMENTS $ ■

■ -.THE-KING'S THEATRE. Alice Brady in "The Death Dance" is the feature of tho new programme at the lung's ■ Theatre this week. The story of the dance, tells how Damia, dancing partner of Fa'bio, leaves him to marry, a nobleman. On her wedding eve sho returns to the cabaret to dance to her impending triumph. She sees Pabio with another partner, and there is a dramatic scene. She dances with her old lover, and he, in the fear of losing Damia again, state her to death. Such a tragedy, however, is merely incidental to the real picture fltory; the Select Company's version dopiets a more satisfying ending— an ending that does not demand tho denth of tho modern Damia, but leaves her on the threshold of a new and happier life. Alice Brady plays the part of the dancer who is "impregnablo to nil assault," and who proved to a, man who made a wager that "eva/y woman has her price" that he was wrong, by herself "paying the price." The ''death dance," executed by Alice Brady and a clever partner, is not the least striking feature of a .very fine picture, which is in addition remarkable for its "society" pcene'9. Chief of. these is a series of cabaret scenes that is without doubt equal to anything screened for a leng time, while the dresses and furs worn by the various principals are surely the last. word in things fashionable. _ Supporting pictures comprise the final instalment of "Tho Scarlet Runner," which contans many surprises; <r An Innocent Vampire" (comedy); a very interesting Gazette, and a beautiful scenic subject, "From Lucerne to St. Gothard." At an interval Mr. H. Woods sang "Destiny" agreeably, and was recalled. The work of the King's Orchestra was, as usual, excellent, and forms quite an r.ntertainment in itself. The programme will be soreened nightly throughout the veek and on Wednesday afternoon.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Captain Bairnsi'ather immortalised the three characters that stand out in ''The Better 'Olo," the film that is being sho™ at Everybody's Theatre this week. The film wa? screened at the King's Theatre last week, but all who wanted to-see it were unablo to do so, lmice this week's 'season at Everybody's Theatre. The picturisation of "The Better 'Ole" was a happy thought, for the drama' discloses how the British, notwithstanding its-sadness and suffering, carried on during the Great War. The cartoonist's unbounded humour is fr.ithfnlly conveyed in the film. AVe sto Bi-rt, Alf, and Old Bill carrying on through all the horrors of the war zone with a light-heartedness characteristic of tlio British, Old Bill in tho French cafo is the life of the party at tho village where British troops are billeted. Tlicu again 010 Bill is seen doing his bit in tho front line trenches with f-hells dropping all around. There is a rich sentimental vein in the story, and although it is not a war picture, there are a number of spectacular pictures dealing with tho war. Tho stage trench with Bert, .AH', and Old Bill on the top is excellent, and as Old -'Bill, Mr. R. H. Meates sings "Up from Somerset." Tho supporting films include the thirteenth episode of "TheJlbusc of Hate," which is as full of thrills as any of the previous, chaptors, and the Pathe Gazette.

EMPRESS THEATRE. Sfarie Corolli's v famous novel , , "The Sorrows of Satan" has lent itself, readily to adaptation for the film, to judge by the general impression conveyed by tho star item at the Empress Theatre on Saturday. Gladys Cooper, the uhunning beauty actress, has the principal role, and has every opportunity. to display her talent in the highly-emotional part of Ludy Sybil Elton, tho beautiful society giri, who is sold to (he highest bidder in tho marriage market for five millions. The other characters in the etory aro faithfully depicted, while the staging and mounting are on a magnificent scale. Several interesting films were shown in support. Mr. C. Melvin sang "The Bells of Peace," introducing chimes and church bells, his song furnishing'a pleasing interlude in the show. The feature picture will run for a week. ,

"THE THREE DOOfIS." The box plan for Mrs. James Hannah and Miss Gladys ' Campbell's original phantasy "The Three Doors" opens at the- Bristol this morning ,at 9 o'clock, and iii now of, the gxeai interest aroused early application is advised. The result of the collaboration 'of these two fine artists is being eagerly looked forward to, and it may lie .confidently predicted that the results will exceed all expectations. As the proceeds aro to be donated to the Wellington Free Kindergartens, patrons vill have the added satisfaction of knowing that they have helped those who most need-help—tho children.