COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 215, 5 June 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES

'MANAWATU Of late rough play has been associated with some of the games played under the auspices of the Manawatu liugby Union. Matters were brought to a head at a meeting of the union this week, when a Huia junior player was reported for having assaulted the referee, Mr. J. R. Hardie, in the Huia-Kai Toa match, on.Saturday last, and for allegedly having made use of'bad language. A bad feature of the incident was that the Huia players had made no attempt to protect the referee, who, when struck, had retaliated to some purpose, and stopped all further play in connection with the match. It was decided to disqualify the player concerned for life, and warn him off all tho grounds of the union, and, further, lo write to the club, pointing out that their players had been previous offenders, and warning them that if anything further of the kind happened the union could consider their position in tho competition. No report was received by the union relative to a Pirates B player, who was ordered off the field in a match at Palmerston on Saturday for rough play, and consideration of the matter was accordingly deferred. *

A largely-attended meeting of ladies, convened by the Mayoress (Mrs. J. A. Nash) was held at Palmerston this week, to make arrangements for additional comforts for the returned soldiers at present in the Palmerston North Hospital. The Mayor, who was in attendance, explained to the ladies that the, matron of the hospital had been authorised by the Patriotic Society and supplied with funds to purchase any requirements of tho soldiers, and this had been carried out. The necessity had been felt,' however, for supplying the men with homemade comforts. The meeting arranged that the town nud country, patriotic workers undertake to provide tho necessary supplies. It was also docidod to arrange for motor-cars to take the men out for regular drives. A meeting of the Palmerston North Returned Soldiers' Literary and Debating Society was held on Monday evening, at which it was decided to hold a general debate on the question of repatriation at an early date to be fixed by the committee. Messrs. J. M. Johnston, B. j; Jacobs, and H. M. Haycock are to bo asked to address the meeting on the subject. ■ Mr. and Mrs. F. Strong, of Palmerston North, have received word - that their youngest. son Seth has arrived in the [Jutted States, where he, wont to study his profession ns a dentist. Prior to leaving for America Mr. Strong was for some time in the Awapuni Camp, attached to tho dental staff. The Apiti butter factory was closed down at the end of last month after a very successful season.

Mr. (J. Hay ward has purchased Mr. Nix's farm at Apiti. Lientenaui' C. Stanley, who has recently returned from the front, has acquired Mrs. White's farm on the Main Road, Apiti. Mrs. White intends to remove to Aorangi, where sho has purchased n farm. Mrs. I'. J. Stewart, who has been farming for some considerable time in the district, •has acquired a ' small farm in the Levin district, whither she intends removing. Her two sons will carry on her Apiti farm. Mv. W. Powell ,and family have removed to the North of Auckland district, while- Mr. D. M'Kay nnd family are leaving this week for the Taiiniarimui district, where Mr. M'Kay lias lately taken oyer a farm.' Many complaints have been forwarded to the. Department from Apiti district of late concerning the valuations that have' been placed on their various properties, most of the farmers stating that they have not bften allowed enough for their improvements,

Matters in connection with the Table Flat-Uniutoi-Utiiwai-ICiinbolton extension mail service have been runiiintr very smoothly lately, and the subsidy is being made up by the settlets in the district. The promoters of tho scheme hope to bavo everything in order at an early dale. The proposal is for a car to leave TJtaivai three days a week, aud connect, with the morning car from Fcilding 'at Kimbollon, and return iu tho afternoon. /

Apiti residents tendered a welcome social last week to Lance-Corporals W. Duncan nud'W. Hogan nnd Privates A. Yeldam, A. Dcvery, W. Cheyno, and vj. Churcher. On behalf of the Patriotic Society, Mr.. William M'Kay presented each lad with a cheque.

At a meeting of the Manawatu County Council this week a- letter was received from the Feilding Borough Council asking (hat delegates be appointed to confer at Feilding regarding the erection of a monument to perpetuate the memory of fallen soldiers. In. tho course of a 'general discussion it was made' clear that the council did not favour the principle of any contribution being made from the funds of local bodies towards the project. Anything of the nature 'should, it was urged, bo left to public subscription. It was pointed out th.it once the council contributed to one memorial it would have to "shell .out" to other towns in tho country desirous of following suit. Ultimately it was decided to appoint' a representative to watcli the conference on the council's behalf, but with no power to act and no authority to offer any financial assistance.

The second competition for Mr. H. L. Young's trophy was continued this week by members of the Linton Rifle Club at Balmerston North. The following were the highest scores:—Randell, 67; Edwards, G7; H. Barlow, 66; W.Munro, 65; W. Ball, 6a j A. Vincent, 65; J. Smith, 61; D. Smillie, 63.

The death occurred at'Palmerston this week of another Palmerston returned soldier, in tho person of Corporal M. J. Molloumby, thijough sickness contracted on active service. The deceased saw two years' service in tho South African war, and gained commissioned rank, and enlisted at tho outbreak of the late war as a private.. His sister, Miss Molloumby, is his only relative in New Zealand, An important step towards the construction of permanent roads is embodied in the decision of the Kairanga County Council to approach the State Advances Office for a loan of £10,000, for treating road surfaces with tar and bitumen. The loan will, it was decided, be allocated as follows:—Rangitikei Line, X-M100; Napier Road, £3000; and Foxton Line, £3000., The council also decided at its meeting, this week to approach the ratepayers f.t the earliest opportunitv with a loan proposal for ,£7OOO, to be obtained from tho Public Trustee, for equal allocation as far as possible amongst all three ridings. On the motion of Councillor Small it was decided that tho whole of the Taonui and Mangnone ridings' proportion of this loan be spent on the purchase of two motor lorries, and the balance in plant. The.Fitzhcrbort riding's portion.is to be marked for expenditure on workmen'e cottages and land. Mr. Harry Muller, an old resident of Palmerston North, is now manager at \Melbourhe for Messrs. J. and B. Fuller's theatrical interests. In a letter received in Palmerston this week he supplies some interesting information relative.to other former Palmerston residents who now figure in the Australian film or theatrical world. Mrs. Harry Muller, as Miss Dorothy Cone, has recently been anpearing in comedy. Mr. Victor Fitzherbert, son of the late Mr. H. S. Fitzherhert. is now appearing in "The Eyes of Youth." Mr. Arthur Barker,, who was custodian of the Palmerston North Onern House at one time, is caretaker of the Bijou Block in Melbourne, and Mr. W. Cronin is with a Sydney film corporation. Mr. Muller also states that his two step-sis-ters. M'sses Q. ami D. Hebdcn, are on thf staff of a Melbourne theatre. Further consideration was given by the Mnnnw.ir.u County Council at its meeting at Snndon this week-to the ciuestion of providing dwellings for county employee*. The position was reported to be verv acute. Houses were unobtainable in the county, and th" servicesof many good men were lost to the countv on this account. The clerk reported that he had offers of several suitable tracts of land at Snndon. nH one at Awahnri, for workers' dwellings, the prion beipT about £120 per acre. - Afl«r n short discussion the chairman (Sir •Tnmes Wilson) was authorised, along with the clerk, to take the necessary steps, with a view to applying for a

loan for tlijj rlurchaso of land and the erection of buildings for homes for county employees nl .Saiidon. The council also contemplates providing .employees' houses at Awnhuri and Kongotea'. A seven-u-sido Rugby tournament was played at the Palmerston North Show Grounds on Tuesday, under the auspices of the Manawatu Rugby Union.. The doughty Petone combination outshone nil comer?, and in the final they were pitted against the local High School boys. The latter gave a very creditable exhibition, but they were unable to'withstand the superior tactics of the Petono team, who won by 12 points to nil, and thus captured the premier honours. Solwyn also put up a vn '}' good showing, aiid in the semi-finals Petone just beat them by U points' to 3. The final for tho junior "competition was fought out between another two Wellington teams, Berhamporo A and Be'rhainpore B, the former winning by 8 points to 6.- Foxton easily won the primary schools competition, tenting West End in the final by 20 points to nil. There was a short discussion relative to tho question of increasing the charges at the General at a meeting of the Manawatu County Council this week, when a letter was received from the Palmerston North Hospital Board notifying that.the amount of the council's liability for the current year for maintenance and charitable aid expenditure was .CM47, and for capital expenditure ,£!)8. Tho chairman of the council (Sir James AVilson), who is also chairman of the Hospital Board, explained that the county's valuation has gone up about X 1,500,000, so that it was now responsible for the largest annual contribution to the hospital. Councillors generally were of the opinion that something should Ve done to keep down the growing charge on the contributing local bodies for hospital maintenance. Councillor Boyco was strongly of tho opinion that the hospital charges should be materially increased in all cases where the paitents vrero in a position to pay for the services rendered to them. Sir James Wilson remarked that the charges would probably have to 'he raised. The board received last year some £3000 in fees,, but lost about as much again as that sum in bad debts. After further consideration the first, instalment of the account was passed for payment, and a resolution adopted that in consideration of the high levies the Hospital Board be notified that the charges per day for patients should bo •raised. The All Saints' Girls Club of Palmerston North have decided to raise funds to buy a motor-car for Sister Heni. On the sister's suggestion it has also been resolved to include the securing of a car for the district nurse, Sister Jl'Lean, whoso work makes it an imperative need. Considerable assistance las already been promised the girls in their campaign.