COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 225, 17 June 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES

MANAWATU

Mr. E. Fergusson, of Newbury, has been appointed manager of the Oroua Downs cheeso factory. A complimentary "social" was tendered by Oroua Downs residents last week to Privates ¥. MoH'at, P. Richardson, and E. Pratt, nil of whom have seen over threo years' active service. The by-election last week to fill the vacancy on tho Otaki Town Board resulted in thoj. return of Mr. W. Noble by a majority of one vote. As a result of a three days' fair tho Cuba Street Methodist Church of Palmerston North raised £200 towards the projected now church. It is hoped to raise £3000 by the time a commencement is mado with the building operations. _ Tho Painters' Union and emphtfers in the Manawatu district havo reached a complete agreement in regard to wages, which have been fixed at Is. 7id. per hour, with a bonus to competent men of 2Jd. per hour. The overtime rate has been raised to time and a half, while slightly increased pay has been granted to apprentices. Speaking at the Inst meeting of the Manawntu Patriotic Society, tho chairman, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., remarked: "AVe have the hardest part of our work before us. All the men will soon be back from tho front, and there is the question of the distribution of funds to be decided upon."

Mr.. Wilson, who was employed by the Feilding Borough Council prior to going to the war, has been appointed Town Clerk ns from November 1, at a salary of .£250 per annum. Mr. Geary, who is resigning from the position of Town Clerk, has been appointed consulting on. giueer at a retaining fee of .£75 per year. Mr. A. E. Webb, of Palmerston North, who is entering into business at Wanganui, was entertanied at Palmerston last week and made the recipient of a presentation from various sports clubs in the town. • ■

WAIRARAPA

A "clean-up" week is at present being held in Masterton.

At the inquest on the body of Mr. William L. Falconer, who was killed in a motor-cycle accident.on the Carterton road on Saturday night, a verdict of accidental death was returned. • The late Mt. Falconer was seventy-one years of age. He had resided in the Masterton district for over forty years. Ho was a member of. the Farmers' Union and other bodies, and had served on the Masterton District High School Committee for a number of years. Ho. was also a skilful draughts' player. Ho leaves a widow and grown-up family. The Wairarana Rugby Union lias arranged the following representative matchos: Wairarapa v. Hawke's Bay, at Carterton, July 19; Wairarapa v. Bush, at Eketahuna, July 26. The Mayor of Masterton (Sir. W. H. Jackson) has telegraphed the Superintendent of Workers' Dwellings asking that ft definite number of the two hundred workers' dwellings it is intended to provide shall bo erected at Masterton. Tho house problem is still very, acute in this township. , As much as 13s: per diem is being paid in Masterton for gardeners working by the day. ■> The monthly meeting of the committo of the Masterton A. and P. Association, which was to havo been held on Saturday last, lapsed for want of a quorum. A largely-attended meeting of sheepowners of tho Wairarapa was held on Saturday last to consider tho shearers' demands. No definite conclusions wero arrived at.