COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 238, 2 July 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS

CENTRES

MANAWATU

. The Buinnythorpe Patriotic Committee has decided to tender a welcome homo social to tho following local hoys who hnvo returned from Ihe front:—Sergeant C. Proctor (M.M.)', Privates 0. Proctor, P. Tlannnn, K. G. Parker,' Sergeant: G. Ilill, Sergeant S. Fowler (JI.M.), and Privato M. J. Boyes. There are now onlv'twelve more Bunnythorpe boys to nrrlvo back from the ivnr, and after tho lust soldier has returned it is tho intention of the society to hold a special function in honour of all the returned men.

Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie are leaving Bunnvthorpe to take lip their residence in the Bninesso district, where they have purchased a fjrm.

Mr. Tancred Cooper, organiser of the Farm era' Union, has been successful, in forming a branch of that 'l;ody in Bu.nnythorpe, with a membership of 15, Jtiss lieid, of Palinerston North, has bowl appointed supervisor of tho Telephone Exchange at Pahiatua. Advice has been received in Palmorston North that the New Zealand Divisional "Digger" Troupe will appear there for one night in tho Opera Hotiso on July 10. At the annual general meeting of the Otaki Bowling Club officers were elecled as follow:—l'atron, Dr. Ilutliwnite; president, Mr. D. Noble; vice-president, Mr. Wesley secretary, Mr. Harry Mitchell; assistant secretary, Mr. M. H. Ayre; treasurer. Air. A. Sailierloy; auditor, Mr. Dondo; generol comtnittee, Messrs. Ayre, Bills, Box, Kilmister and ttev. Petrle; green committee, Messrs. A. Smith, Knight, and Gooding; match committee,. Messrs. Bills, Satherley, and Kilmister; delegate to centre, Itev. Petrie. It was decided, provided permission was granted, to hold a rink tournament at JJnster, embracing Hflturday, Monday, Mid Tuesday. Tho incoming committee were recommended to erect a small pavilion for croquet players. Mr. Christian Voss, n very old Manawatu identity, died suddenly yesterday whilo driving near Himitangi, at tho ago of (15 years. The deceased was a Dane, and with many of his compatriots was compelled to live wider German rule. Getting tired of this, he, with a number of his cotmlrynieii, came out la the Dominion nhout forty years ago and settled in tho Mn.nawatu district, going in for fanning. Mr. Yoss always took «, lively interest in anything that was for tlie good of the district, and scon after his arrival tool: an active part, as a membor of various local bodies in the improvement of the district. lie was at various times a member of the old'Manawatu Road Board, still remaining «. member when it was merged into the Kairanga County Council,' He also had a seat on the ITospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Technical School Board, and was a member of the Palmerston -North Borough Council. T'lio Pahiatua and Bdlanco 'br,-inches of tho Farmers' Union have decided to form a sub-provincial area, with head'quarters at Pahiatua. Jlv a peculiar coincidence the number of Wtlis,' deaths, and marriages registered in Palmerston North for tho halfyear just ended were DC in_ each ense. The vital statistics recorded in the town for the month ended Juno 30 were:Bittlis, 39; deaths, 16; and marriages, 22. ;

WAIRABAPA No serious apprehensions regarding a sußicient supply of coal to maintain the usual gas servico aro entortained by tlio Mayor of llnsterton. A fiusyected case of influenza has been admitted to the Masterton Hospital. It is reported that an offer of .£l5O an aero has recently been refused for a section of land at Htunua.

A continuous telephone service came into operation at Featherston yesterday. Brigadier-General Hart, of Carterton, lias taken over the residence of Mrs. W. H. Hosking, Church Street, Masterton. It is .understood that lie intends to practice his profession in Masterton, Building permits to the total value of .£2511 10s. were issued by tho Masterton Borough Council during the mouth of June.

At the present time the only employment offering for returned soldiers in Masterton is pick and shovel work on the municipal drainage scheme. TweTve motor-curs and nino motorcycles were registered, by the Masterton Borough Council during June. Mr. I l '. L. Combs, M.A., commenced hi 3 duties as hen(lmaster of the Featherston School oii Monday. '

Tho rainfall as recorded at Solway for the mouth of June totalled 7.7G inches, and fell on 13 days, the maximum being , r >B points oil June 22 and the minimum 3 points .on June ". In June, 1918 the total fall was 2.53 inches. T'lio nggrc ; gate measurements from January 1 to June 30 for the last six years have been as follows: —1019, 12.1iy inches; 1918, 17.1)1 ineftes; 1917, 19.SG inches; 1910, 15.87 inches; 1915, 15.13 inches; 1911; 22.21 inches.

No bankruptcies wore registered in Masterton during tho month of June. For "the half-year ended Juno 30 there were two bankruptcies, tho same number as for tho corresponding peiTod last year.

The vital statistics for Masterton for tho half-year ended June 30 are as follow:—Births, 1U; marriages, 35; deaths, 61 For the month of Juno the marriages and births are much below the average, the returns being as follow:— Births, 12; marriages, 4; deaths, 11.

The death occurred, in Masterton on Sunday of Mr. Tlieo. J. I'. Cobb, an old identity of the district, in his seventyfourth year. Tho deceased 'ontrolled a number of poultry farms throughout the district, and was considered an autliovity on poultry matters. He leaves a widow, two daughter*, and a son.

At the quarterly meeting of the Loyal Masterton Lodge, M.U., L0.0.F., held on Moiiuay night, the following officers were elected: —N.G., Bro. G. L. Challis; Y.G., Bro. J. O. Pinkoy; U.S., Bro. A. Burton. Tho lodge decided lo vote 7i per cent, of its surplus toward meeting tho soldier members' sick benefits, thereby dispensing with all war levies. It 'was decided to strike a social fund levy, lo be paid quarterly. The lodge also decided to ask'for an appropriation of its surplus, lo bo used in reducing members' contributions to tho sick end funeral iuwl.

Mr. A. C. Holms, of Featherston, aii(l formerly of Master ton is mentioned as a probable candidate for tho Mastorton seat at tho. general election. Messrs. W. Gillespie and J. B. M'Kenzic will represent the Wairarapa Centre of the New Zealand Athietic and Cycling Union at tho conference of union delegates to bo held at Wellington on July 9.

At tho last meeting of tho Wairarapa South Countv Council Mr. W. Perry was appointed a delegate to tho Counties Association Conference. Second Lieutenant West, Pte. J. M'lCav, and Pie. H. R. Murray, who returned to Mastorton by the noon train yesterday, were met at tile station by tho 'municipal silver band and a number of citizens. At the post office speeches of weicoino wero mana by Mr. G. S. Kyis®, .M.l'., and Mrs. W. H. Jackson (Mayoress), who officiated in the unavoidable" absence of Mr. Jackson. The pleasing little specch of welcome by tho Mayoress was heartily applauded by tho assemblage.. Por tho month ended Juno 20 the Mastorton Repatriation Board dealtyivifh a considerable amount of business. One lm.sine-.-i loan of -C3OO, four furniture loans totalling ,E2OO, and three loans for Inols of trade and equipment amounting to JiflO were granted, in addition to -tins two men hud their wages subsidised upon renewing their indentures, which had been suspended wliilo tho men wero on activo service, and two had their wages subsidised as trainees on farms. Sixteen uien were placed in employment. At a meeting of the Claims -Board of tho Wairarapa Patriotic Society on Mondav, Mr. Ilugh Morrison presiding, tho sunt of JM 13s. Id was authorised, to be remitted to tho Advisory Board for the New Zealand Regimental l'und as tho Wairarapa quota. Three Icons, ajf.

grcgating JCIISA, wore* voted to Wairarapa soldiers, in ono instance to supplement a Government advance to purchase a dwelling, in another rase to stock a farm, iind in another ciisi/ to supplement a grant made l>y the Repatriation Department for the purchaso of a business. Six claims for temporary assistance wore granted. At the last meeting of the Wairarapa South' County Council a letter was received from the Fealhcrston County Council staling that the Wellington City Council had advised that it had given consideration to tho improvement of tho main arterial roads in the Wellington district, and asking the Featherston Council to confer with other Wairarapa hodies with a view lo arranging n conference to b?. held in Wellington.Veathorslofl County Council further advised that it had appointed its chairman (.Mr. A. i), M'Lcod), Councillors J. Martin and Q. Donald to represent the council in the matter, and suggested that the three counties (Wairarapa South, Masterlon, and Featherston) snould confer. on tho matter prior to the conference in Wellington, ft was decided that, whilo not admitting responsibility, Councillors Perry, Moore, and Court, be appointed to discuss matters with Featherston County Council.