COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 3, 29 September 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES . By Tolourapb—Press Anociatlon. waTharapa .Thanks to the mmingwnent of Mr. D. Hebenton, secretary of the M:isterton Farmers' Union, and a committee of lady helpers, tho Farmers' Union, dinner at Mft-sterton on Saturdn.v evening was n grc-nt success, Mr. Hugh Morrison presided, and stated at tho main table with him ww-e tlie Mayor and Mayoress,. Mr. and Mrs. VV. H. Jackson, Sir Waller Buchanan, Mr. G. K. Sykes, M.P., and Mrs. Morrison. Following on tho dinner, speeches weregiven, and these we're succeeded by an excellent concert at tho Opera House. Tho enthusiasm or the-audience manifested its-eClf in double encores, honours which were won by Messrs. W. W. Crawford (recitations and croc rt.inein?), G. Austin Blnckie (tenor), and Albert Uussell, whoso luimorons and topical items were one of tht> features of the evening. Other'performers were: Mrs. Black (pianoforte solo), Miss Ruby Oliver (contralto), Misa Daisy M'Lellan (Highland dancing), and Mr. Charles Moore (baritone). Miss Hampton acted as accompanist. After the concert the performers mid many of the audience returned to the Municipal Hall for supper. MANAWATU The school committees of Palmerston North are still active in their endeavours to provide better accommodation and facilities for education in the public schools. Last evening a well-attended meeting of delegates from the various school committees was' held, when after discussion the following motions were carried; "That this meeting instruct the chairmen and secretaries of school committees to draft tho proposals outlined before the meeting and report to a combined meeting of' the four local school committees to be held on Friday next"; "That the Education Board be requested 'to furnish sketch plans of ; tho new schools asked for." It was also decided to bring before the Education Board, and request tho member for the district to support the following essential requirements for education in Fnlmerston Northv "(1) Purchase by the Government of additional grounds at College Street, Terrace'Eml. and End. (2) Securing by the Government of two additional [ sites for schools at Hoknwhitu and Featherston Street south. (3) Ee-ercction of College Street and West End schools in i brick." A.t the same meeting very strong comment was' made on the conditions under which teachers at the local schools had to work, to the serious detriment of their health, as well as to'the.pressing need for larger staffs. Instances were given of cases where teachers had been unable to stand the strain put upon them by the unhealthy conditions and the excessive number of pupils in 'some of the classes. The necessity for the appointment of relieving teachers was urged, and the. member for the district undertook to bring the matter before the Education Board at its next meeting. Mr. Pirani (chairman of the board) pointed out that at the present time the hoard was faced with a very serious problem in the matter of schools, but lie undertook to make inquiries from the secretary and see if • anything could be done in the matter. A' suggestion was made to the meeting that Lieut-Colonel A. B. Charters, C.M.G., D.5.0., who has been giving a series of addresses on the war to school children in other parts (if the Dominion, should be invited to visit tho Pnlmerston schools. Mr. P. T. Robinson, secretary to the Labour- Committee, took strong exception to the proposalj on the grounds that it was perpetuating in' the minds of tho children the spirit of Prnssiatiism which tho nation had fought to eradicate. He stated that he would refuse to allow his children to attend any lectures of the kind. Other speakers held ' entirely opposite views, and pointed out that the lectures were of an historical nature dealing more especially with the part that the New Zealand?rs had taken in the war. It wns decided to make the necessary arrangements for the lectures as proposed, Mr. Robinson being tlie ohlv dissentient. Mrs. Page, wife of Mr. John Page, of Palmerston North, died suddenly nt-tho age'of thirty-two years. ' She was apparently in good healtli" and was last seen alive at 4 p.m., hut an hour' Inter was found dead in her bedroom by a neighbour. As she had not been attended by a medical man, a post-mortem examination will be necessary and an Inquest will lie held to inquire into the cause of death. , . ■ ' Mr. J. L. Burnicont. who haa recently retired from the position of roannger of the local branch of tho ITiikm Bank of Australia, which he -held for twenty-six years, left for Wellington this morning, where ho will lake uj> his residence. Before leaving ho was tlie recipient of presentations from a number of clients of tho l>ank. from the staff, from the parishioner* of All Saints' Church, nl which he had been a prominent member ami lay-reader, and from the church choir. DANNEVIBKE Mr. F. W; StiiHw, having resigned from tho position of secretary to the Dannevirke Agricultural, Pastoral and Industrial Association, which he held in conjunction Tith that of secretary to tho local branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr. H. M. S. 9»igley, of Dannevirke, was appointed his successor at a meeting of tho committee held yesterday._ There were 73 applicants for the position. Mr. Quigley is headmaster of the Ti Papakuku school, secretary to the Dannevirke branch of the War Relief Association and Patriotio Society, and also fills a similur position for the Repatriation Committee. Ho is well-known throughCut the Dannevirke district, having resided there for the past iiftcen years. He is also secretary lor the M.U. Oddfellows' Lodge.' Jle takes up his now duties early in December'. At the meeting of the local A. and P. Association it was announced that Mr. J. Holden had notified his iutention to donate <£20 towards tlie prize funds at i-lie forthcoming show. It was announced that arrangements had been mndo for holding the annual bull fair of '.he association on October 10. On the recommendation of the Schedule.Committee it was decided to add to the pro-, gramme at tho Biunmei show a leaping match for. horses owned and ridden by Maoris with a minimum weight of 11 stone, Mr. W. Drinkwater having offered a special prize of ' three guineas for the event. Mr. Hubson ottered it special prize of live guineas for a leaping match for horses to be ridden by returned soldiers. The milk-cart horse class wns altered, tho conditions being for a horse capable of half-a-ton, horse 3 onlv to he judged. The welcome home function to returned siibl-Bi-i nt Ti l.'ii.pakuku resulted in a surplus of .£1(1, and this is to be handed over to the local School Committee's improvement fund. WOODViLLE Tlie mafprinl for the new big concrete bridge on the Almabiranga Block Is now -being carted to the site. The erection, which is being done under the supervision of Mr. 0. E. Toogood, C.K., of Wellington, will occupy several months and wilC employ a good number of men. The Woodville Dairy Company is now being kept well supplied with milk, and I lie factory is in full swing. The whole of last year's output of che«o has been shipped. The Soldiers? Club buildings aro now pearly ready for occupation, and wV.I be opened shortly. The Mayor, the president of the County Council, and the president of,the RcluriiF.l Soldiers' Association have bi""i circled trustees. The County Council is raising a loan of J!40l) for'the purchase of a cottage for one of us workmen. 'Messrs. M'Farlane, W. 0. Simpson, and Lawn Imi.vp been elected delegates to Hie Labour Representation Committee, and the names of Messrs. Simpson, Sutton, and Lovelock have been added to Ike General Committee.