COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 53, 26 November 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES (From' Our Own Correspondents.) -WAIRARAPA-. In consequence of two buildings occupied by Messrs. It. Clark (bootmaker) and J. F. Keen (hairdresser) being gutted by fire yesterday morning, at Pealherston, tho former suffered a heavy partial loss, and tho latter escaped favourably owing to the major portion of his stock being salvaged. The South British and Queensland insurance offices, covered the stock of Mr. Clark, and the Victoria that of Mr. .Keen. A conference between tho Eailway Department and representatives of (ho Greytown Borough Council, Chamber oi - Comnibrce, and local farmers was held at the local station on Monday relative to tho new stock shipping yards. The question was one of slight improvements ou tho present yards, and .tho Department finally agreed to make tho improvements suggested by the deputation. The fleet of pleasure boats to be provided for the Masterton .Municipal I'ark will'consist of three three-seater. otitrigged boats, ono fivc-seater otitrigged boat and three canoes. It is anticipated that the boats will arrive from Christcinirch .in tho course of the next few weeks..

A solemn Tcquiem mass was sung in St. Patrick's Church, Masterton, yesterday for the rc|K>se of the soul of tho late Father" Lewis, who died a year ago at Featliorston Camp from influenza. Over twenty' priests from all parts of the Dominion assisted at the ceremony. Later a memorial .was unveiled at the cemetery. ' • .At the Carterton Magistrate's Court yesterday Howard Harold Armstrong pleaded not guilty, and was committed for.trial, on. two charges of breaking and entering, with intent to commit a crime, one charge of breaking and entering and theft, one charge of having house-break-ing implements in his possession. Accused, for whom Sir John Findlay appeared, reserved his defence. Chief-De-tective Boddnm prosecuted for the police. Bail was allowed, self in JElOfl and two sureties of ■£">() each. Tho case will bo heard at the I'ebruary sittings of the Supreme Court at Wellington. A meeting of the ratepayers of Oho Masterton Borough Council was held last night to consider the raising of a loan for Hie following purposes:—Gas works, .€27,000; street improvement, ,£43,000; and river-bank protection. ,£BOOO. The •Mayor (Mr. W. .11. Jackson), who presided, said that as Masterton was growing and every day becoming a more important centre it was essential to keep abreast of the borough's progress. Referring to tihe loan for the enlargement and improvement of tho ,gns works, the speaker contended that gas wiould always bo essential for purposes of cooking, etc., no matter how far electrical power was developed. Eacli 'had their own spheres of usefulness, and this was borne out by such experts as Mr. Evan Parry. In Christckurch they were enlarging their gas plant, though the Lake Colcridgo electricity was available to all. The loan would not be required to 1m (liken up at once. Mr. J. M. Blackmail (manager of the gasworks) also spoke in favour of the loan. In connection with the second loan it was explained by Mr. Jackson that the money would'provide for tho complete kerbing and channelling of all the, footpaths in the borough. The money would be spent at tho rate of cf'SOOO per annum.. It was urgently necessary to erect substantial embankments for'protection against floods, such 113 the town had been subjected to in the past. The present stop-baiik was quite .ineffectual in staying the flood-waters. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Jackson for his address.

MANAWATU .The Pnlmerston North Chamber of Commerce is one of the most live bodies in the district, and its. membership has cone on increasing until now, so it was fitated at. the animal meeting held on Monday evening, it numbers more members tlinn any other body of its kind in Hie. Dominion, with .the exception of Auckland. Mr. Henry Coles, who has just returned from a trip through Europe and America, has written to the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce to the effect that the general opinion of a very larac number of the leading men of America and England is that in the near future Ihe principal short-distance transit system will be the electric storage bat-' torv car. and that practically all the town deliveries will l;c carried' out by t.hnt. means. He mentioned the fact tlmf- Palmerston North, with its wide, level streets, numerous railway crossings, etc., would lend itself to the system in an admirable manner. Mr. Sydney Munns, third son of Mr. and Mrs. TV. Munns, died at Woodville on Sunday at the early age of twenty'six years, having only been married for about three months. The late Mr. Munns ha<i always been keenly interested in sports, more especially in aeqwitics, and won the Pahiatua Swimming. Club's championship last season. Whilst, on military sei'vioe at Samoa some three years ago he contracted malaria, which seriously affected his health, and from which ho never fully recovered.

Two, reserved .judgments were read in the Maristrntc's Court at Palmerston North yesterday on cases in which Mr. Justice Chapman had dealt with at the last sittings of tho Supreme Court there. Tn the action between Alexander Galloway (appellant) and John Alexanacr Anderson (respondent), an appenl from tho. Magistrate's decision convicting the appellant of negligently driving a motorear in Woodville, judgment was given for tho appellant, .with costs M ss. Mr. T.' H. Lloyd,' of Dannevirke, appeared for appellant, and Mr. Lines, of Palmeraton Nnrth. for respondent.

Referring; to the case of Ernest Mottersliead Wooliey. (Mr. Oram) v. Watson Bros. Ltd., claim for wrongful dismissal and .£279 damages, His Honour said that regarding the defence raised that the dismissal was justifiable owing to the plaintiff's hand-writing being bad, 'ho did not hhink this defence had been made out. The plaintiff's handwriting was not that of an illiterate man. It was firm and as a rule legible, but apparently when the plaintiff wrote too hurriedly it was sometimes of such a character as to give rise to mistakes. If the plaintiff had been told that this matter must bo regarded its crucial, His Honour said he was satisfied the matter would have been ended.' Judgment ww given for JE4B, with, costs on the samo scale as if the action had keen tried in the Magistrate's. Court, together with witnesses' expenses and disbursements to bo fixed by tho Registrar. The Catholio bazaar drew a large attendance at Palmerston on Monday night, and the voting for tho stallholders' "queen" was advanced another stago. At tho close of the evening . the results wcre:-St. Vincent de Paul stall (Miss A Hurler), 44,700: sweet stall (Miss Lowe). 22.500: flower stnll (Miss V. Bartlett), 12,000; United Valley stall (Miss €. Buhner), 10.800; tobacco stall (Miss F. Pascal). 10,560; children's stall, 8700. The guessing competition in connection with the children's "queen" resulted in Miss Diedrioh. Linton Street, winning' tho prize with a guess of 475.000, the actual vote? recorded being 489,104. In the tug-of-wnr contest. IrUh defatted Druids' No. 1 team; Railway No. 3 bent Bacon Factory; and Railway No. 1 defaulted to Druids' No. 2. . A friendly contest between Druids' No. 1 and No. 2 team? resulted in a win for the latter. The bnzoar was again well attended yeslerd-'v. The annual general mooting of tho Linton Rifle Club was held at Palinerslon North on Monday evening, when Mr. Hugh Akers (president.) occupied the chair. Tho election of officers resulted an follow: Patron. Mr. G. Craw; president, Mr. Hugh Akers; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. L. Fitxherbert, 11. L. Young, J. Kyle, F. Needhnm, W. Rnndle, G. Newth. A. Morgan and Major Mounscy; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. Hall, it was decided to reduce the number on tho committee from twelve to seven, and the following wero appointed: Messrs. CPage. ('•■ Tromaine, T. Inglis, J. Dulziel, J. firiffit' ;, T. Edwards and W. Munro; selection committee, Messrs. F. Neodham, W. Hiimllo, S. Treiuaiw, and .1. D:\lziol; decision committee, Messrs. C- J. Page, ft. Treiimine and W. A. Dull; auditor, Mr. W. Stewart.