COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 60, 4 December 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES (From Our Special Correspondents.! WAIRARAPA Tho southerly which set in in the Wairarapa oil Tuesday, 'bringing rain with it, continued all way yesterday. Eain fell i:u showers, varying in intensity from a drizzle to a steady downpour, and tho cold was very severe. Tlio rivers wero in heavy Hood at Solway. Forty-six points of rain were registered during the twenty-four hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday." At the Feathorston Horticultural Show Miss Blatchford was awarded live first prizes and ono second for roses.. She also gained throe special prices for tho following exhibits:—'"Hetty" bloom, best tea rose, and best rose in tho show, and "Fran Karl Dusche," Ijcst perpetual rose. At the Groytown Horticultural Show last week Miss BlatcMord again did well, gaining three first prizes and being awarded tho prize for tho best rose in the show, with a "Dean Itolc" blooin. Jfr. H. M. .Uoddington reports that at Solway, Mastorton, rain fell on 12 days in November, the maximum fall being Gii points on the 3rd, and tlio minimum two points on the 20th. Tlio total for tho month was 2.59 inches, as compared with 2.55 in lfllS, 2.34 in 1917, 1.52 in 191G, 4.16 in 1915, and 1.87 in 1914. The total rainfall iVir the cloven months was 27.80 inches, as against 39.23 in 191S, 37.64 in 1917, 37.21 in 191G, 29.25 in 1915, and 29.83 in 1914. For tho ten-year period 1904 to 1913, the averago for the eleven months was -10.75 inches.

The vital statistics for Carterton for the month of November were six births, three deaths, and two marriages. A spacious building of concrete containing three rooms, aud a teacher's office, and with seating accommodate) for 120 children, will shortly be opened nt Lansdowne :i9 an infants' school. A 'large shelter-shed has also l)een erected. The secretary of the Wairarapa Hy-dro-Electric Development Committee slates that the petitions from the whole of the local authorities, with tho exception of tho Greytown Borough Council, lira now to hand, and matters should soon assume some definite form.

A South Wairarapa Schools' Amateur Athletic Association has, been formed in the district, with headquarters at Carterton. The following officers have been elected-.—Patron, Mr. W. Howard Booth (Carterton); president, Mr. W. C. Davies (Greytown); vice-presidents, chairmen of school committees; committee, Messrs. J. A. G'owles (Carterton), Clarke (Parkvale), Blake (Cross .Creek), and teachers interested; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. C. L. Baskiville. A gold medal has been presented by Mr. W. C. Davies for the primary champion boy athlete. There wero six births, three deaths, and two marriages recorded in Carterton during tho month of November. There are Sl2l electors on the "Wairarapa roll, 1652 oi which are on the supplementary roll. Tlio roll contained 7692 for the referendum in April last, hud 7099 for the general election of 1911. The late Mr. C. J. Jury, who died at Nukualofa, Tonga, on' July 19, at the age of 70 years, was brought to Cartertoil oil Saturday and interred at tho private cemetery at Parkvale.

Captain James Chawcll Cooper died at Groytown on Monday. The deceased gentleman was one of the earliest of Now Zealand skippers, and after leaving' tho sea was very successful in salvaging work. He took a keen interest in tho culture of bulbs. The interment took piano at tho Cfreytoivn cemetery on Wednesday morning. At the Featherston (lower show special interest invariably centres in tho decorated table section of the exhibition. This year Miss B. Donald gained first prize in the open class, Mrs. T, M'Crackcn being second. In the class for those who have never won a first prize, Mrs. .r. Ct. M'Kenzie was the winner, Miss Barton gaining ' second position. Tho popular vote was given to Miss Donald, Mrs. Carlyon being placed second. In connection with llio Masterton Borough Council's scheme to provide open spaces in the borough, tho Government has agreed to reserve an acre of ground in the centre of the Kuripuni workers' dwellings settlement, on condition that the council keep the area in proper order.

MANAWATU As showing how, tho town of Palmerston North is going ahead it may bo mentioned that up to the. present date building permits have been issued by the Borough Council of a total value of .£BO,OOO, and it is estimated that by the end of tho financial year the amount will reach over .£IOO,OOO, which will bo a record for the borough. The housing scheme for borough employees again eatne up at tho meeting of the Pahneiston council on Tuesday night, when the Mayor (Mr. J. A. Nash) produced two plans under the Government scheme which with specifications had been submitted to a local contractor, who estimated that one of the houses could be constructed for ,£175, while tho other would cost A'liSO in some permanent material, or if constructed with concrete cavity blocks his estimato was .fc-125 and .£OOO respectively. Taking tho estimate of ,£650, interest at ii per cent, would amount to 55., sinking fund .£G 10s., insurance about 135., rates about .£2 125., land (say half an acre) .£5. This made a total of iM-l per annum. It was decided to adopt tho proposals of the Mayor, and it was reported that employees had already elected delegates to confer with the council on. the matter as soon as thero was some finality about the scheme. The big bazaar which has been held in I'almerston North to raise funds for tho erection of a new St. Patrick's Church was brought to a close on Tuesday night, and proved an unqualified success, the total takings reaching ,£5557, which with tho amount previously in hand will justify a start being made with tho new edifice. Tho final figures■ in tho voting for the carnival (liicoii were: St. Vincent de Paul stall (Miss A. Hurley), Hit,'lo3; United Valley stall (Miss C. lialmcr), 160,105; sweets stall (Miss Lowe), 101,SS0; flower stall (Mi« Barilett), 77.847; lancy stall (Miss S. Watson), GI,.VJG; tobacco stall (Miss F. Pascal), 39,177. The total votes cast reached 611,068. The. amount raised by the children's stall, including tho juvetiilo t[iieen carnival, was .£2200. Tho final pull in tho tug-of-war was won by tho Gasworks team, which has put up a very good performance throughout, with Working Ueo team second and Taxi Drivers third. Before announcing tho final figures in connection with the bazaar, tho Eev. Father M'Maitus took the opportunity of expressing his deepest gratitude tu all who had assisted for their great sacrifice in the preparatory work and also during the bazaar. He said that the financial result had exceeded tho most sanguine expectations. At a meetiny of the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association on Tuesday night the question of establishing a library in connection with the Soldiers' Club wa9 discussed. The president (Jlr. B. J. Jacobs) pointed out that the Patriotic Society had expressed its intention of giving <E7O towards tho project, and this with the i'so which the association had received from two members of lite local Repatriation Cominitteo (representing their fees, and which they would continue to donate) m«ido tho total .£IOO. A special committee wa6 set up to go into tho matter and to report to a future meeting. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to tho Patriotic Society and tlio other donors.

Tho Palmerston North branch of Hie J'chirnod Soldiers' Assoeratoon, at its meeting on Tuesday night, discussed Ilia question as to what attitude it should tako up in connection with the forthcoming Parliamentary elections. Tho president (Mr. U. .1. Jacobs) said that he was not in favour of ilitwt political action, and he was pleased to bo ablo to eay that during the session just closed tlio a=sociatiou had succeeded in getting through «onie very important concessions, such as retrospective allowances to wives and children, increased retrospective allowances to widowed mothers, and they had also to got the nursing service brought up to tho Knglish standard, <ind tho grant of one shilling per day, which tho earlier men did not receive. Several other minor matters were net tied, but at the same time it was essential that they should filick together. Personally, he was in favour of the association getting into the arena locally, as this would bo the best adverti-ement possible for it. Tho Wellington .Returned Soldiers' Asso-

elation had formulated a list of questions to candidates relative to soldiers' allairE,

•••'liicli would be put to them at the hustings. Tho Now Zealand Association also suggested that theso questions should bo sont to all candidates, and that they bo asked to satisfy members as to their attitudo in connection with the policy drawn up. After the policy, whiclli is a fairly lengthy one, had been read, it was decided to ask the two candidates for the Piilmcrston seat lo address the members of the association.

A number of forged National Bank notes is reported to be in circulation in Palmerston North and Fcilding. Tradespeople havo been warned to be on tho look-out for them.

A meeting of members of tho Palmerston North Retailers' Association yesterday afternoon decided to observe Thursday. Friday and Saturday as holidays in Christmas week, and Thursday ■and Friday at New Year. It was announced that a requisition had been signed by 1!) softgoods firms in favour of doing away with tho lato Saturday night business, whilo another, requisition in favour of keeping open was signed by a similar number. The Inspector of Factories had stated that he considered thero was a small majority in favour of early closing. Eventually it was decided" to endeavour to got the opponents to agreo to G o'clock closing on Saturday, and if so to give Saturday night closing a trial for six months.

At tho annual meeting of tho Manawatu County Council, held yesterday, Sir James G. Wilson was elected to the position of chairman. Sir James Wilson was first elected to the chair in 1898, and has held the post ever since. In moving his re-election Mr. H. H. Hunt sai(l it; was most desirable tlmt Sir James should bo re-elected, not only in the interests of the private Bill which ho was responsible for framing in connection with tho tramway and other matters of importance connected with the county, but because he would be enabled to carry out the scheme ho had been responsible for. Mr. W. J. Phillips endorsed Ml'. Hunt's remarks, anil slated that Sir James Wilson was a most accomplished chairman and the greatest asset to the county.

DANNEVIBKE Mr. A. Williams, who has resigned his position on the staff of tho local post offico to enter into farming pursuits, was 11 resented with a fountain pen by his fellow-officers.

The Supreme Court sat for tho first time at Dannevirke on Tuesday, when His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman dealt with an action removed from Palmerston' North, in which Robert Edward Mcech, of Ponsaroa. stock dealer, 6ought to compel Edward Johnston, of Pongaroa, sawmiiler. to carry out the terms of ft lease entered into between tho partio3. Defentfant held an education lease, besides other lands, which ho 6ub-let to nlaiutiff for a term of years. Subsequently, while the lease had yet two years to run, Johnston sold his property o.nd with it his interest in the education lease to a third party, and, it was nl-le-'cd, ignored the lease held by plaintiff. For defendant it- was contended tliaf tlio sub-lease of Hie education reserve from Johnston to Mcech was void because tho consent of the Land Board had not been obtained, and also that in sub-letting the reserve defendant had leased the land for a longer period than his own lease asit then stood, although he subsequently got tho lease extended. Tt was further contended that Meech had committed various breaches o{ the lease. Thero was a counter-claim for possession of the and for .£IOO damages through its detention. A number of witnesses wero called on both sides, nnrt after lengthy le?al_ argument His Honour reserved his decision.