COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES

(From Our Special Correspondents.) WAIBARAPA Tho offertory at St. Malthow's Church, .Majteitoa, on Innocents' Hay (Christmas Day), in aid of tin 1 famine-stricken districts in Central Kuropc, amounted to No bankruptcies were registered in Jlastorlon during December, and only three .have been filed throughout the past veiir, as compared with fivo for 1918. During the month just muling threo inebriates' and one man charged with indecent assault have occupied the Itastcrton police cell. The popularity of tho itastorton Municipal Park as a holiday resort has,been particularly noticeable during the ;:ast week. Ideal weather conditions Invvo teen the means of tempting good numbers of peoplo to use. the tennis and croquet courts, the bowling greens, tho cricket pitches, the bathing pool in the lake, and the pleasure boats recently obtained from Christehurch. Other.;, again, have taken advantage of tho facilities

offered for picnicking, and generally the grounds have presented a very lively appearance. In connection with the Masterton show, prize-money has been allocated to tho various sections as follow: Sheep, 75.; cattle, A 542 10a.; high junip, ,i:10 (a new competition); horse classes." ,£;SO Ids.; show ring competitions, .£llß 10?.; sheep dog trials, ,£fl; poultry, X 2"; total, .C] 182 fis. Tho above figures represent an approximate increase in prize-money over the iast show of ,£3lB. In addition the show has boon made more attractive for entrants and visitors alike by the doubling of tho available space in the produce hall and the provision of covered pens to accommodate 150 head of cattle. Twenty-three motor-cars and live motor-cycles hav9 been registered by the Stasterton borough during December. Tor the same period, building permits wero issued amounting to ■£11.251. Included in this is the proposed Methodist Children's Home (l-3.if10). Tho summer meeting of the Marten Jockey Club is to be held on the Marton course .on Thursday and Friday next. Mr. Farrniljiir Young, of Christchurch, and Miss Mildred Wrightson, arrived in Mnsferton last night. Thev will be taking part in the Caledonian concert on ( Now Year's night. HANAWATU Pahnerstnn A : ortli has just gene , through what Ij<; formed its I "carnival weelc." and mere peoplo hnvci visited i11..s centre in eonnrdion with Ihe summer race meeting at Awnpuni than was ever the case be)'or\ The town and suburbs were practically thronged. Many pco'nle were mr.tbl? (■:> procure aceoninjpdcition here, ami perforce had to go on'to Tending in order to obtain a night's lodging. In spib> of the great crowd, the town was mast orderly, and throughout the Christmas season' there were only two arrests for dvunk'eune-is. Tn f'pitc of the very heavy motor tiaffio between the town and the racecourse,'it i? satisfactory to note that not a. single accident ha'-, been rencrled. and n great, deal of credit, is due to the police palrols for the manner in which they rejnlalcd the traffic. Palmer.-'ton North lost another of its pioneers yesterday in Urn person of Mr. .Toseph Thompson, whn died at Ihe residence of his son-in-IoT, 'Mr. .T. Allen, at the age of 74 years, 'Mr. Thompson wa=. ai;poi:iln:l iiighlwatclinvi.n to the borough in 1881, and held the pos'tion for over tliirtv years, with credit to himself and lo the benefit, of the community Since his retirement, he had lived privately,, and for some tinie had been laid aside by the illness which culminated in his death. Mrs. Thompson predeceased her husband about fifteen years ago, but a family of three remains, viz., Mesilam'cs ]!, Wm\:,Md and .T. 11. Allen, of Pulnicrston North, and a. son, Mr. •T. Thompson, who is at present m Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Thoma-. JTarri*, qf Pandon, celebrated their diamond wedding on Christmas Dav, when they entertained their family and. friends. Out of a family of fourteen •ui'y three were absent, one of tho°9 having "gone west" during the Mtruggle in l'ran»>. The happy counle were the recipients of many caiignlniu'ory letters and telegrams from friends both far and near, and they also received many suitable present--. Mr. Harris arrived in AVellinglon in the ship Bolton in 1819. this being one o2 Mk- lir.-t four ships to reach the I'orl. He passed through the early Maori War troubles, and tonV a hand ; n tho pioneer work ot settling ilie Ilntt district, where lie was married. , In 1872 he removed to i-'andoii as ''no of the settlers of the Knndc-'i I'arm As.-:i-(-iivtioii. and has resided in O.nt dirtlrcl ever since. Mi's. W. .<!. Tearce, of Colyfon. is a daughter, and she. with her iiiisbnnd, had the unique experience of attending the d:irm;wd we'dings of.their ixirents on both ?idc«. Mr. and Mrs. Tearce, senior, of Awabin'i. haviny eelebraced th?ir v.-edding some three years ago. The average eg" these two vcspceled couples, who Jiava been friends for years, is £2 years.