COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 104, 27 January 1920, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES From Our Special Correspondents. MANAWATI) Hwivy rain fell during Friday night nml for the best part of Saturday, putting a stop to nil outside amusements Although graziers ure fully satisfied with the amount of moisture, agriculturists ure beginning to compkuu In the Feikling and Marlon dislr.cts large quantities of hay are still out* and a good deal of it is "much the worse for the weather Some fair areas of oats have been cut and in null of it is in stook and will suffer considerably, The rains havo put quite. a, different complexion on the stoek markets, and a keen demand now exists for all norts, and those who purchased from Hawko's Bay at the time of the drought must, do well. II is expected that tho market will bo lively for all classes of stores, as feed is now plentiful and many graziers who had reduced stocks during tho dry weather are now anxious to procure both sheep and cattle to eat off die feed which is now in abundance. Commandant and Mrs. Middlemiss, who have been in charge of the l'almerston North Salvation Army Corps for the past twelve months, have received notification of their transfer to the Auckland corps. A meeting of the l'almerston North Luncheon Club was held on Friday night for the purpose of establishing the club on a more permanent and business-like footing. It was resolved to elect a president, two vice-presidents, secretary and assistant, and an executive of five. Thoseelected to fill these ]>ositions were: President, .Mr. M. It. Oram; vice-presidents, Messrs. P. C. Frccth and J. Wallace; secrelary. Mr. N. Wallace; assistant-seero-tarv,' Mr. E. Rodder; executive, Dr. Paget, Messrs. J. H. Steiens, A.' Buchanan, Cameron and Dick. The name of the club was changed to that of tho "Citizens' Luncheon Club." and lnneheftns arc to be held weekly, The Mayor of Palmerßton North, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., convened n. meeting in the Opera House on Friday night for the purpose of explaining to the ratepayers the loan proposals, which in all amount to 4.M31.275. The poll of ratepavers will bo taken on Wednesday next. i Although the meeting was not very largely attended it was evident that all present were in sympathy with the proposals. The Pnlmerston North tennis tournament'was continued on Friday in 'fine but dull weather. Only two of tho competitions reached their final stages. In the ladies' handicap singles Miss Davidson beat .Mrs. M'Murray M)-~13, after a closely contested match. Tho men's "B ' 'grade*handicap singles fell to E- Andrewd, who defeated 0. Collins 60-49. The winner is a. promising player 11 years of age. It was expected to conclude the tournament on Saturday, but heavy rain prevented piny. . . Subscriptions for the Peace Memorial at Fox ton are. now coming in freely, tho latest addition being a donation of X-2.J from the Henry Bather Estate. Already there is X!H in hand out of tho iotiU aimed at. For soino time past persons and local bodies interested have been endeavouring to secure a piece of laud in Gordon Street for the purpose of making a public park. A deputation representing the local Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Dannevirko Borough Council and urged the importance of the matter on the members; The Mayor said that tho council was not averse to. the proposal, but he personally was agamst including the necessary loan for tho purpose in that for the extension .of tho gas scheme. He assured tho deputation that as soon as the more important matter was settled tho park scheme would not be lost sight of. The matter was afterwards discussed by the council in committee, but no decision was arrived at. Tho raising of loans appears to bo in the air in this district. Dannevirko is taking a poll for authority to vaiso •£25,01)0 for the extension of tho municipal gasworks, and tho Pongaroa County is doing likewise for a loan of dCH.OCO for improving the roads of the county. An application from tho casual labourers in the employ of the Borough Council for compensation for time lost through wet weather has been referred to tho Works Committee to report upon. Private W. It. Goldfinch, who was at the front with the Main Body, died at the Takapau Hospital after a lengthy illness. , . , At the Norsewood sports tho principal jumping event was won by Mrs. Hobson's Daylight, which defeated Mr. Budge Gordon's well-known Utility, Motor-cars driven by Messrs. F. F/. Freeman and J. JI ayes collided on Unkanut Ifoad, Pongaroa, but very little damago was done. Anothor car, driven by Mr. Wells, skidded in turning a corner, and went over the bank, eventually landing in a. deep portion of the river. Tho ■ occupants escaped with a few bruises. WAIRARAPA A special meeting of the General Committee of tho Masterton A. and P. Association was held on Saturday to appoint three delegates to tho conference of A, and P- associations to bo held at Palmerston North on January £9 for tho purpose of electing four members—tho North Island quota—to the Board of Agriculture. Mr. J. C. M'Killop was in the chair. Messrs. ,T. M. .fames, Duncan M'Grogor, and E. Harper being tho only nominees were declared to bo the. delegates. The president of tho association, Mr. William Perry, is n members of the present board. Other business dealt with comprised tho arranging of final details in i ouncetion viSb fi.i'th''-iniiii; *hi>«- and the appointment of Messrs. J. M'Kenzie and J. IU, James as a sub-committee lo draw uj) n. card suitable for use in a Hereford judging competition. Air. W. Gillespie (returning officer) ha 9 received the return of election expenses oF Mr. W. B. Matheson, who was a candidats for tho Masterton teat. 'ihes» amount to rClfla 17s. l<\. On Friday evening heavy rain commenced to fall in Masterton. It continued unabated right up till Into on Saturday night, when the clouds broke. On Sunday tho weather was perfect, However, the change came too late for the completion of the Wairnrapa open tennis tournament which was being held on tho Masterton Club's courts. On Saturday morning two sets were played in the uoaking rain, but later Hie other games, including all the finals, were postponed indefinitely. Many of tho competitors have now returned home and others have left to attend the Dannevirko tournament. Tho dangerous corner at the intersection of Chappie Street, and Lincoln Bond, Masterton, was again the scene of a motor accident during the week-end. Two cars apnroaehed the internection—one coming from Chappie Street and the other travelling down Lincoln lload—reaching the corner .«iinulhncon.ily. One ear collided with the other, hitting it on the back mudguard and tvriiing it completely round until it was brought up against a post. Fortunately neither vehicle was travelling at more 'linn four or livo miles per nour, and the only damage was a twisted mudguard and burst tube on the one car. and n lyre wrenched free on the other. During shunting operations at the Carterton Kailway Station on Friday night two trucks, containing cattle, became derailed. The old-established flour ?nills of Messrs. Wnkelin Ilras., of Carterton, havo been formed into a private company, with ii capital of .i'GSM, divided imo 1300 shares of i! 3 each. A sixteen year-old lad, named Kenneth Saunders, son "ft Mr. George Saunders, ot Carterton, was shot in the stomach on Thursday, through the accidental dischargi) of a pea-rifle while proceeding along Underbill Koad, Featherston. The injured lad was- removed lo thu South Wairarupa- Hospital, where the bullet was extracted. Tho lad is reported to lie doing well. In the Carterton Police Court on Friday a young man was fined .I' 2 and costs foi being under the influence of liquor while in charge of a horse-drawn vchible. The body of the young .mm Leonard Johnston who was dniwucd in the Huaniahunga lliver, Kahautara, through the collapse of a bridge, is being removed lo Lincoln, Christehurch, for interment. The Carterton Volunteer Fire Brigade lni.i appointed Secretary B. Smith, their lepresentative to attend the District Fire Brigades' Conference at .Hastings in

Jlnrch. The brigade has made a, donation of jC2 2s. to a fund lo assist a member of a South Island brigade, who is not enjoying good health. The new set of Hawke's instruments, ordored in March last by tlio Carterton Municipal Silver Bund, should reach Wellington, on February 13. Tho band has over .£IOO in hand towards their cost, JC3OO of which has been raised during the year by individual efforts on the part if those interested. At a meeting of Hiß » nrtcrlon Oddfellows' Lodge, Bro. H. .A. Hick vas appointed to represent the lodge at. inss district confernnce to lie held at I-.ke-tnhuna in February.

The shortage of cement and t miter is | holding up building operation, in _ the 1 Wnirarapa, and in some instances it is impossible to get tenders for works. Labour is also an important, factor. There are at present -15 -..atieuls in the Jfasterton Hospital, including seven in the isolation ward. , The fourth annual reunion of the Wairarapa section of the Post -and Telegraph Officers' Association was hold on Saturday. Those, present included Mr. G. K. Sites. M.i\. Mr. S. Cumming. postmaster, Jfasterton, and many P.O. and Fand T. Officers' Association representatives from Wellington and elsewhere Prior to the honouring of the usual toast list a dinner wins provided. Interspersed with the toasts were musical items bv Messrs. T. Yanelian. S. Oman, and Master 15. Quill. One of, the most important events of the evening was :i toast nnd presentation to Mr. If. O. Fowlcs. who is retiring- on superannuation after thirty years' service in the Masterton Post Office. Mr. _ Cummin?, in presenting Mr. Fowlcs with a suit case, referred to his wonderful _ lo'e.nl knowledge, which made him an invaluable- servant in the matlronm, where ho had boon inaipjy rosponsible_ for the sorting of private bags, n not inconsirter--able task in Hie local Post. Office. In responding, Mr. Fnwks said he was the first man to retire since the year IMB. when Mr. Johnson, n late postmaster, had retired.

At tho annual reunion of the W.iirnMiia ppction of thn Post and Telegraph Otlicers' As-oe ; ation on Saturday evening Mr. G. I?. SyVos, M.P., said that owing to the very heavy rains of tho pant week tho wheat crops of Wairni'apa had been seriously n'reoted. Much of the graip hail boTlin to sprout, una this must mnte'rally affect the" flour simply of the Dominion, which., mifnrtunatly, did i»>t grow enough wheat far its own consumption. DANNEVMK A bowline match for the rose bowl w;vs played on ilia locnl uroens. when Clark's train (33) defeated Stewart's (1G). Harriett's rink defeated lor the Cowpor feathers, 18-17. It is reported that, u'ood carpenters aro unprocurable even at £\ per day. Soma men nre asking 255. a day. Mr. C. C. Cox, for nine years manager of the locnl branch of tho Bank of Australasia, has received notice of his transfer, on promotion, to Wnrnanibool /Victoria). Ho will leave for Australia in the course of a few weeks. On Anniversary Day the usual fire brigade competitions were held at Pahiatna for the Challenge Shield. A. great. d«al of interest was taken in the event. The winner was_ AV. Jfiv.ott. L. Hedijes and F. Cosford tied for second place, and in the run-off Hedjes won. A fire "hrluad* team has brcn entered for the competitions to be held shortly at Masterton.