COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 143, 12 March 1920, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS CENTRES (From Our Own' Correspondents.) HAWWATU A meeting of home service men was iiold in Pnlmerston North, when it was unanimously decided to form a branch of the Homo Service League in the district. The nintt'fcr was taken up enthusiastically and * further meeting will be held shortly. A gentleman who has a Rood deal to do with (he handling of hides, in referring tojthe sale which took place at Palmerston ,North last week, expressed the opinion that tho export emlwrco .was a mere trifle to the American operators, wlio simply bought and stored tho hides pending the removal. of the embargo. Ho said tlmt tho savins in exchange more than mado up for tho extra coat. A daring ease of robbery oecurrcd in the Horowhonua district recently. Tho house of Mr. H. Walker was, entered .during the night, and the sum of .{2.1 was taken from his clothes which wore hanging in the room where he was sleep ing. The thief appears to havo gained an entrance through the back door, and eo quietly did ho do his work that it was not-until the morning tlmt tho loja was discovered. The Palmerston North Philharmonic Society held its first annual meeting on Monday night, Mr. J. A. Nash M.P. (president) in thn chair. The financial statement showed a credit balance of (CSS Bs. 111., which was considered most satisfactory. The conductor, Mr. ITnlmM Bimnicles, declined to take an honorarium for tlie past year's work, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services. Officers wnro elected as follows:—Patron, Lady Chaylor; president, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.: vice-presi-dents, Messrs. M. Cohen, P A. M'Hardy, P. A. Ifannav and Colonel Melville; secreta'rv, Mr. Norman Wallace; treasurer, Mr. P. Morgan; committee, Captain J. E. Packhnm, Messrs. C. G. Hodgson, snd .T. Xfadford, Mesdames Tl. L. Broad and 'V. ITannny and Miss Drew; librarian, Mr. P. .T. Wflcon.

A number nf fnrmors met nt Palmerstnn North yesterday afternoon to consider t)i« advisn.bleness nf establishing a local branch of the Now Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Distributing Company. Mr. .T. A. MT>avy was in the chair. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt (general manager for the company) was present by invitation. The meeting decided unanimously-, to invito the company to ooen a branch to sunnly all farmers' reouirements. A committee was formed for the purpose of furthering the project when the directors have agreed to it. Plenty of financial support has been promised. At a meting of the Palmerston North TTosnital Hoard yesterday the District Health Inspector reported that otto ease of scarlet fever and one of diphtheria, and (1.1 cases nf influenza bad been reported in Palmerston North during the preceding month.

WAIRARAPA

Technical classes in connection with the Carterton District High School eoin'in

At'.n meeting of the. Claims Board of the AVairaVapa Patriotic Association, a sum of ,£125 was lent to complote tho purchase of o house, nnd -CSOO was adr vanned to enable ah applionnt to purchase a farm. Six claims for temporary Telief were dealt with.

During: the past month, the Masterton County Council's ranger seized 13 horses. 18 bead of rattle, and six sheep, found straying on county roads.

Mr. H. J. Toogood reported to the 3r«.;t.>r!nu County Council that sufficient cement had been obtaiueil to complete the under-water' work on tho Waingawa. Bridge, and that regular supplies were coming to hand. A letter front Mr. Massoy (president of the floanl of Trade) stated that in vie.w of the urgency of tho wo''k orders for concrete for Waingawa 'Bridge should receive every consideration front agents.

The initial meeting of tlw Workmen's "Friend No. |> Building Society was held in Masterton on Monday evening. The .rules _ were drawn up, and have been submitted lo the authorities in Wellington for approval. A further meeting will be held in threo weeks' time to ratify the rules, after which it is hoped to hold n ballot very soon. Already 91!) shares have been taken up.

The rnonthiy meeting of tho Masterton f'nuntv Council was held this week. Councillor W. Welch presided. A deputation, consisting of Councillore T. V. Moore - and G. Stevenson, of the South AVairarapa County Council, wnited on the counc : t, asking it to bear half th« cost of a bridge to be erected over tho Waingnwa River noar tho Kaituna Dairy TTactory. Jt was resolved to obtain an estimate from the Public Works Department for a bridge to carry not lew than nix or eight tons; and, failing that, to obtain an estimate from n civil engineer. It- was decided that the council take tho necessary legal steps against a property owner who lind not cleared some gnrse from the road fronting 'his property. Tho county declared gorso and blackberries to be noxious weeds within the county. The clerk was instructed:to take proceedings against, those persons who .had been' mentioned twice ii-5 offenders in the ranger's report.. It was resolved to enforce the by-law requiring property, aimers to cut back, willow trees overhanging rivers on their property.

The Ifasterton ProgreMve League has acquired an option over the old Occidental Hotel premises with a view to forming a company to establish an npprivate hotel. Mr. A. Donald, the prime niov-?r in the venture, estimates that from ,£25.000 to .C.lO.ftWl will be required The renovation of the promises will absorb .£2OOO, and furniture, etc., another .CSjIOO. Mr. Donald suggests that another <£2000 might be expended on a double verandnh around the building, which has a 36ft. frontago to Queen Street, and is only- n minute's walk from tho Munieinal Park. A meeting of tho league will be held on Monday evening to consider the proposal. During the month of Fobruory. 3830 lwok? were issued . from the Masterton Public Library. This total comprises 3258 works of iiction, 51 volume of miscellaneous rending, nnd 13 works Oil geography awl travel.

The monthly meeting of tho Mosterton Borough Council was held last night. A comm'ttee. consisting of tho llavor (Mr. W. F. .Tackfnn), Councillors Candy, Watson, and Perry, was appointed to investigate comnlnints warding conditions at the abattoirs..-It was decided to support the- New Zcnliind Welfare League in a proposal to hold an industrial conference.