LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 May 1912, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

•Shannon railway ,station is to be connected Willi the telephone. exchange. This convenience is lining given by Hit' Railway Department in response to local storekeepers' request. .Mr Robertson, M.l\, who lias had the matter in hand lately, has received word from the 'Minister for .Railways that the connection will be made at the earliest possible convenience. A meeting of the Weraroa Football Club is advertised for Thursday night, to consider important business. Mr Isuglass of Foxton, and Miss Mumford, of Oroua Bridge, will be amongst the singers at to-morrow (Tuesday) night's concert -at the Town Hall. Mr Kearsley, the seerotary, has only just been notified of this, and consequently those items do not appear in the programme. There should be a. highly successful and enjoyable function at the hall, What with a galaxy of songs, etc., a recherche supper, and a dance to wind up with.

Football notes, by "Forward," will appear in to-morrow's Chronicle. Ewe flocks throughout the Levin district are, reported to be in magnilieent condition, owing to the freshness of the pastures. The .Mayor (.Mr B. R. Gardener) returned from "Wellington 011 Friday night after having had a butsy day waiting on Ministers in regard to matters of local interest. At Ohau on Saturday the Levin District- High School girls hockey club played the Ohau school. It was a fast and exciting match, and resulted in a draw of one goal each. A combined committee meeting of the Levin Ladies' Hockey Club and the Levin men's club, will lie hold to-morrow evening at the ollices ol Messrs Smart and Thome, to arrange for a- dance to be held the second week in June. There is a lot more Feed this year than there was twelve mouths ago." remarked a fanner on Friday at the Levin stock sales. "'A year ago thin month dairy farmers were depending on maize crops. They have feed in abundance now." Residents of Arapaepae road and vicinity have arranged- to have a formal opening of their hall -built by private subscriptions of themselves and Levin friends—on \Yed- ! nesdav next. Mav 2!Jth. The opening ceremony will be conducted by .Mr B. R. Gardener. Mayor of Levin, and the Arapaepae people hope to make the occasion a memorable one. From the Registrar-General's ofliee a copy of the Municipal Year Hook fur 101 L i.s to hand. It comprises ISi.i pages of valuable data and general information concerning every municipality in New Zealand. Much valuable detail is given, also, concerning the statutory powers nud limitationf. of municipal councils in regard to general and special ratings. Mr J. .Robertson, M. l\ for tins electorate, has been appointed a member ol the Royal Commission which the Government has set up to inquire into and report upon questions relating to the cost of living in New Zealand. The inquiry will cover the whole of New Zealand, and it is anticipated that its sitting will last over a long period. The following is the syllabus of the Levin Literary and Debating Society For the session May 31: "Should the New Zealand Defence Act be repealed!-'" June 11: Parliamentary evening. June 28: "11a.'Western Civilisation A»yL~nng to I'Var From the rise oi' China or Japan r" July 12: Special ladies' evening. July 2(>: "Has Civilisation lnere:iM'<! the llappiiies> of Man. kind!-'" August. 23: 01 la Podrida.

At .\l;inak;iu on Saturday a. football Ilia tell played between trains from Tc I lorn and Alanakau schools, flic latter winning; fsunicwhnt easily by 10 points (five tries, two converted) fo nil. Some really Liood form was sliown by tin* winners, perhaps Silhery and Ifakaraia boinp; the soundest. while (lie captain (whose name we were unable lo jrot) of the lo.micj: team is a really clever player. At (lie request of the viistinjj; team. Air McM lin was referee. .Manakau has now played three matches. winning all. and scoring 2n points, while no( a single poiaL has been [scored against them. A .Maori's desire to slio'.v Shannon flaxmill employee; the I,'ito.sl ncliievenuMits in overcoats proved liis nu(hiinp: in Levin last Saturday. 'Ihe .Maori—by name Maurice Jacob - stole from the Levin Hotel an overI'oat hehni.niim in Mr A. Evans, and when Jacobs was arrested hy Constable Lonuholtom he was wenriii<z the "coat and fdlin<x n corner in a railway carriage bound for Shannon. Jacob spent yesterday in Levin, as ihe naiesi of C'nnslahle Hairrie. and ibis morning bo attended a levee held by the Alayor in Levin Courflioim\ where .Mr Cardoner heard his explanations and fined him C'L .An aliernafive r»f fourteen days' imprisonment was wivon.

Among dim Iters (if local interest ■vhich Air li. I!. Cnrdeiii'i' ([lie .Mayor) attended to in Wellington on Friday was (lie <|iie.stioii (if tile provision i>l an alarm hell in connection with the Queen street crossing. Mr (!;\rdener pointed out, to tlie .Minister of liailways thai already there had lieen two or ihree lives lost at this particular crossing and almo,st daily there were narrow escapes. The matter was a very urgent one, and he trusted that the .Minister would give it his earnest consideration. .Mr .Myers replied, and stated tliat he would make iiKiniric* and also jret a report as to the advisaldycness of placing an alarm bell at the crossing. .Mr 10. S. Lancaster stipport-ed .Mr Gardener in his tenia rk«.

•Several farmers in Levin on Friday were discussing the report of the speech of the Provincial Organiser of the Xew Zealand .Fanners' Union delivered in the Druids' Hall last Saturday week. They were particularly interested in hi* references to the Labour troubles. A genuine desire was expressed for fair play between farmer and labourer, and comment was loud on the fact that " the paid agitators" were the bottom of the whole trouble. iSorne of the leading farmers of the district have expressed regret that a mere dozen of fanners attended last Saturday's meeting, although the secrotary of the branch had sent out some fifty notices. Such neglect, they say. is most discouraging, in view of the effort* now being made by the Labour people to harass the farming industry. It is hoped that a good response will bo made yet to the appeal of Mr Fowler to farmers to rally round the local branch.