LOCAL & GENERAL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 October 1913, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL

"American Football," "Carnegie's Status" and "Premier Fig-ills Duel" are articles appearing on page 4 to-day. Levin Chamber oi Commerce hold its ordinary monthly meeting iast night, Mr Lancaster presiding. There also were present Messrs B. 11. Gardener, W. Heslo'p, T. Broome, ii. .Newport, 13. Smart, A. Dempsey and G. P. Brown. A long discussion took place concerning the ;scenic reserve at the eastern end of Queen street, Levin. Mr Gardener' recalled the fact that there had been communications between Levin Borough and the Government Department over this matter for over a year and a half, without effective result. lie did not blame the Premier anl Minister of Lands for this —he was a very busy man, and unable to attend lo everything but Mr Gardener "'did" blame ihe Lands Department; for its supiueness. The llorowhenua County Council, in which body the reserve was vested still, was willing to transfer it lo the Levin Borough Council. But nothing definite could be got out of the department, though frequent corresponlence had passed. The reserve was being used without authority (at times), by people whose eattle did damage to the trees at times. The bush was a piece of natural beauty, and it should be preserved. Mr Gardener concluded by moving the following motion, which was car- I ried unanimously"That the Government be urged to transfer the reserve known as the Waiopehu Domain (Section 40, Block II.) and containing 1(! acres 2 roods, and now under the control of llorowhenua County Council, to the control id' the Borough Council of Levin, for the following reasons: The reserve is situated within U miles of Levin, and consists of native bush : the County Council having consented to the transfer: (2) that the reserve be made a scenic, reserve and ])1 " - ed under the control of the borough in accordance with clause lo of the Scenery Preservation Act of 1908: and (o) that a further area of about six acres be purchased by the Government for scenic purposes, and added to the reserve. *' "The scarcity of nurses in New Zealand is remarkable, says Mi •T. G. Wilson. "It is very hard, indeed, to get them. "The best dairy company on the remarked a member of the Kairanga Dairy Company at • the annual meeting, when referring to his company. Levin and District Beautifying Society will hold its annual general meeting on "Wednesday next, 22nd October, at N o'clock. Further details are set out by advertisement in to-day's Chronicle. Sonic of the herds tested by the Kketahuna Cow-testing Association last season showed an increase of OOlbs of butter-fat per cow as. compared with the previous year. This is an achievement which dairy farmers who are opposed to testing might well ponder over. The testing of cows last season cost the members of tiie Eketahuna Association Is '.Id per cow. •Part proprietor Auckland Observer, part proprietor and manager Napier Telegraph, managing edit oi- of New Zealand Times, and yet, according to a special telegram in the Balclutha Free Press, it is expected that W. -J. Geddis, one of the defendants in the Observer case, will, at the termination of the present proceedings, announce his candidature for the Wellington North seat in opposition to the Attorney-General (the Hon. A. L. Hernman). Feilding ■'Star. Hail in October! There was a terrific hailstorm at Te Wharau (in the Masterton district) on Thursday niglit, when stones as large as marbles fell. The ground was j thickly covered. It was the most severe storm experienced for many years past. The same weathci conditions prevailed at Longbush. At the back of Awatoitoi heavy hail also fell, covering the ground to a depth of four inches. Mr J. Pringle, of Rangitata. has something exceptional to show in the way of slice]) brooding (says the Tiniaru Herald). 7h one of his paddocks is to be seen a ewe suckling four of her own lambs, and doing it extremely well. The lambs are now a fortnight old, and are all strong and healthy. There has been a lot of record breaking at Piangitata lately, but this takes the premium. Ulysses S. Grant, son of the famous President of the United States, who has recently visited New Zealand, says lie found it a very interesting little country. He could not help being struck with the great destruction of forests that, is going on there, the same as here. _ The trees must, of course, come down when the land is wanted for crops and grass, but, lie says. "Don't destroy the trees unnecessarily.'' A letter was road from the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands (at last night's meeting of the Levin Chamber of Commerce) asking for particulars of lands said to be "virtually Crown lands -—in the vicinity of nokio township and suitable for 'sand-drift experiments. The I nder-Secre-tary asked to have the locality marked on a map enclosed with his letter. Mr Gardener undertook to have this done. He explained that the land really was native land that had not been individualised : therefore it could be resumed by the Government at a nominal expense. He believed it had been valued at only five shillings per acre.. The Chamber expressed a hope that the land would be acquired by the Government, and that remedial measures against sand drift encroachments would be carried out on it.

Mr John Davies, of Koputaroa, who was laid up for so vera! weeks, is again about, and recovering his normal health. After thirty years' service with the New Zealand Railway Department, Mr C. F. Hill is retiring on pension. lie was for some time in charge of Shannon railway station ; also of Otaki railway station. Jn the year from September, 1912, to October, 19.L5, the Levin Gasworks has increased the number of consumers from 2 ; I0 to 2(SO. It is satisfactory to note the degree of patronage given to this municipal institution, which reflects credit on the management. The boys' department of Levin Y.M.C.A. will conduct a ping pong tourney to-morrow evening (Thursday), commencing at 7 o'clock. Afterwards there will be a presentation of prizes and medals won during the season. Major Rurlinson has kindly consented to make the presentations. Appreciative references to the llorowhenua County Council's action in agreeing to hasten the deviation work on llokio J3each Road were made at Levin Chamber of Commerce last night. On the motion of the president of the Chamber (Mr E. S. Lancaster) second-, ed by Mr J). Smart, it was resolved that a vote of thanks be forwarded to the council. Notwithstanding some small degree of complaint by certain consumers of gas (about .the charges for meters), the gas manager has received live new applications for meter installations within the last two days. Judged by this, it would seem that the nominal charge ol' sixpence per month for meter rent (when less than -'WO ft per month is used) is not causing any great dissatisfaction.