DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 23 February 1912, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) Whangarei, February, ,21.,, A fire last night, which originated in the kapoc shed in thp rear of Harrison’s furniture factory,, and spread to the main building, causjed damage to the machinery and stock estimated at £SOO. The loss , was fully covered by insurance. , ~ , t > Wanganui, February 21.

A poll was taken to-day to raise £15,000 for improvements to the water supply by augmenting the water in the main reservoir and providing a settling tank and additional reservoir at Westmere, near the town. The loan was lost hy 153 to 229. The Council had £6OOO in hand for the purpose of a settling tank, and the material had all been ordered. The position is now that a tank only half the proposed size can he built. For some time past there has been much discord in municipal matters here between the Borough Council and the borough engineer,, Matters apparently came to a crisis ajtr a meeting of the Council on ttye ,]|ith, when the Mayor moved that engineer, be given three months’ notice of itermination of his engagement. ( ino reflsetion whatever was ais professional ability, which. was admittedly high, but the ground for d;smissal was that of “incompatibility iof temper.” The Mayor’s motion was lost by six to four. The' dispute then took a personal turn, the .Mayor slating that as he had acted at the inStigat'ioirof the'injijority of the Council, he would resign unless the councillors supported him. A special meeting was held this evening, when the Mayor moved that the . engineer, bo asked to resign. After a lengthy discussion, one councillor recanted, and voting on the motion was five to five. In order that no one might say he used his power to give vent to petty spite, the Mayor refused to use his casting vote, I and handed, in his resignation. Considerable , interest has been aroused in the quarrel, and a meeting of the public present was held later, when' it was decided to ask the Mayor to reconsider his decision, and, if refused, to call a public indignation meeting. Napier, February 22.

The tender of Hughes and Sterling, London (Niven and Co., representatives), at £37,699 lias been, accepted for the erection of a destructor.

Feilding, February 22. Before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., to-day four lads were proceeded against for not attending military parades. Leo (a jockey) was represented by counsel, who pleaded that the parades interfered with his profession. George Hight claimed that ho had a weak back. Fred Noble and George Oliver Goldsmith pleaded guilty. All these were fined 20s with costs 7s each. Fred Hewitt, who had made a start at drill, was fined 10s with 7s costs. Masterton, February 21.

The weather was fine for the People’s Day of the Masterton show, and the attendance constituted a record, between 12,000 and 15,000 being present. Several accidents occurred in the jumping competition's, Miss Nellie Angus, of Hastings, sustaining concussion of the brain, and Mi- Duncan Bennett fracture of the collarbone and several ribs. His Excellency the Governor was on thd ground, and expressed himself delighted with the show of fat stock. The prize for the best hack in the show was won by J. R. McDonald’s Oateo. The champion jumping competition was won by E. Short’s Count, and the hunters’ by 11. Morrison’s Grey Dawn. The Cheltenham butter factory was awarded first in butter for exporx and for local consumption, whilst Greytcwn was first in cheese.