PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 16, 14 October 1907, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(from our -own correspondent.) ' PALMERSTON.

The weather is still stormy, and tho results throughout the district'are.more serious than at first anticipated: Farmers at Rongotoa are stated to have lost numbers of 'lambs. In all parts the fields aro practically submerged and the' creeks wore running high. Dairy farmers' fields were greatly cut up, and the grass damaged through stock moving about in the saturated soil.' Tho benefit'of dry paddocks was again exemplified in the case of those who had made provision. Measles and whooping cough aro on the wane. . '■ . • .

' It is pitiful to see the reduced state of the cattle owing to the deficient : pasture. The state of the stockyards is unmentionable Old settlers'state that the' weather is. the roughest experienced for years. .. i It is reported that some dairy, companies, operating in the district are considering tho advisability of installing pasteurising plants. Tho decision of .the Philosophical. Society', to secure a geological survey of the district is'-important, as it is believed that there is a prospect of discovering minerals of commercial value. ,At the. present timo boring operations for gold aro being conducted, privately at.Stonoy Creek. .'.,-' The season for the angler has been far from expectations, and very few catchos. are reported; It is stated that fish.are plentiful in the various'streams, so that when weather conditions aro favourablo somo good catches should be made. In the Coal, Creek stream near Apiti, the. fish are said to be shouldering each other out of the water , . : . . . <

The young ladies who wore injured by the falling of some advertising noardings on Friday aro progressing as favourably as can bo expected. One is suffering, from severe shock. A handsome challenge shield has been presented to the. Manawatu Rifle Association by Mr..A. Greer for competition at.the annual shoot, which; is to be held at Hokowhitu rango on November 7 and 8. In accordancewith the wish of. tho.donor, the shield,.has been allotted to the.jTeams' Match.

The Palmerstoir branch of the .Farmers Union met on. Saturday, Mr. Bulseillie presiding. Ther.e was , very little business before the meeting. The;demands : of ; ':tho : factory managers and operators were discussed, and it was decided to appoint a, committeo to , watch anything that might bo detrimental to farmers' interests. ~■, ..•'... • '.-.;■ < :, : ' '. ,'..,- : masterton!'■'.;'■ '■;..' ■•:■'■'< ; '' At a meeting of tho ■Masterton Dairy Company on Saturday the question of. the disposal of 'buttor' output of, the factory was further deferred till Monday, October 14, pending, a reply from a,South Island firm,: which; has made an offer, but with :a. reservation' the compa : ny docs not feoF inclined to accept. Tho firm in question 1 has therefore been given until Monday to amend'its offer. It is understood that "the offer .was: 10} d., and that the Company asked for 10Jd-i owing to the tact •that last season's consignments netted this sum to produce merchants,, who bought at lid., and thus lost a halfpenny per pound on the transaction. ' '"' -, ■;■■ • . Thore were twenty-three members present at the fortnightly'meeting of tho Masterton A. and P. Association on Saturday, lhe President referred to. the handsorrfb cup, to be known as Manawa Cup, presented to the Association by an English firm, through Mr. W. Dalziell, of Tenui, and:, the donors, with Mr. Dalzioll, wore accorded a voto of thanks. TheOtago A. and P,. Association wrote: requesting the Masterton Association _to point a judge of 'draught shorses, for the southern body's annual 1 snow on .^ovemboi

28-and 29. Mr; B. J. Dagg was selected fi for the position. A communication was re- u ceived from the Department of Agriculture d suggesting that , the Association offer prizes for the best-kept cow-sheds in the district, as j, was done in Belgium. 1 Action was deferred h owing to tho fact that Masterton district is t more a sheep than a dairy country. .It was c thought that this scheme would receive .better s attention by. the Wairarapa P., and; A. Asso-; , ciation, whose district included a large proportion of dairy, farmers. . .'-.'. •..,-. • .•■ ...-,, : Mr. Harry Judd, of Carterton, will leavp .. for Auckland in the course of a few days ■on an indefinite tour whichvwill include the Islands and Australia. ■ • •* '■. ■'■ ,' , PEILDING. ■• ;' ' \ The Feilding Chamber, of Commerce, which t< is eight years olds, and has done good work , for the town, has just published, its annual report for 'to-day's meeting. Mr. J. ,\\.. s Bramwellj'tlie President, in the report, says x that the local railway and other returns show j conclusively that this district has. very largely •, shared during the past year, in "the gejioral ~ prosperity of the Dominion.; Of the totaj. in- i orease in value of exports during 1906-7 as j "compared with the previous year, amounting , to £3,264,790, Feilding district,has, without i doubt, oontributed a generous proportion. :| This,is evident from the fact that the value • of the exports from Feilding has more than ■ doubled during the past five years, and. ; amounted to over JU50,000 for tho year end r ing' in March last. Last year" there were railed from Feilding 109,671 sheep and lambs, yet is it satisfactory to know from the Gov r eminent returns that there has been a sub- ■ stantial; increase in- the numbers of flock sheep. •' No stronger evidence of the fertility and productiveness of the district is needed, andithe increasingly high prices being eagerly paid for farm lands show that this is widely : appreciated. Included in the exports from ; Feilding-last year is a total, of over 2000. boxes of milled butter. This butter, being , collected in comparatively small lots over a wide area, and'blended, cannot possibly, add .to tho'good reputation of New Zealand butter in the English markets. It is most likely to havo an , opposite effect. A number of local requirements have been dealt with by . •the committee during the past year, many of which it has been successful in having granted. Amongst mattors of local importance which have been considered, but not yet carried to a successful iesue, are the reduction in fire insurance rates for business premises and other'risks, within tho : high pressure water supply area, the erection of a new Court-house (this has been promised), the amendment of the Shop Hours Act' to compel Chinese to close at the same time as European storekeepers, and also to. provide for .the same half-holiday for factories and shops, the improvement 'in the , RongoteaJMlding mail service, and the extension of the Sandon tramway to Feilding. Credit is

given to Mr. .Lethbridge, M.H.R.; to the stationmas'ter and- the postmaster; for help ■rendered, and to Mr. Carty (secretary). At the monthly meeting of , the Feilding Public Library, Dr. Sorley presided, and there were also present: Messrs. .Cotterill, Burnett, Cobbe, AVost, :and Haggitt , (secretary). The .Librarian reported that' 1030 books had been issued, and sixteen new mem.bers he'd joined, bringing thetiotal to 182; The Librarian also reported that ■ magazines continued to disappear from i the readingroom. It was decided to offer £1 for information leading to thoconvictioirof any persons removing, or wilfully damaging, magazines. ' . ..t. ..-■•■ ' : ■ A settler in this district, Who owns 600. acres of' land, has been considerably astonished to find that tho new valuations mean an increase in his local and general taxation by £100 a year. ... - ; . It is hoped that tho local bowling green will be opened for play on Wednesday next, but, tho usual opening ceremony will be dispensed with. That function is to bo: reserved . for tho King's Birthday, when tho new pavilion will bo out of-the contractors hands. Tho recent wretched, weather has delayed work on tho green. It was in. bettor condition two,months ago than ifr is to r day. ~ Tho Koilding "Stai* , says:—"Ono of. the much-vexed questions that county councils havo had to deal with of late has been the levying of, a differential general, rato throughout a county, and thero has beeiv a considerable conflict of opinion, as to tho legality of sucli a system. Tho Manawatu County Council has adopted tho expedient of levying a uniform general rate over the whole county, 'and a separate rate'over ridings in which extra, expenditure is necessitated. Even this course has been questioned, and. tho Stratford County Council has obtained the opinion of Mr. Martin, solicitor to tho New. Zealand Counties' Association, on,the point, and he says plainly that while it is necessary that the general rato shall be pooled and spent over the.whole county, it is within the power of the council to strike a separate rato in special ridings to meet such oxponditure as is required. 1 -

The Feilding Borough Council has received its' balance-sheet back from the Audit Department, and the document was duly signed by tho Mayor, Mr. Threwin, on Friday night at a special meeting of the Council A. tender was accepted for metalling the Kimbolton Road at 25.",4Jd. per yard without spreading. Several inspectors who have visited the Mayor's orchard at Abrangi have complimented him on its good condition. • Mr. Mayo is' • sanguine of a good season for apples, plums, and peaches. . 118 .',, Tho Sandon correspondent of tho btar writes on Saturday: "We are ■ experiencing very severe gales here, with occasional, showors of rain that are almost tropical. A telegraph- polo near Mr. Hartley's blacksmith: shop at Himitangi was struck by lightning yesterday, and split down the centre, while the ground all round was torn open. An operator at Foxton felt tho shock verv soveroly,' and communication ,was entirely cut off. Trees have been blown down allwef tho district, and last nightj when the train was returning to Sandon,.it had to stop twico to clear the line of fallen timber. A settler who resides near Colyton says the condition of things amongst the farmers there, especially the dairymen, deplorable The constant traffic of cattle renders much of the paddocks unfit for. use, killing the • grass and making things unpleasant generally. Some settlers aro seriously considering the advisability of housing their cattle in severe weather, considering •' thattho cost of growing feed for thorn would .Be mot by tho lessoning of the mortality amongst the cows and the opportunity 6f beinc able to utilise land which, -under-pre-sent"conditions,is a boghole in wet weather and-baked hard in the summer. : , •'■ If ten teachers agree to take the course', ten lessons in naturo stxidy and ten in dairyinp- will be given in Feilding-. by Instructor Browne; of the Education Department; course in dairy work would fit'teachers to take this subject, for the ■ Education 'Depart-

ment's. Cor D examinations. _ ,-,'.,, ' Brisk business is anticipated in the building trade' in Feilding during the comjns; , summer. A number of lareo ;brick" build- ;' ings aro to be erected; including' an pfficp- T building and several dwelling houses. ' c .: ■ . FEATHERSTON. :i;■' ■- < '.A meeting of the Featherston branch , of t the Farmers' Union, to have been held on t i'riday fell through, only two members ■ at- i tending. - - ' •■■' ■'.''. '."'■ ' ■ ' , ( Mrs. W. To.ogood's trophy, competed' for . among the ladies of the Peatherston Golf Club, was won by Mrs. Allen, Miss Viles ' being second, and Mrs'. E: H. Saunders < '.. thinl.' , [■■ . ■•■' '■' .-• "■ .' ■ "■■■■;■. ' '.'.'■: -'. Mr. C.. Waller; driver on the ; Featherston- ( Martinborougli coach, leaves here shortly to , take upfarming at Levin. , v Mr. A. ■Matthews'-left here on Saturday ■ ' to judge in the sheep classes at the Hastings ' i' Show. ',■ ;.--.. ':. '■' ■";'■■■ ■.'■ "_ \ '. .■:■.[■ '■'. The Featherstbn County Council , nieet"at the Ruamahanga Bridge on the District Road i on■■ Friday ne3 ?*i to ' ■ metalling , required on this , highway.'..: ' ' i. The Featherstorf Gun Club fired a match . ; on Saturday for a two-guinea'trophy as first' > prize, and a ten-shilling-trophy as second. \. C. Burt came first,.and.C. : Shipage second.;, '■ ~ . CARTERTON. ; . v Mrs. George Butler, of Carterton,. who is 1 Visiting England, intends loayihg on the re.- , 5 turn journey inext Thursday, sailing by ; the ', ' lonic. Mrs. Peterson will probably be return-' 3 - ing by the-same boat from her'visit to! Den- / • mark. . , x ■'•' ' ■■""" '"•• .' \ ". : . ' ',', 1 Mr. James Alfred Ordish, a resident of 51^ • years'-standing, died-on Thursday at Clare- " ville, , ' aged 74. '■• The deceased was bornJn- '■ Staffordshire, leaves' a widow, 8 two.sons and five. , daughters: ■■■■■' ..''', "

• The Dalefield Dairy Company; will .make its first monthly payment' for the season oii;Saturday'next, when £410 13s. 4d.'.will be divided among the-' suppliers; , ;.' !■',', It"is intended, to' form'a volunteer'dorps here, arid , over seventy names-have .beon handed in. Mr. W. Moore,' Mayor of Carterton, ' is to be asked to take the, position of captain. The corps, when formed,'will include some of the.'t'allest men in the'Dpniinioii.'.;'.. .' ;■■ - UPPER RANGITIKBI: • ;' , : : The Rev. H. L. Blamires,. organising secV Totary of/the Methodist Forward Movement, will'commence a we'et's"special, services in .Taihape.on October 20.' "■■'.> .'.'■".''■'■ ■ ' It is, reported, that "a ' Levin saw-millmg company has secured a good acreage of milling lush from'the natives,of Turangererej to ,the north of it is likely that'a mill will.be started there shortly. '. ,■ l '.'■ '■,- . The Taihape-Moawhango road has , suffered somewhat severely through the recent rains'. A particularly bad spot is that situated within a few chains of the AVainuii Junction, where a stream,, blocked by rubbish, is partly run.ning across the road, making, a deep course. To give a good idea what settlers have to* labour under" along the r road in question, I may say that on Wednesday a five-horse team belonging to Mi-.'R. T. Batley, of Moawhango, got stuck \ip in a slip near the Wainui Junction, the dray sinking right up to.its body in the mud/ It took the driver, three strenuous hours to extricate the vehicle, at the end of which two of tho horses were so done.up,by their labours that-they-were unable to.proceed any further on their journey that day;-,■ ■ The Taihape Borough .Council is considering a. scheme of water supply for fire preveutiori'purposes.' ■....•■•«.. : .i •■■'.-' Tho 'half-yearly shoot of the Mangawoka Rifle Club was held on Wednesday. The club's bole was won by Rifleman Jaggard; of. tho. Pukeokahu Club, while Rifleman Chas. Batt, of'Mangaweka, won the Muuro.Cup for the best-score at 200, 500, and 600 yards ranges,. v and the Berry Cup for, the best; aggregate of tho day. '■■-. . > -.'. ■ : ■■ :■- '•■ ;

: -'- ; ?V; ,WAI iIAEINO, . '.', , ,' ; '■ ■ Horopito, on the Main Trunk line,-is'now going through the process of evolution, tnero being three boarding-houses in the course of erection.- As is usual when a township shows signs of emerging from the chrysalis state, there ; are many varying ■ speculations : as to : its future. Many support .the theory; that the fact of the toivn being about -half-way betweon Auckand and AVeUington' will conduce to its prosperity. The surrounding country is pronounced excellent, and there will'doubtless bo' a spirited bidding , for the township section's, whichwill bo placed on tho market early next year. Surveyors are busy laying, off the township into areas and sections, and it is expected'that in all about a thousand acres will be laid off for this purpose: ;'■' - The formation of theline from'Makatotetd Horopito being about finished,'this section'of the rails will be laid down'by March, next year. It is expected that the Ohakune-Horo- . pito section will ■ take considerably: longer/ The work of clearing this section is going ahead, but much blasting has to be done to' clear tho' route' of rocks, and stumps. _ There aro two viaducts on this'portion, which will bo the last to he completed of. the .main ■A cause of.regret is the state of the Ractihi road/ As far: as wheeled traffic;, is -concerned, Horopito is completely disconnected from places along this route, owing- to about two miles of unformed road. , Fromllaetihi.a good metal road extends ■■ for five-miles and then becomes broken. 1 The remaining-dis-tance is-a long stretch .'of bog, with a-dan-gerous swallowing capacity. : • ■•■''■ ' ' •• ■ WOODVILLE.r ;-. .-■,■:-■■" At the monthly .meeting of the Borough Couiftil' onlv ordinary business came before momborß. Mr. C. Stevenson' takes up- the 'street maintenance" for' another term with an incroftso of 'M.' on tlio price'per yjird of-motal delivered. The price'was:previously lsV.od., but" if was considered' that' owing to ' the long distance gravel had now' to be, carted, the price .'was not sufficient. :: ; The Mayor is to' appoint a Forest Reserves itaiiger for the district at : a salary ;of £12 ■ per anhuui. Messrs. Escot't and ' Rcdparth aro'to bo interviewed with a" view'.'of one or tho other taking the'position/ _ , , : ' A deputation waited on tho Council and "complained of the Borough Rangcr'K'attitudc towards its members, but tho chairman ruled that'no verbal report on! any borough'.official could be accepted; ' ; . ~.., ~' \ ■;,':■ PAHIATUA. ". ' : The soyonth appropriatio nof the Pahiatua Starr-Bowket. Building Society was disposed of for £20 sa/.per centum the other night.,. -, Tho Pongaroa Rifle Club held its annual meeting on October 5.' The balance-sheet 'showed a substantial credit. -The. dates for competitions for tho coming season wore fixed and it was decided to purchase a cup. The first competition will be held on October 16.

LEVIN. '■" ..' ■-. '

The weather has been particularly boister-' ous 'during the week, and violent westerly gales with thunder .storms . have been ; the order of the day. '- ■ . " ■'■■■ _, ■'■''. Mr. Climie, engineer has sent in hi? estimate of the cost of the proposed v.high; . pressure water supply. The. cost of the main to tho Post Office and the headworks' is estimated at £11,141, and the total cost of the whole scheme is estimated at £15,896. : ' ";'.\

filr. Climie also.made an inspection'of the Ohau river to see if water • power 'could, be obtained to generate , electricity for the purpose of lighting the town. He found tjhat ho could get sufficient water power to generate 200 horso power, and he estimated the cost, if run in conjunction with the water supply, at £2500. Therefore, -roughly speaking,(it will cost Levin'nearly £19,000 for -its-supply, of water and light . i ':•".■•. '. . .'''' .-.;

The Magistrate's Court sat on-Friday'to ' complete some business that had to bel held - over from' last sittings of : a week gao....Mr. A.I). Thompson was' on the ~ bench; 'The claim of Beatrice M. May against • GePpge ' F. Milnes for the support of her illegitimate child was ■ dismissed. The case .Mrs. , Sarah v Ransfield (Mγ'' A. Mentbatli) versus Mr. Rob- ' ert Bevan (Mr. H. W. Cooper) occupied most of the .day. ■ Mrs. ' Ransfield .sought' to • re-' ■'■'. cover the value of a 'Milner'S■ safe (£3O) ''Arid'.*' a 'horse. (£4s)' which,' had /been' detained! by'.'; .tho defendant, and a further claim .was made , J for damages for dotentiph. of, goods '.'■- Plain- ' 'tiff claimed £2 and £15, respectively,'for'thej' : safe.and th ehorse.: .After;hearing;the evi-.. donee; the Magistrate in'favour of - the defendant. -•■; V' , ;.:■.:>''-; ■*/";;:-