PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 55, 28 November 1907, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FROM our special correspondents.).

PALMEIiSTON.

At the annual meeting of the KairangS County Council yesterday, a letter was received from the Paliiatua County Council directing attention to the state of the Gorge Road, and asking that steps be taken to have same made convenient for traffic. The Engineer is to be asked to report to tho next meeting. The offer of Messrs. S. M'Nab and iS. M. latliam to form a road through the Awapuni reserve was accepted,, to cost £7 10s.. The Imperial Dried Milk Company asked for assistance towards drainage from tho factory at Bunnythorpe, and suggested that drains be straightened. The sum of £15 was voted. A statement presented by the Clerk showed that Fitzherbert riding has a debit oalante of 1015 7s. lOd.; Mangaono, a credit of £5S 18s. lid.; and Taonui a credit of £823 3s. lOd. Mr. F. Phillpotts, formerly chairman of tha Pohangina County, returned from a trip' zo the Old Country yesterday. After the past fqw wcoics of fine weather, vast increases are shown in the returns troni the various dairy factories in the Manawatu.' The tests are also higher. Dr. Frengley has consented to inspect tho septic tank next week for the Palmerston Council. Dried milk is once more being manufactured at Bunnythorpe. ' 'l'herd is considerable rivalry between this factory and Bunnythorpo Co-operative Dairy Company; Councillor Were, of the Kairanga County Council, who is leaving the district, was yes. terday presented with a gold pendant as a mark of appreciation of his long and faithful service to the. county. He was also entertainod at lunch by the .councillors. . The prizes won at the.recent athletic anaswimming sports were presented at the High School yesterday. - Visitors are commencing to arrive for tt Feilding races. ' ' Owing to the absence of the expert in ( South Island, prospecting for ' gold in M'Rae's property, Terrace, End, is ; pended, but is expected to be resumed w ' a few weeks. - - . With the exception of two cases of sc fever from the county, Palmerston Hof is free from infectious diseases. Measles . still prevalent.

FEHiDING.

Mr. E. Short was driving. his motor ta Kimbolton this morning with the Chairman of the Kiwitea County Council. He frightened the horses attached to the county; roadman's travelling house, with- the result that theyoverfcurned the house into a ditch. <• A sum of £100 has been'collected by the Fcilding High School Committee towards the purchase of a piece of land as an additional playground for the school,, children. With the Government subsidy this sum will Insufficient for the purpose.

MARTON. The poll for loans of £4000 for improvir tho back streets of .Marton, and £1500 i . the main street, was taken yesterday. ' 80. wore rejected, the voting being 72 againt ' 101, ana 88 against 90 respectively..

SHANNON. The first meeting of the newly-ele.'cted Makerua Drainage Hoard took place ou Tj'ufisday at Tokomaru. There were presenit:— Messrs. H. Greig, G. Seifert, J. Liggins, Law, and E. J. Armstrong,' C.E., secretary to tlie Board! Mr. H. Greig was jinaniiiioWy re-elected chairman for the coming year! A good deal of rain has fallen within ithe last day or two'in this district, and just \in time, too, as oats and hay were running 'to seed without any appreciable, growth. . '? ■

': . OTAKI. Many local residents,' with exhibits, left) hero yesterday morning to attend the Levin flower show'. As th 6 weather has been especially suitable for flojver growing. the exhibit? are of a high order. ' " .' i 1 News was received here yesterday that ,'tha R-ev. P. K. Paris, of this town, nreached hii trial sermon at Napier on Monday, ani received high marks. ' An officer,- Bro. Capehorn, of the South Wellington branch of the Salvation /Army, is at present relieving here, pending tha arrival of Captain Church, who is detained in Auckland by tho illness of his brother;'

UPPER RANGITIKEE ' Workmen are now engaged putting in ths foundations of the bridge over the Rangitikei Iliver, near the property 'known as' Smith's. When couipletecf, this structure will be of immense benefit to settlers-in that part- of the district, as the cage lyhich is now used„precludes stock crossing the river,- and there are one or two fords whjch are dangerous. • ■ ' ' .. Shearing has commenced on several properties in the Ohutu block, ,and, the'prospects for a good clip are said to be oxcollent Discontent appears to be fairly rife in'the ' Ohutu block, and at least six. settlers aro leaving shortly, while only 'one comes in. One or the chief causes of th 6 trouble is tha apparent unwillingness of the Government to open up the Awarua 1b block for selection. Most of the Ohutu holdings' are too small to : be worked with a profit commensurate'with a long occupancy and hard-pioneering, and, as the farmer cannot see any chance of extending his acres, he perforce has to 1 seek fields where more land will bo at his disposal. 'The )i)en who are leaving * are the pioneers 'of the settlement, and regret is expressed at their impending departure, although it is at.tha same time admitted that they have no. inducement to remain. The weather lias been all that could bo desired during.the past'three or four' Weeks, ' and gardens have made wonderful -growth in a short time, 1 appearing to be as well advanced as they were this time last -year, .although, it,'was feared a late season would follow the v early spring, which was exceptionally cold aild wet. . . A second goods train if announced to commence running this week between Marton and Taihape,' which news is favourably. re-' ceivod. . 'Jhe ten-mile walking match to take plw* a' Taihape on Decembor 5 promises to oe a much larger affair than 1 was expected; Already thero are sixty-one nominations.'