PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 67, 12 December 1907, Page 9

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(by TELEGltAril—special cobbespondents.) 0 1

PALMERSTON.

Arrangements are well in hand for tho Hospital Day collections. Tho Mayoress lias already collected £120. Outside districts aro also being systematically worked. 'l'he buttercup plant is spreading at a rapid rate in almost every part of tho Manawatu, and threatens to become as great i a nuisance as tho white daisy, tho fields at this season of tho year being covered with tho yellow (lowers. The question of coping with tho nuisanco will bo ;of vital importance to farmers, whose pasture is in many instances seriously affected.

It is reported that, rebuilding operations in connection with tho brokon span of the Pohangina bridge will bp proceeded with immediately. '

FEILDING.

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING,

A special meeting of tho Feilding Borough Council was held on Tuesday night to consider the proposals to extend* tho water and aoworago mams in the borough, and also tho loan proposals for tho improvement of tho footpaths. Tho Mayor, Mr. W. J. Trowin, occupied tho chair, and there was a full Council. Tho Mayor stated the object of tho mooting, and said that tho reports and plans had beon boforo tho Council for some time, and ho hoped something final would bo tho outcomo of tho meeting. Tho street improvements suggested were estimated.to cost £12,842; the water and sewerage extensions, £5010; and the baths, with tho caretaker's cottago (including £350 for landV, £15-16 15s. Thoso proposals were adopted, and a poll of tho ratepayers will bo taken ill February next. •

: Tho Feilding Salvation Army band inaugurates a new. system this year. It will not start out playing from midnight, but will commence its carols at four o'clock on Christmas morning. It is a needod reform.

FEATHERSTON

: Mr. J. Hireson, at ono time a resident of Feutherston, has roturnod to this Dominion by the, lonic, and is staying for a fow days with friends at Featherston. Tho Featnorston Co-operative Dairy Company received 146,900 gallons "of milk during the past month. The average test was 3.5, and all the; cheese sent away this season has been ,graded 91J points. , A meeting of tho Featherston School Committee. .was held on Tuesday night, Mr. W. Benton; in the chair. Tho treasurer, reported n| credit balance of. £10 ss. 9d., and accounts totalling £9 9s. lOd. woro passed for payment. j A lathes' committee was electcd in connection-with tho concort to bo hold 011 Friday night. ; , ~. '■

, OTAKI. , ■ . ,

; Two :'Wnka and Kip, woro arrested; yesterday on a-'charao of unlawfully ontoring the business- establishment of Mr, Byron' Brown, The lads, whoso ages are twolvo jahd"i.elovon ;and.'a half, years;; will bo brought' bofore the Court in the course of 11 day or so.

, The following will represent Paraparaumu in the tonnis match against Ot-aki on Saturday Messrs. Smith, Whiting (2), Drewitt (2), Brandt,. and Misses Fitton, Berrctti, Lynch, Whiting, Perry, and Wallace. .

SHANNON

The Shannon Land "awl. Sawmillmg- Company has contracted to supply a Wellington firm with 180,000 feet of building timber. ' Mr.: W. A. Trist, secrotary of tho Shannon Land and Sawmilling Company, lias resigned, and intends to go in for farming near New Plymouth. _ In tho Shannon district considerably over £50 has been collected in aid of tho widow and orphans of the late Mr. Barratt, of Levin.

NIREAIIA AND BUSH DISTRICT.

. During tho past week excellent weather' has boon oxperionood. 'A nico shower of rain fell, which satisfied dairymen. The milk supply is at its maximum, but milk_ tests aro hardly up to last year's. At Nireaha Dairy Company the tests rango from 3.4 to 4.2. A Sinus " weighing and receiving oan has beeii installed at this factory, and is found to get the milk in much quicker than heretofore. A few hundred acres of bush have been foiled at Hamua, along what is known as tho "Long Straight." for the Rev. Dean M'Kcnna, who recently secured the lease of a fow hundred acres. The "Long Straight" at ono time was considered tho most picturesque spot on the main road from Masterton to Woodville. The gardons at tho Newman school, are looking very well at present. Mr. Andorson, the headmaster, takes a keen interest in technical agriculture. All over the Bush district stock aro in oxcollont condition.

During tho earlier part of the season fhe choose factorios had difficulty in getting milk up to tho usual standard, and many factories, famous for the quality of thoir output, had. second grade. Mr. Fisher,- lately out from Scotland, has heon appointed assistant at tho Nireaha Cooperative Dairy Company. Shearing is in full swing at present, and shearers are very hard to get.