PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 74, 20 December 1907, Page 4

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FROM ODIt SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.) « PALMERSTON. ■A. Brooking, fanner, of Komako, met with a serious accident on Wednesday while blasting stumps. The charge of dynamite exploded while being placed in position, blowing Mr. Brooking's right hniul off. Ho is now in the Palmerston Hospital, doing as well as can be expected. ■Mr. Greene, of Dunedin, has been appointed temporary art master at the technical school here. Judgment was delivered yesterday morning by Mr. A. D. Thomson, S.M., in the case in which L. H. Groenawayclaimed £25 from, the Sluggish River Drainage Board, being money advanced for the taking of a preliminary survey, and for taking a vote of tho ratepayers on the quostion of' proposed - works on the .Oroua River, the condition being that, in the event of the work being carried out with loan moneys, the advance should be refunded. For the defence, it was urged that notice of action had not been given in time, and that the-works were still under consideration. Plaintiff was nonsuited, with costs. .

MASTERTOK

At a meeting of the Borough Council last nifrlifc it was decided to engage Mr. G. Laing-Meason, civil engineer, of Wellington, to report on a scheme for enlarging the water and drainage systems of the borough. The report is to cost £150, 'exclusive ■of oxt'ra assistance and' analyses, and will be ready by April 1. An oxtonsive bush fire was raging yesterday in the hills beneath the Tararua Ranges, between Matahiwi and -Mikimiki, The hills wore enveloped in a thick smoke, but.a good feature may bo that rairi-producing clouds may be formed. The heat yesterday was again very intense, and the nights continue dowless!" '.The" grass is drying iip rapidly, and danger from fire in that respect is imminent. Haymaking, is in full swing in all outlying parts, and tho harvesting will be early if rain does not soon fall. ■ Mr. H. J. O'Loary, who lias just passed tho final LL.B. examination, is an. old Masterton school boy, and is first to attain the degree from this town. ; Encouraged by the success of Park Lake, the Swimming Club has invited a team from the Wellington Centre to compete at the aquatic carnival on January 22. A largo number of other outsido swimmers will probably attend.

FEILDING,

A private letter received' in Foilding from Mr. John Rankin, Town Clerk, who. is away 6n sick leave, states that 110 is improving, though he'is not ' by any means in good hfealth. The contractor .for the addition to . tho Ivimbolton School residence expects to have tlm work completed during the holidays. This is tho season of school concerts throughout tho countryside., Tho Rongotea, School had a good "breaking tip" celobration 011 Tuesday. On Wednesday night the Kimbolton School combined a concert with a. presentation to its departing teacher (Miss A. L. Watts}, w bo is about to get married; \ A case of some interest to factory suppliers has been before Mr. A.. D. Thomson, S.M., at tho Foilding Court.. J. G. Gillies proceeded against Mrs. Garliek for breach of a contract to supply his butter factory -at Bunnythorpe. The facts were that defendant, amongst other suppliers in the Colyton district, signed an agreement, to send her milk to plaintiff's factory on condition that he -orcctcd. a • ereamory. at Colyton. The. creamery, was erected, and every ment made, but'the signatories to tho agree;/ lnent broke tlibir pi'oili'fs'e, and started senile ing. their' cream < to, another creamery. The present defendant was proceeded against;' the case-to bo considered a testj and the bthers.standing over meanwhile. The defence set up was .that thoso who signed tlie document did so under the impression that''it- \Vas;'6nly 'a t'emp'orary one, the suppliers. understanding' anotner agreement was to.bp drawn up. Mr. Prior asked for a nonsuit 611 tlie ground (1) tliat defendant's name ■had been signed without her sanction or knowledge; (2) that there was 110 evidence to show defendant's son had any power to act on her'behalf." The Magistrate ruled that there had been •material alterations in tho document. Plaintiff was nonsuited,' with .£2 17s. costs.

In the Rongotea;, -primitive ■ Methodist Church '011 Wednesday.'afternoon the marriage took placo of Miss Ethel May Glover, eldest daughter of Mr. John ' Glover,' of Rongotea, aud Mr. Louis Henry Yarrall, son of Mr. .H. Yarrall, .of Napier. The Rev. C. Daniel performed the ccrcmony, assisted by tho Rev. J. Cossum. , .

Mr. P. Jensen has resigned his seat on the directorate of the Cheltenham Dairy Company. The vacancy .will be filled, next year. An evidence of tho increasing Value of land in the Kimbolton district is given by tho purchase by Mr. J. London of a property of ninety-nine acres—mostly unstumped—-on Jensen's flat between Kimbolton and' Apiti, at nearly £20 an aero for cash.

OTAKI

The annualconcert given by tho pupils attending the Convent School took place on Wednesday night, '.when, the building was crowded'with a large and appreciative audience. The operetta, " Cinderella," was staged, and the acting of the young folks, together with the handsome dresses and pretty limolighfc effects, was most, pleasing. ';Tho distribution of. prizes took place after the concert programme. Notwithstanding the fact that tho local school committee unanimously agreed upon Friday as tho " breaking-up " of the school, word was received—not by tho chairman or secretary—at a late hour to disband yesterday. In consequonco, the arrangements of the committee wore upset, and the distribution of prizes took place in tho presence of a handful of parents.

SHANNON

Tho committee of the Shannon Rifle Club met. in tho Town Hall'on Wednesday night. . At a meeting of the Public Library Committee on Wednesday night, Miss Gingell was appointed librarian. It was decided to approach the Druids, in order to secure the Druids' Hall for th 6 housing-of the books. The' school holidays begin to-day. Owing to the increase in tho valuation, of this district, rents are going up. . Mr. J. O'Callagan is the' winner of the mirror presented by Mrs. Moynihan to tho Art Union, in conncction with tho Catholic Church.

LEVIN

i The polling for the gas loan proposal and the street improvement loan took place on ; Wednesday. Both the proposals were carried, the number of votes recorded being 275, made up as follows Gas Loan, 205 for, 61 against, and informal 9. Street Improvement Loan/ 152 for, 10!) against, and informal 14. After the results had been made known, the Mayor' (Mr. B. R. Gardener) addressed a large and enthusiastic crowd of ratepayers from the balcony of the "Manawatu Farmer" Office, arid met with quite an ovation. Tho Levin Choral Society held its second concert on Wednesday night- in tho Century Hall. The house was comfortably filled, and the audience greatly 'appreciated the performance, many of the performers being re-called over and over again.

FEATHERSTON

A meeting of the Fcatherston Bowling Club was held on Wednesday evening, when Mr. C. J. Kent Johnston was elected a member. It was resolved that in the competition for the badges competitors can claim a match by default, and any other qualified team-'caii challenge before 3.30 p.m. It was resolved to hold a two-a-side competition. It was dooided to hold two competitions of four men a-sido for trophies valued at 10s. per man, and a single competition for a trophy valued at £1. Alombers arc to bo classed for all cvonts. Mcssrß. Evcrton, Benton, Aitchison, Furlong, and J. M'Konzie were appointed a match cominitteo. Harvesting has commoncod at Kaiwaiwai, _one crop being in tho stook.