PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 95, 15 January 1908, Page 9

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

■ (FHOM OUR SPECUI/COIIRESrONDENTS.) : ;;/ " FEILDING. ;.V In the matter of the conference of local bodies atPalmerstoh on tlni conservation of tbo'Oroua and Manawatu rivers, Councillor S. W. jFitzberbert, of Feilding (an ex-resi-dent of Wellington City), who 16 tho originator of tile conference,-has an idea that tho best coilrso would, bo. to appoint ono body for tho wh.olo district, with subsidiary bodies who ( would control; tho works to ;bo carried out in certain : localities,' and rate those immediately concerned for the,work most affecting tWir. interests, the principal body to . have control','of largo, works affecting, the 'whole district, to' define tho policy to be pursued generally,; and to have some control ovor the operations of tho local boards. ; The, adoption of some such schemo would involve fresh legislation, and probably tho'absorption of , the existing drainage boards',[but on the face of it the idea seems worthy of consideration: Improvements are shortly to be made to tho Feilding Drill Hall, 'i'ho committee of tho Manchester Rifles, to which'' corps the hall belongs, has had- under consideration for' some tim.ethe improvements necessary,' and the .plana are now in the architect's hands. Tho committee will probably, arrange for the. expenditure of about .£oQO, and the work will, include-: theraising and enlarging ;of 'the' stage, the addition of a dress circle, dressing rooms, and other useful , additions. . . Tho Feilding Friendly .Societies Council hasdecided jto hold the .united picnic on Dr. Peers's-property, South Street; on. January .22. ■ .. ' The need for a proper cricket ground ,:in Feilding has Jong been, felt by. a .number .of play.ors; and enthusiastic supporters of. tho game,' and a fair opportunity ,has "at: last arisen in the decision of the Borough Council' tb improve the South ■ Street.-reserve as a pjjiblic resort. Action has been' decided upon at tho instance of the president ;of tho Feilding Cricket, Club (jMr. George Bartholomew).. A meeting was held last night in the.rooms, lot Messrs., Ongley and Kelly, it was proposed to ask the borough to facilitate , the club preparing a cricket ground in .tlifcs centre of tho reserve. Tho.proposal was,that the Council'should, assist,the club in'getting,,an area of ono hundred yards by,' sovonty yards drained,- ; ploughed, levelled,- and. connected with the water supply,"! and •to get tho' ground; ready for. next ■ season's, play. ; Tho meeting, resolved to send a strong deputation to tho Borough, Council on Thursday night to ask for a grant of *£50 for the work, arid to hold a garden-party,-and'even-ing 'concert ; iu aid of tho movement/ on February 19'. ■■ - ■ : ' ■ PAHIATITA. ■ The Borough Council ordinary meeting was held on Monday, flight, when Wednesday.was appointed tho statutory weekly half-holiday under the Shops and Offices Act. A petition .from fifty-three' burgesses, asking for: a .poll under the' Factories Amendment Act,-to enablo tho factories' half-holiday to, be changed t0... tho shops'"and offices' half-holiday, was granted, and i the' Mayor was authorised to'fix a date. A'/committco was formed to consider and draft a schemo to extend tho water , and ■ drainage system. . 1 : r ■;. OTAKI. > , A dolay is likely to occur, in the, erection of the, proposed-Maori College buildings, owing to _ the property ; belonging to the ■Church' Mission.,. A committee, consisting of, llev. Archdeacon Williams, Rev; Arthur Wil.liams, Canon M'Murray,, and the Il<?y. T. .Stealeyl has boon set up to investigate'.tlie Matter, "with power to act,. -It is uiifierstood. that: the Church Mission is desirous, of hand-' ing .ovor. tbe- jwiipei-ty-for the bnildtfig, but earinot ' legally .'do no.' : In, tho ovent, ,of it not being ..permissible tho property bably be': sold; Tho Mission Trust Board lias' handed to' th 6! Amalgamated .Otaki -and Tori- . rua "Trust'"a""- siirn of £2000," acciihnilste'd''. funds' from the Otaki Mission properties/, ' i The Wellington Pipe Band .will pay;..Waikanae a .visit on Sunday next, and play so'lections. in' aid of their .uniform fundi .. As. the result of. deputations ,-atid - representations it has been decided to, .enlarge;' and, otherwise improve the post office at tho Otaki rajlwav. Tho present .office has ■ long been a/standing disgrace. ; " , I PONG-AiiOA. ! Tho Poiigaroa Horticultural and Industrial Society ,intends* holding its annual show on March 13. ' . Mi'. R. B. Ross, M.P., intends visiting this portion of his electorate at an early date. \ Several ''strangers to this district have beori: looking over tho Marainanga Estate, Akitio. The Roads Department Engineer is pushing, on tho road leading to tho estate with all possible speed, and several groynes are to be erected along the river to protect the road from further encroachment. Orer 1000 fat sheep , from tho estate passed, through Pongaroa tho other day. ;' Mr. Fieldhouso, teacher at.-'the Pukehinau School, had a very unpleasant experienco. Ho had been sponding a week's holiday fishing at Akitio, and left there for.Waione on Saturday morning. Tho, horse ho was riding was a young ono, and it would not cross the, creelts or rjver, so lie decided' to keep the river ba'ik. After walking arid loading ine horse 'for a few mile 3 through the smoke, from tho bush fires, he fainted away. When he came to,-ho-made another-desperate effort to get through, as tho, bush along tho river was all on fire. When ho reached the open country, ho fainted away again from-hunger and exhaustion.. After sleeping for a, 'time Jio jgain started, and arrived at Waiono at's.3p on Sunday morning more dead; than alive; Mr. Fieldhouso had been without food for ovor tbirtyrthreo. hours.