PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 April 1908, Page 9

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FltOll OtJlt SPECIAL COIIIUISroNDIi.NM X" - 9 ; ■ I'ALMEIISTON. t Dr. Makgill passed through Palmerston by tho moil train yesterday. Somo Into oat crops in tlio Manawatu are still in tho stook. ' The additions to Palmerston Court-house, for which the Public AVorks. Department is now inviting tenders, will provide an extra wing at the right hand sidp of tho present building. Tho. new building will contain a library, 19ft. 6in. .by 18ft. Gin.; a small courtroom, and police and witness rooms. PAIIIATUA. At tho Borough Council meeting , held on Monday night it was decided to guarantee £10 'towards direct telephonic communication with Pongaroa through Makuri. The treasurer's report showed tho following balances account, debit, £1053; interest account, credit, £409 Bs. 3d.; library, credit,. £23 3s. 3d.;/cemetery, orcdit, £79 12s. 2d.; water and drainage, credit,_ £293 10s.; fixed deposit, credit, £100; sinking fund, credit, £700. GREYTOWN. • The Borough Council met on Monday evening, when' considerable dispussion took place on tho waterworks scheme. Tho Mayor's estimate of £6000 for tho cost Was strongly criticised by some councillors, who contended that the figure would pfobably bo. hearer double that. It was also alleged by somo councillors that tho new public hall hnanoes had not been as carefully looked aftor as might have been the caso. > Tho Mayor, in his retiring address, referred to the works that had boon carried out under his regime, and pointed out that the' overdraft- at tho bank had been reduced from £1100 to £1000. If not returned again he had left data so that works could progress without him. Ho thanked tho Council generally for tho suppoH ho had received .during his mayoralty. . _ A great change has taken place' in the; weather, and rain set . in on Sunday afternoon, continuing intermittently since. It is also very cold. The rain, however, will -do great good,' as. the soil is just ready to absorb a great quantity. . OTAKI. Maoris from various parts are still arriv'ihg_ to take part in the tangi over tho remains of tho lato Mr. Hakaraia to Whcna, and it is : estimated that by tho time tho body, arrives thero will bo several hundreds of Natives present. ;. - Tho adjourned annual meeting'of the Otaki -Hockey Club, which, was to . have been held on Monday, night, • lapsed for ■■ want of a fjuornm. Vory little interest is being shown in'tho gamo this-season. • ,■ The monthly meeting of the 'School Committee, to have been hold on Monday night, ■ lapsed; for 'want of a quorum. Members -■_ at: the present timo .' aro' somewhat indignant-' over the actjon of the Board in calling for tendors for tho erection of a building.-for ■ cooking and agricultural purposes without first submit-: tin;? the- plan to tho Committeo.' It lias been decided by tho Board to erect the building some .distanco from the school, an action that is- being freely : commented upon. ■ Several of tho present: members refusot.to.'bo reelected at tho annual meeting unless more, power is placed in.thcir hands. , / SHANNON. , , Mr. Logan, Suporintcndont of Telegraphs, and Mr. Furby, Inspector of •! Telegraphs, visited Shannon on Monday. Mr. Fur by informed your correspondent that ■ tho necessary. alteration to comploto tolephono communication throughout the town will bo made at once. . 1 ; '. . A meeting of the Makeroa Drainage Board will bo held at 1 o'clock to-day, at Mr. Greig's;office, Tokomaru; ■■■•,! ■■■;: . v.s . Tho;following rinks will represent Shannon at Shannon on. Wednesday,' when. ■ Olub will form ,t'io opposition':—Gunning (skip),''Olson, iE. B. Stephenson, Dunckley;, Stnnsell ■■■ (skip), Mitchell,. Jvind,..: E. i. Butt.;. Knowles ' (skip)j 'Smith, : -Roach, and 6. . Stephenson. ' ■ - '-. . v The Shannon-Football Club-plays Foxton it Foxton next Saturday. The Town Hall has been engaged for practico an Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tho - weather, hero is bittorly cold and

blustery! '. • ■ ! ' • FEATHERSTON. . Tho monthly meeting, of tho Firo Brigade was held on Monday nightj Captain . Chock presiding. • The secretary's report" and balance-sheet wcro adopted, and: ho was ; accorded a' roto. of thanks for' tho trouble he had gone : to' in getting out., tho; ; financial statement:' It was decided to- open an nccount, at the Bank of New Zealand; The office of treasurer was'combined'with that of secretary, and Mr. W. Gilpin, tho retiring treasurer, electod an honorary mombcr. .Captain'- Check was accorded a hearty voto of thanks for'his report of-'the Conference, proceedings. Messenger A. Gaslcin was promoted to, fireman, and It. .Crawford elected messenger. ' , - ' ■■ :* The annual mooting of the Wairnrnpa Thursday Rugby Union .takes placo at' Carterton to-morrow-evening, v , ' / - PAItAPABAUMU. Tho new tennis courts: on thp King's Recreation Ground havo-been handed over' to tho club by tho' contractor, Mr. J. : Aplin, and' look to bo in first-class order.' Next woek will witness tho contest for tho Hadficld trophies (presented by Mrs. 'Hadfield), when tho. new courts will bo formally opened for play. ' ■ ■Wo a.ro to havo a short opera Reason hero when "Aladdin and tho Wonderful Lamp" is to bo staged. Active-rehearsals',havo been tho order under tho direction of tho Rev. E. Jonos. ' '■ "> A sharp snap of. cold with showers has prevailed during tho last week, but feed is plentiful, and.stock_look-well. At a rcoemt meeting of tho Paraparaumu Rifle Club. Mr. C. whiting wrested the Abraham and Williams Cup from his brother, Mr. J. Whiting, and Mr. C. Dowsett won tho clock presented h> Mr. V. Weggery. Ono thing that is sadly needed hero is a post office. Tho amount of mail matter is considerable, and the telephono and tho telegraph department is at tiines sorely taxed, hut; although representations havo been mado l'opeatedly to the Department, nothing is done.