PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 184, 29 April 1908, Page 3

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FUOU OCII SPECUI, ! 1 PALMERSTON. Dr. Valentine was a visitor to Palmerston yosterday. . Every preparation is being made by the -Palmerston Coursing Club for the lirsfc meeting of the season, which will bo hold on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Some fifty odd hares are now located at tho home, and they appear to be in first-class condition.

' I MASTERTON. 1 > A largo amount* of intorest is boing manifested in tho -Mayoral election in which ; Messrs. J. M. Coradino. and P. J. Hollings are candidates. Both these gentlemen have , addressed meetings, which have been largely , attended, and cacli has subjected his rival's previous municipal performances to criticism, which has., served . further :to arouse• public . interest. Mr. Coradino is a well-known practical man, who is almost certain to poll largely, but his opponent has a largo amount ot support. The committee which is working for his return has mado,a corner in-motor-cars, having secured all. there are, private and otherwise,, for the carriage of voters. Mr. Coradine's supporters- have had to fall back upon cabs and 'buses'. ' A large amount of personal warfare has taken place during the contest, bijt there,is practically no bad feeling over the matter. ■ ' Mr. S. S. Hester, postmaster 'at Masterton, who has been transferred to tho Lichfield Street post office, Christchurch, has refused to accept a presentation from his staff, except from the telephone operators, who forced upon him the gift of 'an umbrella. Mr. Hester stated that he. had always set his face against t presentations, and tho' staff thereupon tendered to'him a joint letter expressing appreciation of his efforts while in charge of tho, post office. . / FEILDING. There is £500 worth of gas mains ili Wel-lington-ready for transhipment to Feilding. Tho Gas Company already has a very busy time in trying to overtake the demands for the supply of gas in the town, but a very great difficulty to bo overcome is the obtaming of, a sufficiency of expert labour to do the work. Good news comes from Wellington concerning tho progress of Mr. Ernest Short towards tho recovory of his health. It is expected that his medical adviser will permithim to sit up to-morrow, and shortly lie hopes to proceed to Rotorua to recuperato and receive further treatment. . News is expected any day of the coming of the members of the Land Purchase Board to, visit the , Parorangi,. Estate, near Feilding, which has been offered to the Government by Mr. Short for closer settlement. - At Ohakune the other day a' number of small sections were offered for sale, by tender- They were only 20 perches in area, yet tenders were as high as £170 (Mr.'F. M'Kay); two others,.£lsl and £145 (Mr. J. A. Rutter); and another £130 (Mr. L. Boyd. Of course these tenders were accepted, but (ask 3 the "Feilding Star") what is tho causo of such big prices for land in such a town? Perhaps there is an explanation to bo found in the rumour that Ohakune is to be tho stop-over town for ono of the main trunk trains.. ,-. , /■ ' cauteiiton.' After blocking tho. traffic on various thoroughfares for tho past six days, the old police station is on its new site in Rhodes Street, where it will becomo a modern suburban , residence. LEVIS. The usual fortnightly meeting of tho Fire Brigade was held on Monday night, but tlicro was not much business of general interest transacted. A number of accounts- wero passed for payment. ;• Judging by appearances, the coming season promises to be ono of tho most successful in .the annals of local hockey, and it is to be hoped that all players will back up tho efforts of the secretary and their delegates .by turning out in full force to all matches. L A meeting of the management committee of the Horowhenua Hockoy Association was held in tho Mauakau Town Hall on Monday .evening. There were'present:—Misses Hurley, M'Clollan, Stopford, Houghton, -and Messrs. Cockrell (in the chair), Grover, and Dewdney. Considerable discussion took place' on the matter of the ladies either joining the Horowhenua, Association or forming an asso- . tion of their .own, when it was resolved, on the- motion of' Mr. Dewdney, that tho following ladies' clubs be allowed .to' join the existing association: Levin, Otaki, Ohau, HniMai, and Manakau. .Tho-rule?.of the association were then read and'-,passed. The drawing for tho first round of the championship then took place. It was 'proposed 'by Miss Hurley, and carried,' that the ladies play off--two rounds and the men three rounds for the championships. . , OTAKI'! There is a great influx of Maoris, for the purpose of attending >tho tangi of 'Ropata to Ao, but' the proceedings are orderly, although tho /wailing at times is anything but pleasing. On Monday afternoon some 70 Natives arrived from Rangitikei and other northern townships. Guris wore fired, and otherwise tho visitors accorded : a warm receptioii. At tho present time every old cottage, etc., has been turned into sleeping apartments, and it has been found necessary to erect a large tent for the accommodation of visitors.- The date of the funeral has not yet been-decided upon. A large number of Waikato Maoris are expected to-night, together with tho Hon. Mahuta. Tho Hon. J. Carroll, and Mr. Hono Heko are expected within a day or so..' V ...SHANNON. Heavy".rain fell- here'oil Monday night, : and the weather is threatening. Tho Makerua Drainage, Board met at' Tokomaru yesterday. The Shannon Brass Band intends to hold fortnightly assemblies throughout tho winter, and the first dance.takes place this ; evening. . At a meeting of parishioners on Monday , night, Mr. Batchelor was elected vicar's warden, and Mr. Exall was appointed people's warden. The old committee were returned. A discussion arose on the advisability of securing a local clergyman, and steps aro likely to be taken in this direction. FEATHEHSTON. ' At an adjourned meeting of the Town Board on Monday night it was decided to call tenders for the. delivory of 600 yards of metal on the various streets in tho town district. . , , MARTINBOBOUGH. The cycle road raco promoted by Messrs. Jolly and Byrne, tho cycle and motor firm of this town, takes place to-morrow. Tho course is from Murtinborough to Martinborough, via Groytown and Foatherston, a distance of somo 32 miles. Tho handsome prizes that have been offored have resulted in some 30 or more entering for tho event. The raco is oreating groat interest. " Mr. H. M'Donakl, son of Mr. M'Donald, of Ngakonui, stepped into an open drain oil Saturday night, and broko his leg. Ho has been taken to the Greytown Hospital.