PROVINCIAL NEWS, (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.)

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 219, 9 June 1908, Page 5

PROVINCIAL NEWS, (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.)

' PALMERSTON. / WELCOME TO HIS EXCELLENCY. Ail enthusiastic gathering of citizens took place this afternoon to decide upon a fitting recoption to His Excellency the Governor upon his arrival in Paliticrston North. Mr. Nash, Mayor of Palmorston, presided, Mr. and' Mrs. T. Wood also being present. . Thfa Mayor stated that the arrival marked an epoch in the history of the town, and it was the duty of the citizens to record a hearty welcome. A message was read stating that the Governor would arrive on Juno 18,-at 2.-10 p.m. ■■Various suggestions in connection with tho reception were outlined, and it was decided to ask the Holiday Association to change the half-holiday to Thursday. It was Tosolved that His Excellency bo rccoived at' the station by the -'Mayor, tho member for the district, and other representative' citizens. A. cuard of honour will parade at . tho station, and His Excellency will bo escorted to tho centre of tho town, whore an. address of welcome will. be delivered. Here bands, volunteers, school children, etc., will be massed. Feilding corps will also be invited. , A committee was set up to arrange tho various details. At a subsequent meeting it was resolved that the Mayor and member meet His Excellency at. the station; that the reception be held at tho Show Grounds if fine, and if not at tho Opera House; that the Maoris from Awahuri and Orona Bridge be. invited to attend; that business people be asked to display all possible bunting; and that decorations be made along the lino of route. Later on some social function will be tendered to the Governor.

. Entries poured in all day yesterday for the Manawatn Show, and Mr. Lane and his extra staff, which it is necessary to employ on the verge of the'show, experienced a busy day. At . a meeting and tea yesterday evening, the Rev. David Hird, Congregational minister, who succeeds the Key. Mr. Parker, was tendered a welcome. In spite of the inclement weather," there was a ; large attendance. AV. G. Taylor was yesterday morning committed for trial at the Supremo Court, which opens its sittings here to-day, for an alleged ' criininal offence against a young woman on Saturday. AVilliam Tie was fined £3, and costs (75.), by Mr. Thompson, .S.M., for opium smoking. The remains of the late Mr. George Williams, who died as the result of injuries sustained in a cycling accident in Collego Street last 'week, were laid to rest on Sunday_ afternoon. ' A party of Druids, consisting of Eros; C.\S. Rush, T. C, Mitchell, 'F. Jack-, son', T. Buckncll, F. Harriman, G. Gallaher, J. Neilson, and A. Clark, acted as pallbearers. Members of the Druids' 'Lodge mustered in strong forcc, several coming through from Fcilding. AVorkmates of tho deceased were also in attendance.. The service at the graveside was conducted by-the Rev. Mr. Davidson. Business pooplo will observe' Thursday afternoon, in addition to the usual "Wednesday* ht.lf-holiday, during the National Dairy Show. / ' Mr. R. S. Abraham has intimated to tho Mznawatu'Rugby Union that ho desires to entertain tho British football team at his residenco at Fitzhcrbcrt on tho Tuesday afternoon. ■ -

MASTEUTON. ' . Tho Mastertori branch of tho Y.M.C.A. appears at present to be a very vigorous institution. Tho membership has increased considerably, and'tho gatherings which discuss tea, and take part in debates upon various subjects are always well attended. Tho Club has now added "soccer" ' football to its repertoire. Tho religious aspect of everything is not'always obtrusively thrust forward in connection with tho working of the organisation, and therein'no doubt lies thq secret of its success..The potitions in favour of a continuous telephone: servjoo for Masterton aro being largely signed, aud it is understood that tho required consent of two-thirds of the subscribers will bo easily obtained. 11l the case, . Pickering Bros. y. Henry AVatcrhonse, of Martinborough, in tho Magistrate's Court, in which there was a claimfor £176 12s. lid., and a counter-claim for £105, 'judgment'was given for tho plaintiff for £103 9s. 9d., as representing tho amount owing after allowing for a portion of tho counter-claim.' : Swaggers aro at present very common in this, district. They aro to be met everywhere and the majority of them are very hard up. Nearly all requiro work, and are helped on to the back stations, but tho police here, tho.other day, were confronted'with a swagless tourist who absolutely refused to demean himself with farm labour. Instead, he asked to bo arrested as a' vagrant. The police refused tho request, and sent him on to tho next town.

FEILDING. >■■■ '■■• Golf is now actively under way oil Feilding's new links at.Aorangi. " - Mr..B. Sandilaiid's position on tho Feilding. staff-of Messrs. Barraud and Abraham is to be taken by-Mr. D.'Fraser, of Palmerston. .. • ■ . D. O'Leaxy, the Feilding forward, while ■playing'in the football match, Feilding v. Kia Toa, on Saturday,, was kicked oil tho knee. ~Ho felt 110 great ill-effects at tho time,but on Sunday ho had tho knee ■.examined, and it was found to be out of joint.. Tho Feilding football team is having a triumphant season. It i's_ now leading for the Championship of Manawatu by '4 points, but the members are\ not having ail easy timo, as Ongley, Rout, and O'Leary aro laid aside. A fourteen-foot Fijian fishing canpe arrived yesterday for the Feilding museum. It is tho gift of Mr. Percy E. Petheviek, of Wellington. The Manawatu Railway Company' and tho Government Railway Department generously granted frco carriage over both lines.

PAHIATUA.. COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. The Pahiatua County Council at its monthly meeting, held on Saturday, in reply to a communication from tho Chamber of .Commerce recognised the necessity for widening the culverts between the railway 'station .and the borough bridge. It would be attenxled to as soon as funds were available. Tho matter of tho cost of the removal of Matliieson's bridge, and the road deviation, was again brought up, the Council considering it was still entitled to demand a commission for adjustment. The Engineer was instructed to report respecting, sites for a bridgo over the Makuri River at .Te Aupapa Ford, and also to furnish an estimate of the cost of tho land required for making a road and building the bridgo. The Council intends to strike, general rates for the year ending March 31, 1909, as follow:—Pukemiku, Mangahao, and Mangaone Ridings, 1-Jd. in tho £Puketoi and Makuri Ridings, lid. in the £. ■ •

.. ' opia. A man named Kevil was beforo'the Court yesterday morning charged with- the theft v,f blankets from the shop of C. T. Itussoll. After evidenco was given by the arresting constable, a fmo of £2 was indicted. The usual monthly meeting of the Otaki Road Board took place on Saturday afternoon; when a deal of minor business was transacted. It was decided to remove the lamp at tho creamery, and the one at the Druids' Hall to more advantageous positions, also to widefi a small portion of Waitohii Road, and to procced with the proposed footpath on Wairinga Road. A notice cf motion has been tabled that tho board meet at 11 a.m., instead of at 2 p.m., as at present. Tho Rev. H. T. Stealev, M.A., preached a most eloquent and interesting sermon rn Maori Missions on Sunday night at tho Anglican Church, tlio subject being listcued to with, rant attention. Tlio "Moonshine-ICia Toa football match, played here on Saturday, resulted in the

latter being defeated, though they were at one stago of tho game leading by 5 to 3, and with less than ten minutes to play. However, Henare scored a couplo of good tries, and Kia Toa upheld their reputation, tho result being a win for them by 11 to 5. The Kia Toa Juniors also won their'match, beating Lovin Juniors by 6 points to nil.

CARTERTON. Whit Sunday was celebrated in St. Mark's Church by full choral services, the Rev. R. Young propelling appropriate sermons. . At evening service the anthem "The Day rf Pentecost" was surig, Sirs. Armstrong, and Misses Doller, and I. G. Smith taking tho solos. , " Saturday was a red-letter day in football for Carterton. Carterton I defeated Greytown by 12 to nil., and Carterton II boat To Ore Ore by 13 to 3. Dalefield succumbed to Red Star 11, 6 to 5. The entries for the Poultry Show are coming in freely, whilo applications for schedules are being made from Auckland to Cliristcliiirch. Apple trees and blackoorries are in bloom in some, places in this district.' The Carterton Football Club has drawn three'matches'at homo in the last iround for the banner. WOODYILLE. Mrs. Brightwell, purposes leaving on June 18, for England, and will he away some eight months. Tho installation services of the Masonic Lodge will take placo to-morrow evening, when tho Right Worshipful Grand Master, j. TV. M'Dougall, will be present. Cases of scarlatina 'and diphtheria havo occurred among several families here, but in a mild form. Tho weather being exceptionally good, we may escape an epidemic of the diseases. Last year nearly every in the district had patients with measles about this time. The marriago of Miss Clara Franklin to Mr. A. Rendle, of Woodvlile, has been arranged to take place on June 24.

SHANNON. The match between Levin Wanderers B and Shannon Juniors at Shannon on Saturday ended in a pointless draw. Tho local team had slightly tho bettor of the game, but mulled several good chances. Stowell, Tromewan, Newton, Smith, Edmonds, and Lineham played best for Shannon. M'Donald and Mark-'s v.'ore weak. Shannon Seniors fi-ould improve their back division by playing Stowell and-Tremewan./ There was little attempt at combination m tho Lewi rear division. Tho spectators took exception to some or.tho referee's decisions.

EKETAHUNA. Two hundred and ninety entries have been recoived for the Eketahuna Poultry Association's Annual Show on Thursday and Friday, which is a hundred and fifty less-than last year. Partridge, wyandotto, and buff leghorn championships are being well competed, witli twenty-six entries for. the- former class, and seventeen for. tho latter. The white wyandotto entries total 25, and the silver wyandottes 31.

,FEATHERSTON. The death occurred at Pirinoa yesterday of Mrs/Honi Kerana,-a young Native. Death was caused by blood-poisoning. The lady members of tho Featherston Golf 'Club will play for a trophy presented by Mrs. J. R. Williams, on' Thursday next. On Saturday tho men will play foi\ tho third modal competition..

NIRE AH A. Mild weather lias, so far prevailed in this locality, and pastures are looking remarkably well, considering, wo aro nearly in midwinter. Mr. S. Usshcr, agent for the Stock Department here, lias been promoted and stationed at Masterton. Farmers hero are pleased at his advancement, but regret his .departure, as Mr. TJssher has been a popular officer. Mr. Mowbray, whoso residence was destroyed by fire at Hukanui recently, intends re-building on his farm.