PROVINCIAL NEWS. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.)

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 261, 28 July 1908, Page 3

PROVINCIAL NEWS. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.)

PALMERSTON. The Governor proceeded to Wellington yesterday afternoon. Bythosamo train Messrs. Guthrie, candidate for Oroua, and Hockley, of Rangitikei, also visited Wellington. Dwau Bros., of Wellington, were fined os. and 30. costs yesterday morning for failure to lay private draius to houses owned by them in Palmerston, as provided in the borough bylaws. Chas. C. Dahl, for a similar offcnce, was lined 10s. and 2Ss. costs. These wero tho first cases under tho new by-laws, and Mr. P. H. Ccoke, for the borough, asked only for a nominal lino. The Inspector states that other cases aro peilding if tho regulations are not complied with. A deputation from the Rivers Commission committoes, consisting of his Worship the Mayor, Councillor Armstrong, and Councillor Venn (Horowhenua),' goes to Wellington to-morrow morning to interview Ministers in reference to extending tho boundaries of tho district, which will come within tho scope of the Commission's inpuiry, so as to include tho tributaries of tho Oroua and Manawatu as well as tho main rivers. Her Excellency Lady Plunket will givo a demonstration at the Terrace End School 011 Thursday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, to ladies only, showing how to prepare humanised milk, etc. • Another old and respected resident of this district, Mr. William Upton Slack, passed away at his residence "Waitoi," Awapuni, at an early hour yesterday morning, after a long and painful illness. Mr. Slack came out from tho Old Country ,to New Zealand in tho very early days. Ho settled in Geraldine, South Canterbury, and lived there for a number of years, taking an active part in local affairs. From there ho came to i'almerston, North, and went to live at Awapuni, where he has resided during the last eighteen years._ ; ; Their Excellencies have 'consented to give their patronage to the performance of tho Amateur Dramatic Society on August 4 and 5. What it is anticipated will he a lengthy sitting of the Native Land Court commencod on Saturday morning, and was presided over by Mr. Justice Simms. A largo number of Natives arc congregated in Palmerston. ■ ;Tho Awaliou ratepayers met on Friday to consider tho question of tho wrecked- Poiiaugina'.bridgo, and it was decided tliat if there was no danger of tho cliff slipping it- would be preferable to repair tho damage to the present structure instead. of romoving it to a now site. , The Manawatu A. and P. Grounds Committee has decided to continue tho roadway along to the end,of the poultry hall; and then lay an asphalt footpath to the stand. Tho filling of tho oval will be left until the football season is over. . MASTERTON. ■ Owing to tho threatened coalminers'.strike the Masterton Municipal-Gas Works has refused to-sell any more coal to householders till further. notice, writes our Wairarapa correspondent. Tho manager, Mr. Blackmail, stated that lie had a two months' supply in hand, as lie had been buying for- somo time in anticipation of an industrial conflict. From further romarks mado by Mr. Blackman; it appears that he belioves that thero will bo a coalminers' strike, which will affect tho wholo country, notwithstanding any contrary statements. Mr. G. S. W. Dalrymplo still continues to be in , a critical state of health. Tile retail price of butter in Masterton has now advanced to Is. 6d. per-lb. A firo broke out on' Saturday night in a building , on the Masterton A. and P. Association's • Showgrounds, and was extinguished by the Firo Brigade. : 'Tho damage is estimated at .£-JO, and is covered by insurance. -The origin of the fire is unknown. •feilding: • M Mr. Ronald Burrell, who has been in the employ of Messrs. Bairraud: and Abraham for tho last ton years, and of lato manager of tho Feijding. branch',' 'has obtained six mouths' lqave of absence, and. will take a trip next month to the Old Country. Mr. Phillips, of the Palmerston- branch of the firm, will take charge .of the Feilding branch. In anticipation of the coal strike, the manager of the Feilding Gas Company Wis secured a six weeks' supply and possibly more. An effort is to bo made to amalgamate the two-brass bands at present in existence in Feilding to form one strong combination. At tho meeting of'the Feilding branch of the ' Farmers' Union ,on Friday afternoon,some discussion took place on the subject of; Feilding and the Main Trunk line. Mr. J. M'Fa'rland said it would be a most, unfortu-.nat-Q thing.for this largo district to be passed ■by, and Mr. W. G. Pearce pointed out that tliore was not a town on the coast with such a.large coach servico as Feilding. A motion was passed expressing the opinion that Feilding should bo one .of the stopping places for the' through trains. ;

Labouring men are plentiful in this district at tho present, time, work being scarce. The swagman has made himself a prominent foaturo during the last few days, and even the tradesmen in the town—especially those conncctecl with tho | building trade —are finding it difficult to get in full time. ■ ;

Mr. 'Remington, states that tho Rangiwahia-Riiahino district is to get telephonic communication with Mangaweka. The extension is to bo from lluahine.