SHANNON.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 2631, 5 August 1908, Page 3

SHANNON.

BANQUET TO ME. STEVENS, M.P. At tho banquet to Mr. J. Stevens, M.P., on Monday night, after tho telegraph office had closed, Mr. C.- B. Robinson proposed " Local Bodies," specially mentioning Mr. J. G. Wilson for his work for the Farmers' Tlnion.

'In responding Mr.M'Kenzie, of the Manawatu Cnunty Council, said Foxton had not.

been retarded so much by its inadequate harbour as by tho want of road communication. -Until tho bridgo was opened tliero was, practically speaking, 110 road from Shannon to Fo'xton. Mr. Gowor, Mayor of Foxton, testified to tho fairness of Mr. Stevens, no matter what parfy approached him. Mr. Richards, Chairman of the Horowhenua County Council, said if there was 0110 man who deserved credit for the bridgo, it ,was Mr. F. W. Venn, unfortunately absent through illness. The Tokomaru Riding was tho lowest rated district in tho county, and this was duo to Messrs. Venn and G. N. Stephenson.

Mr. 6. N. : Stephenson proposed "The Contractors and Engineer." ' In replying, tho inspector, Mr. Duncan Sinclair, eulogised Mr. Fulton, tho engineer. He animadverted on the co-operative system of works, better work could bo done by local bodies. The Hon. J. Carroll proposed "Local Industries," chief of which was flax, timber coming next. He referred to tho inevitable vanishing of timber, but considered that there was a great future in the flax industry. On tho advent ■ of new machinery and improved methods of flax-dressing, he was confident the present depression would disappear. Mr. A. Soifert, ort behalf of the flax industry, said that of all tho proposed methods referred to by Mr. Field for solving- tho labour dispute, flaxmillors wero most opposed to a sliding scale of wages. Flaxmillers had always a gamblers' chance of making good after years of depression, but introduce the sliding scale, and the clianco would disappear. It was far better to give a man a decent wage and rely on tho industry to support -itself. Referring to flax-dressing he said that millers only', took 70 per cent. of. fibre out of tho raw material, but ho had seen two machines lately' that, took 90 per cent. Flazmilliug must be run on averages. Flaxmillers were not altogether unanimous about disadvantages of 'flooding as many were of the opinion that the silt improved the flax. He would not call flax a continuous crop, as ho thought owing to heavy cutting flax might dio out in a number of years.l Mr. Stansell, replying for tho timber industry, condemned tho import of Oregon pine, and assailed tho colonial Press-for ad-, vocating its continued importation. "The Ladies" was proposed by Mr. May and Mr. Hogg, M.P., and replied to by Messrs. Voisy and o'Council. "Tho Visitors" was. proposed by Mr. Stansell, and, replied to ,by Mr. Clausen (Palmerston North), Mr. Gower (Foxton), and Mr. Bartholomew (Lovin). Mr. Bartholomew said ho was one of the 'first three white men in tho district.

Tho Hon. J. Carroll, Mr. A. W. Hogg, Mr. J. R. ; Stansell,- Messrs. ■ Clements, Oharlesworth, Rawle, Horneblow, contributed songs. Tho singing and dancing of Mr. and Mrs; May wero greatly appreciated.. It appears that tho -statement in yesterday's report of tho banquet to Mr. Stevens that --"Mr. Field wished to contradict tho. report that ho had said at the opening of tho Makerua mills that a flax hand should get moro than six shillings a day," should have read "that a flax hand should not get more than six shillings a' day." • GREYTOWK. The creditors in A. C. Bicknell's o,' yestorday, but . again adjourned for luiumr inquiries. Tho bankrupt's furniture was returned to him in trust for his children. The Moroa Water-race Committee met yesterday afternoon, but beyond a few inquiries relative to cleaning oat races and passing wages account, £1G 10s;, nothing further was done. FEATHER STOX. The funeral of the late Mrs. Greatbatch took place on Tuesday' afternoon,'• the mortal remains being laid to rest in tho Featherston cemetery, in the presence of a fair gathering of mourners. Many beautiful wreaths covered tho caskot, and'tho service at tho grave was conducted by tho Rev. W. J. Elliott, of the .Methodist Church.

Owing to the season being so far advanced, and membors being;, scattered, • the Liberal Football; Club has decided that'it : cannot accept'the challenge of the Rover Club to play a dinner match on August 20. ;