PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 310, 24 September 1908, Page 4

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(I'T.OM OL'U SI'KCIAL COI'.KES-?ONI)F.NTS.) FEILDING. The Feilding Fire Board met yesterday, Mr. F. I'irani presiding. A lengthy report on tho condition of the brigade by Inspector Hugo was read. The report stated that tho muster at tho timo of inspection was unsatisfactory, and there appeared to be a want of enthusiasm. Tho water pressure was excollent, but a number of improvements -were required. The chairman's report stated that the expenditure totalled £15(5 ISs. 2d., leaving a credit balancc of £141 3s. lOd. Liabilities totalling £135, however, woro unpaid at tlio end of the year. There woro only seven calls during tho nine months ending Juno 30, none of tho fires being of any importance, oxcopt one in a small cottage. This was the best record for twelve years. It is intended to build a now station, providing sleeping, accommodation for tlio firemen.

. PALMERSTON. Business people express dissatisfaction at tho alterations in the postal service here for. Dominion, Day, and consider the proposal ridiculous.

PAHIATUA. . Mr. _W. P. .James, S.M., who held a sitting of the Court hero on Tuesday, had a fairly long list of cases to deal with. Tlio county ranger laid informations against two Ballancc settlers, fdr allowing cattle to wander at largo on' public thoroughfares, and fines with costs wcro imposed in each case. A charge of unlawfully procuring liquor for a prohibited person; was. dismissed, but-tho defendant on a second count. of procuring liquor for himself during ; the currency of a prohibition order w»s fined £7 and costs 7s. " H. Brand, wild pleaded guilty to tho theft, of clothes and other articles to tho value'of £7,' was placcd on'''six months' probation, and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. On Monday night last a mysterious burglary is alleged,to have, been, committed, the residence of Mrs. Travers, in Sedcblo Street, being entered, and £7 in bank-notes and a few other small articles being abstracted from a lady lodger's room. So far tlicre appears to bo no clue to'lead to the apprehension of tho burglar.

At tho Pahiatua District High School meeting on Monday night tlio headmaster's report showed 287 pupils on the roll, with an average attendance of 252. The matter of celebrating Dominion Day was left in the hands of-the chairman. The resignation of Mr. J. S. Webb, first assistant, who has been promoted to Tokomaru, was accepted with, regret, ,tho' comniittcc recording its appreciation of tlio work done by him, and congratulating -liim' on 'lijs promotion.'

•" . CARTEItTON. ; Messrs. Jas. Brown and B. Scannol, J.P.'s, presided over the Magistrate's Court on Tues-day,-and disposed of tho following cases in favour of plaintiffs' by default Shaw and Colo v. A. Byrne, claim £0 13s. 6d., and costs £1 4s. Cd.; Wallace, Masson and Co. v. J. Shaw, claim £16 18s. lid., and costs £1 14a. Gtl.; Pat. Cost-in- v. -Edward - Coyle, claim £3,- and costs lis.; 0. Hefforan v. R. Clark, claim-£9 10s., and costs £1 19s. Gd.; A. C. Feast v. D. Wilkinson, claim £3 9s. 2d., and costs 10s., John Ellis, P. Dudson, J. J. Mead, G. Tunnic]',fffl, J. Bassott; H. H. Armstrong, and B. Phelps were charged with brcachbs of the borough by-laws by riding bicycles on footpaths, and woro each fined Is. and costs 7s. Tho ordinary fortnightly -meeting, of the U.A.O.D. was held in the Foresters' Hall on Monday evening. After routine business was disposed of, a euchre tournament was indulged in, 'married v. single, and tho married members won by 24 games to 15.

' GEEYTOW. \ I Tho usual District High School Committee meeting was' held on :Monday evening, all members but one being present.. The attendance for the past month was reported to bo:' —Primary 202, average 185; secondary 20, average 17.6. Mr. King' was given leave to go up for his B.A. examination. /.EKETAHTJKA, ' An interesting' licensing' case was .decided at ithe ijkotahuna -Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, when three' local " residents were charged by tho police with being on licensed premises on a Sunday. -Evidenco was given by defendants', to the effect that.-they had partaken, of, - a mid-day meal at the' hotel, and subsequently tho landlady had .. invited them to have a' : drink and to stay to tea. While- partaking of tho drink in a private room tho constablo appeared on the scene and consequently laid an information. Tho contention that tho "parties woro tho guests of tho landlady . \vas .upheld .'by tho'magistrate, Mr. W.-1\- James, who 'dismissed tho ease. A charge, against the , publican ' for supplying drink was withdrawn, the magistrate stating that, a publican was quite .within , his. rights'' to"entertain, guests and provido' them with liquor or anything ho chose.. ' The Tararua Rifle Club opened its season on Saturday last, when-a'match was fired between teams selected by tho captain and vice-captain, that selected by the latter winning by 20 points. During the afternoon tho secrotary was presented 'by tho president. (Mr<. .W.'Bell), on behalf of- tho-fclub, with, a dressing-case. Tho hoadteacher of tho Mangamahoo school, Mrs. J. M. Harrison, recently met. with an accident which' will neccssitato her absenting herself from school duties for some time.,', When attempting .to mount a horse' tho animal jumped. forward, with a result that Mrs. Harrison severely wrenched her. foot and anklo. Aii epidemic of chicken-pox in a mild form' is ■ affecting tho attendance at the local,, school. OTAKI. . A man named Redman, working at Mangaone, • had the misfortune to gash his hand severely owing, to a • supplejack .coming in contact with his slasher. Medical aid was sought, and the wound is doing well. The hockey tournament (ladies') to have been played at Manakau yesterday has been adjourned, only two teams entering. Tho Native Land Court adjourned sine die on Monday night, after transacting a considerable amount of business. It is probable, however, that the Court will open again shortly. - ,

_ SHANNON. A public meeting convened b,v Mr. J. R. Stanseil, J.P., was held in the Druids' Hall on Monday night. Mr. T. Lind was elected to' the chair. The question asked by Mr. .Field, M.l\, in the House with referenco to erecting a new post office, together with tho Postmaster-General's reply, was fully discussed. Mr. W. H. Gunning proposed, and Mr. T.' Gardiner seconded, "That' matters should be left as they aro with referenco to building a public library and mechanics' institute, 1 but that the necessity of building a new post ofiico bo urged upon the Government." Mr. J. 11. Stanseil proposed, and Mr. S. W. Carter seconded, "That a deputation should interview the Postmaster-Gen. eral and again bring under liis notico tho need of an up-to-dato ollicc, and suggest that a sum be placed upon the Supplementary Estimates for that object, the deputation' to consist of tho members of tho former deputation." Both motions wero carried unanimously. It was also decided that the deputation should urge tho necessity of erecting a now, court-house and constable's residence, as tho present buildings wero entirely 'inadequate' for tho purpose. At the cioso of the meeting a- petition to tho Horowiicnua County Council to liavo Brown Street properly metalled from Bryce Street to the cembter'y, as the present access was through private property, was largely signed.

; FEATHEItSTON. • Captain Check presided at a meeting ol tho i'irc Brigade, on Monday night, when a crcclit/balaiice of £0 6s. was reported .from l.tho recent invitation social. Two -new mem■liors- were \ elected, and . Mr. G. E. Pnrcell was re-elected an. active member..Hydrantilia n C. Sheen's resignation was acceptcd with' regret, and" his' clearanco • granted.