PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 8

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FROM OCIt SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.) . PALMERSTON. . At the S.M. Court oil Tuesday Michael M'Mahon sued J. Hurley, proprietor of the Railway Hotel, to recover £20, balance of; £30 entrusted to the caro of defendant. The evidence showed that the money had been returned in full, and that the plaintiff was not of sober lmbits, and was not at times responsible for his actions. Judgment was given for defendant witli costs. Mr. Stephen S. Phillips, only surviving son of Mr. and Mrs. AV. J. Phillips, of Fitzherbert Street,' died on Tuesday from tho effects of a pulmonary complaint at tho early age of 28 years.

MASTERTON. The' Masterton municipal ■ gasworks' monthly report states the consumption of gas during the current year has increased-by 20.25 per cent. The present works are to bo moved as soon as possible to near the Masterton railway station. At the meeting' of the Masterton Borough Council on' Tuesday night it was resolved to offer the Invercargill Borough Council £150 for a condenser with a capacity of 50 million cubic feet. The Masterton Municipal Brass Band, which is now without a conductor, is endeavouring to secure the services of a bandsman at present in Wellington, and who is understood to have baij extensive experience in England. Mr. T. E. Taylor is to speak in Masterton next month on the No-License question. At a meeting of the Wairarapa. Amateur Swimming Association on Monday night it was decided to make a request to the New Zealand Centre, that Masterton be included in the list of towns where aro decided the New Zealand swimming championships. The season is to open in Masterton on Thursday October 8. The macadamising of the street running from the railway station into the town, a distance of nearly a mile, has just-' been completed, with the southern portion of Queen' Street. The work, which has been well done, is greatly appreciated, and it. is considered that the principal / Masterton street pavements are equal, if not superior, to those of any of the inland towns.

•feilding: The vital statistics for Feilding for September wereßirths, 10; deaths, 3; marriages, 3. During September eight building permits wore issued from the borough engineer's office. Four of these were for new nouses, and four for additions. The'total amount for which permits i were issued was £2640. At the Police Court, Feilding,' yesterday morning two Cheltenham young men, who pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing'two bottles ot beer from the Cheltenham Hotel "for a lark," were fined £5 each. Mr. J. Nairn, an old settler of the Manawatu'County, was.;found dead on his farm at Jit. Stewart on ■■ ■ Tuesday - night. Mr. Nairn had been sleeping at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Lucas, at Awahuri, and going from there to Mt. Stewart farm every day. On. Tuesday ho did not return at the usual hour. Mr. Lucas. went over to the farm to see if there was anything amiss. Ho found Mr. Nairn at a house on the farm quite dead, showing signs of having passed peacefully away. He had reached his 80th birthday., last. April, and.it is believed: that it was simply a ease of death from old age. Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, has intimated to . the ' director of the Feilding Technical School (Mr. Fossey) that ■ ho will give a lecture on "Milk" on his return from Australia. The lecture, which is ono of the series on practical subjects which is being organised by the Technical School, will be illustrated with lantern slides. . , A meeting called for the purpose of forming a Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association was hold in the Technical School building on Monday evening, Mr. W. F. Bramwell presiding. The following officers were appointed Patron,, Mr. F. Y. Letlibridge, M.P'.; president, Mr. F. Pirani; vioe-prcsidents, Messrs. W. F. Bramwell, E., Goodbehere, AV. J. B. Trewin, H. J. Booth. G. H. Bennett (Palmerston), F. Purnell (Masterton), and G. D. Braik (Ch : ief Inspector Wanganui Education Board districts'; oommittee,' Messrs. W. • H. M'Leah, H. C. Stewart, W. Fosscy, ■■' A. Richmond,' G.' Spence, Glasgow, G. Bartholomew, J. S. Tingev, C.'H. Burnett; with the other officers ex officio, and one member to be appointed by the committee of each school interested. Mr. H. C. Stewart was appointed secretary pro tem. A sub-committee was sot up to get copies of mips and draw up a draft set for the consideration of the committee. The membership fee was fixed at 2s 6d., carrying admission to the annual sports gathering. It was stated the .sports gathering would probably take place in February. . ' PAHIATUA. The annual' meeting of the Pahiatua Cricket Club was held on Tuesday night, when the report and balance-sheet as read were adopted. Mr. H. Pearcey was stated to have made the highest average hatting, 21.8, and was also top of the bowling average. Officers for the ensuing season were elected as follow: — Patron, Mr. W. H. Hawkins; president, Mr. W. Tosswill; vice-presidents, Messrs. G. H. Smith, J. 0. Lilly, H. M'Sherry, E. Hughes, Rev. T. M'Kenna; captain, Rev. W. H. Speer; ■ secretary, Mr. M. J. Carpenter; committee, Messrs. Boagey, Pearcey, Milligan, and'Dobbie. Several new members were elected, and it was decided to open the season on Wednesday. October 15. Tne Mangatainoka Athletic Club's- special general:meeting hold at Mangatainoka confirmed the report submitted by the sub-com-mittee in building a grandstand,' and the tender of Mr. Grut was accepted for the carrying out of the work. Strong committees were appointed to draw up the programme and attend to other mattors in connection with tho sports to be held on Boxing Day. The weather here continues all that can be desired, the last two days especially being quito summary. As an instance the local bowling green is reported to be in tip-top condition. Play has practically been uninterrupted since September 15, and there is a good and oven coating of grass. In the outlying districts, however, in some quarters farmers report that the weather is a littlo too dry, and they would like to see' more rain, but on the whole they are looking forward to a good season. CARTERTON. . The ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held on Tuesday evening, his Worship the Mayor, Mr. W. Moore, presiding. Tho building inspector reported permits for buildings to the . value of £400. The ordinary works, finance, and gas committees reports were adopted. It was decided to instal an "exhaust" plant at the gasworks in time for next winter's operations. Mr. F. W. Jackson was appointed borough overseer. A lengthy discussion on the unsatisfactory state of the street improvement scheme took place, and tho engineer's report was adopted. The engineer reported that ho had granted the contractor six weeks' extension of time to complete the work, after which tho penal clauses would be inflicted. EKETAHUNA. Mr. F. Wise, secretary of the Eketahuna Railway League, and Mr. N. Nelson, county overseer, who have beon prospecting for a suitable routo for the proposed railway, have discovered an omiuently suitable ono from Eketahuna to Napier's farm at Alfredton. Thoro .is practically a level riui tho wholo way, and only ono hill would have to bo tunnoiled.