PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 322, 8 October 1908, Page 4

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FROM oun SPEn,W. COCIIESfONUEiNtS.) *• MASTEIITON. A case of interest to farmers in connection with the depasturing of dairy stock was heard _ yesterday in tho Magistrate's Court at Martinborough, before Mr. W. P. James, 5.M.,-whon Fenwick Bros., farmers, of Kaiwaiwai, sued D. Hathaway, farmer, of Dyer, for £99 for tho loss of nine -cows and depreciation in' value' of thirty others. Mr. Gawith appeared for plaintiffs and Mr. Pow- . nail for defendant. Tho caso for plaintiffs was that'the cattle were in good condition when depastured on defendant's pro.perty in 'April lasF, aiid.that four months later eight wero missing and had died, while tho remainder had been reduced to a scarecrow condition. The defendant alleged that he had plenty of good-grazing, but that when dopastured tho cows wero in too poor a condition to look after themselves. The result was that they died or became injured through no fault of defendant's. Tho weight of cvidonco was' in support of defendant's caso, and judgment was given for him with costs £10 10s. At the meeting of the Masterton Co-opera-tive. Dairy Company -yesterday, Mr. It. Brown (late .toivn clerk) was appointed secretary to. the company vice Mr. G. Sykcs, resigned. There were six applicants for the position. .

V;., MAItTON.

A general meeting of tho Marten Chamber of' Commerce, was,held on Tuesday evening, Mr. F. Purnell presiding. Mr. John Slovens;- M.P.,■ wrote covering a letter from the Postmaster-Gener'al. statiiig that inquiry was being made in coiinectiqn with tho enlargement of Martoii;post office, and that a ■ reply-would bo 'given';as 'soon as practicable. The chairman reported ,on tho Levin-Marton railway deviation. Tho, very fact that a syndicate was prepared to spend a quarter of a million on-this-deviation thirteen years ago, with-settlement then in-its infancy, and the Main -Truiik; lihC'.only constructed as far as 'Mangaonoho r :was;,-the strongest possiblo .argument against the statement mado as to '.theVlino being a w'a'sto of money. Tho /chairman's, verbal report was adopted, and it was decided to cqnimunicate with various local bodies.'

; ; GREYTOWN.

The Greytown Borough Council met on Monday evening.. The Greytown Town - Lands Trust' Trustees vwrote' suggesting' that', certain land conveyed to.tho council somo years ,pgo for 'a tqwn;hall jbo.now returned to tho >trust, as it wajs not ibeing. used for the purpose sot forth'in 'the deed of conveyance. In accordanco with tho request of tlio A., and P. Society, the council will declare' October 29 as'a wholoMioliday. •The Military : Intelligence Department wrote, requesting information as to vehicles, that could be commandeered in the''district in. caso of war. Information is to be supplied,* ' ■

...LEVIN.

During-thjs' week the.local secretary of tho Acclimatisation Society 'is to receivo a further, batch of 15,000 yearling trout, brown and rainbow, for liberation in the local ■ streams.-;.;'Thi's ih'akes,:a .tptal of 30,000. allotted to this district during tho last fortnight. . . Tho local dramatic society is now pushing on with rehearsals '<t£■ ''The Ticket of Leave Man," which it intends to produce in about thred weeks' :timbi.'., *•' ; A committee meeting of tho Horowhonua Boating Club was hold on Tuesday night. Several important majors in connection with the proposed swimming club, and tho season's- boat races wero "discussed.

OTAKI.

Undesirables have.' evidently found their way here, one Johanna Cosgrovc, who was only a day or' so ago ordered to quit Wellington, boing brought before tho Police Court 011 Tuesday morning, and .clarged 011 tho information of C'onstablo Sathorley with importuning 011 Monday night. Accused was convicted and discharged, but ordered to pay ss. witness's expenses and to leave the town within two hours. Tho tennis season opens here 011 Saturday, and officials aro ,preparing tlio courts and grounds so as to ,be - in;.readiness. A lot of work still remains, to, be done, but it is to bo honed all will: bc'-finished in good time. Mr. \V. Vaughaii has beon appointed caretaker. .... ~.CV.V'

' SHANNON.

T'llo weather ;horo has completely broken and rain has fallen . intermi/ently for the last two or three days.' 1 ■ At tlio Druids' ' Hall on Monday aftcr.iioon arrangements were completed for the taking over of tho Shannon Butter Factory, •Foxton" and Moutoa Creameries by tho re-cently-formed Co-operative-Dairy Association. Tho Clydesdale stallion Ettrick Lad will visit the district this season. The members of the deputation, which interviewed tho Prime Minister with regard to the erection of a now post office and other matter.s of local interest, have returned well satisfied with, their-reception. Meanwhile, 110 definite arrangements with regard to the post office have been concluded.

FEATHERSTON.

Somo forty-eight members of tlio Masonio Craft wero present on Tuesday evening, when Bro. C. J. Carlyon was installed W.M. of St, John's Lodgo. Welcome: rain is now being experienced here, and comes as a blos6ing to many farmers. : A meeting of the local branch of tho Greytown and Lower Valley Horticultural Society was held 011 Tuesday afternoon. Mr. A. J. Toogood presided, and it was decided to hold tho spring show, about tho middle of November. — A No-Licenso League was formed here 011 Monday night. .. Tlio executive comprises Messrs. H. Stewart, T.- Saunders, J. G. Cox, W. 11. Sadler, and-'B. 'Roberts, with Mr. L. Groathcad:sco'retary pro torn.

MARTINBOROUGH,

A casp of interest to iliotel proprietors and boardinghquso keepers was heard yesterday afternoon in the Magistrate's Court, Martinborough; before 1 Mr. W. P. James, S.M., when 0/Si'Donald, of Loivor Valloy, farmer, sued C.' Brewer, licensee, of Martinborough, for £100 'damages:sustained through plaintiff walking;, into ;an npened-up drain on tho hotel promises", at tho rear of the building, thereby fracturing Jiis leg. Mr. Pownall appeared for plaintiff,' and Mr. Myers for defendant. The ease lasted three and a half hours. In tho course of "th(i Q.vidence, it was shown that the drain, which bad been opened up I'or sanitary purposes, was protected by a barrier from anyone who might enter on'tho section'from the backyard entrance, but was not protected if anyone chose to stray near the excavation from the hotel itself. The magistrate reserved judgment.