PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 4

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

CAUTEItTON.

on* T&LSUUM'U— sr::riAL COUnr.J-I'OSDEiIT.I 0 PALM EIi,STOX. Tho annual meeting of the Manawatu A. ami P. Association was held oil Saturday, l'ho president, Mr. I'. Arbon, presided, and tbero was a lair attendaneo or members. Mr. Arbon, in moving tile adoption of tho report and balance-sheet (previously published m Thf, Do.Mt.Nioj;) said that last year their overdraft amounted to £5378, wlnlo this year it totalled £o6iti. 'ihero was thus a'deficiency of £237, against which thero was an expenditure of £4di in buildings. Some of the members might wonder .wliy the overdraft was stiil increasing, but lie would mention that they had purchased £2100 worth of iand during tho past threo years, and during tho past tive years had oxpended £33U0 on buildings. Alluding to the .Dairy Show, : ho stated that tho factory butter and cheese entries a't tlio first show were 42, while last year they had rcachcd a total of 150. Tho fruit and farmers' section started with (iO entries and had since gone up to 310. This year tliey would bo giving a number of extra prizes, and they hoped thero would bo a very material increaso in the exhibits. Tho Dairy Show Conference had been quite a success, tile largo room being packed, which tras an indication of the manner ill which it was appreciated. by tho farmers. A number of papers had been read at it dealing purely witu dairy matters, tho Government officials from tho Department of Agriculture having rendered valuable assistance. They had, however, some difficulty in getting, leading fanners to rend papers on matters, appertaining to tho farm. Tho farmers of . the district wero beginning to'realise tho possibilities in I tho fruit-growing industry. There was 110 reason ,wliy we should not have. a Erimloy orchard here. This year the.y wero .offering a special prize of £10 in tho class for apples. AVith regard to the Spring Show, however, they still occupied a leading position in the North Island, possiblv from its geographical position, which gave it an exceptional value as a show. The biggest item of expenditure m connection with it was the huge sum of £1400 in prizes. Son?o monitors thought tlioy had gone far enough in this matter, but, although it seemed a huge sum to expend, results had prove;! that it was justified. Some time ago a scheme for experimental work for fanners had been discussed. I.ho tiling had boon duly advertised, and a committee set up to deal with it, but owin" to lack of support the matter had fallen througn. This was a'great pity. Tho Government were, of course, doing n good work with their experimental stations, but farmers wanted a practical knowledge) as well and even if they only carried out an esponment in their backyard they would find they learned more from if. than by watelmi" another mail experiment. Witli regard to the Lincoln Collogo scholarship he regretted very much that it had fallen through."' The people did not take the interest in it they ought, and did not send their children It had been suggested that tho association might assist the Technical School in the matter. There was no reason why it should be allowed to drop, and they would be glad to continue their work'in conjunction with tho school alluded to. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following office-bcarers were elected President, iUr. S. 11. Lancaster; committeo, Messrs. F. Arbon, H. Gillies, R. Stevens, K. })■ Dalrymplo, M.,-Cohen, 13. Short, J. M Crca, E. J. .T\ ildo, H. E, Gibbons, A. Sutherland, J. O. J3atchelor, and T. R. Hodder; treasurer, Mr. J. M. Johnston. At I'nday night's meeting of tho Choral Society Executive tho following were olccted to tho General Managing CommitteoThe Mayor, Messrs, A. J. Graham, A. E. Bennott, W. Park, R, Gittings, ,J. liett, W. H. Collmgwood, and H. Swallow (secretary). A Chorus Committeo was also elected as follows Messrs. J. Wallace, J. Davis V. Dallow, A. Drew, R. Emmctt, A. Leet, IT. \ ivian, and H. Swallow (secretary). Twentyono now mombers were elected.

The monthly moating of tho Wairm'apa South County Council was held at Cartertoil oil Saturday, Councillor W, l'erry presiding. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £810^ los. 3d., receipts for the month being £289 7s. Bd. Accounts amounting to £<138 Gs. lOd. wero passed for payment. It was resolved to call tenders for tile delivery of 500 yards of metal on Cemetery Road, and to put a culvert in on the Admiral Road. Iho district roads engineer wroto that no funds wero at prosont available for work op the Maingalniia-Kokatau Road. Tho engineer also wrote that ho held authorities for grants and subsidies for the expenditure of £328 4s. 2d. and particularly requested that tho works for which theso authorities were issued should be pushed on as fast as possible, as should largo balances remain at the council's credit at the end of March next, it would greatly affect the allocation of lur.thcr grants. A complaint from Mr, \V. F. Gray as to the bad state cf the load at Gladstone leading to his residence, "Brooklyn," was referred to tho overseer, with instructions to send the grader over it after tlio rain. Mr'. 1). Buchanan wrote that he considered he had done cnouiih on Tupuriipuru Road, and considered that some of his rates should now he spoilt there. The council decided to take no action in the matter. An application from tho roadman at To Wharnu for grass seed for some county land recently ravaged by lire was granted. No action was taken in regard to a letter from Emily Stratford, Matarawa, relating to the state of the read leading to her property, and enclosing an account of £1 10s. for work done .on same by her employee. The tender of W. Hansen was accepted lor metalling Somerset Road at 2s. 3jd. per van!, the next tender being 2s. 'Id. Mr. 11. 11. Welters was granted nine months' leave of ahsonco, and Mr. li. Trapp appointed aelina-cleik und treasurer.