PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 473, 3 April 1909, Page 14

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(from oun special correspondents.) « PALMEKSTON. Tho committco of tlie National Dairy Show mot on Thursday afternoon, tliere being present: Messrs. C. Dunk (cliairman), S. K. Lancaster, J. M. Johnston, A. Sutherland, J. A. M'Crea, W. M'Kcnzio, and D- Pringle. Tho Wellington Old English Game Club wrote inquiring il tho association would undertake its show this year. The secretary was instructed to ask for further information. It was decided to include horse-jumping competitions lor one of tho days of the dairy show, conditions to bo the same 'as the previous year. It was resolved that the fat sheep divisions be judged as for fat sheep only, and tho stipulations, etc., for freezing, as appearing in tho schedule, bo cancelled, and the judgo instnicted accordingly. Chief stewards lor the various divisions were appointed as follow: —Butter and cheese, Mr. S. Standen; fruit, vegetables, and farm roots, Mr. W. M'Kcnzio; school gardens, Mr. A. Sutherland; homo industries, Mr. J. Balsillie; fat stock, Mr. H. Gillies; poultry, Mr. D. Thomas; machinery, etc., Major Dunk. The following judges were appointed:—Farm roots, the director of the Lincoln Agricultural College; home industries, Mr. Dustin (Wanganui); fat stock, Mr. W. M'Kcnzio (Ma-stcrton); poultry, Mr. J. Casey (Kliandallali). A letter was read from the North Island Poultry Association, offering to affiliate with the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association, in consideration of the latter participating in their championships. After discussion, the questjon was referred to tho General Committee, with a recommendation to take no action. It has been decided to hold tho conference convened by the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce to discuss railway matters on Tuesday,. May 11, and invitations are being sent to the Wairarapa and other chambers. Mr. A. Tingey, whoso services as superintendent of tho fire brigade during a long term of years ire to be recognised by the citizens, leaves Palmerston on Wednesday next, on a trip to England. Mr. Tingey will bo presented with a gold watch a.nd chain, and the brigade's gold star for long service. LEVIN. A pleasant function took place at Mrs. Wilson's tea-rooms, Levin, on Thursday night last, when the Levin Amateur Dramatic Society presented Mr. J. Phillips with a full set, bound in morocco, of tho works of Charles Dickens, to commemorate tho occasion of his marriage, which took place recently. SHANNON. On. Thursday night the new Druids' Hall was formally opened by G.S. Bro. Grant. A smoke concert was afterwards held, at which tliero was an attendance of about 100, including visitors from tho Horowhenua, Manawatu, Otaki, and Oroua Lodges. G.S. Bro. Grant presided, Bro. J. Murray occupied the chair of A.D., and Bro. A. Smith that of V.A.D. In proposing the health of "Tho Grand Lodge, G.S. Bro. Grant said that it was six years since a charter had been granted to the Shannon Lodge, and, although the first operations had been uphill work, the lodge had sprung into life and rapidly forged ahead when.Bro. A. Rawle took office i as secretary. Ho made complimentary reference to Bro. T. Lind for his exertions in the interests of the Order, and for the great ,help which ho had given tho local lodge. Other toasts, with tho names of proposers and responders, were: —"The District Presi-. dent," P.J.A. Bro. Linsell and D.P. Bro. Batchelor; "Sister Lodges," Bro. A. Smith, V.A., and P.D.P. Bro. M'lntyro, and P.D.P. Bro. W. Vickers; "Kindred Societies," Bro. T. Dunckley, and Bro. J. Tuohy, N.G., Levin Oddfellows; "Tho Building Committee," Bro., S. J. Shaw and Bros. Gardner, Tysler, and Batchelor; "The Donors," Bro. A. Rawle, who passed encomiums on Bros. Lind, Sowman, Batchelor, Tysler, Gardner, Dunckley, and Holt, who responded; "The Architect," Bro. Foubister and Mr. J. Malcolm; "Tho'Contractor," Bro. T. Lind and Bro. Foubister; "The Clerk of Works," Bro. E. Law and Bro. T. Lind; "The Ladies," Bro. J. White and Bro. Gilmour. '' The' following contributed songs: —Bros. Batchelor, Galichan, Rawle, Morgan, Gillies, Woods and others. Bro. Cornwall, of Manawatu , Lodge, acted as Accompanist. The hall proper seats 350, and is artistically finished. Green is the prevailing colour, tho walls being panelled in tho samo shade, each panel , containing figures of tho Muses. Tho embossed steel ceiling, painted white, was presentod by Mr. T. Lind. Mr. Foubister, of Shannon, was the builder, and Messrs. C. Sharp and Son, Palmerston North, wero tho decorators. On April 1, according to agreement, tho local Co-operative Dairy Association took ' over the butter factory from Dalgoty and Co.