PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 14

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

{ROM OVB (FMUIi ODaBUrOlfSntTlJ

PALMERSTON. ■ \ Mr.':' A.' B. Fittj MJL., who Km been it . , awarded ■■..the . Jacob Joseph. Scholarship .by V . : the Victoria College Council, hails from Pal- . niorstwn, his parents reading an tiie -Foxtaa hno. and ho was a pupil of . the Pafewrsfcon ; > High School. From (lie High School -he en- .;■:■ ■•.■;:,■ tared the.teaching profeEion ucdar the'Ws> : nganui Education Board, and was one of the ". • ' .first students to be sent to tho. Wellington Teachers' Training College from this district. , ■;.He, took University classes while at tho ~ i • Training Collego, and last year obtained his • M.A. degree. The.local cabmen are very grateful for the- • promptness and courtosy with which calls i upon .tiioir telephone aro : < answered by" tho' . s ladies'of Uio local Telephone Exchange. 'In a letter expressing thorr feeling, the cabmen :• .state that m wet;weather, their vehicles will bo phujed at the disposal of members of the : staff proceeding to and .from their work—a pleaainc littio testimony -to the efficiency'of the oxchange. '^"-Vv,'I*-'.',■"-V-,.'.'1 *-'.',■"-V-,.'.' . .vAt the Rmoiers' Show.now being held in ■ Dunedtn, the Palmerston bulldog fancier, Mr. • F. E. W,atson, took, first place with his imported dog, Greenstone, in the open.challenge . clas9. • ; Ho gained second with Dona, in tho i New Zealand-bred bitch class. His braco and team were also accorded first; honours: . ■ Leslie Evans, who was arrested on Ttars- ; . day for using obscene language' on' the Lin- . ton railway 'station-on May' , MJ'.was;before. ; • Mr. Jafe. Mowlcan, J.P;, .at tho Magistjate's ■ v Court jpstorday morning. 'He pleaded guilty ' ! . to the.offer.ee, but stated that as he .was not • ;. sober at the time ho did < not know .whathe ' was doing. Ho was fined 405., in default , seven days'.imprisonment. For. refusing'to ') ■ pay hi? fare, and for boarding the twin while ill motion, he was also ' fined 10s. and ; oosts'Ms.,- m defaulV four-days' imprison- .;

' Tho genial weather that has been oxperi- ., enccd all . through the season has .been :.. very :-Vobnducive:-to'lthe''^ : owth of :gi^s;''ahU-stock' all over tho district are in: splendid condiSo much ' grass - has been available that's)'far no recourse has been had to. dry feed, and chaff., promises to be a drug in the*. ' ;; market. this yeari;',' At ' present.' it is' hardly. .; saleable; and even-then. only, at a prioe vary : much lower tkanforyears past. . Unless conditions alter greatly for the worse during tha . next; few weeks,: stock generally will winter, urell, and, as far-as dairy stock is concerncd,■ with extremely; benefioial results next sea- J son. ~ -, Tho approach of( Industries Week in Palv; merston is apparent in/the .number..of shop V.;.windows,whicn ,£u-e carefully, screened from V ? the public .'the active. windowdressers inside - are conceiving wonderful . schemes of decoration for the competitions -which'the executive is'holding_m;connectxm with the week's display. Mr. H. H. Tomp- : eebt, of a Wellington house, who has studied >mndow-drossing' 'in; England and;. /-America, has consented to act as judge./ ; A man named Charles .Webb was'arrested *t Levin cm Thursday and brought to PaJ- . merston by the mail train yesterday morning an a.chargo of failing to account for moneys collected Dy him for Matthew ; Guy,, sauce ; - manufacturer, of Palmersten: North. ! ' ( :E; O'Neill, who was arrested in Auokland 'on a charge'of issuing a valueless cheque for .' £5 Bs.; to Charles Morgan, of the Junction Hotel, Longburn, was brought: before Mr. ■Jas. Mowlem, J.P., yesterday morning, and .was'roma.ndca till Monday. • ; Y ;. Tho 'large,, machinery hall;. on. the .; Show . . presents an attractive ' spectacle. ; 'Both. aisles ' are . encumbered - ■ with.' packing cases, and cAVpenters .and fitters • are 'busy erecting tho. various: exhibits; Already, a : great .many of 5 .the. leading ' displays are . well forward: Two giant churns have been erected, iwluleYthe.' multitudinous ' contrivances for in- ; /.creasing, .theveffioiency of the' great dairying: ,i are-'arnying hoiu-ly., ..The large but-- .- . tor aroh in the agricultural hall is in position,"and the: benches are waiting, to 1 receive . the butter and cheoso exhibits. .The Agri- : cnlturs Departments, large consignment has . .arrived, and'is.bei-ng, arranged in the'poultry. , hall, where an effective display is to bemado. - One,of,the rnost interesting feaiUTes'bf this exhibit' last "year was that made by the Chief -Veterinarian -.(Mr. C;. J-. Iteabes), and . tliis year ,the exhibit, is to be increased considor-ably.,.-.'lSa;. .the show, also; ~ tho cheese,'. are now in, the hands of the 1 Dairy Oornmisskmer's staff in Wellington, 1 and results will bo available on Tuesday. On .1 the present occasion the Government staff' ' . will for tho-first tinio tako an.' analysis of snow bettor and .chccse, and results will bo 1 • announced during tho week. e

FEILDim' '' "

has been exhibited , here by Mr. E. . H. M"Kenzie, a specimen of the seeds of a : ■.-..wonderful;- fertilising 'plant used extensively m Fiji for fertilising the-sugar-cane plantations. ;It appears that; this plant has taken , -the place of all ,the_ artificial manures hitherto useq in that country.' Tho. plant.-is- . grown until it is.about threo feet high, when it is ploughed into the ground, and'the cano ■ planted. ( This is' an effective fertiliser.for four-'yeors, when'the process has to bo reP eat °d- Mr. M'Konao thinks that the beaii ■.•JS-well ..worth -fl trial -in Now Zealand, especi- , ally on poor country—a class of land, whero : it is mostieffective in -Fiji,----— J-~~ .. - ■ ' Ronald Burrr.ll, .Foiling, .manager -for ' %™?ud "and Abraham; Who'left for tho.. Old Country in October last, returned . -home yesterday morning," after having spent an enjoyable holiday. ' - - . _At tho Borough Council jneeting on Thurs- ■ day night tho Mayor stated that repeated .applications-had.been;mado to thofValuation• v.-Mopartment for tho valuation/ roll, ,bnt no satisfaction could bo got/ It was decided to enter a; vigorous;; protest; against the;' delay,.account of it, the conncil'oould not' ; get' thesr late inotioes ont and„their,,rates in

, SHANNON

, Tho weather ; this . week has completely broken down, and heavy rain is falling. All , tho local.streams are swollen, -and the Mana- • watu River has risen, considerably, .causing some ofythe flaxmills on tho" river-barilc to < stop stripping.' <;■ ( , :■ .. Miss Lynch, assistant- at Ifoutoa School; Jias been granted two months' leave of absence, owing, to ill-health. Miss Northover recently from, Homo, has been appointed'by the board, to, fill tho vacancy. Miss Northover began her dnti©B on Thursday. -

FOXTON.

■■■?''A:, special meeting , of the Council of tho -. Oliamber of Commerce was held last week, the business to bo considered being the Lovin-Marton .railway proposal. Mt. 'j';E.'' Nowman, M.P., telegraphed to the effect that as it had been decided that Sir Josoph .V /Ward was going to. Britain, it' would i be neccssaiy i to take immediate steps to in- ; terview; him . in ■ relation to the matter if it was considered advisable to do so before he ; h ' went. away. The ohairmah expressed' the : . opinion' that, considering tho diort timo and • vthe large amount:of data to be obtained before approaching tho Prime Minister, it would ,'-, be better to leave the matter in abeyance : untii Sir Joseph's return. With this opinion . Mr. Gardenor (chairmmof tho Levin Chamber) also agreed by telegraph in answer! to : a request from Foxtan for his opinion.! The other members of the council present con- . curiwl, and it was arranged that all information relating to' the question be obtained so that' a strong case may be made, out when . '.j.rtbe deputation waits on the Primo Minister. In thia mattcr it is interesting to note the report ;of,the Sanson tramway man-. »",cr to • the ' last meeting of the' Manawatu , : 'CWnty .'Council'. - Tlie :tramway at the prolimit. time' serves a 'portion of the country, through -which the proposed new line will .. pass, and, from the report presented at the Inst meetingiis returning a substantial pcn>fit ; , nfter paving all expenses. , The'returns are : so satisfactory, indeed,' that another: ordetr . has boon given for now steer rails, and in'a verv short, timo the whole,distance will be laid;with.,heavy metals." Considering that .. .relaying has to bo paid for out of revenue, it augurs well for tho success of the, through . line to connect Levin and Marten. If tho! County Council had power to conncct withthe main line bevond Bulls, their'tramway v ' would pay much better than it does at present', and if tho full connection from Levin

■ to Foxtaairere tccompKshed the fine would assuredly be one of tie.best paying in the Dominion. .. The promoters of the proposed now line ho.ro a good-'oaso, and' tan grre strong reasons for its construction. If tie assistance and influence of Wellington are added to Uio proposal an earl; start should t be made with the work. Soroo timo ago the Railway Department ; wrote in roply to a request to hare the rail- ( way .wharf and platform lit with gas, stating ' t&at-the returns from:-the wharf were insufficient to* warrant; the expense. This state-' ~ .meat,was receiyed:at tho time with a good h .deal of amusement, and it was suggested to , the-. Department that,, such being the case, ; .why:did.the Department have any objection v. : to. handing :the wharf-over to the Harbour . Board ?.;..Prpbably this statement has led Mr. ~ .Newman,..member for the district, to move : r that .a return-be laid-before the House show- ■ -ing:—(l) Cost of ; the*Foxton wharf—(a) to the Pubfio Woirks Department when built, (b) in'maintenance.; and : repairs, if any, to the ; ;Railway Department,-ind the nature of such since;lß66;-aaid (2) the receipts to the Railway Department from • all sources for each ■financial ye?x since .1886. The appearance of this return will'be'watched with no small .amount of'local interest. The .expernn«»ta;l artesiaa tore is still being sunk; and has-now reached a depth of >512' feet- ■IKs is said to be the deepest bore ■ lin'theManawatu'district. At the meeting of tho council on Monday last tho contractor reported as-follows:— I The nature of the sub stance passed through from 350 ft. to 414 ft. ■ was sand,'the last few feet being, mixed with ■sea shells," overlaying a seam of blue olay '44ft'.: .thick.'-'- Underneath this clay, * in sand. .' and fine: shingle,"'at' : .a' depth of 458 ft.,. the ;liretflow i of'water to'rise above the surface ■ iTvaajobtained.;'The; pipes .are now driven, to a.-depth of 511 ft. 6in:, and hre in the same> [■vein of sand.whore the flow was struck. The ■water will riso from this .flow 2ft. Bm. .above the surfaoe, and will run about one'gallon a : minute. The'.contractor asked for permission to continue driving, "as as there is. a .:ohanpe>of ; a stronger flow being obtained, 'aikd' 'if the pipes will stand the strain. If a flow of 150 gaHons per hour : or over is obtained .■the^cosnpUito...pay,,lls.' 9d. per foot for the distance driven over 500 ft. If, on tho other hand, a stronger flow is not obtained, the 1 contractor to be'. paid for 500 ft. only. The council decided: to continue boring on the ! conditions'above stated... ' ■ ' l "; The rumour circuited some tame 'ago that j the. Railway Department intended diverting j its '.odial?'traffic! from this port has been offici-ally-denied. , ■ j

' meeting of the Municipal Council on Monday evening several items of local interest were, dealt with. A letter was received from. tlie District Health .Officer, advising that the sample of water forwarded was inadequate'for analytioal purposes, and that he had instructed Inspector ■ O'Brien to take a sample under' conditions required .by ths analyst. Ho also stated that ho intended visiting the site of the proposed in-take,with the bacteriologist, with a view to supplying a complete report. This letter was considered 'satisfactory.A motion was can-ied-relating 00 the boartifying of tto.streets and'reGerrvee of the town, and it was determined to make a commencement by planting suitable trees k Clyde, and Park Streets. The question of the appointment of an engineer to'prepare , plans and estimates for tko proposed water and drainage schemes; was' hold over farido'cision. at a fecial meeting to be. held next Wednesday. 1 From tho foregoing it will be seen that Foxtbn's civio fathers are satisfactorily progressive,: and ifthe people display a similar spirit' when' they come to vote on the necessary loans-to have the wwks carried out, .-the ■ charge Foxten; of being behind the times\ww-he .'removed.

. A .fire ocubiled., at ,the -beach last Saturday morning. ■ The house and contents owned by Mr.'A.; Shadbolt;,were■ totally'destroyed. The house 'was unoccupied, and the cause "of tho outbreak is a mystery.-"There was an insurance of, £80 on : the building in the State Insurance Department,, but nothing on the contents.-', ,i Whjtehait ar&'making an early appearance this year. Duraig tho present week a fow small catches have been' made, aid those interested 1 in the< industry are on the alert for. larger catches, .while-nets and all necessary., attachments are being-looked out and renovated m expectation'of a"good 6eason.

LEYIN

Tho nowly-formed Debating Club, in connection with Levin Y.M.C.A., hold its first meeting on Thursday evening in the association:, rooms, Queen; Street, when some two dozon_ young men attended.. This club has boeii formed for tbe ■ purpose of oncouraging the younger . members,; to praotise public speaking,;, and, judging; by the initial effort, some good orators;-wil lsoon be unearthed. m'j E. Parker,.general secretary, proficlf 5 'i? subject for discussion was: . ohould Sir Josoph Ward roprosont Now Zealand , at'tho: Imperial Naval Conference : it so,-.should Parliament be prorogued in his absencio?" Mr. 0. Ransom led off-in tho affirmative,, and :Mr. >H. Wood followed in the negative. Tho-discussion which followed • ' a -' I^e 'y- li atare 1 • pnd good-humoured numerous. After tho open-1 crs liad replied to. their critics, Mr. J. Harvey . made a short speech, criticising, in a tnendly Away, the various points put forward and giving hints on the art of -publio ( .No* vote-was taken, but the gend' a 'dX mon 8661110,1 40 be fairly eqnaUy

o -A Bervico of song, in aid of the Officers' .SwplomentaiT.;,Fund-'of tho :Salvati6n- Arinv, will be held m the Levin Barracks on Wednesday next. The subject of the service is entitled, "The .Wreck of the Wairarapa." Occasion: wi 1 also be 'taken to say a word of farewell toj.Captain Jarman, who is leaving .for Australia