PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 569, 26 July 1909, Page 5

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(FUOU OUIt SI'P.CI.W. COIIHL'srON'JIHTS.) OTAKI. The sad jiews quickly gained ground throughout the district on Wednesday evening, that Mr. Thomas Drake, J.P., and a well-known and highly-respected settler of Oliau, had boon found dead in a well near his homestead. Deceased, who "is said (o liave had no monetary troubles,-liad'suffered from loss of sleep for several weeks past, and imagined that line! and slander actions were to be insbiituttcd a-gainst him. Hβ worked, himself up to such a stalo that his mind became unhinged, and on Tuesday niwning, on looking out of the window, remarked: "They are coming after mo;"' With this he left tho house and was not again seen. When discovered by his son tho head and shoulders' wore in a hole of water, while one hand was strapped to his back. At tho inquest evidence was given by Mrs. ■ Drake, Leonard Drake, William Comer, nad Constable Bagrie, tho coroner (Mr. Nation} returnuig a verdict t-ha-t - deceased took his own life by drowning. Much sympathy is expressed here for tho widow and fo-r tho five sens, all of whom are hard-working and steady men. Deceased was 67 years of age, and was bora in Johnsonville. - ' ■

Mr. T. Messiter, once "mine host" of tho local Central Hotel, has leased for a term .{ nearly two j-ears, the Victoria Hotel, Petone, and will toko possession on August. 16. Owing to ; the recont heavy rains tJhe rivers and streams, throughout- the district are in flood. Several-logs have been washed down, to -the. detriment of the various bridges.- '.' ."''' .. ■ . .

Tho following will represent the Horowhonua hockey representatives v. Wellington, at Wellington on Wednesday:—Burns, Noble, Vincent, Bull, .Mackenzie, Bevan, 'Horo,■.■Thome,' Wilson, Sims, and Hughes. ■ The rainfall for the month of July to date is: 3.BSin., against 3.12 in. for the corresponding month last year. Rain has fallen on 13 days, the heaviest fall being on the 16th. Three frosts wero. registered. The Feilding footballers on Friday night arrived at Manakau, and were entertained at a smoke concert, Mr. A.. M'Bain presiding. The- proceedings- proved very enjoyable, and toasts, songs, recitations, etc., added to the harmony of the .evening. On' Saturday.the visitors were driven round the district. '■/;. FEILDING., ' A well-attended meeting of Aorangi ratepayers who reside within three'to five miles of Feilding resolved, on the motion of Mr: A. Fitzherbert, that it is the opinion of the ratepayers present that it would be to tlieir mutual'advantage to have the portion of the Kairanga County which they represent vested in the Oroua: County, .also that Messrs. Levin,'. Thompson, .Milson, wd the'mover be a committee to draw up a petition, obtain signatures, and forward it to tho Kairauga County Council for the 6aid_purrx>se. ■' : Next ■ Wednesday the Feilding Choral Society is.to give Mendelssohn's Lobgesaug (hymn of praise). The soloists will, be Miss Muriel Bennett, a - Wellington girl who is to make her debut as a professional singerhere, and Mr. W. :Hutchens, of Hawera (tenor).. , .''■■'.'/.■'.' ■■"'■■ ■: .' . . Tlie 'Rov.' C. p. Beecroft left town on Saturday te conduct an eight days' mission at Levin. His place in Wesley Church yesterday was taken by the Rev. 1 T. Francis Jones. : . -. ''....■■■ ... • ■ The Feilding Football Club's team, which defeated /the Hui Mai team at. Manakau on Saturday by 11 to -nil, comprised: Ongley (captain), Trovena, Pirani, Fraser, M'Lean, Day, M'Nac,' Hicks, V. Carroll, Shannon, Ryan,: Whesker, Reid, Moxted, and Price. ;■■ ".■;. j i ,.:■;.■'''.'LEVlN. ■'■'.■■Z': .;': -i .' The Loyin Schoor Committee met on Friday evening, when there were present;— Messrs. J. Malcolm (chairman), J. VV. Wood, C. Palmer, G. Cameron, S. Hall, J. Hooper, I. Hook, J. Davison, and J. Robertson (secrotary). It was decided to aek the Borough Council to put a crossing from the road h> the. footpath leading to the horse paddock. 1 On the motion of Mr.' Cameron, seconded by Mr. Robinson;' the Rev. A. TliomEon, of Petone,. was nominated ' for the vacant seat, on the Wellington Education Board.' The, committee decided- to have the playground ploughed, and the matter was left with the chairman and Mr. Hook. Accounte amounting to over £19 were passed for-pajr meat.-. .;.'■'. ■•■..' ■■ ,'.-•■'' .-■

'A largely-attended public meeting; was hold on Friday evening in the Century Hall to discuss the question of a site for tho proposed public Quite a ; stir lias been caused by the' Borough Council rejecting the offer by-, tho Mayor of a free site,' on tho ground that it was not central enough. Mr: Jas. M'Lcavey, chairman of tho Horowhenua County. Council, presided. 'Mr. J. G. Hankins moved that the meeting heartily thank the Mayor for his generous.offer of a site,and this was passed. Mr. Hankins then moved that the meeting express regret that the; Borough Council had refused ■; tho Mayor's ■,offer without first. taking a,; vote of tho ratepayers and burgesses. Mr.T. A.' B. Hudson seconded pro forma., An interesting, and at times lively, discussion followed, taken part in by Dr. Mackenzie, Messrs. Hudson, Palmer, J. Prouse, Lancaster, and France, after which Mr. W. Park moved an amendment:'"That in the opinion of this meeting, while expressing its > appreciation of the generosity of his Worship the Mayor in offering, a site for a, public library; the site offered was, so obviously unsuitable for the purpose- for which? it. was offered,' that the council was justified in rejecting it without further discussion or roference • to tho ratepayers." This was seconded by Mr. T. G. Vincent, and was carried on the voices. A show of hands ,was, demanded,:.when t the amendment was'adopted by a large majority. Mr. H. Akenson. of Horowhenua Village Settlement, left- his horse standing outside the Wereroa -smithy for'a few -'minutes' tho other-day, when it took fright, and bolted.' On Uing caught it collapsed, and died shortly aftenv&rds. . ' ■' . . .• SHANNON. At a meeting- of the Druids last week, Mr. Len O'Connor, was elected secretary in succession to'Bro. A. Rawle, who has'left the district for Blenheim. Bro. ;A. Eawlo, who has been secretary for the last three-years, was tendered a. farowell, and received the order of the "green collar" from the local .branch, y.-" '■) . ■ . . . '.'. The contract for the new police station has been let to Messrs. Townsend and Johnson. The price is understood to bo £720. ; FOXTOfr. ■'■■■■■-■ ■' The delightful spring weather which wo arc having is surprising everybody. Tho proverbial "oldest resident" cannot remember such a year. There has not been more than threo frosts during the winter, and not one of them up to usual severity. In overy direction, trees and shrubs are beginning to bud, and, unless some very arid weather follows the extremely mild conditions we have been experiencing, the spring-time will bb upon us about a mouth earlier than usual. As a result of the splendidly mild winter, feed for stock is■'. plentiful, and stock is fat and doing well. Everywhere tlioro is evidence of preparation for next seasoii's operations. New cow-yaj;ds, sheds, and divers outhouses are being built, renewed, or altered. Tho coming season will be one of the most prosperous, if not the most prosperous, from I a dairy point of view, this district has yet seen. Cows and heifers are in great domand, | and, at t-110 salo of the late Mr. Nvo's stock on Wednesday, the highest (if not the record)' prices were obtained for all kinds of stock. The number of cows to be milked will bo greatly in excess this year of any previous year in tho history of tho district, that is, if the prices of dairy produce maintain a fail- value. , ; '. '. \ -, . . , A large cheoso factory is m course of erection at TialritaJiuna, and tho suppliers are looking forward to better prices than they havoliad forthoir butter-fat'.'.' If this should - be so, it is not too much to say that tlio following season will see a good deal of attention given to cheese-making. The.s.s. Hiuiitangi has had an unfortunate oxperionce in"her lat'ost voyage to Foxton. Sho "arrived at tho bar coal-ladon, and endeavoured to mako the channel. By some mishap she grounded, and stuck fast,in the sand. A large part of her cargo was jettimnwii but still she remained . immovable.

The whole of her cargo has now been pnt overboard, but sho still lies aground, and all efforts, which havo continued during the whole week, have so far been ineffective in getting tho vessel out of her awkward position. Fortunately the weather has been good, and little or no sea running, otherwise she would have been in some danger of. becoming a wreck. Assistance is being obtained frtni Wolliugton to get her out of her present' perilous position. ; .■■_ ~. Arbor Day was celebrated in Foxton this year by tree-planting in Victoria Park.- Tho Municipal Council procured about fifty trees, .and bad holes dug for planting. ■. To tho school children was given tho honour of planting the trees. The children were marr shalled at-tho school grounds at 1.30 p.m., and marched to tho strains of our town band, which led the procession. Mr. Adams, headmaster, gave a practical lesson in tho art of tree-planting, and tho pupils then sot to work in real earnest to carry it out. After,the planting, Councillor Adams garo a short address to tho children, after whiohthey woro regaled with svrcofcs, and "wended their homeward way," delighted with thoij outing.. . - Several of our councillors paid a visit:to Levin on Wednesday, last, to be present at the opening of that , town's new gaswoTks. They-speak highly of-the hospitality of the Levin people, and of their enterprise in establishing municipal gasworks. There is now a very decided regret hero that Foxton had allowed a private company to undertake .the lighting of the town, and the time is anticipated when a purchase of the plant will be made on behalf of the ratepayers.

CAETEItTON. The annual report of the TaratahiCafterton Racing Club states that during the year a. commodious stewards' stand has Been erected at ; 'a cost of £895 ■ (of ; -which sum. £150 is still owing), a judgo's bos has been built, and other improvements effected. The stakes were increased by the amount of £365. Tie overdraft has somewhat increased, ■ owing to the erection of tho new stand, other improvements, and tho purchase of sheep, 6te." The popular event, the Wairarapa Hack Guineas, was.won by , Me. W. C. ' Vincent's blk. f. Passive; by Lethe—Kokite,, who was decorated with the bluo ribbon by,' Miss Bunny, daughter, of the; president. • The club desires to thank Mr. G. Tully for acting as'judge at tho last annual meeting, ' having taken the position at short, notice, also the honorary officials for the manner in; whiioh they have carried out their duties. All the honorary officials, with the exception of six stewards, re"tire at tliis meeting, but are ■ eligible for re-election. The retiring stewards ;• are:—Messrs. A. Daysh, C. Reid, T. Ray, J. G. Oates, and L. Nix. The following nominations have been .received for the; various offices:—President, Mt. H. R. Bunny; vice-president, Mr. H. Judd; trees-:, urer, Mr. G. W. Deller; .stewards, Messrs. C. Reid, J. G: Oates, L. Nix, A. Daysh, T. Ray, and W. Howard Booth. The meeting takes piace on Saturday. ... , .