PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 637, 14 October 1909, Page 8

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

' FEH^DING.

Mr. A. E. Mayo, of Aprangi, has been asked to represent the Feilding , Fruit-growers' Association at tho conference ol fruit-growers, to be held'in Wellington during the first week in November. '. ' ; Mr. W. Irvine, of Feilding, was the successful tenderer for the erection of the new Wesleyan'Church at: Taihape. The Oroua Tennis Club was officially opened yesterday afternoon in fine but windy weather, the patron (Mr. i John Cobbe) making a short speech, and presenting'' tho prizes won last season. The bowling green, however, proved too damp for play after Tuesday's rain; and "opening day" proceedings were accordingly postponed. ; PAIITATIIA.: Pahiatua Court returns for last quarter state that. 16 sittings of the Criminal Court, arid six of the Civil Court were' held. The aggregate amount sued for was ,£1264 17s. 2d., .£BB2 Vs. 7d. being recovered.' One ..hundred and tan: plaints, 11. distress warrants, and 6 judgment' summonses were issued. The amount of civil fees paid'in stamps was '.£6B 12s. Of 38 criminal cases, 34 persons were summarily convicted. Criminal fines and fees paid in stamps. were. <£15 12s. Fifteen old-age pensions were granted. A meeting of the Pahiatua-AJdtio 'A: and P. Association was held on Tuesday evening, when a .sub-committee, consisting, of'. Messrs.' W. Toss will, W. Norrel,- Captain Whyte, and the secretary were appointed to canvass tho town for donations to the prize fund. The membership of the. society is now about 260. A meeting is to be held in Marigata'inoka'on Saturday evening to consider plans, and proposals for enlarging the library hall, which is now the only, building available in that place for social functions., LEVIN. A public meeting was held in Levin on Tuesday, evening for the purpose of discussing the proposal to prospect ■ the Tararua Banges for. minerals. The Mayor (Mr. B. B, Gardener) presided, but there was only a small attendance. " The. chairman'.expressed his. disappointment .at the smallness of the audience, but thought that those who were interested in the proposal should not be discouraged on that account. He'was of opinion that a properly .organised party should be formed to carry out the work.' Mr. J. E. Stansell, Shannon, then 'gave an account of the meeting held in Shannon';nearly a fortnight'ago, at which Messrs. Lind, Cnrran, and' himself were ■ appointed a committee to confer with 'the ■ Levin; people on the'matter. Shannon' residents were very enthusiastic,, and some three or four- of them had guaranteed ss. per week for three months .'for' the' expenses of the prospectors.- It was proposed to send three experienced men to tho ranges during- the months of January, February, and March. Mr. W. C. Nation 'moved that a prospecting association for Levin and Shannon- be' formed. The.mover stated' that, while resident'in Shannon, lie had seen several specimens 'of coal and other minerals, which he had, submitted to experts, and they had pronounced the coal to be of oxcellent quality. Mr.'E. S. Lancaster, who seconded the'motion, mentioned that, last summer, he had crossed tho ranges from Levin, and arrived at Masterton in six days. Unfortunately he was not a geologist, but,' from what bo saw on his journey, ; he was convinced'that there was considerable wealth to be obtained in- the Tararuas.' Mr. .C. E. Shaw said'.that he had obtained 6ome splendid specimens of ironstone on the ranges, and he was strongly in favour of a combined effort being made for the purpose of seeing what really was to-be got in the way of minerals. •' The motion was carried unanimously. A committee, .consisting .of Messrs. Nation, Shaw, Lancaster, .and tho .Mayor, was'appointed to confer with the Shannon j committee on the. matter., It was-also resolved ..that tho Government be-approached *?]-,' t.he pntpose 4 -.of,.obtaining,,a'. for £■ subsidy, on subscriptions raised for. the purpose'of prospecting tho ranges. ' , WOODVILLE. The suggested alteration if the railway time service is creating'some dissatisfaction here: Ifthe programme published is odhered to the lessees of. the refreshment-rooms will have their' business reduced by half. . The ''ideal banquet" held in "connection with ! the local Mutual Improvement,. Society took Place m tho Alexandra Hall on Wednesday ■evening. .The'programme made a fitting close to a successful session.-• ' . • 1 ' . OTAKI. . The lawn'tennis'season opened here on Saturday, but unfortunately the condition of the courts and surroundings left something to bo desired. .Nevertheless, some interesting games .were played, and'an enjoyable time was spent. The annual meeting of. the Otaki Cricket Club. : was held*: on Saturday night, but owing to the secretary hot . being, present ,no report or balance-sheet was presented. : Ths .attendance was better than in previous. y<ars, ; and .much- moTe- interest' shotfn..'.<Tho following were elected voffice-bearers:~Patron>- Mr. W. §;• .Field,M.P. { president, Mr. .• Byron ! Brown; •nee-presidents, Messrs. F.- H. Bright, M. H ?? d M. Simcox, Monokton, j! Howell, OTteilly, Stevens, and Eev. J. A. MTJicklej secretary, and treasurer, Mr. A. Hall; match and. management . committeo, Messrs.' Naughton, M'Meekan, D. Noble, H. Small, and Robinson'; captain, Mr. Naughton; delegates ; to association,- Mr:.- M'Meckan and the captain. About a dozen'new members wera I proposed. I PARAPARAUMTL .! At a general meeting of the. Anglican parochial'.district of .Paraparanmu (which includes the districts of Paraparauniu, Waikahae, Paekariki, and Eeikorangi), Mr. H. E. Elder ,was ■' Unanimously elected' people's churchwarden in place of Mr. 11. S. Hadfield, who is now'in. England. The Eev. .J. Edwin Jones, vicar, presided. At the vestry meeting, which followed the general meeting, tho Eev. J. 'Edwin Jones welcomed Mr.- W, D. Bennett, who, has been elected'as one of the Eeikorangi representatives on the vestry in place of : Mt.W..Cooper,; who has' left ithe.distriot. ' .Mr. S. • Cornor is ' Mr. Bennett's ■ Eeikorangi colleague on the .vestry. ■ " . - . FEATHERSTON. Mr. Charles' Desmond met with a painful accident late on .Tuesday afternoon- Ho was driving to the post office, when" the horse in tho gig commenced to kick furionsly, and finally threw him out on to the road. Dr. Palmer .'was, sent for, and it was found that Desmond haa sustained a fracture of tho femur, which necessitated his being sent.to.the Greytown Hospital. •' /'■ • ' The Featherston' branch of the Greytown and Lower Valley Horticultural and Industrial Society. has- severed its connection with the parent, society. The.: first show under the auspices , of the, new society will be held on Thursday, November 18. \ , ; RASGATAUA. A-meeting of the Settlers'. Association was ■held in. the Mission Hall, Eangataua,' last week. Eegardihg the Eaetihi branch railway line, Mr. John Punch explained that the wish of the Waimarino settlers was that the line should lini .with - the Main' Trunk line. They would not . pledge themselves to one route in particular, but-would -leave ;that'question entirely with the Engineer-in-Chief. . The meeting expressed its willingness to support the branch railway. If Eangataua were . made. the junction, they were prepared to rate themselves to pay any deficiency in interest on cost of construction. .Mr. F. W., Saunders, C.E. (in charge ,of the. New., Zealand Fowell Process, Ltd., Eangataua), was unavoidably absent from .the meeting, but the chairman undertook to request him to join the deputation which is' proceeding, to Wellington to interview the Prime Minister wjth regard to having the line constructed at;an early date. The following resolution was passed:—'"That the Eactihi Progressive Association'bo informed that the Oh agune'deputation regarding branch railway had no authority for the remark that Eangataua's requirements, would'be met by . the branch lino linking.in at Ohakiine 'Station.". Tourist route, to Mount was read from the - Hon. T.. Mackenzie' regarding routes'to: Kuapehu. One letter stated that tho route to the. mountain from, Ohakune -via Mangawhero Stream is two niilcs shorter than the route; from Rangataua. The secretary was instructed, to, ask the Minister to inspect th» Government, map in regard to distance. Forma" tion of Eangataua roads.—The meeting authorised a deputation to interview; the Minister for Public Works, and ask him if certain roadine can be proceeded with at once. , The'-, ratepayers have approved a loan of J2500 . under tho Local-Bodies' Loans Act for metalling the roads when the present undertaking bv the Eoads Department (now merged in the fublic Works Department) is'carried out.. Post.'Office. —Settlors and "business men having found the present. postal, ?etvice very inconvenient, have appointed a: deputation to interview, tho,Chief' Postmaster., and request that tho office bo kept npeivfroui.s a.in. to 5 p.m. w.ily.j also to point out the neceesity for a befctft.mail serried.