PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 770, 19 March 1910, Page 3

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Ssecial OoriMDondenti) '■-. .. —+———•'■ '."■' .masterton; • At the Masterton Magistrate's Conii yesterday, the Inspector o£ Rabbits, Thomus Charles Webb, proceeded against a Maori named Toi Waaka on a charge of failing lo take proper steps to poisoa tho rabbits on his property. A technical point was raised by defending counsel, viz., that the area of land had not been proved, and, in consequence, the case would have to be dismissed. His Worship (Mr. C. C. Graham) concurred iu this view. Similar charges were made against Joe Paka, Piripi Waaka, James Joseph Kennedy, Jas. and John Bice. A fine of 20s. and costs was imposed in each case. ..'■•.-.

Mrs. Graham, wife of Bichard Gtaham, a resident of Upper Plain, died suddenly yesterday afternoon while engaged in washing clothes., •Deceased was 38 years of age; and leaves a husband and family of eleven. ..' ..-". The following resolution was passed ai a meeting' of the Masterton Chamber at Commerce yesterday - evening: ■'• "This chamber is of opinion that. the present courthouse - is absolutely unfit' for . the purpose of Supreme Court sittings,- or ■even that of the Magistrate's Court work, and the chamber strongly urges the Minister for. Justice to give the matter his earnest attention. In view of the fact that. the sum of. .£SOOO '. was. voted last session .for the above purpose the chamber trusts that the work will be immediately taken in. as the Supreme Court is now holding periodical sittings in iTiasterton." . A -meeting of those interested ■in this ■.matter was held afterwards, the Mayor presiding. Itwasdecided'that the member'for the district, be , .asked to interview the Minister and- urge, upon him • the importance of proceeding at oncei with. ; the erection of. the proposed' *new coirk house, and.-also to bring under his notice'the resolution of the Chambers of Commerce. .'. "■■-.■■ .

CARTERTON. Mr. Jae. Brown, who recently removed to Masterton, was, on Thursday after•noon, met at the Council. Chambers here and presented with a handsome armchair, upholstered in. Russian leather, as a token of esteem.. A 1 silver plate attached.was suitably inscribed. .'...-.'.'; '.-. .'■ ' A four-year-old daughter o£ Mr.'. J. M'Cauley, of Carrinston, met -with 1 a painful accident on Friday. It appears that ehe was playing'in her nightdress in the titchcn, when .by some means the garment caught fire, and the, child sustained rather severe burns..-: She was brought in to Dr. Smyth's'private hospital, where the injuries were treated. ■ The funeral;. of the late. Mr. Paul Anderson took place on Friday' afternoon at the Clareville Cemetery. The cortege was a representative, one. . . . .'-.

FEILDING. y The Feilding. Borough Council has'reversed its' decision of last week when it threw out> the proposal to submit a 2210,000 loan project for erecting'a municipal theatre to the ratepayers. The committee's report , : has now been referred back to them with a view to ascertaining if a-.theatre at j.a cheaper cost than.2lo,ooo can be recommended; .... .

■ The Feilding Tennis Club, which *thi3 week defeated the Taihape team by 20 to i, meets Marton to-day. ".■■'■'-. -Amceting of the Wanganui and West Coast School Committees' Association was held at.Wanganui this week. Bruce (Wanganui) presided, and the delegates were entertained at tea'by-.'the ■\Vanganui branch.. The .committees Tβ-. presented at the meeting were"Foxtbii,' Sedgebrook; HaweraT' Aramoho." Beaconsfield, Kai Iwi, Cheltenham, Halcombe, Waituna 1 West,, Patea,' -Mars Hill,. St. John; Upper Tutunui, and Wanganin. During the .tea'; adjournment ; .several. speeches ..were, given, in the course irf which it was made : clear that the asso-ciation-was not-in conflict with the Education Board. On the contrary, 'it • was agreed that, if the, association was to be of'. any service,, it' must( .work : ia harmony with the-board. It was decided to form branches at Eltham, Hawera, Patea,; Wanganui, ■ Maxto'n; Feilding,* 'Palmerston, Taihape, and Ohakune. ,Tie officers of the Wanganui branch . are_ to form the executive of the assodatioi, and,the' first annual meeting is to be held in May, 1911: Each branch.,.will have a "delegate for every school committee affiliated.-. Mr..yShonnon (Waituna)'- and Mr. W. L. : Grice (Beacott6field).are to organise the Feilding branch.

■'..' , OTAKI. ■■•:■' :■• -■ . Following..are-the official returns recorded for'each candidate at the .recent hospital election':— ■''■'•.■■ ' ■ "~< : .'... ... ;?.. ■.■.■■.'■...-'.. • Tonrft. ... . Gardener. Vena- Eollo. 6ett : Otaki .......... 23- 29 -48 31 levin ..: 230 117 '51 .107 'Ohan.'".-.:'.:...' 14' : 8 ■■■. -3 |21 Tokomaru ... 10 'Z!' '— ';2 Shannon-...... 31 48 - 6 . . A Koputaroa ....: <4- - . 3 ' :— . 3' Manakau ..; 14 2 ' .11 '35'. Tβ Horo 2 ■•' 4 •',,. T 7 Waikanae. ...'.17. 15 , .20 . 17.? ■•'.■■34a/ ■'" 253 146 ' " 290 ■ There.has been a , .large influx of Natives into Otaki during the' past .few '. days... in anticipation -of the . ceremony, in ' connection with the Otaki ■;• Native Mission Church, which : has'. ■ re-. ; cently been strengthened and -. . On Thursday a;large contingent,of-Na-tives .arrived,; while. : yesterday '• a. very .. great many more were expected, the viators including- Maoris from every .part of-the North. Island. It is expected, that the gathering- will.be.one of -.th*. largest held here for some very consider-, able time; -Several " committees-: hare been formed to -supervise, the arrangements, and elaborate preparations aie being made for the occasion. It-has been definitely, decided to have the formal te- - : opening ". ceremony ,at • the church, on Sunday at 10 aim. The ceremony will be . performed by the Rev.. A. O. Williams,', who will probably be'assisted by the Bishop of Waiapu. The Native Minister (Hon. Jas..- Carroll), Mr. Field; M.P., Dr. Buck, M.P., Hon., A. T. JJgata, and ' other visitors; are' expected to. be. among those present..; .idmissipa . to the. church' for-the.'opening.ceremony will-be by invitation only. This > is' necessary, vae -otherwise' • many of vthose . specially invited td Otaki for .'the purpose would be unablo to gain admittance to the building. After the morh T : ing service, dinner ifill- be served.in the Town Hall,, which has been secured for the'whole time: that .the celebrations will last.. Another .service• will be held .in the afternoons. :In keeping, .with the day, the celebrations on Sunday;will be quiet

; : v -. : :.'-- ■ . -LEVIN. - .;.'■;,...■..'.:: •;On 'St.',Patrick's; Day the first annual gathering, of. the Horowhenua Sports Association was held" onthe' Levin 'Kacecbiirse. 1 ' There was'a large 'attendance of the public, the day'being observed a» the weekly, half-holiday by. the tradespeople. The events comprised .cycle, motor-cycle, foot, trotting, and pony rai> ing, ,etc., and splendid- sport witnessed. One of. the items, which caused great' amusement' was an "ancient v. modern" bicycle race, one of the riders being mounted on, a machine similar to those in vogue.2s years ago, the "modern", winning. Messrs. B. K. Gardener (Mayor), and F. G. Boe acted as judges, and Messrs. F. J. Glackin and E. W. J. Smith as timekeepers. . The band and pipers of the Boys' Training Farm, by kiid permission of Major Burlinson, enlivened the proceedings/with, music ■ The success of the gathering reflects credit on the energetic secretary, Mr. 'J. L. Phillips, and the handicappers, Dr. Mackenzie and Messrs. G. Watson and W. Hislop. ... ; iAt the Levin Police Court yesterday, before Messrs. W. C. Nation and G. Cameron, ■J.V.'s, John William Anderson was charged, on the information of the police, with disorderly conduct and using obscene language. Accused pleaded guilty, and after hearing several witnesses the bench imposed a fine of .£5, or three months' imprisonment, on the charge of using obscene language, and £i, or one month's imprisonment, for breach of the peace. Two men, W.' Bronghfcon and F. Chambers, were then charged with being concerned in the disturbance created by Anderson, but it wa3 proved that they were drawn into it unwillingly, and the information was dismissed. .Tndgtpent by default waa "riven in several civil cases.