PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1201, 9 August 1911, Page 5

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

HASTINGS. At a meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce a motion was carried suggesting to the Government that beforo finally deciding upon the route of tho East Coast railway its engineers should have the benefit of the advice of representative Hawke's Bay settlers. The chairman of tho'Hawke's Bay County Council and of the Napier and Hastings Chambers of Commerce were named as men who conld fittingly represent Hawko's Bay in such a matter. The mover of this motion (Mr. David Whyte) claimed that men , who knew every inch of the country likely to be traversed by the railway could give important information that would bo welcomed by the Government engineers. Mr. Eustace Lane also drew attention to tho anomalous condition whereby trade from the Taupo district was being taken over 200 miles to Auckland, whereas the construction of about 12 miles of reading would enable it to come to Napier over a 70-mile route. It was decided to bring this matter also before the attention of the Government. Tho Chamber decided to support the suggestion of the Gisborno Chamber that legislation should be introduced providing , for the nfeistration of land agents.

GREYT'OWN. The Greytown Borough Council met on Monday evening. The 'Mayor, before proceeding to the general business, made reference to the death of Mrs. Kempton, wife of Councillor Kempton, and it was resolved that a letter of condolence bo sont. It was reported that Mr. Garrity had leased the Park reserve for five years at .£l7- per annum. Mr. U'allis was granted permission to cut down a dead treo standing on the footpath opposito his residence. The T. E. Taylor Memorial Fund list was handed to tho clork to take charge of. The clerk was /instructed to communicate with the South British Insurance Company regarding an accident claim. The Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Masterton, wrote informing tho council that Messrs. (J. Miller and James Cairn had been appointed inspectors under the Act, and Mr. Miller's services would be available on payment of «£ls per annum. The council decided to accept the offer. Tho Minister for Internal Affairs notified tho council that tho subsidy on tho Coronation Baths must bo applied for before December 31 next. A general report of work dono was read by the' chairman of the Works Committee. The gas engineer's report showed that the official opening would not take placo till the middle of September. On the question of street lighting tho council was undecided, and a special meeting is to be held next Thursday evening.

FEATHERSTON. At Monday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court here, George Glasgow, labourer, of Feathcrstou, was charged by the police with the .theft of a plough, valued at £2, the property of Arthur Tocfccr, farmer, of Western Lake. It was stated in evidence that accused, who was employed by the County Council, took the- implement, which was an old one, used for clearing drains, out of the river-bed in one of Tocker's paddocks, and removed it to his house, whero it was fouud by the police. The defence was that Glasgow thought that it had been abandoned, and did not know that it belonged to Tocker. The magistrate held that a technical theft had been committed, and accused was convicted and discharged. At Monday night's meeting of the local Debating Society, essays were read by members ou the following subjects:— "Character," "Co-operation." "Youth," "What is a Gentleman?" "Modern Power Generators," and "Aviation." For the debating contest between the Cnrtorlon and Fe.itherston Societies, to be held here on August 18, Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby will act as judge. The subject will be: "Is a man's personal inlliienc? determined by his wealth ralher than by his character?" Tho local club will advocate tho claims of wealth, and will be represented by Messrs D. Macdonail, W. G. Miller, ,T. W. Cord, A. C. Holms, and J. H. Fieldhouse.