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Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7675, 18 March 1903, Page 2

The Terrace End School Committee will meet to-night.

The Masterton A. and P. Association has a credit balance of £58S Os 4d.

It is reported that a coach accident happened on the Kimbolton road yesterday and that one of the passengers, an elderly woman, lost her life.

The William Anderson Dramatic Company brought their season in Palmerston to a close last evening, when they staged Frank Harvey's emotional drama "The World Against Her." They leave for Napier this morning.

More rabbits are being packed at the Mataura Freezing Works than in any previous year. The principal reason for this is that the excellent prices have induced a big winter to take up trapping.

Messrs Hatrick and Co., the owners of the splendid fleet of Wanganui tourist steamers aro x-nnning a daily service during Easter week each way from Wanpmui and PipiriM and beyond, in anticipation of a busy week.

While, working at the High School building yesterday, Mr Jas. X.'Hay had his knee badly injured, necessitating his removal to the Hospital. An enquiry last night elicited the information that although the injury was a severe one Mr Hay is doing well.

Unkind paragraph from an exchange : A cable says that the estimated cost of Mr Chamberlain's tour through South Africa is £2200. This item of information suggests tho following missing word query: If Mr and Mrs Chamberlain's tour cost £2200, what would have been the cost of tho Prime Minister of

if he had taken the job on ? Find the missing words.

■Splendid reports continue to bo received of the gi'ain yields in Canterbury. A correspondent of the Christchurch Press tolls of a farmer in the Lismore district who took such a heavy crop of oats off some rented land that he anticipates, by tho result, to not only pay the rent but to purchase the freehold. A Winchmore farmer has threshed out a paddock of oats which gave an average yield of lOStV bushels per acre.

The Education Board, of Canterbury, is at present engaged in dealing with"a peculiar difficult}' — the dislodging of bees from within the walls of some of the old wooden schools. In some cases the weather boarding has been removed, but new swarms have defied the Board. In one instance, says the Lyttelton Times, a teacher has been forced to keep a " blue - bag " in the school, for relieving stung children. A fumigator has been ordered for this particular school.

Travellers from Hawke's Bay by yesterday's evening train tell of great bush iires raging from Takapau to Dannevirke. The countryside, they declare, was all ablaze. The Sash and Door Company's mill between Makotuku and Matamau, was on fire, and from the mill siding severrfl loads of furniture were taken on board. Houses could be seen burning on all sides and to some passengers the scene was wild and terrifying, and at times of great grandeur.

There were a couple of accidents at the Pohangina Sports Association's meeting yesterday, which somewhat marred the pleasure of the gathering. Delarcy fell in the Pony Eace, and bis rider, E. McMillan, was picked up unconscious. He was found to be considerably injured about the head, while one of his legs appeared to be broken. He remained unconscious for nearly an hour, when he was taken into Asbhurst and medical assistance sent for. .^^dierc was also a mishap in the Hack Handicap, in which two horses came down, one of the riders being considerably knocked abont, but fortunately with no serious results.

The national concert Avhich the Catholics of Palmerston will hold this evening to celebrate the anniversary of the patron saint of Ireland, promises to be a splendid success. The arrangements made are on a very complete scale and should ensure the convenience and enjoyment of patrons of the entertainment. An excellent programme of instrumental and vocal music will be presented, after which a couple of hours will be spent in dancing during which the ladies of the congregation will entertain their guests at supper.

The annual picnic of the Tiritea school was held yesterday on Mr J. O. Batchelar's property in a beautiful spot adjoining the Tiritea stream. The day vas most enjoyably spent by scholars, their parents, and numerous guests. Sports and games being indulged in, while refreshments on a most sumptuous scale were provided. In the afternoon Mr F. Pirani presented successful scholars with prizes won during the year and addressed a few appropriate remarks to those present. We regret pressure on our space will prevent our inserting a detailed repo.it, but full particulars will be published to-morrow.

An instance of the general prosperity of the district at the present time is given by the number of residents who are bringing out their relations and friends from the Old Country. The local agents of the Shaw. Savill and Albion Co. (Messrs Mellsop, Eliott and Co.) report that among other passengers brought out in this way recently was a resident of this town, who has arranged the passages for a party of no less than nine, and who intend leaving England to settle in Palmerston. It may not be generally known that passages from London to New Zealand can be arranged here with Messrs Mellsop, Eliott and Co., from £17 upwards.

During consideration of a request by some Fitzhorbert settlers for a remission of the dog-tax on dogs used for rabbitting, some interesting points were raised in reference to the dog and rabbit nuisance. Mr Manson objected to the remission, he contending that there was too much sheep-worrying already, without any encouragement of stray mongrels. Mr Bryant also considered it unnecessary, but for the reason that rabbits were never likely to cause trouble in the Council's area of jurisdiction ; the country was too fiat and the land too heavy— rabbits would be flooded out. They would only become a pest in dry, light land. If the remission was made, Cr Were considered, they would soon have claims coming in for sporting dogs.

Petrihe sccnis to be in luck, Stays the Masterton Times. If it has not struck oil it has struck mineral water which is believed to be of a very valuable character. The 33orough Engineer informs Mr Hogg that in excavating for the gasworks tank a great deal of surface -water had to be contended against. After a time a layer of clay three feet in thickness was encountered, and then at a depth of sixteen feet a layer of hard, gravelly cement iivc inches thick. 33cneath tin's impervious covering water was founa evidently strongly impregnated with sulphur and silica, for it leavrs a white coating on the stones and pebbles over which it flows, quickly blackens silver coins, and has a nauseous siiiC'll and taste. Residents who have drunk it declare it- to be a wonderfully line natural' apc^ieui- There is an abundant flow of iho' \v-aiqi-, v/liich is assumed to be connected with a volcanic belt that i 3 slowty i\iis.ing Petone and the Hutt high above the sea level. Samples have been sent for analysis to the Government analyst and Professor Eastevrield, and if the reports prove satisfactory, Petone will go into competition v/Jllli Hotorua and Hannier.