DISTRICT NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 19 April 1912, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAKEFIELD ITEMS

(From Our Own Correspondent

' The members of .Lodge Forest No. 116 E.G. have presented their \\ .M., Wor. Bro. (t. Syder. with a handsome travelling bag. the occasion being his departure for the Old Country. Mi* Syder is making a trip Home via America, and intends returning in about- a year's time.

The State Schools re-.> K ened on the 15th, after having been closed lor hoppicking.

The hops are all picked, and good prices obtained by growers, anytning from Is Id to Is 9d per lb.

Miss L. •Grant, a lady from Home, visited Wake Held and gave practical lessons to Sunday School teacher *m<l scholars on Monday and Tuesday evenings in the .Stindav School. Between 50 and 60 be-ing present. She is very skilful ami her visit will be highly appreciated by all interested in Sunday School work.

A meeting of the local Bowling Club was held on Tuesday evening. The Club is in a prosperous condition. It was.decided to close the screen on Saturday, and invitations to neighbouring clubs are to be forwarded, asking them to visit Wakefield then. After closing, the green will- be. top-dressed veadv for next year.

The annual meeting of householders for the election of a committee for next year takes place in the School on Monday night.

The Church Vestry have had seven large concrete steps put in near the door, making the steep ascent to the churchyard easier: they have also in hand ten steps. in concrete from the main-road to the church, on the north side. These will be of great benefit to church-goers from Church Valley. The Bowling Club is to hold a concert shortly but it will be duly adv«r tised. TAKAKA. MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (Before Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M.) The Court was occupied almost all day yesterday with the case Hy. Byrne ('Mr. Hayes) "v. Mary Ann Hunter [Mr. Houlk-er). The case, which excited a good deal of local interest, was a claim by the plaintiff for the delivery of a calf yaliied at £1 15s, which plaintiff alleged belonged to him, and was wrongfully detained bv defendant, and £1 damages for wrongful detention. The plaintiff, in evidence, stated that h.s recognised th e calf running on defendant's property as one bred' and reared by him. He gave a riiinuj-e description of the calf and of .its pedigree, and stated that the 'boundary fence- between his property and that oi defendant had been in disrepair, and the calf in question, with others, had strayed oii to defendant's property. On cross-ex-amination he admitted that he had always bfeen allowed by defendant to remove any of his stock that strayed on toller property, and that on one occasion at.least defendant had given him permission to remove this calf if he knew it to be his. and that it was possible for his calf to have strayed down-4.he river bank. Evidence was given in support of plaintiff's story -hy Thomas Yvilkie. lu'ank Byii«e. David Haiti-brook, and Ash ton Ffost. the witnesses b-.ing confident that thev could identify the calf as one they had" seen on plaintiff's property, aTid which had been bred by him. The defendant denied that the calf had ever belonged to the-plaititiff. and described how silo had reared it herself by hand, and stated that she had seen it- almost daily since its birth. She believed that if the plaintiff had lost a calf it had strayed down the river bank, which was not fenced. Evidence for the defendant was also given by. Sarah Cates and Edward Hunter. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate non-suited the plaintiff, as he had failed to prove that the calf was his propertv, there being a direct conflict of evidence, and it being impossible to say that either party was wrong. Gosts amounting to £i 13s were allowed to the defendant.

, STOKE. MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. The annual general meeting of parishioners of St. Barnabas' Church was held on ..April 9th, when there was only a fair members. The-Vicar, Rev. A. J. Cdi-r. occupied the chair. The annual report of churchwardens and vestry was-read by Mr. C. W. Brown, people's warden, which showed the finances to be in a very satisfactory state. The last year was" commenced with a credit balance of £lO 6s Id, and. although the stipend has been increased l by £lO, this year there was a substantial balance, of £29 Os 3d —the largest credit balance evet- brought forward. In accordance with a resolution passed at last- vear's annual meeting pew rents were abolished. and all sittings declared free. This change has proved very beneficial, many subscriptions having been obtained which otherwise.. w.oyld. not lii}.ve tjeen received. The total amount raised by subscriptions was £3O 10s. against £lB for last year, and £ls, for the previous vear. . The'long vexed question of ventilation has b= en dealt with during the year, with very satisfactory results. l l he question of closing the cemetery was also discussed during the year, it beinc felt that- the present cemetery, which is situated in the centre of the village is beyond doubt a grave menace to" the health of the community. Accordingly Synod was asked to take steps to close" the same, and the Minister of Internal Affairs has also agreed to give His consent upon another burial ground being proy.id-td. .This duty devolves upon the County Cotiticil who have been approached iii the matter. A strong, effort is to be made during the coming year to erect a- Sunday School in connection. Xvith church, and the fund s in hand at-present for this purpose are £i34 2s'i3<i, with the promise of another £IOO .'from one of the parishioners if a suitable site can be obtained. The vestry extended to Mr., Mrs ana Miss Marsden a very hearty welcome upon their return home after a lengthy absence in England. . Appreciative reference was made- to Miss 0«e for having acted as "locum tenens" at the harmonium during Miss. Marsden's absence. Miss Dee was indefatigable, and her efforts were much appreciated. The- following , church officers were elected foj- the vear Vicar's Warden, Mr. Engelvietch ; People's Warden. Mr. C. W. Brown (re-elected) ; Vestry, Messrs J. W. Marsden, C. Tate, H. Beatson. B. Saxon, A. V. Allport. A. P. AUport, and E. Saxon ; Synodsman, Mr. C. W. Brown.