PROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4394, 27 June 1901, Page 6

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

WANGANUI. THE LICENSING APPEAL CASE. WORK OF THE RIVER TRUST. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 6.5 p.m. The Musical and Dramatic Association has booked the Opera House for Wednesday and Thursday, the 10th and 11th of June, for the production of ‘‘Betsy.” ,At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council it was resolved to ask Mr R. L. Mestayer, M.1.C.E., to report on the Okehu stream as a source for the proposed auxiliary water supply. It was also decided to ask Mr Mestaj'er to report on the- artesian water supply. Argument in the Faber licensing appeal ease was concluded this morning. Mr Justice Edwards, in the course of the argument, gave a somewhat different version cf “drunkenness” to that held by the Chief Justice. He said he did' not think it possible that anyone could lay down a rule as to what drunkenness was. Drink affected people differently. Some were drunk in their heads and others in their legs. He should certainly say that a man was drunk if ho was unable to keep on his legs, even though he could converse rationally. Judgment was reserved. On the motion of the Mayor at the Borough Council meeting last evening it was decided to reduce the general rate from lid to lOd in the pound, making the total rates Is lOd. A sitting of the Compensation Court was commenced here to-day before Mr Justice Edwards, with Mr McKerrow (assessor for the Crown) and Mr McLean (assessor for the lessees) to determine th 0 amount of compensation payable to Messrs Moore Bros, in respect of the lease c f a block,of land at the mouth of the Kai-iwi stream, which was taken possession of by the Government. Mr Marshall appeared for the lessees (Messrs Moore Bros.), Dr Findlay for the Crown, and Mr W. Corry attended to watch the case on .behalf of the native vendor. The case will, it is expected, last until Friday or Saturday. At a meeting of the River Trust Board to-day the chairman reported that during March, April and May the Trust had received £SB 13s 3d in river tolls, £32 3s Id from Messrs Hatrick and Co. and £26 10s’ 2d from the Settlers’ Company. This was a very marked ' increase in tolls as compared with th„ r>r< vious year. The chairman also reported that he had been up to Tangarakau, and at medium water they had no difficulty in getting up to Putikituna with the launch. The work was going on satisfactory, the condition of the rivsr only allowing high timber to bo remo-ed. Owing to the flooded state of the river, the men had been removed from the Wanganui river to Tangarakau. About two-thirds of the work on the, latter had been done. The Mayor, in reply to Mr Willis, stated that the launch had "been able to get up without intermission as far as the Tangarakau had been cleared. The road connecting with the river was being proceeded with, and there was a dairy factory within seven miles of the river. The work had exceeded their most sanguine expectations.

MASTERTON. THE CARTERTON*LIBEL CASES. THE BENCH AND PARLIAMENT. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 7.50 p.m. A young man named Truscott sustained a fracture of the collar bone through falling from a scaffold. The eldest daughter of Mr Johns, of Kuripuni, died suddenly this morning from failure of the heart’s action. At a meeting of the Masterton Dairy Company to-day it was reported that shares were being taken up readily. It was resolved that the company be registered. . In the District Court to-day application was made for the adjournment of the Carterton libel cases, Moriarty v. Hornsby, and Hornsby v. Moriarty. - The application was made by counsel for Mr Hornsby, who claimed Parliamentary privilege. Mr District Judge' Kettle did not think he should be asked to adjudicate in this case. He was a servant of the Crown* and was dependent for his salary and office upon the Legislature. Mr Pownall, who appeared to ooject to the adjournment, (admitted that the position of Mr Kettle was unsatisfactory. His Honor suggested that a writ certiorari-, be applied for, removing the case to the Supreme Court Mr Pownall objected to this on the score of expense. His Honor said it was a scandalous thing that District Judges and Magistrates were not independent of the Legislature, so far as salary and tenure of office were concerned. In this case he would refuse to an,indicate unless compelled by the Supreme Court. Mr Pownall stated that, with no disrespect to his Honor, he would apply for a mandamus to compel the hearing of the case. A charge of perjury was preferred in the District Court to-day against Emily Regan, of Featherston. The case arose out of the recent charge of indecent, assault against one Whitehead. ' Accused made a diametrically opposite statement at two different sittings of .the Court. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned a verdict of “not guilty.” Accused was then charged on a second indictment with having perjured herself on a second occasion. This case will not be completed until late tonight. * The Masterton Borough Council has decided to take a poll on the question of widening Bannister street. With this object it is proposed to ask Parliament to pass a Betterment Bill. Another poll is to be taken in Masterton on a proposal to rate on unimproved values. Dissatisfaction is expressed hero at the headquarters of the infantry and mounted rifles being fixed for Woodville and Wellington respectively.

CARTERTON. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 4.15 p.m. The Rev R. Young, vicar of St. Mark’s, who has been incapacitated for th© last month by a serious illness, left to-day for a fortnight’s sojourn in the Wanganui district The detachment of th© South Wairarapa Mounted Rifles who proceeded to Christchurch, returned to-day. They state that their treatment in the

southern city Vas a pleasing antithesis to their Newtown Park experiences. Complaints are being made of the disgraceful road leading fr;'m the Gov eminent railway station. It is of such a corrugated nature that travellers’ lives are endangered through being jolted out of vehicles.

FEATHERSTON. RIVER BANK PROTECTION. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 4 p.m. Th e Works Committee of the Featherston Road Board made an inspection of tlie Tauherenikau rived to-day with a view to protecting the hank near the Tauherenikau Hotel, in consequence of indications that the river is breaking through. Should this take place, the main road and also the Tauherenikau racecourse will bo in danger. The young ladies’ gymnasium made a satisfactory commencement on Monday evening in the Town Hall. Some twenty ladies were present. DANNEVIRKE. ASSESSMENT COURT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 7.32 p.m. The Dannevirke Volunteers arrived homo this afternoon greatly impressed with the demonstrations at Wellington and Christchurch. A sitting of the Assessment Court commenced this morning, and lasted all day. Mr Turnbull, S.M., presided, and the other members wer e Messrs 13. Guild and S.. Franklin. A number of objectors in the Umutaoroa Block and others from Tamaki and Weber were heard. Th e principal ground of objection was tliat the new valuations reduce the value of improvements and increase the unimproved value. At the request of the Court, Mr J. McGowan, Commissioner of Taxes, explained the new statute under which the valuations were made, and the definition of “improvements ” and “unimproved value.” After hearing the objectors and witnesses, the Court reserved its decisions till to-morrow. PALMERSTON NORTH. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 7.55 p.m. The Palmerston Guards received a present of a drum from the admirers of the corps in Christchurch. The wedding took place this afternoon of Miss Maud Brogden, of Palmerston North, and Mr J. B. Wilton, son of. Mr E. Wilton, of Wellington. Th 0 Loyal Orange Lodge presented Bro, De Blois, who is leaving for Nelson, with a handsome address. GREYTOWN NORTH. • THE HOSPITAL BALL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 4.15 p.m. The balance-sheet of the recent Greytown Hospital ball, just published, shows, a met profit of £152 13s. The average balance for the past ten years has been about £l5O. The Greytown Dairy Company has just received advice that the consignment of cheese placed on hoard the Ophir was awarded ninety-eight points out cf a possible 100 by the Government Produce Grader. LEVIN. (From Our Own Correspondent) Tuesday. The weather has bean bitterly cold during the last few days owing, no doubt, to the presence of an unusual amount of snow on the Tararuas. Thcs© mountains present a most beautiful appearance, glistening with a dazzling whiteness along their entire length. -It has been suggested to form a Hunt Club in this district, and no doubt if a proper attempt were made a sound club might be formed and excellent sport obtained. There is excellent country along this coast over which to hunt, and though the fences are all wire it would he a -very simple and cheap undertaking to top them in places. If th e , organisation could be placed in good hands this most exciting of all recreations would flourish. A meeting of Levin ratepayers was held in the Road Board office on Monday night. Mr E. F. Levy was' in the chair. This meeting was held for the purpose of recommending the Council to place lights in certain positions—five in Oxford street and one in Cambridge street. At the conclusion of the meeting the question of forming a Ratepayers’ Association was discussed, and the chairman was requested to convene a meeting at an early date to further consider the matter.