PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4608, 12 March 1902, Page 7

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(By Our Special Reporter.) Tuesday. At the parade of the Palmerston North Rifles last evening Captain Mounsey stated that tho Easter camp of tho West Coast Battalion -would be held in Palmerston or Wanganui, in all probability here. Tho Operatic Society made £l6 7s lOd on last year's work. The receipts were £456 18s 6d and the expenditure £440 10s Bd. The society's assets are valued at £l3l 7s Id, and the liabilities amount to £3 8s 3d. The following team will represent the Palmerston North Rifles in a shooting match against the Royal Rangitikei Rifles (Marton) on tho Hokowhitu range:—Colour-Sergeant Parkes, Sergeant Archer Ede, Corporal Rashleigh, Privates M. Pedersen, Ball, J. D. Smith, Kirton, J. H. Turner; emergencies, Captain Mounsey, Lieutenant Perrin, Sergeant Perrin, Privates Needham, Blackburn and T. Mugridge. His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. T. Wood) and Councillors Heydon and Armstrong left for Wellington last night, and Councillor Barraud goes down to-morrow morning, in order to submit to the Minister of Lands and Agriculture the agreement between the Council and the National Mortgage Company, by which the Council delegates its power in respect to a public abattoir to tho company. The Mayor, as chairman of the late public meeting, will also submit to tho Minister the resolution passed at the meeting protesting against the Council's action, and asking that their objection, bo forwarded to the Minister. It is said that a memorial to the Minister, in agreement with the wish of the public meeting, is also to bo submitted to the Minister. Interesting particulars respecting the outlets' for export poultry were gleaned from Mr Hyde, chief of tho Government poultry division, who left Palmerston to-day on his way North. From January to June, he points out, is the only season of the- year when it will pay to ship Home, and then the highclass trade of London, which is the only trade worth catering to, must have special quality. On the other hand, the South African trade is open at all seasons of tho year, and is not a very particular one. As long as a bird has quality, colour does not _ trouble tho African consumer. Mr Gow, the Government Produce Commissioner, has advised Mr Hyde that the prospects of tho poultry business in South Africa were most encouraging, and tho restoration of peace would make no difference to tho demand, but on the contrary, would give it an increased stimulus. It is gratifying to know that an attempt is being made to cope with the demand, for it is expected that.lo,ooo head will be shipped from the colony this month. Tho majority will go to South Africa. Satisfactory as this development is, orders have been received in the colony for four times the amount. Mdlle. Antonia Dolores gave a song recital, consisting principally of classical compositions, this evening to a fair, but appreciative, audience. She was assisted by Mr Newell as pianist. ; A senior ohampionship cricket matcli will bo played to«lay between the Old Boys and tho Midlands. The Junior U.F.C.A. team will meet the Midland second eleven. A team from the Alhambra Club will journey to Feilding to play the Phoenix Club's representatives.

A claim of £SO for commission alleged to be due on the sale of a property on the Kangitikei line, belonging to Mr S. Welch, was investigated at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Brophy and Co. being plaintiffs and A. J. Toxward the defendant. A nonsuit was entered, with £2 10s costs.

Mr J. S. "Watehom,. a local draper, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day with hanging an awning in front of his place of business at less than the height prescribed in the Police Oifences Act, i.e., Bft from the ground. The defendant pleaded guilty, and though the Magistrate said a breach of the Act had been committed, he was of opinion that the height, 6ft 6in, was quite high enough for people to walk under. A fine of Is, without costs, was inflicted, the Magistrate remarking that the Council should come to some arrangement with shopkeepers in regard to the matter.