FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 48, 27 January 1932, Page 8

FEILDING

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. The council of the Feilding Acclimatisation Society met lpt night, Mr F. H. Stockwell presiding. Also present were Messrs Lange, Stevens, McElroy, Fraser, Wickham, Burne and Marshall. An apology for absence was received from Mr Jepson. Prior to commencing the usual business a motion of sympathy wjtn Mr J. P. Jepson in the death of his mother was carried in silence. _ On the motion of the chairman it was decided to offer the councils iongratulations to Mr J. Anderson, curator of the Hawke’s Bay Acclimatisation Society’s hatcheries, on his return to health following his recent operation. ■ A report was made that a 51b. trout had been caught in Coal Creek at Pohangina and also a 6}lb. trout in the Pohangina. River recently. Ihe chairman thought these reports augured well for the future of the fishing in these streams and showed that the perseverance of the council in Stocking them was being repaid. The secretary reported that about 15,200 young trout had been liberated in the various streams in the district during the month, the whole liberation being carried out without practically any fish being lost. Mr Stockwell also stated that it had been one of’the best liberations he had been connected with and paid a tribute to the Work the Rangiwahia sub-committee was doing in assisting the council. Whilst at Rangiwahia, Mr Stockwell said, he had inspected the streams and had found the fish doing well. In fact there were rainbow trout at Rangiwahia better than any at Taupo, and there was no doubt that fishing would be good in this locality. Referring to the cost of the liberation of the trout, Mr Stockwell said it had been carried out more cheaply than ever before, the total cost being only £4 17s 6d. There should now be no further need for expense at the holding ponds and the chairman expressed ids thanks to Mr H. .Fraser for the work he had put in in the caring and feeding of the young fish. The fact that the Manawatu River at the confluence of the Pohangina River afforded good flounder fishing was stated by the chairman, who said that on a recent evening there had been several people out with torches and spears and had secured good baskets. The flounders were of the true river type, but were of good size and in good condition. Mr Stevens announced that pheasants were thriving well on the forest reserve at Tangimoana, but wild cats were playing havoc with them and preventing a more rapid spread of the birds. . A vote of thanks was accorded Mr T. Ruthven, of Feilding, for the *ree carriage of the timber required at the holding ponds.

PIPE BAND. The seventh annual meeting of the Feilding Caledonian Pipe Band was held on Monday night, when the president, Mr G. Bartholomew, presided over an exoellent attendance. The report and balance sheet, already published, was adopted and the following officers elected:—Patron, Mr 'J. G. Elliot; president, Mr Bartholomew; the vioe-presidents, of whom there is a lengthy list, were re-elected with the addition of Mr IVatson; secretary, Pipe-Major Pike; treasurer, Mr A. E. Matheson; drum major, Mr Withers; pipe major, Mr Pike; drum sergeant and custodian, Mr Poole; pipe sergeant, Mr Butler; drum oorSiral, Mr Hubner; pipe corporal, Mr opping; hon. auditor, Mr A. J. Geary. The usual executive was set up. Mr J. E. Reid was elected a life member as a token of appreciation of services rendered. In response, Mr Reid said he was very pleased to help the Band in any way. Special votes of thanks referred to Mr Pike for his instruction of young pipers, to Mr JEteid for the free use of a practice room, to Mr Pike as secretary, to Messrs Geary, Cullinane and J. Ccckhead.

The president said they oould’ not pass over recognition of the ladies who had so ably assisted in carrying out the bazaar which had yielded over £BO. On the motion of the chairman a vote of thanks was accorded them. It was decided to become associated with the Highland Pipe Bands Association of New Zealand.

The hon. secretary and hon. treasurer were voted honoraria of - £2 2b each. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded a bright business meeting. With Piper Butler playing the Chief downstairs, those in attendance then adjourned to the dining room, where supper was provided and a social hour was spent very enjoyably. Mr T. Watson told stories of Scots that aroused much laughter and he also recited a poem by Burns. A sword dance and highland fling were well done by Kathleen Hopping. Mr Pike contributed a bracket on the pipes. A gold mounted fountain pen was presented to Mr Pike by the president from the executive and he made an appreciative reply. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” concluded a very happy gathering.

BOROUGH RATES. A good response has been made by the ratepayers of Feilding in the payment of their rates, a total of over £IO,OOO out of the collectible amount of £17,000 having already been paid. It is expected that before the 10 per cent, penalty becomes operative a large proportion of the £7OOO outstanding will have been paid.

UNEMPLOYMENT GRANTS. In reply to a letter forwarded to the Unemployment Commissioner, Mr N. 0. Harding}- town clerk, has. received an assurance that Feilding is receiving its full quota of the unemployment grants as compared with other towns. While in Wellington last week the Mayor made representations to the Unemployment Commissioner, and in subsequent correspondence, the board has announced that the weekly grant to Feilding during the next three weeks will be increased by £lO per week. It is hoped that during the three weeks no married man will receive less than two days’ work per week, and men with larger families or dependants will receive slightly graduated increases in work. Owing to this week being the compulsory stand-down Week, the claims in Feilding for the period will be comparatively small.

RIFLE SHOOTING. * The following are the results of the shoot for the cup presented to the Cheltenham Rifle Club by Hon. J. G. Cobbe and fired for over tho. 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges:—R. Stuart, 28—34—38—1—96; 8. Sandbrook, 28— 28 — 30—3—94; C. Williamson, 29 —28 —31—3—91; R. Taylor, 25—27—26 10 —90; S. Mayhew,2o—33—2224—2 89; P. Halford, 24—29—26—9—88 ; G. Pilcher, 27—27—24—8 —86; F. Midis, 25—29—24—7—85; P. Churcher, 23 29 22 —11 —84; F. Whitehead, 28—29

—19—6—82; B. Short, 8—27—28—8 J. Whitehead, 0—14—28—17—59; H. Woods, 27—20 —retired. A team, from Bulls is to shoot against the local team next Saturday and the following will represent Cheltenham : H. Woods, S. Mayhew, h. Barrow, C. Williamson,. R. Stuart, b ■ Whitehead, C. Williamson, R. Stuart, Whitehead, S. Sandbrook, F. Mills, R. Taylor, G. PilcherJE. Barrow, B. Short, P. Halford, J. Whitehead.

OROUA RABBIT BOARD. A special meeting of the Oroua Rabbit Board was held last night, those present being Trustees B. N. .Sanaifands (chairman), Younger, McLeod, Hogg and Palmer. , . . , The meeting was held ta order to consider the appointment of an inspector to fill the vacancy caused by Inspector Raisin leaving the board s employ, and after a discussion,it was decided, on the motion of the chairman and Trustee Younger, that Mr u. Harper, of Utuwai, late inspector to the Umutoi Rabbit Board, be appointed. , , After discussing other matters' and particularly 1110 methods of work of the inspectors and their reports to the board, it was decided to request the inspectors to supply full detailsin their reports, particularly regarding noxious weeds. In-this instance the board is desirous of ascertaining which noxious weeds are the most prevalent and also the amount of work being done to eradicate them. The treasurer (Mr R., L. Harding) reported that of the total rates levied —£451 0s Id —the sum of £335 8s 4d.had been collected, leaving £lls 11s 9d outstanding. Of the previous year’s rates there was shown £76 9s lOd unpaid on April 1 last, while since then £23 18s ad had been collected, leaving a balance due of £52 11s 7A.

NOTES. A suggestion made at the annual meeting of the Feilding Caledonian Pipe Band, that a Scots Society be formed in Feilding and district, was enthusiastically appreciated and a move in this direction is likely.