PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 677, 30 November 1909, Page 5

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Oar Special Correspondents,) MASTERTON. \ .The. wheat that was sown in plots under tho auspices of the Mastorton- A , .' and P. Association is coming forward fairly T • Vi A ,. T,8 , 1t to district is to bo made shortly by Mr. .G; S. De Bayliss, superintendent lor agricultural experiments. Mr. A. H. Wrightson, of Opaki, has sold hie homestead block, containing 274 acres, to Mr. l<. B ° nst ,<-? d ' °f Alfredton, and 183 acres, with, the dwelling at present occupied by Mr. C. Kamsden, to Mr. J. Campbell, of Opaki. ■Mr. Henry Wilton, of Bideford,'has disposed of his property and stock to Mr. Walter btoddart, of Mataroa, near Taihapo. The price is said to bo .£7OOO. . :

Throughout tho whole of the Wairarapa this season, tlio quantity of artificial manures being used in connection with crops and pastures is far in excess of that-.-used on any previous year. Several thousands of acres-of pastures havo already been top-dressed, and the benefit is already apparent. ... ■ Ten entries have been received for the dairj cow competition—an event which is to be decided on.Friday week. It is being held under the auspices of the Masterton A. and P. Association. The cows will bo milked at a given hour "on Thursday night, under the superintendence, of the stewards, and again on Friday morning and evening, and the milk will be weighed and samples taken on each occasion. The following is the list of those who have entered :--Messrs. W. Abbott (Dalefield), C. Morgan (Belvedere), T. S. Cresswell, W. H. Shute. G.H. Perry, Brs. J. Tucker, and L. Donald .(Masterton); , The wool clip in the district is expected to bo a good one., Last week 950 bales of wool and 3328 sheep were ' consigned from the Featherston railway station. On Saturday, the ■ local , dairy company sent away 3.00 cases of cheese for shipment Home by. the lonic. : . Mr. G. E. Allen, of Clareville, secured three firsts, two seconds, three thirds, and two very highly commended prizes at the show for his Romney sheep. .' The crops are suffering from want of rain. '■■■■■. ■■■ ' PAHIATUA. .' Abont half of. the central patch of the Pahiatua racecourse has been plonghcd;:and sown- down in crop for fattening sheep aud lambs in the autumn. • . Woodville people are evidently very much interested ■ in volunteering at present, as they aro talking of forming a' second company. Heroiin Pahiatua there is-not even one. Both mounted and foot corps disbanded some time .ago.. ' "."■■.■■. . ■ ■ On Thursday afternoon a large inotor-car went over: tho bank Malheson's Bridge, Ballance, and, when hauled up next day, was found to be badly damaged. The driver, who ■was the only occupant at the time of the railway trucks were railed north. ■ ' . '■ The largest order sent away from the North Island Brewery at Mangatainoka' in one day was sent out one day last week, 'when one hundred cases of ale,. occupying two full-sized railway trucks, was railed north. , " The Mangatainoka Athletic Society has Keen i presented with a New Zealand ensign by Mr H. Cowan. , ; ■•'■.:■•.■■;.' The local tennis court ■ and bowling green presented a very, busy appearance.on Saturday' afternoon,- jbut ■ • very' little interest •'is being taken with cricket so far this season. ' . A shock- of ■ earthquake was felt here on Sunday, evening, between 9.30 and. 10 o'clock. ; ■.':' ' : ■';' '■■.•■■ . OTAKI. -,•'.?;■; ■:■'■.:■■: ■Av little girl, daughter of Mri Jas. Powrie, of Paraparauinu, sustained an -accident on Sunday by a fall from a see-saw. She- was .admitted to the Otaki Hospital, where it was found that an-arm'was broken. ,■■ ■' ! A roan ! named John Hooper was admitted to the. hospital, on Saturday, his hand : having been jammed by a log. ... The' Manakau-Kimborley cricket match on Saturday. resulted in /favour;. : of the former, team by an innings and one run; -.The Paraparaumu eleven.failed to keep their engagement with Otaki. ' - : , . ;• A bowls match for the Kinniburgh Feathers took place here on Saturday-between representatives, of the local club and Levin (challengers). After an interesting game the Otaki players found_ themselves still, holders.. '. ' A ! confirmation service was held by Bishop ■Wallis, in the Anglican Church .on \ Friday evening, when twelve candidates wore presented. The Rev. Mt. Smith and Eev. J. A. M'Nickle iassisted at. the,'ceremony. . On the same day iseven Natives, Were confirmed, the Eev. A.'O. Williams an'd , .thif-Rev; -Mr." Tem'uora assisting. ; There were fair congregations in each instance, and .the. addresses: by Bishop Wallis were liinpreSsiye. , .■■;..'■■'.■'. : '.". : """'.- ..- : '. '!■' • .AjMeetiig'neld at Otaki on Friday nigtit'fbr the purpose of considering tho advisability of prospecting'the .Tararua ranges for minerals was sparsely, attonded.'.but , the convener (Mr. ;B.E; Gardener) fully explained the advantages likely : to, be-.derived, and;, ultimately : it was ■docided to endeavour to got Otaki residents to take up shares. . ' . i l, .. .' '■■■

;/:.;■;■:.■.,..-. feilding. - :'■ Thevbusiness. men and settlers, of Apiti : are not'safisiied with the decision of the directors of the Bank of Jfew-Zcalaiid to opsn a branch there only:,once- a. fortnight. They seem to ■expect .something more extensive than that, •■■"'illp'-t'o: date over ,800 bales of. this season's .wool have been sent by train frora'Peilding for the Wellington sales. It is Till, good i- wool, too. -Like father, like' son; v }Mr..'.J'red .BUlman has-emulated the-conductor, of • tlio Taranaki Street -Wesley, Church '■■ Sunday ;■ School. Singing' Carhivalrby: conducting- the children's choir yesterday .at th,e; Feilding Methodist Schools Anniversary.;:; \ The' church was too small for the-festivali which was held, in the 'Drill Hall The Eev.-Mr. Serpell, of. Wellington, ;was tho proacher.. . v - ; .■:',: ■. ' •'■ „ \;. ",, ■-The organised by members of the Catholic congregation,"and which is , to run'for a week, .was-opened last evening by Mr. Pred' Pirani,' in. the absence of Mr. Guthrie; M.P. .