PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 719, 19 January 1910, Page 10

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

, (From .Our Special Correspondents.) - .— ——fr- — .. ■PAHIATUA. " Mr. J. Hughes, jum., one of our local Gun Club enthusiasts, left for .Wairoa on Monday last, where he will ;take part, in a'gun. club competition. . •'>,. Mr. F." Morris, formerly proprietor of the Hukanui Post Office Store and bakery, ,and who recently purchased a farm at Oakuru, near N,ew Plymouth, is at present paying a visit to Pahiatua. , . Local • bowlers express, themselves as being highly pleased with the splendid stand made by the two rinks from this town at .the recent Northern Bowling Association's .tournament in' Wellington. This afternoon'two rinks from-.the.Wood-ville Club will probably visit the local green. A trophy for competition amongst the "colts" has been presented to the club by-Mr; F. Storey.- It. is noticeable that many'of our one-time cricket enthusiasts have, deserted tho cricket. pitch, for the bowling .green, with the, result that cricket is at a-low-ebb here at present. ' '.'.'■

In the coursed of a short, interview with Mr. J. C. Cooper; president of the Pahia-tua-Akitio A. and P. Association,' that gentleman stated, that "he is ; firmly; con\ vinced that this district compares more than favourably with any-district on' this side of the range, ,as ; a district for fat • sheep and fat lambs!.' The - sheep farmers about here are now. going in for more cropping, and are'finding out the benefit of artificial' manures and, - generally speaking, are utilising: one acre where, a' few. years back, they were using five to obtain the same results.; Those farmers who, a short time back, setaside small plots for experimenting .with arti"ficial thebenefit of.the community; report 'highly; satisfactory i; suits to date. One interested,,seekeij. after agricultural truth, after viewing ramie of the plots, stated that he could hardly have thought it possible that- suchf results'could be obtained. ; ■.;". '■ ;;•'."•■.

On Friday nest the; Misses Hughc;s-,(3),. Bolton' (2),. Hindmarsh, • and' 'Messr?. Drueo," Collins (2), Ulrich,. J. Bolton';' and J. G.' Sivainson, members of the • local Tennis, Club,' will journey to; Danneyirke to talce "part in. the'tennis tournament there. Mr. J. G. Swainson ..will .be, a competitor in the championship"' events; while the other' players will compe.te,.'in the handicap matches. Miss.Ray,H.ughes will compete at the Masterton; .tiiurnameht on Saturday and'.Monday next; In anticipation' of the above tournaments, a good practice was .indulged; in "on - 'the local courts/on. Saturday last at the.con-; elusion of.'which afternoon tea was ;dispensedjby Mrs.-H. JI.B! Marshall...,- . :, The Pahiatua tradespeople have' de-, cided' to observe < Monday next as the Anniversary .holiday in,:lien of Saturday.' As Saturday' is always looked, upon; as the, general, market'day .for, the. country, :reri sidents, the suggestion arrived .'at by tho, holiday;committee seams;to be.the.right; one. ',; ~■••' .'■-■'•■■:■:'.' '■.--.■ Vv.V'- .'!■ Heavy rain fell on Tuesday morning,. to' the-, delight of the dairy, .farmers, and also; of residents <who' rely, on" tanks for their, water, supply. - Although, age has'so:far'been:reported this.season, people were beginning to,"steady '-Off"with, thoir tank. water." . The town; water supply.-is.still.showing a good pressure, tlie recent improvements at. the-reservoir having proved very beneficial.'.; ; '. , : .

■ " ; FEItDING.; -,:.; ;

. Has -Feilding fallen away from grace?' So far as : >the Salvation Army is concerned' in,;the. latest -general.changes, .this .town gets a'captain and loses an-adjutant;' -Adjutant ~Powick- goes:'.to • Wanganiii,■"■ and' Captain'Av'eiiell," ffom'/Parnell,. succeeds Mm here on Saturday neit. ■>■•_ '■■•'■': ■'■'•■' ■■'■ '« _ Five rihlcs of: bowlers froin- tho-'Feild-' ing. Club- will-' pay 'i the.' annual visif'-.-.to Wangahui." This-trip is always looked forward to'by the Feilding-bowlers.' .The" annual Keesing 'Cup bowling .'tournament will bo held'-at AVanganui at, Easter time.' The Feilding. Club; is - the; present holder of this challenge trophy, having won' it last.year,, when it was first put up for competition." ':. i-;' -''>';:' _ .Welcome. - showers fell, during last.; week" different, parts of the. Waituna district, ..and on; Monday; night,rain, descended:. nearer. Feilding. Those settlers I who happened to'.. bo in. the rain.: area considered themselves 'fortunate,:-.as. the; pastures and; crops ,-werd sadly. ih."need of: moisture. - •:,... ,'■".-'. ■■'.".,':■■'.'.,■'■.- The youngest, son. of Mr. W. Cunning-, ham, of Beacousfield, who had been studying law': at. Christchurch ■. for. some .time, is anticipating, a trip-to Canada, -where one of. his .brothers, (resident • at'•".Vancouver) is doing remarkably woll. A parish hall,, which is) estimated to cost:.about .£600,' is;.shortly: to be. bnilt for th« Church of England. "Another neV building, will bo .the fire-,station,, which is to be erected .by-the".Feilding ' Fire. Board, at an estimated cost of There is also the .mora'-or 1 Jess "problematical;;Mu'nicipal Opera House : in .view, and,' ihthoVevoht of :'the proposal IJoiiig' dropped,-.-'it is more; than probable '.that; the ■' Drill ; Hall will be'considerably 'enlarged.aid improved. One: or two. sub'-' urban fesidcuces aresDokcn of'as.likely to"be erected shortly,'and-. a'-banking in-" stitirtion, v with a local branch):is taking, a leisurely;survey .of; the borough with .a ; view. to :the' ch'oico of a'sito for.a, substantial building.;: ' .:"'-'.■

FEATHERSTON,

.'■ Tho local Oddfellows held their,■monthly meeting on.' Monday evening, 'NIG.., Bro. .6.. Walker occupying'-' tlie: chair.. '> The balance-sheet ana • report; were read ' and adopted, and''a', complimentary motion was ,passed.to\the'secretary (Bro. C,J. Kent Johnston)'for'the'efficient''manner, inwhich he had kept the hooks'of tho'lodge and for the prompt - manner in which Eb--1 issued the ; balance-sheets;. 'The books were closed on December 31 and audited, and: the balance-sheet had.,been ' issued' by :January was resolved'to' place ,£llO in-'tho- Post Office' Savings Bank;' Two members wero: reported on the-sick-fund. A' list of .members' not.'on ■; the doctor's list was read. .Oho member was:initiated by'.Bro.. Kent Johnston.'. .'■;'.' V ■ ; '• ', The-apparatus for.ringing, the/new-fire-bell seems to be causing a-fair amount of trouble. The appliance first fitted proved .inefficient, and certain alterations have now 1 to be effected."' --.■-. ■-■.-'• v' ; : '.:- Mr; H.,Stewart; .formerly-of Messrs.: Stewart and' Sons, engineers, has left ; that firm andhas taken up. the management of Knnock's Garage in Wellington. ■''

CARTERTON:

Carterton is still ; undecided as regards the day for. the -Anniversary holiday. . A petitiou'is going round for: signatures-in favour of Monday. . . : ':".. ..:, ' .■'..;;

f.> : ,/;\-'':-\;;M^RTON.''^-;-;:' : :- : ,'>-'; Mr. Donald. Fraser, of'Pukehou,. Bulls, writes to ,the "Advocate", as follows:— "I saw in . your paper a few days'. ago. somo mention'of great donations in New York to-make the National Park there the best or finest in the. world;',- I, have been there,, and , they certainly have • a: very fine park, but, if they spent- all the .money/in tho United States, they could never equal: the National' Park of the North 1 Island of New Zealand, with, a snowy mountain and a fiery mountain in it, besides; the' beautiful streams,;: and '.evergreen -foliage. In my l .opinion, \tho only way in which they .could ;gct the" best park in the world would. be. to exchange the United States for the North Island of New Zealand." '-'■. ■ "■ ; A long "discussion took placo- .at me last meeting of the-Marton Borough Council on the-" question of water-charges: to residents outside the borough. .Finally it was resolved to reduce.the charge of £5 to £3 for ordinary household, 1 garden,and paddock .purposes. ... ' '. ~ " . -i A verdiot of accidental death, with no blame attaehablo to .anybody, was- returned at tho inquest touching tho death of William Thompson,- who / was". killed ■in a gravel pit-near Marton-this week.

SHANNON.'.'

■Pino rainlfell.on Tuesday.morning, arid' was generally welcomed.: This district looks wonderfully' green and fresh-looking, as compared .with' other, districts not far away. '-! ■'. - .-■.; .' '.■':'•■' Mr. Blythe, of; Napier, has leased .■ Mr.; E. Yuillo's.' property on the heights. "' Tho- forthcoming -official' opening ,-6f- the' Weroroa Post Office by' the Prime, Minister has had -the• effect of reminding. Shannon residents that'nothing has 'been done.itoVraids erecting a now local office, although the sum of v£7oo for. that purpose has been on tho 'Estimates for some .time. Tho present building is very' much cramped, and the residential accommodatioji.is totally inadequate. '■';■. : : ,