PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 972, 12 November 1910, Page 3

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Oar Bsecl&l CorrosDonflontfl.J » WOODVILLE. Captain Seddon has been on a visit to Woodville inspecting the site proposed for the. new riilo range, which' runs east and west of the Mangatua Stream. Tho installation of gas in the band rotunda at Fountain Square is a very decided improvement upon the old order of lighting. On Wednesday evening tho band gavo a performance, and tested tho lighting, which was found to be excellent. The proposed matoh between Pahiatua bowlers and the local club for the Dixon bowls has been postponed until Wednesday next. The Christmas mail for Home, which closed here yesterday, created considerable interest. A largo number of annuals have been dispatchd to England and America. FEILDING. Throughout the Feilding district generally, there has been an increasing shortage of grass during the past few weeks, though the rain of this week has given herbage a fresh start. In the Colyton district, however, there has been, and is, abundance of grass. The Henry-Potts Mission party left for Palmerston yesterday, after a very successful week's mission in Feilding. The cricket contests for the Guthrie Shield, which carries the Feilding and District Association's championship, open this afternoon. There are eleven teams in this competition.

A handsome album is being prepared by Mr. R. Watkin, director of the Feilding Technical School, for presentation to Miss Fraser, from the Board of Governors of the Wanganui Girls? College. The album will contain, as well as an address of farewell, photographs of the pnpils of the college and the Board of Governors. Miss Cruickshank, of Invercargill, the newly-appointed lady principal of the Wanganui Girls' College, will pay a visit to the col lege as the guest of Miss Fraser, the retiring principal, next Monday week. HASTINGS. After three months of dry weather, Hastings had its first decent shower on Tuesday night. It is true it only lasted an hour or so, and the total fall registered merely .32 inches, but, none the less, it was heartily welcomed. A really prolonged downpour at the present time would be worth many thousands of pounds to the district. It could not save the main oat crop, but it could give a fairly satisfactory harvest for very early or very late sown crops. The former have already reached a fair height, whilst the latter could still be pushed to sturdy maturity. In most cases, however, the oats' have already gone to ear in a stunted condition, and they cannot now be saved. A day or two of rain would freshen up the pastures, and materially brighten the position for Hawke's Bay farmers and pastoralists. Hastings possesses an excellent; Orchestral Society, and as Napier at present lacks a similar organisation, ■ the local members visited their neighbours on Wednesday night, and gave a very enjoyable concert in the Theatre Royal. Mr. W. J. Stratton, who has been on a visit to Sydney, returned to Hastings this week. The Railway Department is inviting a good deal of adverse criticism lately through undue delays in handling consignments. One large firm has recently had a number ot' unfortunate experiences. Some separators were consigned from Palmerston North to Hastings. After throe days the farmer who had purchased them came ten miles from the country to town for his goods. They were not to hand. He went home, and returned two days later, and again had a fruitless journey. Ultimately the consignment came to hand a week after it had left Palmerston. On another occasion a batch of separators from Wellington to Farndon .took just the same time to reach their destination. A local farmer has been put to serious inconvenience through the non-arriTal of three trucks of posts. They were put on the Main Trunk line some time ago, but when they'will reach Hastings, is a matter of dismal conjecture. ,

FEATHERSTOI^. The ITeatherston Co-operative Dairy factory is exceptionally busy at the present time, and the daily supply of milk is going up by leaps and bounds. The present quantity coming to hand exceeds 5400 gallons, and consequently the cheques being issued to the suppliers are assuming substantial figures; £2079 19s. 3d. was paid away yesterday for supplies up to November 1. The company also dispatched 350 cases of cheese yesterday for shipment per s.s. Buahine. WAIHOANGA. Tho Roman Catholic community residing in Hautere and Te Horo have long been under the disadvantage of having no place for divine worship, except the school. Now. a church is to/ be built, and subscriptions are flowing in. Mr. G. Cately has given a site, while the cost of the building itself is to be defrayed by Mra. Wildsmith. The church, which is to bo commenced at once, is to be in the early stylo of Roman architecture, and will be a great set-off to the district.

Tho. Education Board sent a member of its stall' to inspect the new school here. Great was . the surprise of that gentleman on reaching the place after a tedious journey to find not a pile sunk or nail driven, though tho contract was signed months ago. Ten children have already been removed from the district owing to their being no school. Another family is contemplating thfe same course.

The syndicate which owns the Tongata estate of some seven thousand acres have been inspecting their property during the course of the last few days, and have decided to put in an up-to-date sawmill, as there is some magnificent timber in the block. This will create a change in the Otaki Gorge and liven up what is at present a rather dull place. The Hautere Defence Rifle Club are at present competing for Mr. M'Cheyno Murray's trophy—a rose bowl, which is a fine specimen of the silversmith's art. This trophy has to be shot , for four times, three scores to count, and then becomes the absolute property of the winner.

Workmen are now about to commence the strengthening qf the Tongata bridge. This will be necessary owing to tho heavier traffic which the new mill will cause.

A cricket club has been formed at Hautero. Members belonging to here and Te Horo are eligible. To judge from the list of names, the club should prove a very strong ..one. Amongst its members is Mr. R. Dunn, who formerly wielded the willow for Yorkshire. : RANGATAUA. The whole of tho loan of J!2500 for the construction and improvement of- streets, etc., in Rangataua has been sent forward by the Treasury. The new town is fortunate, as the money has arrived at the best time of tho year. The County Council have plans and specifications out for some of the work already,. and purpose calling for tenders for draining and metalling on or before the December meeting. The construct-on of Dreadnought ltoad is badly needed to complete the road system into Ohakune railway station.

The Powell Timber Preserving Syndicate are building a new sawmill in their birch forest, which forest covers some thousands of acres. They are also constructing some 0 miles of railway towards Mount Ruapehu (to within 6 miles of the summit). Altogether they are spending something like .£30,000. Residents therefore expect a further influx of workers. There has been no unemployed here for six months,' am' good men can easily get work. .The horse track to the mountain through the above-mentioned birch forest, (over which 140 tourists travelled last year)'is now ready.for tho coining csason's traffic, which is expected to be very large. Altogether, the prospects for Rangataua and the surrounding district are excellent.

The average daily number of trucks leaving Rangataua railway station at present is 25 (equal to 00,000 feot of timber). A shunting engine is kept busy continu a%«