PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1007, 23 December 1910, Page 9

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Saccial CorrcsDondont.)

FEILDING.

More very useful rain fell over the district yesterday. . ' Prizes at the Lytion Street School were distributed by the Mayor (Mr. Goodbuhere) yesterday afternoon. Mr. Fred l'iraui, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, presided at the school "break-up" functions at Halcombe yesterday afternoon, at Apiti last evening, at l''eildiiig_ on Wednesday night, and at I'oxton on Wednesday afternoon. Foxton and Apiti are seventy miles apart.

OTAKI.

Trouble has been caused to local bowlers owing to a large lank (depended upon for watering the green) coming to grief through frail timber. The green, which lias been in good order, now requires attention by hand. Mr. 'I'. 11. Parata is now acting as secretary of the Waikanao Hack liaring Club, Mr. Jas. Muir being away in Gisborne. Tho death lias occurred at the hospital of Mr. Alfred Catley, well known in Manakau and To Horo, at which places he had resided. Deceased bad been in'. illhealth for sorno time. lie leaves a wifo. and child to mourn their loss. .' The railway crossing at Manakau lias long been a dangerous one, and many ! head of stock have had narrow escapes of meeting with untimely ends. . The latest horso to meet with a mishap was one belonging to Mr. Eden, which the. train struck and injured to such an extent that it had to he destroyed. Residents contemplate agitating for a sub-way, but a sub-way is an expensivo undertaking, and tho chance of getting one' must thereforo be considered remote: Mrs. ■ Shaw, of Manakau, lias disposed of her farm to Mr. Hildretli, of Hastings. As usual the Otaki Convent concert was a great success, and in fact, eclipsed many of its predecessors. Tho hall was filled, and. tho programme of children's items, was a very fine one indeed; .' . , Shannon bowlers are-intent on winning the Kinuiburg Feathers and again sent 'a strong rink to Otaki this week, bnt suffered defeat though by only a, three-point margin—a creditable performance for the northerners.

WOODVILLE. :

Tho picnic organised by the Woodville School Committee as a fitting break-up for the school was held yesterday, and the children had a splendid, time. Beautiful weather favoured tho proceedings. During an interval between the games the attendance prizes were awarded. Thirty-se.von children received a prteo for having attended the full number of school half-daps, , 402, and a. . number also who liad only.missed hhlf a.day. . Miss Cook, who has resigned from the 'staff, was presented by the children with n gold pendant. Mr. Stevenson, the headmaster, was the recipient of a suitcase from the pupils of Standard VI. Miss Ella Stevenson, who had been engaged in assisting tho staff during tho year without remuneration by the board, was presented by the • committee with a cheque.

HASTINGS.

The following remarkable, if : not unique, record of attendance has been mode at the Hastings District. High School, by the family of Mr. James Brown,'carrier, Hastings. Tho oldest of tho family, Tom: Brown,' attended for seven ycars/ahd 1 nine Vmohths. ■ without missing a half-day, and liis carcsr was then checked by. a 1 kick from a .horse, although, tho lad gamely stuck to school'' for a few days by hobbling on crutches. Tim remainder of tho family record is as follows:—Maggio Brown, standand VI., attended S years without'a break; Elizabeth Brown, Standard V, attended 7 years without a break; Mary Brown, Standard 111, attended S years without a break; James Brown; Standard 11, attended 5 years without . a break; Jean Brown, Prep., attended 3 years without a break; Wilson Brown, Infant, attended 1 yelir without a break.