PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1034, 25 January 1911, Page 2

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(r rom Our Special Correspondents.) -» ' - v feathhrston. A young man named Frank Bilton, residing at Kaiwaiwai, burst a blood vessel on Saturday morning, and died during tho afternoon. Th© funeral which was numerously attended, deceased being well known/ took place on Monday afternoon. The weather for tho past few days has boon exceptionally hot, and tlib consequence is that pasture in all directions is looking particularly parched. Speaking , generally, the season has been a good one for tho crops, but rather too dry for the dairying industry. OTAKI. A gymkhana'and fancy fair was held at "Waikanae on- Monday, the object being to wipe off an existing debt ou the vicarage. The day was gloriously fine, and the spot chosen —the racecourse—an ideal one. People were present frton Otaki, Paekakariki, and in« termediate stations. .'. The sports pro-' gramme—a lengthy one—excited keen interest, and, in quito a number ■■ of events, there were substantial fields, while many races saw also close finishes; A number of ladies had charge of .tha various and reported good business, several almost selljhg out 'before* the close of the proceedings. Severalj guessing arid .nail-driving competitions: were also held, and all of them' added' to the day's enjoyment. The Weferoa. Brass Band was in attendance, and rendered selections. ' Among those -who assisted to mako the event a succesßwere Messrs. P. Gorton (secretary), T.; Brown, J. A. Austin, 6. Tully, and tli©i Rev. Mr. Jones. Several tennis players, representing! the Victoria College Club,, visited Otaki/ on Monday, and met. and defeated the* local club. It was recently reported that it hadl been ascertained that the age of the -A\aikanae. centenarian (Mr. H. Burling) was 103, and not 109. Relatives! of Mr. Burling state that Mr. Burling, will attain his 110 th birthday on May The ..local Road Board has decided to close its roads, on and after •'Wednesday , for the grazing of stock. A number of Otaki visitors were pre* sent at the Foxton races on Monday, SHANNONPerfect weather prevailed for the holJ-' day on Monday. All the shops wero closed, and residents generally took advantage of the ideal conditions, and spent the day in the open .air. s A successful pairs 'competition took, place on the'bowling green*.'a" number of competitors froni Palmorston North, Jolmsonville,' and! Levin , attending. The'following were the results :—First round—Morgan and Thomson (s.), • 11, v. Riley and Smith (s.), 14; Adams and . Naylor (s.), 12, v. Roe and Palmer (s.), 14; E. • B. and G. N. Stephenson (s.), 16, v. Marriott and Brown, (s.)/11; Russell and-Nash (s.), 20, v. Sinclair and Th'oms' (s.), 8; .Mitchell and Knowles (s.),- 8. v. MoWlem and Malcolm (s.), 17; Olsen and Gunning (si), 8, v. Fraser. and Pickering. (s.), 21; Butt and Roach (s.), 15, v. Sinclair and Dixon _(s.), 10. Second Round —Palmer 9_ v. "Nash 13;' Brown 13 v. Thorns" ?; Naylor 6 y. Smith 18 ;■ Knowles 6 ; ' : v.. Dixon 25 ;-.Stephenson o v..Malcolm 19; Thomson 9 v.; Gunning--lo ;VPickering' 12 v. Roach 15. Third round —Brown 14 v. Ivnowles 12;' Palmer"23 v: "Malcolm 6; Nash 17 v. Gunning 11; Naylor 11 v. Thomson' 14; Smith 12 v. Dixon 13; Stephenson 6 v. .Pickering 19;'Thorns-8 ,v. Roach 22. Fourth round —Stephenson 16 v. Thomson 8; Dixon 14 v. Nash 9; Roach 11. v. Thomson 1£; Naylor 9 v. Gmiriing-11-;iPj]nier24-"vi -Smith It; Brown 12 v. Malcolm 13; Kndwles o v. Pickering 13. Semi-finals—Nash beat Pickering, Dixon beat . Roach, and. Malcolm secured" a' walk over-"through Brown retiring: The final will' be played on the Palmerston North green. The green played well, and the visitore were' "delighted "with" 'its condition. Lunch was rirorided, aiid Mrs. Boultbea and Miss Couper presided, at the teatables. " A team 'consisting of "Messrs. Essou, Olsen, Roach, and Guuning (s.) will. challenge the winners of the Palmerston North-Terrace End match for the Dixon Cup. ... The local Presbyterian Church held.its.-. Sunday School picnic down - the creek on Monday, while the Methodist Sunday School's children; and teachers assembled on" Mr. 1 Kilsbv's •> property;. There was a largo attendance at both picnics. . . - ■ . ■ In the Druids' Hall on Monday evening a large audience welcomed "Sam,'-' produced by the local Amateur Dramatic Society. The-following-was- the. cast:—Sir Everton Toffee, Dr. Adams; Sam Winkle, Mr. F. May; Henry, Mr. 1 Morland: Parsley, Mr. J. Gardiner ;i Strap, Mr. Bovis; Cheeks, Mr. F. King; Bottles, Mr. R-. Law; Miss Charlotte Russe, Mrs. Selby; Martha Bunn, Mfs. May; Mary Ann, Miss S. Gardiner ; Mattie. Miss M. .'Woodmass.' The comedy was preceded by a farce, entitled "Husband in Clover." in. which Mrs. Tilling played "Lydia" and Mr.Tilling took the" part- of "HArac-e." - Inthe intervals Mr. May contributed "My Starlight Queen," arid "Just One Dance More," while Mrs. Hay and Misa Eileen Foley were the. song'and dance-, artists. ' A new -dance, "La Riuka,"was introduced by 'the' company. Incidental music was played by Mrs. O'Connor, the overture by Madam Foley, and' Miss Laurvig was the accompanist.Madame Foley played the music for the - . dance that followed,- and Mr. E. J. King acted as M.C. Much of the Sue--cess of the production was due to theefforts: of Mr. and. Mrs. May, .on and* off tho stage, while the hon. secretary, Mr. J; Tilling, also deserves mention.. About £16 was taken at the doors. •'