PROVINCIAL CENTRES (From Our Special Correspondents.)

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1039, 31 January 1911, Page 2

PROVINCIAL CENTRES (From Our Special Correspondents.)

FEILDING. At a gathering cf members of the FeUding Bowling Club on the green on Saturday afternoon a pair of pipes and a tobaccoi pouch were presented to Mr. Mm. Tryine, who is leaving on Holiday for Napier, where he 'goes into business iis a contractor and builder. In making* the presentation," Mr. D. H. Guthrie, 51.P., referred to Mr. Irvine, in very complimentary terms, and stated that, during his live years' connection with tho club' he liad"made his mark as a bowler. It may be mentioned that Mr. Irvine, who learned the-gams-on- the l'Vilding green, was oho, of the rink who \v«i3 runners-lip for the rink chant pionship at Napier last year. A team from the Palmerstnu Rifles met the Manchester Eilles on the Feilding range on Saturday, when tho Palmerston meii ivere defeated by 41 points. " OTAKI. . The Rev,. J. A. M'Nickle and Mrs. M'Nickle, who liave been absent on a holiday-tour in the South Island, have returned to Otaki. Messrs. Kirk and Cockrell, who recently cycled through the Nelson,district, have also returned. Timber for tho erection of a police station for Otaki is now on the-ground, and it is anticipated that building operations will shortly commence.

Rabbits are becoming plentiful in this district, and at Rar.giuru their numbers are ve'ry considerable indeed. On Sunday Mr. John Eden, of Manakau, was admitted to the hospital suffering from fractured ribs and a broken collarbone, due to falling into an old gravel-pit while returning home. The local Bowling Club anticipate holding a two days' tournament here at Easter, and already somo valuable trophies have been promised. The club will' also sent, representatives to Fasten and Palmerston with the intention of endeavouring to win the' Manawatii Ferns, and the Dijon Cujr respectively. Several grass fires are in progress in "tho district, and, favoured with light winds Ad hot'days, are spreading. Mr. E. Eagle has been appointed ranger for Otaki and Te Horo ridings and Mr. Allen dog-tax collector. Both appointments were mude by the County CounT cil. '. ' ■ , A movement is on foot to widen Iti Street, which at present is only half a chain wide. Hiss Jessie Jl'lCay has been appointed postmistress at Reikorangi in place'of Mr. iJates, resigned. The State school-children in tho district reassembled yesterday after ' the long "vacation. Only about 750 gallons of milk are now •being received at the .Manakau creamery, the fall being due to the prolonged. dry weather. Mr. Atkins is the largest supplier, with, about 160 gallons. SHANNON.

The new.schcol erected at Makerua by the Education Board, out of a special grant from the Government, was formally oponed by Jlr. W. H. Field, M,P., on Saturday, 'thgro -was a large gathering of residents of . the .district, including visitors from Shannon and Tokomaru, and the evont was celebrated by a picnic in tho afternoon and -by a '"social" in the evening..

A somewhat extensive tiro was started (presumably. from a spark thrown by a passing train) last Friday in the Kingston block of flax, belonging to the Makerua Estate Company. .Slen from the Miramu Hill-'and the employees of the Makerua Company were up throughout Friday-and Saturday , nights, .and 'it will .still _be necessary to keep.'watch'to prevent a "recurrence,. as the; bush and surrounding swamps are very-dry *at.present. ' WOODVILLE. Mr. Stevenson, headmaster of the Mainreturned with his family from a trip south on Friday evening last. . . At a special meeting of tho Borough Council held on Friday evening a mo-* tion which .had been tabled by Council-lor-J. Harding; was adopted, viz.: "That the proposition which had been agreed to for the purchase v of a pony- grass'cutter' bo rescinded." . The Noxious 'Wee'd.-'lnspector has acquainted n . number of borough residents that they must: clear all blackberry slii'ubs from ' their/ gardens. Several persons have fine . hedges, from which pounds' worth of fruit have been sold duj-ing tlia season.. ' t .. Mr. S. Bolton purposes cutting up bis Nikau and Bloomiield properties . into, come, forty, sections for closer, settle-. Went. . . s . Tho Athletic Club, are holding a series of running events during the - next few weeks, (is .an incentivo-for'l6cal runnersto train for the annual.', sports meeting.