PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1089, 30 March 1911, Page 2

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Special CorrcspondeuU.) FEILDING. At the annual meeting of the Kimbolton Golf Club it was shown (hat the club was in a healthy financial condition, having a credit balanca of .1:23 15s. 3d. The following oflicers were elected:— Captain. Mr. Asthury; secretary and treasurer, Mr. L J. Verrv; committee, Mes»rs. Bloxam, G. M'Bclh, Beedic, Astbury, and Henderson; Match Committee, Mrs. Beedie and .Messrs. Aimer and Baddeley; Ladies' Committee, Mesdames Palmer, Yerry,' Ilendorson, Baddeley, M'Beth, Beedie, Misses Johnston, Taylor, and M'Beth. April 22 was fixed as tho opening day of the season. Messrs. D.' n. Guthrie, M.P., Fred. Pirani (chairman of the Wanganui Education Board), G. Dj Braik (chief inspector), and L. Watkins (director of the Feilding Technical School) took part in the opening of the Apiti Technical School yesterday afternoon, and were also present at the public meeting last evening. The party went up to "the Highlands" by motor-car. Mr. .T. Milson, of Aorangi, has had a prolific crop of potatoes this season. From one plant (of the Dakota red variety) he dug up 171b. of tubers. OTAKI. A skating rink, on similar lines (o that organised last year, will Iw opened here next week. A weekly dance will also be held under (lie same management. It is intended to hold a picture show here weekly, so that it will be seen that the public of Otaki are being fairly well catered for this winter. ( Ou Monday, a local grower, Mr. P. Thomas, sent away nearlv three tons of cucumbers to a pickling'firm. During the season he lias dispatched' nearly twelve tons altogether. airs. J. Ropata, who has been an inmate of the Palmerston Hospital for some time, returned here on Mondav, and died on Tuesday morning. She vvas a wellknown Native, and had ninny friends, both m tho district and beyond it. The twenty-fifth annual exhibition bv the local Horticultural Society took 'dace yesterday, and was favoured with glorious weather. The entries were large, and the exhibits very good. The pot plants were especially attractive, while the fruit.display was the best yet seen here. Cut blooms were weak, this being due to the drought, although dahlias were prominent and formed a nice section. The decorative class was a strong one, while there was also good competition in the cookerysection. FEATHERSTON. The Rev. H. A. Keck, who for the past twelve, months has been the minister of the Methodist Church here, was entertained at a ."social" by the members of , his congregation on Tuesday night, and presented with a travelling rug. Mr. and Mrs. Keck leave Wellington to-day by tho Uhmaroa for Melbourne. The intended extension of the waterraces in this district will mean tho expenditure of several thousands of pounds, tenders are to lie called shortly for the work. It is probable that wood-staved pipes may be used to earrv the water, instead of concrete, the former being considered more suitable. HASTINGS. Tho proprietors of tlie local newspaper, ?"« the "Standard," and now tho Hawkes Bay Tribune," are arranging for important extensions of their business. A. site for a large building has been acquired in a central part of tho town, and, on Saturday, a tender for new buildings was accepted. The successful tenderer was Air. T. Styles, the amount being .i' 3700. Collections for the Napier Hospital Fund, made in Hastings, amounted to Mr. J. A. Miller, Mayor of Hastings, has received the. following letter from Miv 11. A. Mossman, one of the Hastings deputation who ' waited on the Hon. R. -U'lvenzie, Minister for., Public Works, at Napier, last Saturday "As representing tho Hastings' deputation, which waited on the "Hon. 'R..' M'Kcnzio in Napier on Saturday night, I suggest that you call a-public meeting hero at a very early date. It is very important, in view of_ tho announcements made by the Minister, Hint we at once consider what steps Hastings ought to take regarding the route and terminus of the GisbcrncHawke's Bay railway, and the Waikaremoana' electric power. We think that members of tho Borough Council, Chambers of Commerce and Railway League should be specially invited." It is stated on good authority that tho Government has decided to accept the offer'of the Native owners of the Mauawaangiangi Block to sell their lands adjoining Porangahau, and containing'about 12j000 acres. Tho purchase monev amounts to over .£48,000. WOODVILLE. Yesterday business places in Woodville were closed on account, of the amalgamated schools' sports, which were held at Dannevirke. .A large number of local residents took advantage of the special train, put on for . the occasion... Danne-. virko was. thronged by parents and children, some of whom came from places as distant as Waipawa. Census-form distributors hav'o been busy during the past few days. Those who have the different ridings to "do" have a large tract of country to get over before Sunday. Part of tho old box drain running down Ormond Street has caved in, and incidentally has served to show that the work of putting down a proper drainage system was not started before it was needed. The timber of tho drain is for the most part decayed, and the accumulation of rubbish which, must have gathered cannot lie conducive to good health, in connection with (he new work, now going on, good progress is being made. Tho management of the recent harvest festival, held by the lecal Methodist congregation , anticipate that a sum of .£l2O will bo netted. A deer, evidently strayed from off the ranges, made its way close to the township on Sunday. A number of residents endeavoured to get (o close quarters with !' b" 1 >t„ovaded them, and got back on to the hill again. This is (he first deer that has been seen in this district.