PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1422, 24 April 1912, Page 5

PROVINCIAL CENTRES. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

FEILDING. A farewell "social" is to be given, to Mr. L. J. Watkin, retiring director of the Feilding Technical School on Thursday evening. In future Mr. Watkin und his family are to reside in Wanganui, but lie will give art lessons in Feilding as usual. Councillor W. Morton)' of the Kiwitea County Council, has-disposed'of bis property at Kimbolton, and intends to take up residence in I'eilding. Miss C'oolc, assistant at the Feilding District High School, has resigned Imposition. The I'eilding Harriers' Club lias been, formed, with the following officers:— Patron, Mr. D. H. Guthrie, M.P.; president, Mr. Fred, Pirani; fourteen vicepresidents; secretary, Mr. C. Brown; treasurer, Mr. M'Alister; . committee, Messrs. Smith, Redpath, Austin, and Edelston; captain to be elected. ' It was decided that the club should be affiliated to tho Wellington Association. _ Two runs aro to be held each week, viz., on. Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. !

OTAKI. The annual report of the Otaki State School' Committee showed the attendance of members as follows:—M. Ayre and W. Keeksm, 10 each; J. Bills, W. Warn, and V. Vaughan, 9 each; C. Smith and C. Johnsen, 7 each. It was reported that many changes had taken place in the staff during the past few months. Hiss' Foster had resigned, and Miss Selvy had been appointed in her place. Then there was the resignation of Miss Jacob, and tho, appointment of Miss Miller, and the temporary appointment o£ Mrs. Gordon. Miss Hall replaces Mrs. Gordon next week. The inspector's report was considered very satisfactory, while the annual distribution of prizes proved a successful event. Through the generosity of Mr. H. E. Elder the school had received a fine microscope, while a miniature rifle range had also been installed. Votes of thanks were extended to the headmaster (Mr. .W. Burns "Smith) and his assistants. The balance-sheet was as follows:—KeMavch 1, 1911, £10 12s. 7(1.; grants for ordinary purposes, £40 lis. 3d.; grants for metalling, etc., £3; grants for cookery, .£2 10s.; interest on savings bank account, 6s. 4d.; total, £57 Ss. 2d. Expenditure—Cleaning purposes, .£2l 12s. 6d.; fuel, £1, lGs. 3d.; repairs, ill lGs. 7d.; expenditure of special grants, £5 10=.: stamps, etc., 4s. Gd.; credit in hand, £1 Bs. 7d.; total, ,£57 3s. 2d. An additional room has been erected at the To Horo Railway Station for the purpose of installing tho tablet instruments. Mr. Norman Campbell,, contractors for the Ngatiawa bridge, has sent to Western Australia for the necessary timber, and hopes to hake a start on the structure in August or September. The dairy factories at Waikatfaa are (on account of the decrease in milk), only now open every other day, and expect to close down for the season in the course of a feiv days. SHANNON. Mr. J. W. Batchclor is leaving the district at the end of May iu order to reside at Waituna. Mr. Batchelor has been a member of numerous local bodies, including the Makorua Drainage Board, the school committee (of which ho has been chairman for some years), and the dramatic society. _ Ho has been churchwarden for a period of years, and is also a prominent Druid, so that his departure will be a distinct loss to the district. In his annual report Mr. Batchclor, chairman of tho school committee, stated at tho annual meeting of householders that, in April, 1911, there wero 200 children on tne roll, as compared with 200 at present. Tne avieragiO attendance during the quarter ended March 31,1912, was 176. He appealed to parents to seo that tho average attendance was kept up, as, not only did the committee's maintenance allowance depend on it, but tho teaching staff was regulated thereby. During tho year a special prize for agricultural work and nature study was awarded the school, on tho recommendation of the board's inspector. Both lady teachers (Miss Silvester and Miss Eager), who were on the staff in April, 1911, had resigned. Special grants wero received from the board for tho erection of a tool shed and rifle rack. Owing to tho changes in tho staff it had been found impossible*'to hold tho annual school concert. Tho Dramatic Society came to tho committee's aid, and n sum of £27 Bs. was raised by this means. Tho school children wero thus enabled to have their usual trip to tho seaside. Tho balance-sheet showed a credit of £5 ss. 9d. FOB RHEUMATISM, Sciatica, lumbago, backache, neuralgia, and all old deep-seated rheumatic and muscular pains, nothing can equal WITCH'S OIL (registered).—Advt. . -- -■■■;