PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1508, 2 August 1912, Page 8

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

• (From Our Special Correspondents.) 6FEILDING. Members of the various schedule committees of the Feilding A. and P. Association aro now busy preparing the draft schedule for consideration by the General Committee. Members of the Oroua No-License League held a social gathering here on Tuesday night, when an address was given by the Rev. J. Daiyson, general secretary of the New Zealand Alliance. In tho course of his remarks, Mr. Dawson stated that a Bill would be introduced into Parliament this session to reduce the threefifths majority on the National Prohibition vote to a 55 per cent, majority. On Wednesday, ten members of tho Palmerston Harriers Club visited Feilding, and, with fourteen local harriers, went over the five-milo course. The- pack was in charge of P. J. M'Davitt, of tho l'almersion team, and J. Lowe, of Feilding, set the pace. Tho whole pack did the run in an hour. Thero were seven deaths registered last month at Feilding, an unusually largo number. The births numbered eight, and there were four marriages. Mr. F. J. Tait, who is to have charge of the motor cycle mail delivery along Lee's Line, Halcombe, Stanway,. etc., is now iu Feilding, and all ready to start the service. It only remains for the farmers to get their mail boxes in position to enable tho postal authorities to inaugurate this very valuablo and convenient service. FEATHERSTON. A debating contest between the Carterton and Feathcrston Debating Societies took place here on Tuesday evening. The subject was: "That party Government-is not conducive to effective administration." This was supported by the Carterton representatives, viz., Messrs. B. Roberts, T. E, Maunsell, F. Tyler, W. A. Kitchen, and M. D. Hornsby. The Feathcrston team was:—Messrs. J. W, Card, A. J. Toogood, E. A. Leary, D. Macdonald, and M. B. Tait. In tho unavoidable absence of Mr. W. Barton, Mr. J. H. Fioldhouse officiated as judge, and declared the Carterton team fe> be the winners by 37-1 points to 309. This makes the third occasion on which the two clubs have met, and each time Carterton lias woii. A return contest will bo held lator in the season. Six births, two deaths, and two marriages were registered hero during July. A very heavy rainfall was recorded in I'eathers-ton last month, viz., 13.G7 inches. Thero were 23 days on which rain fell, the maximum fall on ono day being 3.12 inches on July 16. The foundation stone of the new Town Hall, in Martinborough, will bo laid on September 19. The local Territorials are making preparations for the holding of a military ball in the Town Hall here, on August 29. Mr. and Mrs. A. Chisholm, who left, in February last for short visit to the Old Country, are expected back in tho course of a few days. . SHANNON. Miss Stevens, of the local school staff; is leaving this week to take up a position ot Taw a Flat. Miss Henderson succeeds Miss Stevens here. A large number .of local business men assembled at the Albion Hotel on Tuesday evening, the occasion being a presentation to Mr. H. Hammond, of the staff of the Bank of New South AValcs. Mr. Hammond has been in the habit of paying a weekly visit to Shannon in connection with the affairs of the local branch bank, but with tho opening up of a permanent branch here his'connection with tho local branch ceases. Mr. Ross made the presentation, which consisted of a sporting gun, valued at In doing so, he referred to the esteem in which Mr. Hammond was held. The Bank of New Zealand is likely to open a. branch here.