PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 728, 29 January 1910, Page 6

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Special. Correspondents.) ' : ■■■. , FEATHERSTON. Constable M'Gregor,. who is relieving Constable Baker here, arrested : a ; Native on a-charge of theft ,oil Tuesday morning. It appears that a. well-known Native, named Kingi, had a run-of good luck at the Wellington races,; and came home'with about thirty pounds in cash. He was. accompanied by' one of *his acquaint-' ances from' here, and a. stranger came also. During 'the celebrations of the' win Kingi had, a bad attack of ■ tiredness, and retired to'bed., ,In the morning the strange Maori : and the cash were missing. Although it remains to be seen whether the cash and the absconder departed to., gather, the latter nevertheless was followed .to ' the Empire .Hotel, ■ and while one went for the police the other engaged the Native, in a game of billiards.- The game was finished before the police arrived, and. the strange Native had: gone . outside when the constable arrived and arrested him. He was taken to Wellington by the afternoon train and; lodged in the look-up. He will be charged with theft at the'sitting' of the Magistrate's Court on Monday. The Featherston School Committee met .this week, there being present. Messrs. W. Benton (chairman), C. E. Skip'age (treasurer), T. Skipage, S. Murphy, A. Bungay, and F. E. Merlet. An account of £3 18s. 4d; was passed .for payment. It was decided to hold the school picnic' on February 19, and . also that the committee meet again on February U to make'arrangements for . the event: : The picnic will be held on the Domain. . Mr. G. T. Fenwick, late of the staff of the, .Bank of New Zealand here, has been transferred to'. the Carterton branch. ■ The new firebell: that has just been hung on the square in front of the Town Hall,' was tested, on. Wednesday evening, but satisfactory/results were not, , obtained. • Several alterations were made, but more work has' to be done yet. before the bell is as good as the brigade expect for the money which they spent on it. . It is likely that the camp of the volunteers on Saturday week will be held at Jackson's. Island, on Underbill Boad; and not at Tanherinikiau as was expected. On aiid • around Jackson's Island there 'is some ideal manoeuvring ground,> "and -the idea of- holding week-end camps : of- an enjoyable; nature.is one, of the.best;, \ OTAKI. : ■P'^ 1 The party who are to begin the awent of the Tararuas from the Forks at. daylight to-day left, Te Horo yesterday: afternoon, joining , another party from Otalri. in the afternoon at Mr. D. E. Mills's. Otaki Gorge is especially well represented in. the .party of : adventurers, while Mr. J. ■ Munro Wilson, Government Valuer, - also ' accompanied thfim. "The Tveather x is fine.'here, and a splendid, bracing trip is "expected. • -. Mr. Perry, who: has been in, the railway service ,at Paraparaumu , for some years, has been presented'by the residents prior-, to '■ his. departure for, Wellington/ with va ,travelling-rug,-while Mrs. Perry was;, presented with acruet.Pleasing, reference was made to, the good.qualities. of\the recipients, . and 'regret *was expressed, that they .were: about to leave behind 60'many'friends; 'Mr.' W. J;'Howell made the-.presentation, ' Mr.' Perry responding.' • '■ - .-v" : ■'

; ; : ; ''CARTERTON. ■■■'< -':•;•■ "■'":<■,]

-'-This week' an., improvement :: in "the method .• of ; ''ringing up". in ■ connection with the local telephone' exchange, was ■commenced.- ..:.......■ •■:/." ,;.Mr. F. .McenMn;' of Clarevills, 'has grown an excellent, crop of potatoes.of: the tJp4o-Datevariety on his small'farm'at Ahiakouka... The ; crop :is;.entirely . .free from blight'-'dr''pest'-df- any kind,., and. this satisfactory result -is■ • attributed to' the careful selection of ] seed. The crop is estimated to ''yield''between'; fifteen' -and twenty' tons to"the)'acre.; ; ."/.';' ;'•j,;.'V ':!' i The local school reopens on Monday..'.

R, . c'- : PAHIATUA.'- ':':^Sl

" - A cricket match between Pahiatua and Marigatainoka;.wiir be,.played on Wednesday nexVon. 1 the . latter club's ground. The match -will commence at 1.30.p.m.':' •'■'■ Mr.; i J. i E.^He,^tt;|.'6f J ;M,angamaire, "was; 'very -'successful with, his Eomney r Marsh' sheep: at'.the -Bush :Districts-. Show on Wednesday last,':.at 'Woodville.-' He'secured champion for ewe, 33 months, or. over,!and five'first awards., ..There was Very good competition in this class. Al-, .together^ 1 quite a number of .prizes] came; to this district,, and Sir.. W. . Sedcole. with : "Caloola," secured four ' second, prizes and two thirds, in the hack,classes. Captain Johnston and ; Lieutenant Chalker were farewelled last 'evening' at the Pahiatua: Salvation. Army Barracks. - The swimming! baths., for the town is attracting some attention just now, and- there .seems .some likelihood'.of. the-proposartakihg: shape' within; thenert 'twelve months/ , ;'■ 'TV .'.' . ■-. -..■■■ Mr. A. G. Gilmer has been!appointed ■ judge of horses (inoluding, competitions), at the.'Pahiatua .A.','; arid. P..-Show,. on February.:9, and 'Mr.. S.'E. : - Lancaster, judge of cattle.:"i ; : :•'. ' ' '■.;',;; ;■ At the general meeting of. the committee; ,cf the local A. and P.' Association, the 'president; (Mr. J. C. Cooper)''stated that the show, entries■;received";-to'.- date had certainly' exceeded: his 'expectations,', and for such; excellent results ■ they were in'debted.tpthe.secretary, Mr. J.: A!. Walsh; '■.''-:■■ shannon;: v-i: ; A team of Shannon bowlers, skipped by Mr. W. H. Gunning, visited Wellington during the- week, and were successful in defeating a strong Kelburne' rink. The scores, .with : the'heads, ■ , 1511201000601001-19; Thorndon,. 0000010222 03120—13. The. Shannon,; rink was composed of Messrs. T. C. Dunckley, G. Lind, J. Knowles, and W. HvGunning (s.), and :the Thorndop .players! were':—Messrs.' .Cohen, Freeman, Dimock, Two rinks from Shannon, also played .on. the. Kelburne iGreen..' Mr.. Gunning's rink was defeated by Mr. Shearer's rink by. three 'points, and .Mr. J.'E.-. .Stansell's : rink went down by six points'to Mr.' Williamsoh's team. ' -•■"■ .■->.■■ .v. ■■■'-.'..'■ ; .' ; :'''".. ■' The local Bacihg Club, has decided to hold their annual race meeting on-Satur-day, February. 24...' ..;..,-,-. ,;.'.■•> ■■■ Mr-John Ougand. aid family have loft Tokomaru to reside, in Auckland. v-' ..'.'- , Mr.; E. W.;Guy' is''.making' extensive; additions to his accommodation house.at Tokomaru. With six'flaxmills 'within easy L distance of -thb; town' all fully occupied, to say -of. night shifts at one or two of them;,and a good dairying season, Tokomaru isgoing steadily, ahead,, and quite a number, of new. houses have, been erected recently.. . ','.-,' -.-!,'' ■ ■■■ Codlin moth has done,a;great deal'of damage;, to; fruit .trees ,in this district: Last season a local man cleared. .£4O from his orchard-alone, -but this season -. the, grub anticipated .the' spraying, aud- his orohard account is;likely to show a debit balance. ':':■.'; ■;.:..■" "',.'.'■■

■..'■.' --./v-v levin. ; .

The holdejs of,the Bowen Stars (bowls) Messrs. Smart'.'and .Marriott, were challenged by Messrs. •J. Ryder and, W. HV Gallichan,;■ during-, the -week,- when the challengers won by the default.!of'the holders. . Messrs. Ryder and Gallichan were in turn.challenged by Messrii. JVG. Hankins.. and F. G. Roe, and this match' took place on the Levin bowling fjreen on Thursday evening,: when, after a ■ close and most exciting game, .Ryder and Gallichan retained; possession by 16 to 13. Messrs. A. Thome and W. H. Wilson have now issued a challenge for the Stars/ ''.->;'" -:'V''v -"■ -•'• ■..■■■ '-' Mr. J. P/;WMte, 'son of : the'.Rev.'.'J. 1 . White, Levin, who has been in' charge of the Presbyterian.. Home Mission station of Patea, is expected here next week,, and is'to > conduct the services in. tho Presbyterian Church on , Slinday. week. Sinco going to Patea' some six months ago, 'Mj. White has made himself popular with all classes. ■: