PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 8

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(from Our Special Correaooudcutj.) ——+ ■— MASTERTON. Tho syndicate which recently purchased the old show ground site from tho Mastorton A. and P. Association took possession of the ground yesterday. The cattle and sheep pens are now being dismantled for removal to the new Solway site. Tho buildings, with tho exception of tho grandstands, are also to bn removed at an early date. Tho supply of rnilk at the various creameries controlled by tho Masterton Co-operative Dairy Company kept up remarkably well during last month. A drop in tho suppjy, however, is reported (luring tho last few days, duo no doubt to the sudden change in tho weather; At a'meeting of tho Masterton Football Club last evening, Mr. B. Chapman was appointed secretary for tho ensuing year. The matter of securing a ground for the ensuing season was left in the hands of Mr. G. W. Sellar The match, committee of each team was authorised to collect the subscriptjons, the captain" of each team to forward same to the secretary. Fourteen new members were elected. On Monday evening the Rev. W. Mawson, M.A., of the Canton Village Mission, will give an illustrated lecture in the Knox Hall. Mr. Mawson has been engaged in mission work in Canton for over seven years. • ,- Tho golf season of the Masterton Golf Club will open on the Lansdowno Links this afternoon. Tho. course is in splendid order, and the greens have received a considerable amount of car.eful ntten.ticn for some time past. Mrs/ H. GWilliams (the president's wife)' has kindly offered to provide afternoon tea. J A large'attendance at the opening is anticipated, and during; the afternoon a mixed foursome will bo played. CARTERTON. '■'' It is the'intention-of the Loyal Heart of Oak Lodge of Oddfellows to celebrate the centenary of the Order ou July 14, with an invitation social aud dance. Tho arrangements for the function have been placed in the hands of an energetic committee, and no efforts are to be spared iii making the gathering an enjoyable affair.- ' '■ x The Rev. W. Mawson, M.A., who left Ne\v Zealand in 1903 to go to the Canton Village. Mission as missionary for the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, is at present, on a visit to the ' Wairarapa, and oh Friday evening lectured in St. Andrew's Schoolroom hero. The work of excavating for tho foundation of the new brick building to be erected in'/High Street for Mr. H. Callisto'r. is proceeding apace, and tho grounds will soon be ready for the builders to commence. WOODVILLE. At a special meeting .of tho Borough Council, it was decided'to ask Messrs. Bhodes and. Tuck, contractors for tho. reservoir, to return the working plans and specifications to the council. Regarding tho coke contract asked for by. the T/oodville Bacon Company, the council agreed to enter into a two years' contract, instead of ten as desired, the price to be 275. per ton. • ' : Application having been made by the School Committee for the right to erect :a, miniatu.ro rifle range in the school grounds, tho council agreed that they might do so. ... 1 OTAKI. Mrs. J. G. Stevens, of Otaki.i returned ' from, a three weeks' holiday from Wellington and " Wairarapa yesterday, much benefited in -health./ Mr." Stevens is: expected back from the '.Auckland district /.to-day/ havingo'cow:' pleted his business transactions. , ■■■' . . White Joe.Moa, a local-Native was on his way to the factory yesterday morning with his usual' quota of milk, the dray tilted and.'the-milk and driver-were ■deposited in,.aheap*. The look,.of.corir. sterhation on the Nativo's face", was a study. Ho stilt lives, however, t& tell the. tale, the'only damage being t> hard bump on a fleecy head. ■ Tlio annual general Jneetwy of the Manakau Hockey Club is announced to. be held on Monday night at the Mana-: kau Hall, when the- annual report and balance-sheet, will bo presented, officers elected, aud arrangements made for the coming season. . There is every prospect of hockey booming all along the Coast again this season, and it is hoped and expected 'that, the Manakau people will not be behind iii the-matter;

Mr. J. Bayne, assistant butter-maker at the. Otaki butter factory, left yesterday for Wellington, where lie will work at the Fresh Food and Ice Company's factory. ' ■ : On Wednesday evening ; last > a pleasant function was held at Otaki, when some 17 members of the Otaki Methodist Choir assembled at Mr. and Mrs. Frank Penn's. residence, "Bangi : marie," for a special evening, and to bid good-bye to Mr. F. Sims, one of their most valued members, on the evo of his departure for the Old Country. During the evening, which was spent in games, music, etc., Mr. Sims, was presented, on behalf of his fellow members of the choir, with a splendid enlarged photograph of. the choir (the work of Messrs. Butterfield and Johnston, of Levin), the presentation being made by the choirmaster ,(Mr. Franif Penn), who referred to the excellent services rendered the choir by Mr. Sims, arid-the very general regret, that was folt at his departure. They all wished Mr. Sims long life, happiness, and prosperity. Mr. Sims suitably responded. A very ', pleasant evening was spent by all. Mr. Sims left Otaki on Thursday for Wellington, from whence ho will sail for England in a few days time.

LEVIN. The Hon. Jas. Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs, was a visitor to Levin on Wednesday, 'in company with Messrs. J. It.M'Donald and T> Bevan, jun., when he inspected the horses in training belonging to Mr. Bevan. Mr. J. B. Merrett, ■ editor of the "N-.Z. Poultry Journal,'.' was to have addressed a meeting of poultry-keepers at Wereroa on Wednesday evening, with tho object of forming an "eggr circle," but while on;his way he was urgently called home on account of the serious illness of his' wife. Hβ wired for a substitute, but no one was available, and the meeting had to bo abandoned. Mr. Morrett hopes to fulfil his engagement in a fortnight's time. Harvest thanksgiving services are to bo held in St. Mary's Anglican Church on Sunday next, when special music will bo rendered by tho choir. Up to the present there seems to be no prospective opposition to the present Mayor of Levin (Mr. B. R. Gardener) at tho annual election in a few weeks' time. Mr. Gardener has been Mayor since Levin was created a. borough four years ago, and has spent a large amount of his time in carrying out tho, duties of his office. The opinion of many is that it would be unwiso to havo a change for the' present, seeing several important public.works arc in hand. It is also felt that very few aro willing to dovoto so much of their time to *he office as Mr. Gardener has done.

Horowhenua Lodge, U.A.0.D., mot an Wednesday eveninp, Bro. W. H. Galliclian, A.D., presiding. It was reported that a handsome surplus, was available as a result of tho recent anniversary smoko concert. Rugby football players will be out this afternoon , getting into swing for . the season's engagements. Tho prospects of the Levin Wanderers aro stated to bo exceedingly bright, and both senior and' junior ought to give a good account of themselves. Mr. P. M. B. Fisher, M.P., has consonted to open tho autumn show of the

Levin Horticultural Society in the Century Hall next Wednesday an 3 Thursday. It is expected that a number of exhibits will bo staged from the Nelson district. ■ The committee of laiies, who are organising the bazaar in aid of Levin Volunteer Firo Brigade, on April 20 and 21, are working hard, and a- splendid display of useful articles will .be the result. REIKORANCI. ; The weather has been a bit wintry; these last couple of days. A dance was held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening, to celebrate the wedding of Mr.'W. Murphy,;of Quiu Street, Wellington, and Miss M. Stubbings, who were married on Easter Saturday by the Rev. Mr. Jones, of Paraparaumu. -....-.- Jlr. Symons, the contractor for' Messrs. Odlin Bros.'s mill, had the mis"--fortuno to lose a valuablo draught horse on Sunday, through falling over a bank. Tho gold fever has; reached here. A party went out prospecting on Easter Monday, and has sent a sample of stone to bo analysed. Tho stone .was got in the fertile Ngatiawa Valley. The Ngatiawa Rifle Club fired a match at Hautere against the Hantere Rifle Club, ■ the latter being victorious by 24 points. ] The Roikorangi. cricketers journeyed to Paraparaumu, and were defeated by Paraparaumu to the ©stent of 14 runs. It' is intended to hold a fortnightly drvnee during the coming winter, in aid of the. school funds. Tho Kynock Cnp. won by Mr.. M. Field, Ne;atiawa Rifle Club, is on view in Mr. Perry's window, Paraparaumu.