PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 785, 7 April 1910, Page 6

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(from Our Special Correspondents . 6 MASTERTON. The classes at the Mosterton Technical School, which are now commencing for the winter session are being well attended, commercial class having no'fewer than 35 pupils On the whole, there is every indication that the attendance will be a record one, and that excellent work will be done at the institution this year. Up to the present_ the secretary. has received one or two inquiries regarding the establishment of a class in wood-working, while many have intimated their desire to take up wood-carving. There is a prospect. of a branch class in woolwork being started shortly at Mangamahoe, under the instruction of Mr. S. Wood.

-At the annual meeting of the Masterton Hockey Club on Tuesday evening officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow Patron, Mr. J. M. Coradine; president, Mr. A. C. Major; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. D. Walsh, D. K. N. C. Pragnell, and W. H. L. Galwey; captain, Mr. W. Minett; vice-captain, Mr. A. Ibbetson; Management Committee, captain, vice-captain, Messrs. son, H. M. Gordon, W. Redmond. Mr. T. O'Dowd was elected secretary. Mr. Harold Bennett, late of Pern Glen, has purchased Mr. F. W. Graves's property, situated at Tenui, and comprising 535 acres.

Farmers are now busy ploughing for their winter crops. Algerian oats are very much in favour on account of their rust-resisting properties.. Good progress is being made with the erection of the meat freezing works at the Waingawa for the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company. The contract is giving employment to a large staff of men, and still more will be engaged as the work develops.

OTAKI.

A man named Brown, from Waikanae, was yesterday admitted to the local hospital suffering from a crushed finger. It was found necessary to' amputate the ■digit. The- hospital is at present full, and includes a typhoid fever, patient from Levin. Mrs. Nees is making good progress towairds recovery. Some ,£BO has been raised towards clearing-off a debt on the local vicarage site.

In connection with the' golf season, which opens here on Saturday week, the annual meeting mil tako place on Saturday night. The produce left over from the harvest thanksgiving services at Manakau was sold last night, when a record sale resulted. There was a large attendance, and /the enormous supply of vegetables readily sold at reasonable prices. A meeting of the Horowhenua Hockey Association was held at Manakau last night. . Present: Messrs. Cockerell (in the chair), Thomas, Kilmister, A. Atkins, Andrew, AV. and G. Judd, Dean, W. H. Wilson, ICarauti, Ituihi, and C. Wilson. The balance-sheet showed a deficit of J6l 65., due Chiefly to the ladies' tournament held at Napier. It was resolved to guarantee .£25 towards a visit from the English team in 1911. Members decided that the season should be opened on the first Wednesday in May, and that the association's colours be altered to black. The following were elected officer's:—President, Mr. M'Bain; vice-presidents, Mrs. Stevens, Messrs. Glackin, Byron Brown, and Mackenzie; committee (if headquarters at Otaki), Messrs. H. Nicolson, H.; Cockrell, P. H. Bright, L. Kilmister, and George Noble, with: Mr. P. Freeman as secretary; Levin committee (if 1 headquarters there), Messrs.'Mackenzie, Wilson (2), Karanti, and Dean, with Mr. Thome as secretary. The latter will be given l first choice as to the .acceptance of the secretaryship, and if he accepts all meetings will be held at Levin. '. The annual general' meeting of the Manakau Hockey Club was held on Monday night, when there was'a large and enthusiastic gathering of/members. Mr M'Bain occupied 'the chair. The sheet showed a credit of over £1. The following officers were elected dent, Major Tatum; vice-presidents, Messrs. J:'lJ. Curtis, F. Sidey, and D. Thomson; captain, Mr. W. Bull; vicecaptain, Mr. K. L. Bacchus; hon. secretary, ; Mr. -J. (Howard. Andrew; Match Committee,.; captain,, vice-captain,' and: secretary;. : deleßates to association, Messrs. A. Atkins, and J. H. Andrews.'