PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 796, 20 April 1910, Page 8

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

[from Our Ssccial CorrcaDOndentu

FEILDING. Mr. J. B. Beard's bakehouse at Apiti was totally destroyed by fire yesterday morning. Tho outbreak was first seen at about 1 o'clock. The contents were insured in tho Commercial Union office for X 75. The amount of insurance- in the building is not yet available. ' Tho Acting-Minister for Railways (Hon. V. Buddo) has informed tho local Chamber of Commerce, through Mr. Guthrie, M.P., that he. cannot grant the request to extend the train facilities from Wellington to Feilding, and from Feilding to Wellington on the one day. Tho Minister adds: "The cost of providing terminnl facilities nt Feilding would be considerable, apart from the cost of running the increaesd mileage, and there is no prospect of a payable traffic - arising. It would take at least 100. passengers each way per day on tho one train to pav for the run between. "Feilding and' Pa'lmerston, and the returns show that, the passengers booked from Feilding to Wellington for last year was under 5000, or an average of less than 23 per day. This is altogether insufficient to warrant the expenditure involved." CARTERTON. Tho Carterton Gun Club will compete for Mr. W. C. Buchanan's trophy on Thursday week. A trial of Mr. N. DaysVs milking machine is to take place at Mr. W. Zabell's farm at Belvedere on Saturday afternoon. ... An effort is being made to form an Association Football Club in Cf.jterton. Constable. Carmody, who has been in ill-health lately, is making steady progress towards recovery. A card tournament between; the married and single members of Totara Lodge, U.A.0.D., was held on Monday evening, and was won by the latter by 17 to 14. . OTAKI. The Otaki Methodist Church' celebrated its anniversary on Sunday by the holding of special services. Special interest attached to these services "wing to the fact that tho newly-appointed minister for. Otaki, the Rev.. F. Rands, occupied the pulpit for the first time. At the morning service, the Rev. Rands took for his text portion of the 14th verse, of. the first chapter of Haggai: " ■ ■ ■ And they

came and did work in the house nf the Lord of Hosts, their God." In the course of his sermon, the preacher:dwelt on the necessity of co-operation among church workers, and urged nil Christian workers to renew and combine efforts in their Master's service. The anthem,

"Like as a Father Piticth his Children," was very pleasingly rendered by the choir. The opening solo was taken by Miss Jlentcith, a very pretty duet by Miss Cockrcll and Mr. I. Hughes, and a bnss solo by Mr. Frank Penn. For the evening service there was a very large congregation, and the service was a specially hearty one. Mr. Rands' di>course was based on part of the 19th verso of Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 27; "Go ye therefore and teach all nations." This the preacher referred to as "Christ's greatest commandment." : He referred to the 'marvellous growth of Christianity, but said that thero was much still to be done, considering that about two-thirds of. the world's population was still living without a knowledge-of the only true religion. In conclusion, Mr. Rands stated that he hoped his ministry among the people of Otaki and district would be a fruitful and happy one, but without tho prayerful assistance, of the congregation his labours would bo of little avail. The anthem, "And I Saw Heaven Opened," was sung by the choir in good style, Mr. Frank Fenn singing the opening bass solo. . SHANNON. The stormy weather 'experienced last week did a good' deal of damage to fibre in the bleaching paddocks. Mr. B. Spencer was successful in winning Mr. L. Jenkin's trophy on the rifle range on Saturday, while Mr. E. Spencer was runner-up in this event, arid also winner of the prize presented by Mr. Oag. Although the weather was against accurate marksmanship, 6ome fair scores were recorded. The football season opened on Saturday with a match between Shannon and Miranni, the latter winning, by H points to nil. The first and second fifteens of the local club play the'Foxton Club (seniors and juniors) next Saturday. • A projected match between Shannon and the local Drnids was postponed on account of the' weather. ■