PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1033, 24 January 1911, Page 9

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Special Correspondents.) —— .J :— '. FEILDING. • The ninth annual spor'.s meeting of tho Waituna District Club will be held in Mr. S. Williamson's paddock on February 22. Mr. Hugh Burr-dl'lias n very fine crop of rape in a paddock, on the 'Kimbolton Road. A flock of iambs are on it, and, at the present time, the crop "is so high that in places the lambs backs are not visible, Rabbits are reported to be decreasing in number in tho Upper end of tho Kiwitea County. .Ono of the members of the County Council.states that ho never sees rabbits now in" his riding, while a few years ago the pest threatened to overrun the whole county. No doubt the stringent measures adopted to exterminate them have achieved the end desired. OTAKI. ■ An important road matter will shortly bo brought before the Otaki Road' Board, when Mr. C. Kilslcy will offer land for a road from Arthur Street (new. Otaki) to tho Domain Road, while it is understood that with ono exception other pro-perty-owners" are agreeable to do likewise. The giving of the land would no doubt, have the ultimate effect.of enhancing tho values of the properties of the donors, but,- at tho same time, tho proposed road would be a great boon to those who have bought.land at Otaki-Central. From here to new Otaki, the distance would be greatly lessened, and the road would open up an area of land reaching from Mill Road to WaCrenga Road. A meeting of parishioners was held last week in tho Iti Street School-room, tho meeting being convened with a view to taking steps to sell the present lands owned by the Church, and to secure a now site at Otaki Central. The idea was generally favoured, and the sections will be shortly offered for sale. Flounders are at present very plentiful off Otaki.beach, and, on two evenings recently; record hauls wore made. Soruo 150 bundles were, caught in a little over an hour. • , . Mr." Co'nchie, an old identity of Otaki, 'was taken -to . tho Hospital 'on Friday night,-.haying-been found in "an unconscious state owing to a paralytic stroke. ..It is understood that Mr. A. H. Rollo has decided not to contest tho Otaki seat at the .comings election, but to support Mr. C. A. W) Monckton. CARTERTON, Ono oat crop, that of. Mr. H. R. Bunny, of Ahuaruho, has threshed-80 bushels to the acre.. The Carterton Fire'Brigado team which is to competo at: tho United Fire Brigade's' demonstration at Hokitika in' March is .-as follows:—E. H. and N. M'Kenaie, F. Jackson and A. Desmond: emergency, C. Leo. Fireman R. Smith will" be the" delegate to tho conference. '" Tho balance-sheet. of the Wairarapa United..Friendly Societies' picnic. shows a credit balance of over £M. This is very satisfactory, the more so when it is.remembered that. the balance-sheet for the first picnic showed a debit balance. A branch of tho Wairarapa- Amateur Athletic Association has been formed in Carterton, the object beiug to . 'arouse local : interest in amateur athletics. . '.;'.' , HASTINGS. An-interesting swimming carnival was held _';at-'the Maddisori Baths on Friday-evening-in tho presence <t several hun--dred spectators. Tho chic:' event was' a 220 yds."test -race,; held -for the purpose of choosing a Hawko's Bay representa-, tivo .for "the New i Zealand swimming championship meeting. In this event F. Seymour had a very .easy win over the three competitors who opposed him. His time was..2min.-51sec. v..?The .weather continues dry and very hot.'-' The pastures are now much in need of a good downpour as "feed" is getting scarce. — The Municipal Electors' Association held a meeting on Friday evening when tho doings' of tho Borough Council caino iii' "for-some frank criticism; Recommendations are to bo made to the council concerning the inspection of tho sewerage . pipes that, are. being laid down. The council's attention is to bo called to tho following:—(1) That no pipes be placed in the sewer which-do-not -bear the inspector's mark as having, passed the tests; (2) that all surplus'earth' not required for filling-in purposes be sold;. (3) that tho approaches to -Queen's Square Ijd .put in order. A motion was also submitted urging legal proceedings against a certain councillor for-alleged breach of Section 59 of tho Municipal Corporations Act., intimately,..however, this was'considered'too drastic and member's contented themselves by. drawing the council's 'attention to Seotion 59 of the Municipal Corporations Act.' • A movement is on foot for tho construction of a light bridgo over the Tnki Tuki to give settlers on the south bank access .to Olive and Havelock. -A',,petition was considered by a sub-committee .-'of tho Hawke's Bay City Council' on Friday,' and has been held over for further consideration. The cost' is. estimated to be between <£2000 and £3000. , SHANNON. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., will preside at tho formal opening of the school which has been- -recently, erected at Makerun.The ocremon'y : will" toko place on Friday. There will be a picnic in the afternoon and a "social" in the evening. , Mr. AV, Voysey'isat- present.on holiday in tho South-Island. The annual general meeting of the Literary and Debating Society will probably be held during the beginning of March. The Rev. J. R. Aitken, of Foxton, presided as Moderator at a well-attended meeting of tho Shannon. and Tokomaru managers of tho l'resbyterian Church, which was held in the vestry at Shannon on Wednesday evening. It was decided to increase the stipend of tho new minister to ,£l5O, of which amount Shannon mado' itself -responsible for .£9O; andTokomaru for ,£3O, the balance to 1>« supplied by the Church Extension Funds. Arrangements wero arrived at respecting supply during the interval which must elapso between tho resignation of, Mr. G. H. Gibb alid the appointment of his successor. Tho Rev. Mr.. Lewis, who occupied'the pulpit lately at, St. Andrew's, Palmcrston North, is- to bo invited to conduct tho -services for'- four Sundays, commencing from March 12, by which date there is ..likely to be some definite settlement with respect to. the appointment of the new minister. At a special meeting on Friday night, at which Brother Foubister, A.D., presided, the local branch of Druids discussed the -remits which are to go before the bi-annual conference at Auckland next month. In the champion singles on the bowling green last Clayton- beat Duncklcy. and was in turn defeated by Olsen, while Gunning beat Duncklcy. Handsome trophies have been donated to the tennis club .for competition bv Mrs. Laurvig, Mr. J. H.' Schmidt. Mrs. C. HV-Gardiner, and Mr. W. Schmidt,