PROVINCIAL CENTRES

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1184, 20 July 1911, Page 6

PROVINCIAL CENTRES

lF:om Our Special Correspondents.) CARTERTON. A social and dance, under the auspices of the Carterton Brass Band was held at Ualefield oil Tuesday evening. There mis a large attendance, and prior to the commencement the band gave a performance in front of the hall. Mr. J. Bowery who lately resigned the position of manager of the Parkvalo Dairy Company, is taking up farming pursuits :,t Ponarahi. Mrs. S. Reading, mother of Mr. E. Reading, of Dalefield, died at Wellington on Monday after a brief illness. The funeral tool; place at the Clareville Cemetery i'l'i Wednesday afternoon. The boxing tournament, which takes "placo at the Victoria JI:iH 011 Thursday evening, is creating a good deal of attention, .'iud promises to be a very successful affair. A good practice was held on Monday evening by the contestants; and at the conclusion tiiey were examined and passed by Dr. Gunn. The tournament is being held under the auspices of tho local branch of the Wnirarapa Boxing Centre. The ploughing match, which is to be held next week, under the auspices of ilic Wnirarapa and East Coast P. and A. Society, has brought forth some good entries, and some capital ploughing should be witnessed.

There are 5S scholars on the roll of the Belvedere School, the average attendance dnring the past month being somewhat affected bv the daipp weather. No holiday was observed on Arbor Day.

Mrs. W. H. Booth, of the.local Golf Club, has provided a further trophy tor competition amongst the ladies, and play for the trophy commence? on Thursday. On Saturday the'' men will commence another series of three matches for the captain's trophy.

SHANNON. The Rev. J. R. M'Kenzie gave a very interesting address to members of 'the Literary and. Debating Society in the Druids' Hall 011 Tuesday night 011 his recent trip round tho world and the impressions which he formed 'of the various nationalities and countries which lie had visited, 110 was tho New Zealand delegate to the great Sunday School Conference held in Washington recently. In the States, said the speaker, people begin to attend Sunday school at a very early age, and very often continue to do so until they have passed "the allotted span." On one occasion Mr. M'Kenzie had to teach a village Sunday school class consisting of men who were all 011 the wrong side ofGO. Included amongst them was the city marshal, the "Ammurica'n." appellation for what wo would call the village policeman. Very many people whom the speaker casually became acquainted with had never heard 'of "God's Own Country," and others again were under the impression that it was one of the South American States. Amongst the interesting people whom 110 met were President Taft and Sir A. T. Quiller Couch— "Q," the novelist—whom he was introduced to in Foy, the novelist's " Troy Town." He was at Home in the thick of the general election struggle. In New Zoala'nd ho was what some people might call a Conservative, but in the Old Country his sympathies were entirely with the Liberal party. In Devonshire lie had found the countryside placarded with political posters, and 011 every one of the Conservative placards the first reform which the party promised .to introduce (if returned to power) was the removal of the cluty imposed by Mr. Lloyd-George on whisky. Tho speaker told numerous aueedotes, and was accorded a very' hearty vote of thanks. Next Tuesday the society is holdiiig one of its competitive debates, when the motion will, be: "That compul-. sory .military training is an unnecessary interference with the liberty of the subject. and is not justified by results.

OTAKI. A hunt was held on Tues'day afternoon at. Waikanae over the properties of Messrs Ilira. Parata and Duncan. Tha runs, three in all, were all enjoyed, some 15 followers, including one lady ruler, taking part. After the "meet huntsmen and visitors were entertained at afternoon tea at Mahara House. • Starlings are doing a large amount ot good ill parts of this district, and have been the means of-clearing hundreds of acres of.grass grubs. • Mr Ileni'v, late caretaker at Kapm, leaves shortly for the Auckland district, his successor, Mr. Bennett, having taken I charge. . - '