PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1212, 22 August 1911, Page 9

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

iFtam Our Sjccial Correspondents.)

FEILDING. Mr. Ilcldt I'as resigned the presidency of the Apiti Chamber of Commerce, as he is leaving the district. The chamber (at tlrj same meeting) .passed the following resolution: "That the petitions in favour of Apili as n drill centre bo collected as soon as possible, and fownrrded to -Mr. tiiitJirie, M.P., for presentation to Defence authorities." Mr. Harry Osborne has sold his 220-acre fanu at Apiti to Mr. S. Hart, of Umutoi Mr. George Shannon hassold the 200acre farm which he bought from Mr. Melton to Mr. Jesse Ilill, of Paluierston, at .£25 per acre. This is stated to bo a record price for the Apiti district. Thirty-four members of the Feilding AVeslpy Choir leave to-day to take part in the Napier competitions. The death is announced of Mr: Alexander Guthrie, one .of the original settlers of Koilding. The late "Mr. Guthrie (and family) were enthusiastic bandsmen. Mrs. Guthrie survives her husband,'ami tl > are flvo sons and threo daughters. OTAKI. On Sunday Mr. Tomiti Katene, a wellknown Bay of Islands Native, was ordained as a deacon ol the :Native Church. l'lio ceremony,- which, was. ..performed by Bishop Sprott, wab given ■ mostly in -Maori, .the Rev. A. 0. U'illianis being.th« chief speaker. Other ministers present were Archdeacon l'aiicourt, Alcssrs. M'Miekle, Temuera, Iwiora, and Sunth. There was a-large .congregation, ■ chieily Maoris. In the evening Bishop - Sprott officiated, when th - church was again crowded. Yesterday the Natives met the bishop in conference, and expressed the hope that their relationship with his Lordship would be amicable and beneficial. They also advocated improvement in the Native College. After the bishop had thanked the Maoris for their cordiat welcome, Archdeacon Fancourt spoke. Yesterday afternoon Bishop Sprott conducted a confirmation service, when sosie 50 Natives were confirmed. The death occurred at Manakau yesterday morning of Mr. John Irwin, (in old | and respectedpresident/at the ago of 77 years. " . . . , Some 52 candidates were confirmed at tho Native Mission' Church" yesterday af-' tornoon by Bishop Sprott. SHANNON. Mr. J. Liggins presided at a moating held, at Tokomaru on 'Saturday night' when Mr. John-'Robertson, Labour candidate for the Otaki Electorate, addressed a good meeting. Mr. Robertson received a very attentive hearing and, at the conclusion of his address a vote of confidence in the .speaker was moved .by Mr. I!. H. Dalhousie, president of the Flax Employees' Union. • There was no amendment. * The candidate devoted 'most of his speech to a criticism of the pie-, sent Administration. He will address a political meeting in Shannon next Saturday night.