PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 2

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

IFrom Our Special CorresDondcnts.l ——4- ' : FEILDING. Increased inquiries are being made fol farming lands in the Feilding district, and local agents anticipate a good year, It is difficult, however, to satisfy intending buyers, especially of dairying properties, as in all cases the prices asked are considered to be far too high. One or two orchairdists from other-parts have been inspecting the Feilding district with a view of growing fruit here, though they find the prices asked for suitable , land are well nigh prohibitive. This season's wool clip for tho district will bo about equal in bulk'.to that of last year, so far as it is possible to ascertain. In quality tho new clip is reported to bo very fine, and of even growth and texture. Generally speaking, the growers arc well satisfied with the appearance oi the wool. So far as is possible the farmers are gathering up the hay, but, at the present time, the wet weather is. interfering, to a large extent, with the. progress of the work. The crops are extra good this season, and the farmers should have no trouble in providing sufficient feed for tlio winter. In one or two places the grain crops have been damaged by the gales, this meaning some loss to individual farmers, but the district as a whole will make an extremely good return...

' OTAKI. During last mouth rain fell on 19 days, tho total, rainfall being 5.58 inches, Witt the maximum fall of 1.0:1 inches on the 28th.- In December, lpiO, the fall was only 1.9G inches, while' tho average for tho month ,of December for tbe past seven years totalled 3.17 inches. The total rainfall for the year was 3G.10 inches; rain falling on 161 days. .

The seaside is at present proving very popular, and daily numbers of people may bo seen on the bench, either indulging in. fishing or •surf-bathing. Several good hauls'of'herrings have been made, but deep-sea fish appear to be scarce. Tlio vital statistics for Otuki for the quarter ended December were as follow: — Births. 1!); marriages, 3; deaths, 1. Fop the year they were: Births, 64; deaths, 26; marriages, 18. The ages of the persons who died during last quarter were' 70, GO, 61, and "0 respectively. HASTINGS. Yesterday morning a local deputation, including Sir. H. M. Campbell, M.P., left for AVellington for the purpose of mooting the Minister for Public Works, with a view to discussing the proposed routo of tho East Const railway.

.The following teams will represent the Hastings Bowling Club ut the- Northern Bowling Association's annual tournament in Wellington :-.T. •!!. Gillespie, W. Smith, W. J. White, G. Land (skip); J. E. Hall, T. M'Kibboii, J.' Holt,, and .'J. Beatson (skip). Both are. strong teams. Land's team has just tfon tho Huwke's Bay tournament. . ; . Local orchardists assembled last night for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr F. E. Nottage, late Government orchardist instructor, on tho eve of his departure for Motueka,.,where ho . will engage in tho fruit industry on his own account. Representative . fruit-growers made'complimentary speeches concerningSfr. N"ottage : s work in tho district, ana Mr. Thomas Horton expressed regret th'at : the Department failed to retain its best officers. A purse of sovereigns was presented to Mr. Kottage. In his reply, Mr. Xottago stated 'that tho Department did not offer sufficient inducement to., their officers,, and he had accordingly deemed it necessary to strike out for himself.