PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 10

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our SDeclnJ CorrasDondents.l * I FEILDING. The weather nf tlio past month or two has been good for the trout, but not for (ho anglers. With rough winds and Hooded streams, the fishermen hayo not been able to indulge in their pastime at all. All (bo streams in tho district aro well stocked. Sergeant-Major Morrison will tako up duly next week ill connection with the compulsory training scheme. Drills will be held at Rongotea, on Monday, Sandou on Tuesday, llulcombc on Wednesday, Feildiug on Thursday and Friday, and at Col.vton on Friday. Tho drills aro to be held fortnightly. It is. satisfactory to know that stock in the Feildiug district aro practically freo from disease. In tho herds there is found; occasionally, a case of niamiuitie, though with no sign of a serious outbreak. In many cases, where crops have been put in for winter feed for stock, the.vet weather. has seriously affected the growth. Rongotea dairymen who put in maizo have found thfe paddocks so wet that the young crops have been almost choked, and, in . more than one case, the sorrel has grown .right over, and completely hidden tho maize. Sheep, men have had tho growing root crops damaged _ too. Rape and turnips have not flourished, owing ,to the wet season, A continuation of yesterday's break of sunshine would bo : appreciated all. round. OTAKI. A number of Bay of Island Maoris arrived here yesterday morning on_ a short' visit. Included among them is : a, sister of the late Mr. Hone Heke, and it.'is probablo that a decision will_ bo come between her and tho local Natives regarding the erection of a memorial to the late Mr. Heke. Funds have been collected for a statue, and as deceased was one of tho principals in securing tho local Nativo college, it'is probable that a bust of tho deceased chieftain will bo erected in the college grounds. CARTERTON. Mr. John Watersen, an old settler of Mataraua, died on Wednesday afternoon. A team of bowlers from Carterton proccod to Wellington on Saturday to take part in the tournament opening there on Monday next._ The Methodist Circuit picnic has been fixed for January 22, Anniversary Day. Among recent donations received by tbo Carterton Brass Baud are:—Dr. Johnston, £2 2s. j' ,Mr. W. Howard Booth, ,£2 25.; and Mrs. W. Booth, son., £1.

WANGANUI. Tho stamp sales at the Wanganui Post Office for tne Christmas season totalled •C 1475, or ,£B4 tuore than during the previous Christmas.. Telegrams transmitted for the same period numbered 15,064, or 1400 more than for the corresponding period of 1910. Customs duties collected at Wanganui fa- (Se nunrlpr ending December 31 totalled <£10,314 15s. 2d., as against =£18,510 ss. 7d. for the corresponding period of i'JlO. For the year just closed the total revenue collected was .£73,840 2s. 3d.—an increaso of .£5358 18s. 2d. over the total for tho previous year. HASTINGS. The Government officials, who were seat to report on the damage done to the local post offico as a result of tho earthquake a few months back, have formulated recommendations, which are to be acted upon. 'A clean break is to bo sawn through the building, separating tho tower from the main block. It is thought that, by this means, 'tho tower, which has been unstable at the foundation, will settle down to a permanent level.