PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 8

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Oar Bpscia! Gorrcipondenti.) ■ ♦ FEILDING. .4. penny-in-the-slot postage 6tamp machine has been placed iu position on the post office counter. The Marton Farm for school boys is now in pretty good order, and sowing will be begun after tho term holidays. Thero was a record gathering at Halcombe last evening to do honour to Mr. and Mrs. Bnrcham in appreciation of their public and personal services, and in commemoration of their golden wedding. At Sir. Ernest Short's suggestion, the Alniijdale camp for schoolboys, at bis stud farm near Feilding,.. this year has been postponed until the week after the Palmerstou show. Mr. Short expects that his now manager for "Almadate" will bo out from Scotland before then, and the boys will, therefore, have the advantage of a wider teaching under an expert fresh from the Old Country. Commissioner Richards, of the Salvation Army, is to bo given a public banquet in Fcilding next.Monday.'

FEATHERSTON. The annual congregational meeting of the Presbyterian Church ■ was hold on Thursday evening, when the Rev. G. K. Stowell presided over a largo attendance. The session report and balance-sheet were adopted. Sunday school work had been extended by opening a -school at Kaiwaiwai. The general account showed receipts ,£172 13s. 4d., and expenditure .£179 19s. 9d. For the .manse fund JCI3S 17s. had resulted from a bazaar, and formed part of J!150 paid off the' ihanse debt. The retiring committee of management was re-elected. .An addivss was deliverediiby.- tiiC 'Kcv.. Jir. Young (Lfttisdowne, Masterton), a solo contributed by Mr5,,,A.,,H. ,BnU ( ,,;and by. the Misses'l'TnojiipsoiV, visiters: ftxim Dunedin. Refreshments wero dispensed by* a coin-, mitteo of . ladies. . ' A military ball, in connection with tho local territorials, was held in, the Town Hall on Thursday evoning, and was attended by over 200 people. , The hull had been attractively decorated for the occasion* and-the function was a very cniovablo one in every respect. It a largely-attended meeting of farmers held here to-day addresses were given by Messrs. H. Morison, ,J. C. Cooper, and D. M'Gregor, jun., of tho Masterton branch of the Fanners' Union, and M Mr. H. A. Kevins, of Tenui. It was resolved to form a sub-branch of the union, to comprise the South Wairarapa district, and to elect an executivo of 12 members representing the Carterton, Featherston. and Maryborough centres, who will arrango for meetings to be held alternately at the above places. Mr. D. Hebenton, -district organiser, who was present at the meeting, reported that ho had secured u largo.number of new members as the fiutc-onio of an organising tour through tho Wairarapa.