PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1546, 16 September 1912, Page 2

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

iKroui Our Snacial Correspondents.l FEATHERSTON. For the purpuse of erecting the buildings to complete the Coronation Baths, tho Town Board has accepted a loan of .£201) from the Public Trust Office. The farriers of Feathcrston, Greytown, and Mai'tinburouslii recently announced nn increased scale of charges for shoeing, and it is probable I hat a me,ptinsf of suppliers to Iho Fcatherston Dairy Factory will be held shortly to discuss the <|uesliuii of providing their own forge at the factory, to be worked on the co-operative principle. A Leap Year dance, arranged by a committee of ladies, was held at (ho Ivaiwaiwai Hall on Thursday evening, and was largely at tended. The hall and supper tables were vwy prettily decorated, and the music was supplied bv an orchestra of three performers, TV ladies who acted as M.C.'s worn: Mesdames W. and R. Williams, and Misses Ilealy, Fuge, and Williams. Builders in the South AVairarapa have their hands full at present with contracts, both in the townships ami about the district. There is difficulty in obtaining carpenters, and farmers are also concerned about a prospective shortage of labour during the coming season. FEILDING. To the surprise of everyone, the bad weather conditions on Thursday and Friday morning were not sufficient to damp the uulimr of lovers of llowors. The patronage at St. John's bulb show on Friday was good, and exhibitors came from as far afield as Marlon and Palmcrston North. Messrs. W. K. Wcightman and Co., Jos. Whißhtman, and E. J. Shailer had a glorious show of blooms for exhibition only. Mr. F. Mason; of Whakaronga, neted as judgo •' of cut flowers, nnd Miss Bennett, cf Marlon, judged tho decorative and sweets classes. Ten Feilding men are candidates for tbo November accountancy examinations under the auspices of tho University of New Zealand. Lieutenant Knchael Go'sson has been appointed to Hie charge of tho Salvation Army corps at Apiti. A meeting of numbers of the Chamber of Commerce is to be held to-night to consider tho lighting- of Feilding. A challenge team of Bumiythorpo Oddfellows defeated the Foilding Lodges, representatives at cards by 24 to 10, OTAKI. Mr. Robert Speirs, of the Methodist Theological College, Auckland, arrived here on Thursday evening (o take charge of the Methodist Church. The vacancy is duo to the retirement of tho Rev. R. B. Blackmore on account of illhealth. The Hautere Defence Rifle Club will open the season on September 21. Prizes given by Mrs. J. Guy will be competed for. Another agitation is on foot to extend the present county r.oad from the factory corner to the railway station. The road, which is a half-chain one, carries a good deal of traffic to and from tho station, and is tho main road between AVellington and Palmcrston. The County Council has been approached time and again, nnd have decided to consjder the matter. Mr. Fred Ryder, who has been seriously ill, will shortly return to his homo at Kakariki, Hawke's Bay. Mrs. Ryder will accompany him. The Hikurangi Maori College, presided over by tho Rev. H. T. Stealey, is almost taxed U> capacity, there being room for only a few more boarders. Mr. Stealey is now arranging for the erection of a chapel, and nearly .£3OO has already been subscribed. CARTERTON. Mr. and Mrs. John Eaton, of Cartorton, who for many years fanned at Kokotau, celebrated their golden wedding on Friday. Mr. Eaton arrived in Wellirigton in tho ship Gleaney in 1839, and in 1802 was married to a daughter of tho liito Mr. John Hooper, of Taila, Hutt, where they resided for ten years. Somo forty years ago, Mr. and Mrs. -Eaton teinoved to thoi Wairarapa, where they have resided over since. In celebration of the happy, event,. a reunion was held at their residence on Friday, thoso present including three daughters, four sons, all of whom aro married, and fifteen grandchildren. Sir. Eaton, who has been in indifferent health for tho past three years, was well enough to participate in the gathering, and both ho and Mrs. Enton received many tokens of esteem as well as a number of congratulatory telegrams. At a meeting of farmers held hero on Friday, it was decided to form a branch of the New Zenland Farmers' Union, on the understanding that the branch manages its own local affairs entirely. It was resolved that contributions towards the union be as follow:—On holdings, Iho capital value of which was. under .£OOOO, l»s.; under .£12,000, £\ ; over, X 12.000, 30s. Slessrs. W. Howard Booth, W. Fisher, E. Eagle, jun., T. V. Moore, 11. R. Bunny, and C. Reid were appointed a committee to manage the branch. Tho Wairarapa P. nnd A. Society has decided to forward a cordial invitation to the Governor and Lady Islington to attend tho forthcoming show. Tho Wairarapa and East Coast P. and A. Society has a financial membership of 750. If members of tho association now put forth an effort to secure a member each, it apparently would not tako long to bring the grand total up to 1000. Mr. li. Evans, who has for several years been associated with Mr. Gordon Hughan s motor garage here, is iesigning shortly, in order to join Mr. E. Woodley, of Slnrtinborough, in establishing a motor gnrage in iUartinborough.