PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1695, 11 March 1913, Page 6

PROVINCIAL CENTRES.

(From Our Special Correspondents.) FEILDING. "'An asphalt l?miis court constructed at the rear of Wesley Church fur the Methodist young people was officially op;ned 011 Saturday by the patron oi : the club (Mr. Johii Cobw). Xoarly .{3O was raised in l'eilding by benefits' for the widow and children of Fireman Rush, of Palnierslon. GREYTOWN. An incipient fire occurred in a house at the south end of Greytawn on Sunday morning. Some cliikireii .were playing with matches and set 1 fire to the 1 bedclothes. These and the mattress were destroyed. The fire was promptly put out by the people in. the house. SHANNON, Mr. T. Lind presided at a meeting arranged by tho local branch of the' United Labour party, which addressed by Mr. E. Tregear on Friday evening last in the Druids' Hall.. There was a good attendance, including a party from Levin. Mr. J. Robertson, M.P., also addressed the meeting, and proposes to give another address at an'early date. ■ Mr. W. E. Yarry, ex-president of the Waihi Miners' Union, has been appointed organiser for the Manawatu Fhixtniils Employees' Union. He, with Mr. Gavin Stone,, president of the union, addressed a meeting of unionists here on Saturday afternoon. OTAKI.

The monthly meeting of the NHorowhenua County Council was held at Levin 011 Saturday. A deputation waited upon the council relative to draining the liorowhenua Lake, and got the assuranco of the chairman that the matter would be attended to. Councillors Stephenson, Richard, and Venn were appointed to wait on the Wellington Hospital Board relative to the proposed severance of the Wirokino riding to enable them to come under the jurisdiction of the Palinerston North Board. It was decided that the engineer's and the clerk's salaries be- raised .£SO each, and,that particulars be obtained of a section of laud with tho view of erecting new offices.

Much interest was evinced in bowling circles here on Saturday, when two local rinks met for the Kinnibtirgh Feathers. The holders, Bright (2), Olliver, and batherley (skip), were challenged by Thomson, Simcox, Smith, and Ferguson (skip), but tho latter rink suffered defeat by the narrow inargiu of two points, the scores being '20—18. In the singles for juniors, Noblo defeated. Ilartell, 25—12, and Gooding beat Windley, 30—15. Mr. George (of tho firm of George and George), who was present, intimated his intention of presenting feathers to the club, to go with the Kinniburgh trophy. The otter was accepted with thanks. -

The Levin bowlers, Sv.hmi, Henderson, Glacken, aiid Grover (skip), wore successful in defeating the Palnierston rink for the Thorns' ferns, winning by 19 points to 15.

The local beach is now a favourito resort for, "sports," and occasionally some wry fine- races are witnessed, many local hoises, of all sorts, taking part. On. Saturday there lyas a strong muster, and s'omc good racing ensued. The main race resulted in a win for Ml.' F. Pearcy's Wait-a-bit, who beat Mr. A. Taylor's wellknown hunter, Pathfinder, by two lengths, over a half-mile course.

The merging of the Otaki Road Board 'into the Horowheinia County Council now seems within sight, and the two petitions in favour of the step were handed to the clerk on Saturday.

Hockey is likely to*be very 'brisk throughout the Ilorowhenua district this season, aind in each township strong clubs are' likely to exist. It is hoped tlmt for the sake of the sport generally junior clubs will be formed The annual encampment of the Y.M.C.A. will be held at Mr. W. H. Field's property, Waikanae, commencing about March 19. The final cricket match for the Bevan. Cup was played on Saturday at Levin between the local eleven.and Otaki. The home team proved victorious, and thus secures the trophy of the season.