COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 10 June 1898, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WHAN ANA Xl

The eontnuHors have finished tho new wharf, but there "m one fault about it and that is its position. What advantage tho engineer could sue in putting it where it is cannot bo neon, as it in not convenient for any of tho HettlerH, and tiio steamer has tttill to contend with getting over tho KhaUowc&t part of the river. I think matters of this kind should be left to general opinion of settler*, who, 1 feel sum, Mould have vhosen a better and wore convenient spot for a wharf.

On Sunday night last an attempt was made to break into Mr Morris' tstoro. There are suspicions of the perpetrator, and the polico at Hikurangi have been com* Tuunicated with. Our local teacher has been busy for Home time past trying to get a Money Ordor OUice and Post Oilice Savings Hank ostablwhed here, and'l am happy to say that the affair is now a. certainty, as two of the settlers are willing to £0 bond with the local postmaster in connection with tlio office. A proposition is also on tho move to petition Parliament to have a telephone erected. In a nlaeo like this, where the Kauri Timber Company and Northern Steamship Company arc no largely interested it in the general opinion that a telephone .should ho carried from Hikuranjri. Its convenience would bo greatly felt by the shipping which trades with this port. Wo have had two public meetings lately, one in connection with the Hall," to elect Committee and oflicors for ensuing year, and tho other for tho election of '-school Committee. At the former it was shown that, the Hall trustees had over £23 in hand, and the meeting decided that the Building Committee should carry out proposed additions immediately.

HAMILTON, Monday

During .the last few months there has been a great deal of sickness in this district. Inlluenxa has ran through almost every house in tlio neighbourhood, and its after efforts in many cases have been fatal. The death rate appears to havo been unusually high, and the last few days have been especially depressing. One death is sufficient to cause quite, a wave of gloom ; but when three occur in the short space of two days, the feeling of sadness produced can easily be imagined. The first, that of Mr Wm. Peacock, one of the pioneers of the placo, had been looked for for some months past, and this, combined with the tact that the deceased had long passed the allotted number of milo posts, of course had the effect of softening the blow, lint in the case of Mr ft. 1,.' Hooper and Mr C. N. Lequesne the sorrow is indeed hard to boar. Both were in the prime of life and universally loved and respected. The late Mr Peacock was carried to his last testing place on Sunday after noon, the members of the old 4th Regiment, at least nineteen out of a possible twentylour, turning out to see the last of their old comrade. This afternoon the late Mi Lenuesno was laid to rest at tin early age of thirty-two. The Rev. R. « 0. Begga conducted the ceremony at tin grave, around which were clustered ;• largo number of friends from Auckland and other places at a distance. Mi Hoopers body will be interred in V,v Hamilton East Cemetery to-morrow mon ing. He was connected "with the Waikal ■' limes" and afterwards with the "Argus' lor a period of twenty years, and will bi sadly missed by l,us office companions.