COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 271, 15 November 1910, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

CAMBRIDGE. CAMBRIDGE, Saturday. The monthly nieetihg of the .Leamington. Town Board waa liejui last evening. Mr W. White presided, the whole <rf the'members 'being present. The ■Chairman and Mr C Jacrett were asked to inuke an estimate of what a public hall and offices would cost:; and it wu« decided to take sections 255 and 258, under "The Public Works Act," as a site for such buildings. It was decided to take steps to get ii road alongside the recreatton reserve dedicated, it has existed for more -than a qu&rter of a. century, but has not hitherto been dedicated. The Board then sat as a Itomaia Board. Tenders -were then received for the position of caretaker, that of M. Johnson (£2S) being accepted. CAMBRIDGE, Monday. Ac the Trinity Presbyterian Sundayschool on Sunday last, JOx A. HopMrk (superintendent), on behalf of tier fei/>«r(teachers, presented Miss A. Gow with a handsomely bound Bible, as a token of esteem, aud to mark the occasion of her approaching marriage. The Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Oompany have struck a splendid supply of water close to the Tamahere creamery, as predicted by the -Rev. Mr Mason, the well .known water diviner. Tne bore is 'J7O feet deep, and the water rises to within 70 feet of the surface, and gives upwards of SOO gallons per hour. In boring a snial) Beam of coal was passed iirough.

HUNTLY.

The Huntly Rod and Gun Club held a competition for a handsome gold medal presented by Miss Ralph. The conditions were fifteen shots, with handicap, under the New. Zealand Gun Club rules. Mr. Peter Dunks pxoved an easy winner, with a score of 14 out of a possible 13. 'j3ie following are tie principal scores:—P. Danks (11yds), J. 4 birds; T, G. Stephenson (lOyde), 11; V. Smith (94yds), 11; A. Eckland (11yds), 11; W, Parkes (12yds), 11; B. Clinch (11yds), 10; J. S. Johnson (12yds), 10; C. Bailey Cllyds), 10; J. Gratwich (10yds), 10; G. PearcQ (9yds), 10; W. Huston (Syds), 10; J. Young (7yds), 0; Air. %Vangh (SJydS), 9; E. Clinch (11yds), 9. A sweepstake was shot after the match, when T. G. Stephensou and C. Bailey divided with 4 birds out of 5Mr. B. Farreli acted as judge.

Huntly cricket team had an easy win at Huhtly against Hamilton in the Waikato League match. Huhtly scored 108, and Hamilton East scored in their two innings 17 end 31 respectively. The following are the principal scores for Huntly:—Hadley 31, J. Melvor 29, K. Gleeson 11, H. Wilson S, H. Murphy «, M. Healey C. For Hamilton, Pomeroy was the highest scorer with 22. Siurphy and Taylor's bowling for Huntly proved too much for the visitors in the iirst innings, the former taking four for 7 runs and the latter five for 8. Hamilton batted one man snort in both innings. Mr. D. S. Wight, manager of the Taupiri Coal Co., was tendered a farewell by the office staff and officials employed by the company at the Huntly mines on Saturday evening in the 'Masonic Wall, on the occasion of his severing hie connection with the Taupiri Coal Co. Mr. W. Woods, in a meat speech, presented Mr. Wight, in the name of Che officials, with a handsome marble clock, and a silver-mounted oak tray for Mrs. Wight. The following contributed to an excellent programme:—Messrs, Woods, Brownlie, Hayes, Huston, Berry, Burgess, ■Go wane, I>arby. Jones, Xamgfofd, Jolly. Peckham, Claridge. KATIKATI. The annual rifle meeting under "the auspices of the Katikati settlers was held last Saturday at KatikatL Lieut -Colonel Ward, of Tauranga, was in. charge bl the meeting. '15he teams' match resulted as follows: No. 3 O.H.V. CWoihl), 400; Waihl Bines, 389; Witikino Rifle Club, "A" team, 385; Tauranga Mounted Bines, 369; Waiklno lUfle Club, "B" team, 368; No. 3 O-B-V., "B" team, 307. The ranges were 300 and M 6 yards. No. 3 0.8.V. takes the Katikati Cup, which norw becomes their own property, the team having -won it four times in succession. The Individual mattii was won by Davis, of Waiklno Rifle Club, with the score of 66. He also won the trapny •for the grand aggregate, and trophy and £1 for the individual match. Private Draffln, No. 3 0.E.V., tras with 64, winning £1. Lieut, MerrcHs (Tauranga Moxmied Rifles) was third, with 63, winning 15/. During the day three possibles -were registered, at 600 yards by Davis (W<iikinot. Captain KoUinsoii, and Private S. Clarke (No. 3 0.R.V.) respectively. At the eoncTusiqn of the sTMoUng , , Ward retnrned lianks on behalf of the visitors. HUIYUA. Crops and cattle are looking well, aud this season ■will be one of thb best that we have had for some time. The Raid Board has received information that they are to get a grant of £200 to enable them to widen the New-road. Mr Horton has sold his farm of 322 acres and stock to Mr J. McKay, of Northcote. Among the cattle are some very chioice Jersey cows. While niusterinff cattle Mr W. Hbrton got threwn from his horse, and hurt his leg. BAGLAN. The, rainfall during October was considerably below the average, but on the last day of the morrrti, and an the Ist of November, splendid fains fell, giSTng the gvound a thorough, soaking. Since then, the growth of grass and other crops ihas been exceptionally good. The pastures are now looking their best. Spring sown oats arc looking. well, while winter oats are now in car. There is every piospect of a heavy hay crop, and haymaking will commence about the beginning of December. Early potatoes are looking well, and I have not tseen or heard of any blight yet. In many cases the main crop has only jmst been planted. Potato planting generally has been later this season than usual.

The supplies to the local creameries are mounting up , , and will soon, be at the flush of the season.

Theie is an unprecedented demand for dairy stock, especially anything that can show the Jersey strain is eagerly sought alter at big prices. Stock of all descriptions are selling well. There ore not nearly co many calves being killed this season. Home separation is gaining gronnd rapidly, and it seems as tf it will trniy be a snort time until it will become general. Sheep shearing is now in fall swing, jpbe clip pro>misee to be a good average one, and the weaiher et present is all ifiiat could be desired.

A general meeting of members of the .Raglan and Kawliia A. and P. Association was beW at Raglan on the 12th of November, the President, Mr ,7. F. Jackson, in the chair. The principal business <*f the meeting -was to decide when and "where the ■for±hcomii]£ shows are to*be Jheld. There "was no difference of opinion expressed re *he stock show, as the association own grounds and yards a± Raglan, and it was decided to hold the stock show at Raglan about the middle of February. But for several years the winter show Jias been held at Te Mata, nine miles out in the country. There "was a , good attendance of members, and keen interest was taken in the debate, Raglan v. Te Mata. Eventnafly an amendment was carried unanimously, that Che question be settled l>y a referendum of members, financially good for ifche last year, and any new members Who eha.ll ihave paid their subscriptions by the 30th of November, the date •wnen the voting papers are

A-t date of writing the arrangements for ■flre second annual spring stoow of the Raglan Horticultural Society on 15th November are -well forward. Entries closed on the 12th November, and are considerably in excess of last year. Mx H. J. G-reenslade, ■M.P., -was expected to open the show, but his Parliamentary duties at Wellington will prevent iifan being pr^wnt. MAIN TRUNK LINE NOTES. Things arfe getting very oasy all ahmg the Matn Trunk Line, Tight from Prankton to Taihape. At Te Awannrtn a couple of good shops hare been erected, and some houses axe in course of erection.

At Otoroianga the Baflivay Department are busy altering the position of the station, and laying down, new side tracks. The wort was an urgent one, for the position of the old station necessitated the public crossing. several lines of rails to get on to the platform. Besides this -Work, the building trade is still brisk in the township, and fTiingg in the farming line are distinctly improving. Perhaps of all the places along the line the one that tas progressed most during the past twelve months is Tβ KuitL The building trade that has gone on and ie still proceeding lias been very extensive Several

large shops have been erected, and also numerous gocni dwellings.' At the present time large additions are being built to what yraa, known as Kerr's Hotel, and tenders nave also closed for extensive additions to Kelvin. For at least two years past the accommodation at th.c various private, hotels anil uoardinghouses has been taxed to the utmost, and it te still doubtful if the extra accommodation now being provided will meet the requirements of the place. This time last year there was nothing to show that there were any settlers or hardly a white man at Waiiieha. Now this place assumes quite a busy aspect when the local trains pass through. During the twelve monthe two shops and a school have been erected, while the families of several settlers are camped near the station. Ongarue, a place that will be important in the near future, docs not show much progress In the building line for the past ■twelve months, but land has been taken up all round, and business has improved eonsiaerably. Next to Te Kulti, Tanmarunul Is the place where progress has been solid. In this town houses. Jiave sprung up ail round the place, and it is still very difficult for new comers to get a house to live in. For the past few months the farm lands in the Taumarunul district lave commanded the attention of quite a large number of land seekers, and the natives are rapidly disposing of their laud by lease. It is easy to see that Tanmai'uuui 1u the near future will be reaping the benefit from a iiirge area of grazing country, and, when the badly required roads are formed, it will be a stock centre of no meau order. The improvcuient of the timber tratle favourably affected the prospects of the M&inmul, and the place shows improved business and increase in population. Kakahi and Owiiaugo are also going steadily forward, and, with the settlers going on to tlie recently acquired land around both places, it is safe to say that the progress in the near future will out-distance that of the past year. Oio, a place where there were only three railway cottages until a couple of months ago, will noTv become a eawmllling station. Messrs Oardncr and Co. have already a mill in a flue bush near the station, and it is reported that another mill is to be erected in the vicinity by a southern miller. Whilst the railway line 'was being constructed Raufiihu was one °f the interestiv places along the route, but after the ■ passed through it settled down very i.c tly. However, it now promises to becuuie a nice little township. The settlers occupying the fertile farm lands that lie towards the Wanganni River have selected this place as tiieir stock sale and store town, and now, in addition to this, two line mills are in course of erection, and will be working shortly. The improvement of the timber trade has also added to the progress of Horopilo. for ■within the past few months two sawmills have been erected and are now working, and a third mill is being built by Messrs R. Wilson and Co., of Rangataua, on a site live miles from Horopito, on the Horoplto-Rae-tihl-road. Besides a couple of residences, a boa'rdinghouse, also two shops hav e been built recently. Recently Ohakune West suffered a setback through the slump in timber, but the place Is now recovering Itself, and business is better now than It has been for th«! past two years, and there Is a marked improvement in the appearance of the place generally. At Ohakune East two private Jiotete, a boardinghouse, several shops and houses have been built during the past twelve months. The business at this place is chiefly derived from the people on the railway, and from the workmen at Gammon and Co.'c sawmilL As this place Is the station town for the bulk of the people in the Wn.l--marlno district, and derives considerable benefit from the railway travelling public, it is safe to say that it -will show more progress in the near future, especially if the Government ever adopt a two days* train service between Auckland and Wellington. It may be said that Rangataua holds the premier position as a sawmllling town on the Main Trunk line. There are numerous mills all adjacent to the town, and each one is cutting to its fullest extent, consequently the output is great. The town of Rangataua, ■which cannot be said to be more than two years old, has made great progress, and has surprised many travellers who pass up and down the line. The building has been and still is exceedingly brisk, and at prese-nt a great difficulty in getting workmen is being experienced. The section of railway line traversed by these notes is greatly handicapped by the present railway service, and it is undoubtedly time that the Minister lor .Railways songtot to improve it. North of Ohakune one can safely say that the service is not any use to the resident or settler who wishes to go to an adjacent town, for he simply can't do it without two or perhaps three days. Those in charge of th e railways certainly never considered the settler when they drew out the present service.