COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 216, 11 September 1911, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

northern wairoa. The foundation stone of the new Presbyterian Church at Dargaville will be laid on Wednesday next. Mr Andrews, of !e Ivopuru, has been selected to preside over the ceremony. , , The Mangarata block, 1040 acres, belonging to Mr Geo Kiddie, was sold on Thursday to J. Smith and others, who recently purchased the Omana Estate. The land is to be cut up into small farms and re-sold. The chairman of the Ota-ma tea County Council said at a meeting of that body that at present the Bickerstaff experimental farm was of no use or value to the district, anil he proposed that the council should take the matter up and ask the Minister of Lands if he will formulate a scheme similar to that for cutting up the Warenga experi* mental farm, cut the Bickerstatf estate Into t!0 acre sections and throw them open for selection. Fully 1200 out of the acres were suitable for cutting up. Ci. Coatcs said the Minister was favourable to -the proposal. The motion was earned. The following tenders were received »y the I'ublic Works Department for the Otamatea wharf contract at Young's Point.— G. M. Eraser, Himtly, £0470 15/ (accepted); Brown and Sons, £0951 11/3; A. Watsoijt £7llO (>/; D. McLean and to., £i2j7; Watson, Rhodes and Son, £111,009. WHANGAREI. At the monthly meeting of the Harbour Board a complaint was received from Mr It. Hewitt that, in consequence of material oelng dumped in the harbour at Limestone Island, the river had considerably shallowed at one part.---It was resolved to lnloiui the Limestone island authorities that unless a retaining wall was built, no more material could be deposited in tin: harbour Ihe time appointed having now expired, Jt was decided that the Whangarei Co. be freed from ail responsibility n con ncctlon with the dredge. The board decided to insist on the* payment In full of a from 'the Union S.S. ( 0., and Ml 1 was appointed collector of dues lit Limestone Island at a remuneration of o I'ei tent, commission. The question of a ro-su ot the Whangarei harbour was (lis<:\issed and lt was decided to apply to the Marine llepaitment as to the probable cost capt i atterson was appointed to supervise the operations of the dredge at a salary erf £2O P<i annum, and the dredge-masters salary was Increased tj( £3 10/ lier week. It was Uiiaiilmousl v resolved to ask the Minister for I'ublic Works that -the span in .the Kiorerou railway bridge bo widened. The final performance of "Les Cloches de Corneviiie" was performed In the Theatre Rova.l on Friday night by the Whangarei .Musical Society. The opera went with a swing, and the principals came in for repeated applause. Mir V. Barton as ' Gaspa.nl," wan repeatedly encored, ]iis c.n<iT* acterisation of the part being especially line. Miss A. Clarke, as the vivacious "Serpolette," and Miss A, Beresfor.d as "Gervase," firmly established .themselves -in the good opinions of the crowded audience. This cquallv ap-plies to Mrs Whel.ni as "Christophe. The Society Is .to be congratulated on its venture. TjE aeoha. What was undoubtedly the social event of the season—the Masonic Ball —took place at To Aroha on Friday night. 'Die brethren of Lodge Te Aroha. 5-, N.Z.C., wore Masonic regalia, and the various jewels of their several offices and positions duiing the evening. As the clock struck the hour of midnight the Masons doffed their aprons and collars, and invested their fair partners as Masons for the rest of the programme, which was a long and varied one. At 11 p.m. an adjournment wat? made to trie Palace Hotel, where a recherche supper was prepared for the brethren and their guests Over 00 persons were seated at the tirst spread. The hail, which has been repainted a-nd decorated, looked like a veritable fairyland. The dance music was supplied bv artists from Waihi, while caterers from Paeroa mlnstered to the creature comforts of the brethren and their guests at intervals during the evening. WAIHI. The Waihi Lledertafel hold its second recital of the season in the MineM Uou Hall on Thursday evening, mil ibull<lln„ being crowded. The choir shows «l«ns of much Improvement In the eoneented numbers under the conduct'orshlp of Mr. .MidgO!ev. ' .Miss M. Storey, of .the Thames, was ■the lady soloist, and she scored an emphatic success in her rendition of "Mattinata," "iLilies," "Good-bye," and "Morn." Mr. P. W. d'owell (baritone) was also heard ■to great advantage. The Lyric Quartet (Messrs. Warren, Jessop, Ulrich, and Morgan) contributed four items. At the weekly meeting of the Catholic Men's Club an interesting debate took place on "Is our recently adopted system of compulsory military training worthy of support?'' Opinion .was very evenly divided. The eleventh annual plain and fancy dress ball under the auspices of the Waihi Hospital was held at the Academy Theatre on Friday evening, and proved an unqualified success. The jr'zo for the most original On icy costume was won by Mrs. Frank Hobbs, an Oriental lady. Mrs. M. Booth •won tlio prize for the prettiest fancy dress, as Queen of the Harem, and Mr. It. Urwin (as a ballet girl) was awarded first prize for most original gentleman's costume. Mr. P. Tyson acted as M.C., and excellent; music was supplied by Ilayward's Orchestra.

A fancy fair in connection with the Ladies' Guild of St. John's Church wan openwl by Mr. 11. I*. Barry on Saturday afternoon." The stalls and general decorations reflected the highest credit on tlio ladles who took part. A demonstration of paper bag cookery was given by Miss Lawson, of the Thames Technical School. Mr. .T. S. imelile, secretary of the local branch of St. John Ambulance Association, .has been advised that the following ladles and gentlemen were sncccesfnl at the recent examination of ambulance students:—Passed In flrst aid: Catherine Mackle, Chirrlotte Nr-mbrlek, Helen Johnstone, Thalnzic Woods, Emily D. Mueller, Mary Smith, Margaret: Ryan, Charlotte Johnstone, Marjrarot White, WHIla in Woods, Desmond It van, William Holdsworth, John LoveU. Sydnev I)avl«, George Davis. Passed In lirst re-examination: Alfred Oarty, Jonn Ilelsey, Samuel Darby. Passed in second re-examination: Italph Lewis. Passed label, examination: James Wotlierspoon, Ihomae Graham, Margaret Darby A painful necident happened to sits. Tames Delanev when driving n horse through a gate. The animal knocked lior down, breaking one arm. BUCKLAND. The monthly meeting or tho Pukekohe Fast Road Board took place on oatmuay, Mr Allan (ttie chairman) presiding. It was intimated that arrangements for the voting, as rquired by the Act, would take place for the special loan of £ISOO at Tuakau on the 10th Inst., and for the f>ooo loan polling places 'Will be provided at Luckland, 1 vikau and Pukekohe Kast. It was decided to hold meetings of ratepayers re mergin,, .n new County Council during the first week in Ortoben the chairman to attend and conriwt nrocoedintcs, nicotics to Uko place nt Pleoelast on October 2, Tualcau October 4, Pnckland October 7, each evening £ere XT'oJrf being about £'.!<"vr> per acre. . Several settlers are running short _ » water,' and the pastures and growing ciopr, •vis»«>«■,** w Wylie, passed away peacefully last week, a£ The MetHodlst Choir renderd a service of good considering the dry season.