COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 154, 28 June 1912, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIHI. Iff. reply to a ietter fronvthe seetetarvxif fhe VtaShS Chamber of -Commerce (Mr il. G. Power) re tree planting on Waiil Plains, the TJjider-Seeretaxy of tbe Department of Lands states that the nurseryman of Botorna has no trees available this season, tout topes to tore a laieer supply next year, when application should be made. The Government wonid not plant the trees, but the ■Department would send up its superintending nurseryman to advise as to Hud of tree suitable to plant. , OGolf—The' monthly medal prize competition was <woa on Wednesday by Mrs Spratt with a score of 79—22—97, Miss Sowertjv being second with 80—22—55. The men, on Saturday, will have a bogey competition over 18 boles.

OTAMATEA. The annual general meeting- of the- North Kaipara Dairy Company was held at tie JPahi Hotel on Friday, when there was a good muster of shareholdere. Proceedings ■were commenced -with a dinner Mr H MeMoxdo presided. A discussion arose over the "dumping" question, and it iras unanimously decided to abolish this system of cream collecting, -wiiich .was neld to toe an nirfnir one. Tie •company was congratulated upon being- on a very sound footing A new -engine and boiler is to toe put into ■the factory forthwith, also other modern machinery which will make the plant one of the most modern in the North. It is the intention of the company to pay the same price for -butter fat during the ensuing season as its local competitors. Tie company sent its secretary (Mr Stirline) to the dairy association meeting at Palmerston At a meeting of the North Kaipara Agricmrnral Association on Saturday it was resolved to hold the next annual show on Friday, 14th Febmory. It was also decided to call for tenders for the purchase of 72i acres of sn-burbau land at Pahi. The wind-up of the North Kaipara Cooperative Society's store business is about complete. Unsecured creditors have been notified that -there <will' be no dividend avaiiairle.

XE AEOHA. The monthly meeting' of tie Te Aroha Borough. Council was head, on Wednesday evening. The resignation of Mx S. Grant, assistant in the electricity department, was received. A letter was received from the Treasury Informing the Council that a ■further £1000 of the £3000 loan had been placed to the Council's credit, also £06 4/S gold revenne. A petition, forwarded by residents of the new suburb Ed wardstown, for formed roads, -was objected to by Councillor Hn-b----bard, on the grounds that very little reveuue had been received from that district. It was recognised by tie Council, however, that means at egress had to be ■provided, and the Works Committee were empowered to get something done. In accordance with a notice of motion given at last meeting, it was decided to strike a general rate at 1/6 in th.c £, and a water rate of 7d to the £.

A most successful social, given by the adherents of the Roman Catholic Cbnreh at ManaTvaru, tras held there on Wednesday night. Some 70 couples were In attendance, and a very enjoyable time was spent ■by aJI •present. It is expected that the ciinTCh will benefit to the extent of some £12.

The SaJf-yearly meetrng of the Ix>yal Waltoa L0.0.F. Lodge was held on Tuesday last The following officers were Installed 'by the D.G.M., Bro. Whtttaier:—

G.M., Bro. Turnbull: 'x.G. Bro. VercoeV.G., Bro. M. McLean; B.K, R. McLean. Visitors were present from the MorrinsvUle, Hot SprinßS, Dominion, and Rotorna lodges G. Ward, charged with lailing to attend parades, pleaded religions objections, he being a member of the Hymooth Brethren. The case was dismissed. Ward joins the Ambulance Corps.

TAZEL&PE. Mr F. M. B. i-'lsher, M-P. for Wellington Central, addressed a large audience here on Tuesday evening. Mr A. Ij. Arrowsmith occupied the chair. The speaker, who replied to the speech given here recently by the Hon. G. \V. Russell, received an excellent hearing. At a meeting convened by the Mayor to form a branch of the New Zealand Sports Protection League, the following office bearers were elected:—President, his Worship the Mayor, Mr A. Nathan; vice-presi-dents. Dr. E. C. Barnett. Messrs R. B. Hair, W. McLennan, G. Wrightson, A. E. WaSeman. G. Bray, H. Dashwood. J. De Luen, V. N. Whitcombe, H. Doherty, A. t*. Arrowsmith, S. Peyton, G. Sutherland, D. N eagle; general committee, Messrs J. P. Aldridge, W. Batley, C. H. Cribb. A. L. Luke, C. C. Wansbrough; secretary, Mr C C. Wansbrough. A strong branch has been formed here, sixty members being enrolled within tbe first two days. In reply to a complaint forwarded by Mr R. W. Smith, our local member, re the delay in proceeding with the Ractihi railway, a reply has been received from the Minister for Pnblic Worts, the Hon. TV. D. S. MacDonaJd, stating tSat the survey of the first mile has been completed, and work will start when plan is approved, within a few days. Aβ further surveys are completed work will be extended. The Wanganni Harbour Area Commission held a sitting at the Taihape Conrthonse on Tuesday. No announcement was made of the time of commencement- There was no one present to give evidence at 10 o'clock, and after waiting an honr proceedings were adjourned until two o'clock. Mr Hutton, solicitor, watched proceedings ou behalf of the Harbour Board, and Mr Watt on behalf of the Wanganui County Council. A petition has been in circulation protesting against the inclusion of the Taihape District in the rating area. The Borough Council, acting on legal advice, declined to give evidence. Very little interest was taken here in the doings of the Commission Mr H. D. Bennett and Mr J. P. Aldridge were the only persons who came forward to give evidence. The evidence of both, these gentlemen was considered by Mr Watt and Mr Hutton to be favourable to the area proposed.

NORTHERIT WAISCA, Lodge Hobson <Ma s onic) ball has been fixed for August 2, in the Te Kojraru Coronation HaJL Tie Arapohue footballers' toll for September 27. Following is the third round of senior football matches:—June 29: ArapofrueSouthern, llaropln-Dargaville. July 6" Maropln-Soirthein, Bargavdlle-Aratapu. On 29th DargavUle Juniors meet ltuawai. Tie balance-sheet of the Dargaville Borough Council for the year eftded March 31, iaX2, shows receipts: General rates £982 13/S, hotel licenses £120, vehicles £22, packet licenses i£4o. auctioneers' license £40, building permits £.13, dog tax £10, boardingJionses £8, £9, contributions to works £119. Statement of •balances shows: General account, dr., £525 17/9; hospital and charitable aid account, cr., £25 10/2; contractors' deposits, er., •£l7: total, £483 7/7. Bank balance, dr.. £4SO 11/5; unpresenied cheques, £± 2/T5; cash. In hand, £1 6/4: total, £453 7/7.

At a meeting of the Dargaville Borough •Council, the Mayor reported that the cost of entertainment of the Prime Minister •would not exceed £10. It was resolved to ask the County Council to have mooring piles placed at Maugawhare to obviate ships mooting to trees. Mt Hammond advised that in addition to Mr Kerr's interest in the land required for water scheme purposes, the Crown's interest amounted to £327 H/6, making a total of £1993 17/6. T3ie Crown might give the Council its Interest. Referred to committee. The UttdeT-Secretary wrote that no formal application Jrad been received from Whangarei Council for permission to harness the TOalrua Falls. He suggested that the matter of the protection required by Dargaville might toe amicably settled between the two Councils. It was resolved to sign the contract with John iDuthie and Cα, of Wellington, for gas woris machinery. Details submitted showed Council's commitments re gasworks to date at £3052 15/ S. It was considered probable that bricks might be obtained locally later on, and it was decided to delay the erection of the gasworks', and to proceed firgt with the erection of the manager's dwelling-. Mr Blackburn reported that if no unforeseen delays occur, gas should bs available by the end of March, 1913. Mr Chas. Shaw, manager of the Levin Gasworks, was appointed manager at a salary of £3 15/ per week, with a grant of £10 for espensesInstead of striking seperare general and charitable aid rates, it was resolved to strike an increased general rate of 2Jd In tie pound. The financial statement showed that £3SS 10/1 of first load advance on account of £20,000 w«s expended. Receipts si:iee March 31, £T2S 9/1; expenditure, £796 5/4: overdraft. £552 10/2; outstanding rates —ceneral £35 3/6, hospital £14 6/, sAflitati** £256 1-V.

PAEROA. The eodal of th* Ghinemnri A. and H- Society -was held ia tiie Criterian Theatre, Paeroa, last nigirt, and was a did snecess, bofli flnaacJaHy «ed sociaajt. "Ehe Society will clear about £15 out of tfie event- A euchre tournament was held, and the prizes were won by—ladies, Miss Clari 1, Mrs Byrne 2; gentlemen, Sir TPenneE 1, Mr Hanna 2.

OSie usual monthly meeting o< the Buntly Towxi Board was held on Thursday ey«aS»S, Mr. J. P. Bailey in the chair. A letter from the Lands Department was received vesting in the Board in trust allotment 1-ia, Tanpiri Parish, block 9, Kangiriri Survey District, a≤ a site lor a cemetery. The Raglan Town Board notified that they had written t3ie Government urging the survey of a possible route for a railway from Bantly to Raglan, via Puiemiro. As the matter of obtaining road metal in tie Waikato is becoming more difficult and costly, the desirability of the local bodies in the Waikato combining .with a view to opening up a quarry in Huntly which contains an unlimited supply of flrst-class metal, »■"! of bringing pressure to bear on the Govern-, ment to put in a siding to enable the quarry to Cc worked economically, !has been the subject of correspondence between the various local bodies for some time past. A conference has been arranged, to be held at Hanitty on Saturday, the 29th inst, tit which delegates from the following will be present, viz.: The Cambridge and Hamilton Borough -Councils, the Frankton and Ngaruawahia Town Boards, the Whangamarino and Kirikirlroa Boad Boards, and the Waipa County Council. Accounts amounting to £325 4/1 in the general account and £370 0/5 in the loan account w«re passed for payment.

TJie members of the. Htmtly Rod and Gun Club met on Wednesday evening at Mr. Spiers" restaurant for a smoke concert, the occasion marking the close of the present and the opening of the forthcoming seasons. Mr. J. P. Bailey, chairman of the Huntly Town Board, presided over a full gathering, and formally handed over, on behalf of ihe- donors, the Ballistite Cnp given by the Xobel Explosives Co. of G-las-go-w, for competition among gun clnbs. This cnp was -won by Hiintly at Te Aroha daring the Easter holidays. The handsome silver cup presented by the Rev. Father Cahill for the club champioDshtp. and won by T. Hedley, was also handed over to the winner by the president. Mr. Lattleproud's cap, Mr. Pearson's prize, and the president's (Mr. J. Elliott) gold medal were all won by Mr. J. Young, and the veterans' gold medal went to Mr. A. Green. Harmony and story were present in plenty, and a real good nigfat Teas indulged in. Tie Oddfellows Loyal Hand of Friendship Lodge, No. 8010, held their monthly enchre party and dance on Tuesday evening. Tihere were abont twenty-five couples prasent, and the dancing was ninth enjoyed. The euchre tourney was won by Miss Ada Evans for the ladies and Mr. J. Healy for the gentlemen. Mrs. -C. Skellern and air. Louis Ralph .gained distinction by annestfng the two "booby" prizes. Good music by Mr. C. Hayes ana an ample supper provided by the ladies went far to contribute to a very pleasant <?venin«.

Tbe old friends of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Harris, sen., visited their resid-enee on Wednesday evening, and presented, Mr. Harris ■with a gold-mounted umbrella and Mrs. Harris with a large npholstered easy chair, the occasion herag the fifty-first anniversary of their Tvedding flay. The presentation was made by Mr. J. P. Bailey, on behalf ef the subscribers. Mr. Harris, in responding, gave Rome niglily interesting and at tfmes .Tmnsins , anecdotes of his early New Zeahmd exoeriences. Tis Tecipients , healto was heartily toasted.