COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

PAESOA. A very successful " Catholic social and euchre tournament -were held in the Criterion Theatre on Friday evening. Mr J. Brennaii was master or ceremonies, while Mr T. Currans had charge of the card tables. Among those wbo contributed towards the evening's amusement was Miss Major}- McCarthy, who sang "They Do Not Believe Mc," and in response to an encore, "Comiug Through the Rye." A trio by Mrs Build and Mr and Mrs Kinlayson was much appreciated. Mrs Budd and Mrs Cooke played the piano accompaniments. The prize-winners were Mrs G. Metham, Mrs Parkinson, Mrs Fletcher, and Mr Partridge. T______>B. At a meeting of the vestry of St. Margaret's Church the wardens reported ou the -ulldings of the vicarage, and stated they were in a dilapidated condition, the back portion beln_ in a state of collapse. The vestry was of opinion that Immediate action was necessary. Mr Wrlghtsou roughly estimated that the cost of pulling down and rebuilding tbe whole of the back portion would cost over £300. .During the meeting one of tbe church supporters generously offered £w towards the cost If fourteen other members would follow suit. Tbe offer was accepted, and a sub-com-mittee was at once appointed to canvass the district for fourteen subscribers. The —adles' Guild has undertaken to raise £50 towards the fund by having a bazaar and sale of woTk. The fortnlg-htly sheep aud cattle sale was held at tbe yards tv Talhape on Wednesday, the <3tli Inst. There was a good attendance of buyers, but prices realised were dull. There was a fair entry of sheep, rhe number of cattle oeing small. Messrs JJalgety and Co. report as follows:—Sheep: Mlied aged ewes, up to 28/: cull ew*s, 11,'S in l-'/i: mixed lambs. 15/7 to 16/2; twotooth wethers. SI/; cull lambs. 8/6 to 1.1/8. rattle: (".■«■„ with calves at foot, £l_; four-year-old bullocks. £14 5/. The statement of accounts of the Talhap» 1-sirmers' Red Cross sheep art union is as follows:- Expenditure: Amount paid, Talhape Ked cross £1785 IS/. Wellington £549 3/t>: oommisslou paid. Wellington Red Cross fl 18. . Wanganui £459 70/, Marton £19 6/. ->andon IS . Ureytowu £10 16/, HmrtervMe £'■ *-'<. Marton .17 4,. Wairarapa £35 2Rnngataua £11 18/6. Total, £2908 11/ Printing and advertising. £304 3/; postages. I 4 J ~ 8: ehe T' e book. 5/: sundries. £3 - i Total, £333 3/7. Balance to pay -Red Cross. £742 15/15. Grand total. £4004 10/ Receipts: Net amount received from sale of tickets, £-1004 10/.

WAIHI. A deputation consisting of Messrs. R. A. f lurk. .1. E. Slevin. J. G. Comes, and C. Hands proceeded to Paeroa on Wednesday and waited on the Ohlnemm-l County Couri'•n in response to a t7>oo lo_n which the s.tt.ers hay. agreed to raise for the construction of a bridge across the Ohlnemuri Hiver at the foot of Victoria Street, for the purpose of giving access to the »aliil plains, the setters paying the Interest by means of a special rate. The Council suggested that a potltlou signed Dy the settlers shonlii be sent to the Council, which in turn would use it as a reason for Government assistance. The deputation took the opportunity to point out the present impassable condition of the road to the Waihi beach, and made a strong plea on behalf of tho settlers to get the worst portions metalled. Word has been received from Wellington that Mr E. Bestic. son of Mr E. Beetle, of Waihi, has undergone a serious operation at the Victoria Military Ward, for the correction of injnries caused to his skull Hi rough a wound sustained at Gallipoli. He is reported to be making satisfactory progress.

TE AROHA. A farewell was tendered this week to tbe Biggar brothers, by Elstow friends, on the occasion of their leaving for camp. Ou behalf of the settlers Mr. Geo. Grainger presented the brothers with safety razors, military hair brushes, and a ease of pipes. At a clearing sale at Walhou on Wednesday, dairy cows sold from 8 guineas to 10i guineas. Pedigree Jersey bulls brought from 4 guineas to 9 guineas. A tablet to the memory of the late William Shepherd Allen was' unveiled at the Methodist Church, Te Aroha, on Sunday evening. Sergeant F. Pollard, ot Te Aroha, who was this week drawn ln the ballot, has been in oarap since December last. He ls to leave Iwth the Twenty-seventh Reinforcement very shortly.