COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4407, 29 December 1875, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

PAPAROA. On Sunday, the 12th instant, a selection of more than twenty individuals of the teachers and scholars of the Paparoa Sundayschool, accompanied by one or two friends, visited the neighbouring settlement of Maungaturoto by invitation, to hold a service of sacred song, illustrative of the " Pilgri"i's Progress," in that place, as they had previously done at Paparoa. The usual morning service, which was conducted by Mr. Wilson, of Paparoa, was enlivened by the singing of hymns from Mr. Ira D. Sankey's well-known collection of "Sacred Songs aud Solos," instead of from the book ordinarily in use. This service, as well as the Service of of the evening, was held in the school-house, the chapel being too small to accommodate the assembled friends; Mr. E. Wright, the organist of the Paparoa Wesleyan Chapel, presiding at the harmonium on each occasion. Two of the several gentlemen who are just now deeply interested in everything that coucerns the welfare of the electors of Marsden, namely, Messrs. F. Bradley, of Northern Wairoa, and F. H. Hull, of Mangawai, are this week going the round of these settlements to inquire after our welfare, to assure us of the strong regard thay always have entertained, and always will entertain for us, and to confer with us on the best methods for securing the prosperity of the country at large, and Marsden in particular. At a gathering of electors here, resolutions were passed in favour of the latter of the two men named above, but uo definite pledge of support was given to either. People hereabouts have a strong objection to having as their mouthpiece in Parliament a man that cau't speak, so our late representative will fiud but little support here. Some of our settlers, who have discovered in themselves a decided leaning towards Episcopal forms of worship arc making efforts to collect the wherewithal to erect an edifice in which such wership may be conducted. Something considerably over a hundred pounds has been subscribed, and a site purchased.—[Correspondent, DccembeIS.]

« OTAHUHU.

Otahuhu has had its spelling bee at last j and it came about at last, and it came about in this wine : —The managers of the Sundayschool in connection with Holy Trinity Church, being, desirous of increasing th<> funds at their disposal wherewith to increase the library, resolved to have an entertair , - ment of a somewhat pleasing and instructive nature. The affair came off, on Thursday evening last, in the Public Hall, and coneisted of what the hand-bills called "A Series of Briliant Illustrations, Dissolving Views, &c, by lime light interspersed with Instrumental and Vocal Music." In tho spelling bee some who essayed wero knocked down at the first word. One gentleman was beaten by a very small inseefo, namely, a " gnat." Another gentleman had forgotten his " avoirdupois" table of weights; a lady was Broken by a "fascine," and a gentleman did not like to have an "indictment" proffered to him, so he retired after standing his ground for some time; but there is no doubt that they all would have retired themselves if they had been allowed a second chance. There was a very general feeling abroad in the body of the hall that the pronouncer was not sufficiently distinct in his pronunciation, but it may have arisen from the rather confused noise that was going on nearly .the whole time. The two prizes, which consisted o£ two nicely-bound books, were awarded to Miss Hall, and Mr. Thomas Hall. Not the least pleasing part of the evening's entertainment was the singing of several hymns bv the Sunday-school children, led by their teachers.

WAIUKU.

The races to come off on Wednesday next, the 29th, promise to be good, and several horses will be engaged m the different events—some known good performers. The weather looks very threatening this morning. We have not had two consecutive fine days for the last fortnight, consequently people are very backward with their harvest work. —Our Correspondent, December 27.]

WARKWORTH.

Our Boad Board has received a reply to their requeet, made to the Minister of Public Works, for a dray road to Auckland, informing the trustees that there are no funds for a local work of this nature. On the same day they \rere interviewed by Captain Heale, requesting information as to the direction euch a road should take, and this gentleman informed the Board that the Government were very anxious to have a main road surveyed and made without delay, to join the new road now in.course of construction from Mahurangi northward. This anxiety at the present moment seems quite remarkable, and it ia t» bo hoped it will not desert the Government when the election ia over. The Hoteo Bridge is now passable, and I have been informed that as Captain Casey's steamer on the Kaiparst creates some opposition, and diverts some of the traffic that would otherwise come to Mahorangi and the Minnie Casey, Mr. Quick, of your city, is

likely to place a coach on the new road, in which enterprise the Wo settlements will wish him' every success.—[Correspondent, December 23, 1875.]