COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4479, 22 March 1876, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

PAPAKURA. ' ; Town v. Country was represented in a cricket match which took place at Papakura on the 17th instant, between an eleven taken from the Bombay and Opaheke Clubs, and an eleven from the Auckland Cricket Club. The rain, which fell at intervals during the day, rendered the bowler's task more arduous, and the small number of chances given, speaks favourably for the skill of the bowlers. The country eleven were first at the wickets, and were all out for 59, McLennan, of the Opeheke Club, carrying out his bat with the figure of 30 attached to his name, and having been in the whole innings. The Town •eleven were disposed of for a total of 30 runs. The Country made 49 iuns in their second innings, and as there was three-quarters of an hour to spare, the' Town eleven sent in

their best men, and when play was stopped four of their best batsmen were ont for 19. The stumps were then drawn, and the game was-awarded to'the Country. The countryclubs were not forgetful of tl.e rights of hospitality, having, provided a substantial luncheon at the Papakura Hotel, in host Simms' well-known style,'to which the townsmen were invited, and. everything was done to cause them to have a pleasant remembrance of Papakura. The return match is to be played on the loth proximo, at the Domain. —[Correspondent.] POVERTY BAY. The Land Court sits at Makaraka to-day to hear the Waingaromia cases. There is a little excitement about the everlasting Makauri block. It appears that in spite of the natives being promised that their bush should be reserved to them for a term of years, Captain Read has set a lot of splitters to work, and the natives are carting the stuff away as fast as Head's men cut it. They threaten that they will now have nothing further to do with any settlement or pretended settlement of the claims to this block, because as fast as one thing is agreed to and supposed to be settled, the agreements are broken. It will be most disastrous to the : district if this matter is knocked on the head. The Petroleum Company shareholders had a final meeting last night, when it was settled that the company should be wound up, no further calls to be made till all outstanding calls are paid up. i The bribery case comes on at Tauranga on Monday, the 20th. It causes some little interest here. If it is proved, and Morris stands again, he is almost certain to win. i Numbers here would have voted for him if they had thought he would have been so near ■ the top of the list. Even he himself thought ; ho had not much of a chance. There are ■ one or two pretty clever articles in the late IVananga, one in particular in reply to a i circular issued in the interests of McLean; ) and said to have been written by the Rev. " Mohi Turei, but I am inclined to ascribe it : ,to Henare Potae—of course with assistance, s —[Own Correspondent, March 16.]