WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6003, 12 February 1881, Page 5

WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

[FROM OUR OW'.V CORRESPONDENTS.] "VWatawiiata, Friday. A.LL the piles of the new bridge are now Irivcn right across the river, and the upper >vorks laid over the two SO-feet spans. The :outractors expect to liave the bridge, ready :or opening in April. Alexandra, Friday. The Paterangi and districts appear to be flourishing. Everywhere does the iropped land give evidence of having borne m abundant harvest, and growing crops of mangolds, turnips, and potatoes look most promising. Oats this year have been a decided success. On the iarni of Mr. Sing There turnips have been put in quite late .ast autumn, a crop of oats followed n the spring, and he has got an enormous ;rop, saved as hay, estimated at three tons to the acre, the greater part of which is already sold, to be chaffed and delivered in Auckland at a price of £5 per ton. Mr. Fry, who bought Mr. Malcolm Taylor's place, is, ivith his three sons, making great improvements. Mr. Berry's late fann has again jhanaed hands, this time to a Mr. Newland, 1 gentleman of independent means from home, who, for the sake of his health, lias :lecidcd to make tliis part of New Zealand tiis home. Mr. Newlaml is having erected 3n the farm one of the finest private houses in Waikato, at a cost of over £1000. Pukf.icura, Friday. Your Hamilton correspondent's report of the meeting of the Waipa County Council at Oliaupo on Tuesday last mentions Mr. Buttle's nou-attendance. It is hut right, how ever, that it should be known that Mr. Buttle was unavoidably hindered from attending on account of severe illness in liis family, important as his vote would have been on that occasion. The state of the road from Fleming's corner through Oliaupo lias been again md again referred by strangers visiting AVaiiato, 'and the Press," as simply disgraceful in ;lie winter time. Hamilton*, Friday. Something should be done in the matter of the road between this place and Tuhikaramea. The country districts on the Waipa liave Teat cause of complaint at their eniorcecMsolation from their proper market town, and Hamilton is itself a great loser from being difficult of access to settlers lyiiK' to the west of it. The road between the "Xuliikaramea settlement and Hamilton is all fairly passable for wheeled trathe, except some 50 or GO chains, which requires ballasting, until which work is done it is useless in frittering money away in trilling repairs here and there upon it. The Kirikiriroa Board may mull'realise themselves and do a good service to man and beast by utilising the excellent spring oi pure cool water at the cutting in Hi a ton's Gully. If they would do as the Pukekura Board has done in the case of more than one spring upon the roads in their district —fix a neat strong box to retain the water—tlmy would confer a benefit on all persons and ;attle travelling between Hamilton and Piako and To Arolia. It is satisfactory to find that at large a iistauoe from Auckland there exists tlic

possibility of getting the more delicate por- g tions of machinery—brass-work, wheels, &c. ■ —repaired without the expense and delay of sending to Auckland. Mr. Webber,"locksmith, of Hamilton, yesterday prevented a machine from being thrown out of work for some days, by repairing a brass cogwheel upon the spot in a few hours. Three of the cogs had been broken off, and when three new cogs had been inserted in their place, it was difficult without minute inspection to discover the mended portions. List night the Hamilton Light Infantry met at the Odd-Fellows' Hall to deliver in J their arms, according to advertisement, c Afterwards it transpired that the iustru- j ments of the band were not forthcoming, , being held by the captain of the company until a guarantee would be given to him that J a sum of £S 10s, claimed from him by the Odd-Fellows' for the use of the hall, would be paid. As it stands the instruments have been virtually seized for the debt of the company. Such a thing could not have happened if we had had a public hall in Hamilton. j A meeting of the Presbyterian Church n Committee was held last night at the church, <= Present: The Jtev. Mr. Runoiman, elders 0 Henry and Runciman. and Messrs. Camp- s bell and Knox. An arrangement was come c to by which it is likely that Hamilton will at au early date olitain the services of a resident minister. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Friday evening. The Oddfellows are vindicated from complicity in seizing the band's instruments for j debt. It was done solely by the captain of the disbande J company to meet a liability for ' rent for halls £S, and an account for advertising of £6. Cambridge, Friday eveninr. r At the Pukekura Highway Board yester- *■ day, it was resolved to form the Putney road, providing those interested did the ploughing required. It was resolved to invite tenders for deepening the drains on the Swamp road, £ gravelling a half mile near Howe's, making , Bell and Tucker's road, and making other roads, to the extent of £300. The case against Lees, of obtainiug goods under false pretences, was adjourned at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, in consequence of the absence of Walter Scott, an important witness. Te Avambtu, Friday evening. The bazaar is adjourned until the review week at Easter. ,