COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6148, 1 August 1881, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

PARUA BAY. Mr. G. E. Aldebton addressed the elector | at the Parua Hall on Saturday, July 23. The meeting was attended by nearly all the leading settlers of this district, and at the conclusion of the address, _ which was attentively listened to, a unanimous vote of confidence in the speaker was passed.' His speech here was a recapitulation of his Whangarei address. We want a full-time school here badly, and it shows defective management on the part of the Education Board- that we have not one. The average attendance at the school is between 25 and 30. The Parua Bay wharf is nearly completed. It is built " nowhere,"and right np against a bluff headland ; so that £200, at least, will be required to make approaches. Though a petition, signed by nine-tenths of the population, was presented to the Council against the building, of the wharf in its present position, the influence of one or two persons was all powerful. No wonder the outdistricts hate the Councils bo welL—[A Correspondent.]

WAIPU. Everything is so quiet juat now that it is difficult to find anything of interest to write about. Should small-pox visit thla district I am afraid it will play sad havoc among the children, as there are so many who have not been vaccinated. lam not aware if there io a public vaccinator in the settlement at the present time. We have a doctor who I fancy should be appointed, and be supplied with proper lymph, for many object to their children being vaccinated, owing to their doubts of the lymph used on former occasions. The Waipu Minstrels make their second appearance m the Public Hall on the 10th August. The weather has been delightful for the i past ten days, being warm and sunshiny. The nights, however, were very cold. The roads have become dry, and about this place are in very fair order.

I expect electioneering matters will soon be causing a stir among us. At present all is peace. A very large number of landslips have occurred on the Gorge Road ; it is, however, kept clear for horsemen. Mr. Hugh Fraser, whose cheese got. a very good name this season, intends moving his factory to Maungaturoto, where he fancies the grass will be most suitable. He and h" 1 family will be much missed. —[A Correspon dent, July 23.]

KAMO. Last night, a soiree and entertainment took place, to inaugurate the opening of the new school. The school is the finest structure of its kind in the North o£ Auckland. It is of the usual New Zealand school architectural style, and consists of two fine halls of 44 by 23 feet, with two large lavatories and cloak-rooms. Each hall is lined with plain kauri, and the roofs, which are concave and 18 feet from the floor, are supported by ornamental beams and brackets, giving the interior a cheerful and substantial appearance. Each hall has five windows on one side, and a triple window at the end. Fireplaces and a perfect system of ventilation have not been neglected. The whole of the buildiDg is of heart of kauri, obtained from the local mills at Hikurangl. The building, on the whole, is well designed and finished, the architect being Mr. AUright, of Auckland. The sole contractor is Mr. Henry R. Holman, of Kamo, who deserves great credit for the workmanlike finish of the whole. The painting was entrusted to another local man, Mr. M. Whitelaw, who has given great satisfaction by his skilful application of the Rubber Paint Company's materials. The school stands on an acre section of land facing Grant-street, the main road from the Kamo station to the township. The site is elevated, and commands a splendid view of the Whangarei valley and river. The total j cost of the building, &e., is about £580. The entertainment last night commenced with a ' tea, which was laid oat in the Public I Hall, and to which the school children and their friends were invited. The tables were presided over by mesdames Holman, Elliott, Monro, Ross, and Coates. After tea, a move was made to the new schoolroom, which was formally opened by Mr. Holman, chairman. After a short pro. liminary speech, the certificates were distributed to the children, and a handsome volume presented to each scholar as a memento of the occasion. The working of the school reflected the greatest credit upon Mr. Coates, the energetic teacher; for at this last Government examination a percentage of 90 reached the required standard. The number of children on the roll is 111 and the average attendance is 85. After the speeches came ;t concert, followed by the inevitable dance, which was kept up till an early hour. Great numbers of visitors attended from Whangarei and district. Great activity prevails at the Kamo coal mines. The quality of the coal improves as the drive extends. The wharf has been full of shipping this last few days. The schooner Annie Wilson, the s.s. Glenelg, s.s. Southern Cross, the cutters Speedwell, Rob Roy, Reliance, and Leo have all taken away full cargoes. Extra men have been put on to meet the growing demand for black diamonds.

Mr. Vickerman, reaident engineer, sent the materials for the Kamo railway station through, on Tuesday, and the work will bo commenced at once.—[Own Correspondent, July 27.]