COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6696, 4 May 1883, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIUKU. - ; ■ : Ox -Monday evening, April 23, MissfO'Con' snor.'s concert took place in the Temperance and Public Hall. s. Unfortunately the day was wet, consequently the attendance was small, there'being only about sixty people present. .The Rev: O. C. Frith presided. The greater part, of .the programme consisted of songs and pieces' by Miss O'Connor's pupils. The pro-, ceeds of .the concert are to be divided between the three Sunday-schools In the district, viz: and " Presbyterian'.. The following programme was gone through,, the; aeveral pieces calling forth rounds of 'applause Address ; Overture ; Miss Baynes. and the Sliasc3,Hainlin'; Soiig " My Own Kcw Zea-' laud ilonie, " Misa iiamlin ; Piece,\." Rule BritaiiniaV'- Misa A. Currie ;"' Song, " I Saw sjroiff,'th'e'Beacht"fMCsß'' Baynes ; Song, "I ißemeniber, I Remember," Miss Hamlin; Piece, '"Ladies.of Melbourne Schotische,"gMiss A.; ■JHamlin Reading,l.'; The Song of the Shirt," Mr. S. Hodge ; Song, "Hard Times.Come AgaitixNo More,"- Mr. W. Smith'; SoDg, "Mountebank,"Miss Uurrie; Piece,''Pestal, Miss L.Mellsop ; Song, "Love's Ritornilla," Mias'Hainlip ; Song, "The' Minstrel Boy," ,MryW. Smith ; Piece, " Bounaparte's Grand .March™>Miss Hamlin; Song, "Kathleen O'Morei" Miss Baynes ; Song, "All Things Live' Thee, so do I," Miss Hamlin ; Piece, " Rosalie, " Miss Gibbons; Reading, " The Song of: tlie;Sword," Mr. Goldsbury ; Sotig, " Dear Mother.l'll Come Home Again,"Miss A.';Hamlin; Song,-."Cushla Macree," Miss Hamlin ; Piece, "Chime Again Beautiful Bells," Miss A. Hamlin ; Song, "Rich.and ißareyrere the Gems She Wore," Miss Currie; Song,' " The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls," Miss Hamlin ; Piece, "The Carnival of Venice," Miss L. Mellsop; Song, "The Belta of Shandon," Mr. W. Smith; Song, i" Shall We Ever Meet Again," Miss Hamlin; Piece, -" Brown Eyes Mazurka," Miss Ham- ; lin ; .Trio, " ■Variations," the Misses Hamlin,"' fand . Miss .Gibbons. A vote of thanks having been conveyed to Miss O'Connor, the concert closed by singing "God Save the Queen.?'., : On Wednesday April 25 a public meetingin connection with the Waiukußand of Hope and-Total Abstinence Society took place .in. the/Temperance and Public Hall. There vwere about 100 people present.. Mr. Goldsbury 0. occupied"-; the chair. Interesting addresses were given by the chairman, Rev. A. Thompson, Messrs. T. Joughin, and S. 0 Hodge. s ?; Recitations by Mr. Deed and Master C.-Bcnriett and a reading by Mr. C. T. Barriball.V. The/Temperance Choir, sang several pieces«during ...the meeting. An enjoyable evening was spent, and the meeting closed by singing the Doxology. .■ \,. t « • . The weather during the past few weeks has been wet and very unfavourable for contractors proceeding with the road works. Nevertheless they are pushing ahead as much as possible, a great number of the men being employed on the different jobs. The district is steadily advancing- The old stockade has been pulled down during the week and a; new-court-house is going to be erected on the; same site.- Timber is also on the ground for the erection of a parsonage for' the'; -Anglican minister; ■-s,. The Wesleyan Church lias been taken down, having been purchased by the Board of Education for a school-at Kariotahia. r Thither it is being removed.; j:. The Wesleyans have purchased an excellent site for a church in the village, tenders having been called for the erection of a building thereon. When the above buildings are completed it will add . still more ■beauty to our already picturesque district.— Own Correspondent, April 20., 1

I On the evening of the 20th nit. the Presbyterians held their annual aoirue. The church ■was. very tastefully decorated with nikau, fernV. 'and flowers. It being a fine moonlight there was a large attendance. The tickets stated that tea would commence at seven, but in consequence of the lie v. Mr. Dunn not'putting in an apperance, it was half Jan hour later. Tea was over and the tables cleared by about nine, when the programme commenced by the Maukn choir singing a piece, followed by songa from Mr. Morton and Miss McMillan, friends from Auckland, who greatly delighted the audience, ' while the skilful handling of the harmonium by Mr. Patterson, another Auckland friend, contributed much to the enjoyment of the eveuing. Mrs. Sharpe, of Pukekohe, and her daughter also added to the entertainment by singing some songs. Mr. W. Bwing related some amusing Scottish tales, which caused much merriment. Mr. Comrie read a piece, "The Blank Bible " and Mr, G. Ewing "Someone's Darling!" The Rev. Mr. Dunn spoke for a short time on the many varieties of Christians. Mr. A. Brown, the only other speaker, gave a

hnniorons account of how, along time ago, he made a plum pndding on one Christmas Day. He waa brought up in the Church of England, and liked his own mother best, but that was no reason why he should not respect and help others. He referred to the great progress Tnakau had made in religious matters during the past ten years. Pernapa in the next ten there may be several resident ministers. Votes of thanks all round terminated a very pleasant evening. On Monday about 5 p.m. an exceedingly violent thunder storm broke over this settlement. Early in the afternoon dark and ominous-looking clouds portending rain or wind, probably both, were seen slowly approaching from the north-west, accompanied by some lightning. We have had so much wet and rough weather of late that no particular notice was taken of this, but at the time mentioned a fearful flash of lightning, followed immediately by a terrific clap of thunder, which startled both man and beast. This was followed by a delnge of rain, and that again by a heavy hail storm. The hail-stones, or rather lumps of ice, came with sueh force oil to my windows that 1 momentarily expected to see all the glass broken. Aa it was, only one pane had a little piece knocked out. On looking out after the storm was over, the ground was'seen covered with what looked like snow, reminding one ot winter in the old country. Some damage has been done to the young green crops, which look as if flocks of sheep had been over them. Fowers and vegetables have also suffered, being riddled aa with shot. Hopes are entertained that this violent storm would have cleared up the wet weather, but it has not done so.—(Own Correspondent. May 2.)

PORT ALBERT. The opening meeting in connection with the new schoolhouse at Hoteo North came off yeaterday under somelittledisadvantage as far aa weather was concerned. For a good part of I the day there was a dreary drizzle, the | reverse of exhilerating, either for busimss or I pleasure. There was, however, quite a large gathering of juveniles and adults as evening approached, although many at a distance were hindered by the weather. A most excellent tea, free to the young folks, was provided, and amply aatiefied the material wants of all. The arrangements for it, aa well as for the evening meeting, were good, though a little more method, and a wider practical sympathy would not be amiss on a like future occasion. The lion's share of the work and responsibility for-the whole affair appear to have fallen to Mesars. George Eyre and George Small. The latter gentleman was called to the chair at the evening meeting, and efficiently discharged its duties. The programme, largely musical, appeared to satisfy nearly every one. i The chairman spoke briefly of the history of matters educational at Hoteo North up to date. A glee from the children, led by the teacher, Mr. Hamilton, followed. Some of the music was received with special favour, Mr. Gradwell'a in particular. Johnny Gibbs recited "The : Twins," but was only audible to those near ; duet, Mrs. Blythe and Mr. Gradwell, " The Gypsy Countess■ Miss" Grant, song, " Beautiful'lsland';".'*' 1 / Arthur Prictor ; ; song, Mr. Gradwell, " Nil Desperandum." The .-teacher jvhere distributed thirteen and useful books to as many children a3 prizes to the most deserving. Recitation (original), Mr. Manders, "Social Gathering Mr! John Wilson, speech ; song, MisslCrayij :recitation, : Ada ' Wilson ; song, Miss r 'sGrant v ;|V' i Manders, " Patrick O'Ran and th(3 Bear," in response to":, an encore;-Mr.: Mandera i, gave Tbe Chinese Quack Doctor," excellent of its kind ; song, I Miss- Parker:; duet, - Ada and ; May Wilson, "We are Lit:le Sunbeamssong, ..Miss-Cray,.Messrs. G: Nicholson, Levet, &c.; song, Mr. Gradwell, Simon v the, Cellarer." Mr. R.- Gibbs, spoke briefly in congratulation of at;lerigth;possessing an excellent school building," and then ; by. way-of peroration gave ,thej,comicali; "Broom Dance."--.The nsual yotes:of thanks, brought the meeting to an end about ten o'clock,; after? which dancing 1 took., place ' till rabout :I.3o'v.a.m.—[Own i Correspondent, April 27:] : c. .'

PUKEKARORO

It is'a noteworthy .fact that there is i invariably fonnd existing amoDg bußa settlers a laudable desire to encourage by their presence any. scheme that offers enjoyment to the younger ; members of their several communities. 1 'Ibis highly commendable disposition "\vay strikingly developed"* on Wednesday, April 25, as evidenced by the large concourse of friends assembled at the school festival held in Kaiwaka on the abovenamed day. At 4 p.m. the whole of the children attending the day-school sat down to" a well-provisioned table,-furnished by Mrs., Lit tin and Mrs. Bu w m ar. Th e several wants - of ' the youngsters 1 were assiduously attended,to by theso ladies, whose: skill and tact unmistakeably proved that they were at hom? in their work: yrAfter' the* little- ones had'Kthoroughly-\satisfied■ themselves, the friends present engaged in a like pursuit, and it *\was not until dark* that the repast terminated. :;; Seats «were :^ arranged : ifor the after.meeting,;whicn consisted of recitations, singing,'-and speeches. ' On the motion of Mr. Ross, : jlinr:; l MriyV;: VV. iDowaon was voted to the^chair.jv ; : 1 his opening remarks' congratulated the scholars up>n tV:e share of attention they had that day received, and hoped ' that ltheir efforts that night would brina; credit alike to themselves and upon their,kind instructors. The programme showed that some twenty-five pieces had to be gone; through. .. The performers being none other than children attending the Kaiwaka school, vThe recitations were very well given; ,the" ; pieces being selected by Mrs. .Stone,- our. newly appointed teacher.',.. The singing, which elicited much applause, was under the leadership of Miss Bowmar. This young lady has been most persevering in her efforts for,the past three or four weeks, and the': manner 3n •; which she prepared the children for ? this occasion'was a matter of surprise. ,x\t the close of the • programme, Miss ■ Tutin*f made a "'few '" congratulatory remarks upon ■ the success achieved by the children::;,. After Mr.-Thornton had followed in the same strain, Mr. Bowmar proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman which was seconded by Mrs. Stone. The thanks wore duly acknowledged. The National Anthem was ;;then sung and the meeting closed : [Own;porrespondent, April 26 J

RAGLAN. > . At the nomination of candidates for members of the Karioi .Road.*. 80ard.... the?; following gentlemen were declared duly elected by the returning officer: Messrs. H. : Bree, J. McCracken, .J. H.. Phillips, D. Burns, and W. Thomson. As there were only five persons nominated, no poll was necessary. '.The public vaccinator for the';' Raglan district h»s intimated that he will attend at the Mata schoolhoose for the purpose of vaccination on tho second. Tuesday in Saptember, and for inspection on the third Tuesday in the same month. -k v." King" Tawhiao passed through Aotea on Wednesday, en route for Kawhia wjth about ,100 followers. A Government surveyor, is at - present engaged in laying off roads to the homestead allotments at the Mata settlement.. The Rev. 1 Mr, - Phillips of Te Awamutu preached on Sunday, the 29fch April, .at Ruapuke iu the morning, at Te Mata in the afternoon, and at Raglan in the evening. [Own Correspondent, April 30.]