WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7796, 16 November 1886, Page 6

WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS.

[from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS. 1 Tb Awamuto, Monday. The frost on the night of Thursday, the 11th inst., was the most severe and destructive which we have experienced at this season of the year for the last 15 years. From all quarters we hear of the great loss sustained, not only to the potato crop, which in many places is cut level with the ground —the leaves and stalks as black as if a fierce fire had passed over them—but peas, cabbage, cauliflower, and other vegetables are seriously injured. The gooseberries, plums, etc,, where not sheltered by the leaves, are discoloured, and the young shoots of the camellias, laurels, and even quicks, are shrivelled and blackened. The yield of the potato crop will, it iB feared, be considerably diminished. Fortunately, however, many of oar farmers planted late, Hamilton, Monday. Friday morning's frost did more harm throughout the district than was supposed. Not only did early crops in gardens suffer, bat whole fields of potatoes were cat down, the haulms being completely blackened. A spark from the engine of the midday train on Saturday, just after the train passed over the Hamilton railway bridge, fell in the fern and rubbish growing on the bank close by the bridge end, and a strong wind blowing at the time, a tremendous blsze was soon got up, whioh swept through the fence and across the paddock in which Mr. Bradley's house is situated. Fortunately the wind was not blowing directly upon the house, or it might not have been possible to have saved it. The fence was more or less injured, but no serious damage done. The special meeting of the Borough Connoil summoned for Wednesday evening, to elect a member of the new Waikato Hospital Board, has been re-called for Wednesday, at noon, as Mr. W. A. Graham, the Mayor, and his witnesses will have to go to Auckland by the afternoon traim to defend the action brought against him'in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Auckland, on Thursday, by James O'Dea. Mr. Graham will be appointed to the Hospital Board to represent Hamilton by the unanimous vote of the Council. Kihikihi, Monday. Wednesday next will be a gala day here, when the bazaar and soirle to raise the necessary funds for the furnishing of the Catholic Uhuroh will be opened with the assistance of a large number of visiters from all parts of the district and from Auckland. Great improvements are about to be made in the church building itself. The spire will be rebuilt, and to an additional height of seventeen feet, and an apse twenty-two feet in length added to the east end oi the church as a chancel. Ten stained glass windows have also been ordered in England for the main building, and may soon be expeoted here. The funds now sought to be raised by the bazaar are not for these additions and improvements—that money has been already provided— for the interior furnishing of the church ; and, judging from the interest taken here in the affair, and the liberal and valuable supply of goods for sale received from Auckland and all parts of Waikato, the bazaar, which opens on Wednesday, is likely to prove not only a social but a financial success. [by telesbaph.—own correspondents.] Hamilton, Monday evening. A meeting of the syndioate of the Claudelands racecourse was held to-day, when a call of five pounds on each member was made, and arrangements agreed upon for the fencing of the land and other matters of detail. Patrrangi, Monday evening. Mr. Cook has written to the Secretary of the Hamilton Cricket Club on behalf of the Paterangi Cricket Club, accepting the challenge to play a return match at Hamilton, bat fixing Saturday, the 27 th instant, as the date, instead of St. Andrew's Day, the 30th, which would interfere with business at the Ohaupo cattle sale,