WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7878, 22 February 1887, Page 6

WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS,

[fbom oob own correspondents.] Hamilton, Monday. The search for the body of Francis Fletcher, drowned from a Bob Roy canoe in the river opposite Mr Coates' residence on Saturday afternoon, was continued yeiterday, dynamite being used for the purpose, but without success. The river, clear as crystal on Saturday, was yesterday the colour of dirty milk, and therefore not favourable for finding the corpse. It appears that the unfortunate lad could not swim a stroke, and was seen to go down, and never rose again to the earface. He had been cautioned not to go out in the canoe, and was engaged trying to set the sail when he fell out. The directors' report of the North New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, to be presented at the meeting of shareholders to be held at Hamilton on Friday next, bears the signature of Mr. W. A. Graham, the chairman of directors, but that gentleman has never seen the report or been consulted upon th*} subject matter of it. The report is as follows " The directors deeply regret the necessity of presenting so unfavourable a balance-sheet to the third annual meeting of the shareholders. Your directors are having a full inquiry made into the accounts, so as to discover, if possible, where the serious losses have been made, as they are anxious to give all the information possible to the shareholders, but t'iey consider that the want of capital has been a serious bar to the prosperity of the association. The directors advise that the association shall be liquidated as soon as possible. Want of capital may have been a bar to prosperity, but giving credit has been the rock on which the association has gone to piece*. The balance-sheet shows a sum of £4417 9s 3d owing to the association by its customers. The debtor account of profit and lons for last year shows an item of £642 for bad debts. It is stated that the only place at which 'the business was carried on at a profit was Hamilton." Fruit, apples at least, is a drug in the local market. At Knox's Auction Mart plums were sold readily at a high figure, but apples, of which something like half a ton were offered for sale, realised from one fartuing to 1 one penny per lb, about six cwt. being cleared at these prices. Orchardists must look to cider making and drying as a means of getting rid of their stocks another season, for every year the apple crop will continue to increase as the trees grow older. At the meeting of the Fiako County Council on Saturday, it was finally resplved that the tramway should not be let by tender, but leased by auction, and on the resolution of Mr. Murphy it was agreed that the business should be placed in the hands of Mr. Alfred Buckland, of Auckland, as that gentleman had identified himself with Waikato and Te Aroha interest*, and the council might rely upon his doing the best possible for them. The Chairman and Mr. Cnepinell were appointed a committee to work with Mr. Buckland in looking into the matter, and seeing that everything as regards the leasing was d>me in accordance with the pror visions of the Act.

The public hath on the west; side the river has been oompleted, and the key handed by the contractor, Mr. Booth, to the Boroag& Council, and an excellent job he has made of it, bnt before it is opened to the public stringent regulations, in the absence of a caretaker, will have to be madeto prevent the ate of it being abused by the larrikins. Really these baths have beer: built more for the use of women and children, and that the latter may with safety loarr how to iwim. The unfortunate fatal accident of Saturday shows how great a calamity it is that owing to the dangerous character of our river so many children are growing up here without a knowledge of the art. Cambridge, Monday.

At the monthly meeting of the Cambridge Highway District Board, held on Saturday, there were present: Mr. Taylor (chairman), and Messrs. Thompson, Smith, and Forrest. It was resolved to accept the proposal of the Colonial Treasurer to insoribe the Board's debentures, value £90 per annum, for 13 years, or accept new debentures as the Government may decide. By this arrangement the Board will pay £42 8» 6d per annum for 26 years, instead of £90 for 13 years, or £1092 lis altogether in 26 years instead of £1080 in 13 years, thus paying the difference, £12 1 Is, for the accommodation. A more than usually large number of tenders were received for read work. The following were accepted f — Calvert's road, Watt and Weinman, gravelling at per yard, lOd, if taken from the road line, or Is 31 if taken from Mangakawa; Selby's road, T. Wattam, gravelling at per yard, Is 2d; Hally's road, Watt and Weimaun, cutting, at 7d par yard, supplying and laying pipes, £3; Dougherty's road, Watt and Weimaun, gravelling, 9d per yard, reforming Is 6d per chain, supplying and laying pipes, £1 lis; Mo. 2 cross road, Thomas Bros., forming, 4s per chain, gravelling, from Hayter'a pit Is 6d, from new pit Is, and from Forrest's pit Is per yard; 'lark's road, Ryan, gravelling, Is per yard. The engineer was instructed to decide from which pit the contractors will take gravel. Mr. Forrest was deputed to employ labour to clear the roads of briars and bramble.

The monthly meeting of the Taotaoroa P.sftd Board was held on Saturday at the Duke of Cambridge Hotel. The Board resolved to change their debentures as proposed by the Colonial Treasurer. They have at present an annual oharge of £18 for 13 years. By the new arrangement they will have to pay £9 0* 3d per annum for 26 years, the extra accommodation thus costing the small sum of 6s 6J.

There is a work near Cambridge on the Hamilton road which, for the safety of the travelling public, needs being undertaken, namely, the diversion of the road on to Mr. Arnold's ground, so as to break the rectangular turn in the road opposite Buckland's. One fatal accident and several minor ones have occurred there within the last few years. Mr. Thomson, of the Cambridge Board, was deputed to arrange this matter with Mr. Arnold, but reports that he has been unable to come to terms. [BY TKLKOttAPH.—OWN O iRRESjPONDKNrS.] Ngaruawahia, Monday. A match for £25 a-side was run to-day between Rathboue's Iris and D. O'Connor's Blue Ribbon, over a one mile course. Blue Ribbon was ridden by Grady, and Iris, which was ridden by J. O'Connor, won easily in fast time. Hamilton, Monday evening. Calderwood's 'bus had a narrow escape today of running into the one-o'clock train from Frankton to Rnakura as it passed over the level crossing in Victoria-street. The 'bus going from Hamilton towards Frankton endeavoured to pass close in the rear of the train, but the driver miscalculating, ran his pole through a panel of the break-van. The pole broke, and the horses were thrown on their haunches, but no one was hart. The meeting of creditors in the estate 'of Henry MoKenzie lapsed to-day for want of a quorum. Cambridge, Monday. The meeting of persons interested the revival of racing in this district was not largely attended, on account of a number of sports being away from the district. A committee was, however, appointed, and the meeting postponed. A concert in aid of the Cambridge band takes place on Tuesday evening, An attractive programme has been issued. On Tuesday last, whilst driving between Oxford and Rotorua, Mr, W. T. Carr met with a severe sunstroke. As soon as possible he was driven home to Cambridge, and is now progressing favourably towards re* covery. Kirikihi, Monday. At a public meeting held here in the Town Hall, on Saturday night, re proposed bridge to the railway station, Mr, Hilmsly in the chair, it was resolved " That in view of the work being undertaken by the Waipa County Council, the £300 loan about to be raised by the Town Board, be allowed to lapse, and that a petition be prepared and presented to the said County Counoil, proposing that a poll of the ratepayers concerned be taken as early as possible, in order to obtain a Government loan ot £600 to erect the bridge in question without delay.