COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8065, 28 September 1887, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from ode own oorbbsfondknts.] Hamilton, Tuesday. A meeting of those who have served in the army and volunteers in the New Zealand war was held yesterday, for the purpose of furthering the claims of those who had rendered service to the Government in those critical times, by preparing for submitting to the fcnccessful candidates for Waipa aad Waikatci some measure to be brought before Parliament in the shape of a brief Act to deal with this vexed question. Mr. J. M. Gelling pointed oat tbat several commissions had already dealt with the matter, but the very small proportion of successful claimants, and the large number of unsuccessful ones, as shown by the list of applicants published in the Gazette ae the outcome of the commission recently held, seemed to indicate that much injustice had been done. Many claims had buen thrown out on technical grounds, aa not coming within certain periods referred to in the acts. It was thought that when services had been actually rendered and substantially proved by evidence a olaim should be held to exist irrespective of whether the service was rendered before or after any proclamation and the claimant entitled to a grant of land, to which he was as maoh entitled as thousands who had come out at the expense of the colony. The deputation appointed to wait on Messrs. Wbyte end Jackson at the previous meeting reported that if returned both gentlemen were prepared to do their utmost for the claimants by supporting a Bill to deal finally with the subject, A. resolution was passed to the effect that claimants from the navy should be invited to join the association. The names of several new members were received and placed on the roll of the association.

The election paeaed off good-humonredly, though the excitement up to seven o'clock toned down considerably in Hamilton as regards the Waipa election when it became evident that Major Jackson was so far ahead that no outside returns ooald possibly brinf, down his majority even to a narrow one. Mr. Campbell is not likely to c»ve hia £10 deposit. Kxoitetnent wan greater in the case of Mr. Whyte, and numbers of persons remained near the telegraph offices both in East and West Hamilton until one a.m., some of the returns not coming in until after midnight. When these, however, were received, and Mr. White had a safe majority, the streets became oleared. There was great rejoioing when the news arrived from Auckland thac Stout and Tole had been defeated.

Taupo, Tuesday. The Native Land Court has been adjourned to the let January, when it will b<. held at Tokano. Messrs. Sproot and Farmer's steam launch for the use of tourists, built in Auckland, has arrived here safely, and been placed on the Lake, Messrs. Lewis and Grace, who have bean in tbis district some time, aoting as land purchase, agents for the Government, left here for Auckland, having, it is laid purchased cloie on to 300,000 aoree of land for an average of Is 10d per acre.