COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8949, 13 January 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.]

, Hamilton, Thursday. Mr. W. A. Graham will,in all probability, proceed shortly to Victoria, to inspect the Port Otway district for the Victorian Government, with a view to the fitness for the cultivation of sugar beet and the establishment of » beet sugar manufactory, Whilst Hamilton will thus lose its exMayor, Cambridge, curiously enough, will lose its ex« Mayor also, for Mr. John Gwynneth leaves shortly for Queensland, having received the appointment of engineer to the Cairns Harbour Board.

The proposal to place the defenoes of the colony in the hands of Imperial troops is generally looked upon with favour as benefiioial in all respects. - England would, by the establishment of an Imperial force on a 1 peace footing of four batteries of artillery . and a regiment of rifles, be committed to the j fuller defence of the colony in the event of war, when our own oitizen soldiers, in con* junction with suoh, would be doubly valuable. , The plan, too, would largely assist in the settlement, of the country by trained men. Not only would men entitled to receive their discharge settle in the colony, but New Zealand would be made the sanatorium for Indian regiments, whioh would succeed one another in garrisoning our sea ports, and the advantages of our olimate, once enjoyed, would be so well appreciated , and known in India that numbers of Indian officers would retire to settle in New Zealand. .

With reference to the oase of MoPherson, a paralytic whioh has been refused admission to the Waikato hospital, it would appear on medical authority that such cases as are incurable and ohronio oases, cannot be received without not only filling up the wards to the exoiuilon of other patients, but disorganising the staff, and seriously impairing the general efficiency of the institution. The matter was discussed by members of the Hospital Board yesterday, at which meeting the resident medical officer was also present, and these facts were pointed out. It has been generally admitted, however, that in the interests of humanity patients of this kind must be taken charge of, and the MoPherson oane is likely to have the effect of inducing the Board to lose no time in establishing an Old Man's Refuge for the reception of suchcases. That of MoPherson, it now appears, i« not the first that has occurred.

At a meeting of the Lawn Tennis Club, it was resolved to popularise the game by holding afternoon teas on the ground, and making better accommodation for the ladies, and others attending the Court. Cambridge, Thursday. No time is being lost in making arrangements for the collection of the agricultural statistic;! of the Counties of Waipa, Waikato, Haglan, and Kawhia. Mr. Kirk, the Clerk of the Court, is superintendent collector for the above distriots, and the following appointments have been made : —Constable Brennan will collect statistics for the riding of Cambridge, and that borough and the riding of Tamahere and Pukekura; Constable Murray will collect for the Kirikiriroa riding, the Hamilton borough, and the Hamilton riding ; Constable Wild takes the Newcastle riding, and the new ridings of Whangape and Onewhero, in the Raglan County ; Constable Bulford taking the Karioi and Te Akau ridings; Constable Jones, of Te Awamutu, takes the Rangiaohia riding; and Constable Berriman, of Te Kuiti, will collect East Kawhia returns, leaving West Kawhia to Constable Forbes, of Kawhia Constable Lowtherwill probably collect the northern portion of West Taupo County, and it is understood that Sergeant Emerson, of Te Aroha, will collect the statistics of Piako County for Mr. Seaman, who is chief collector for several counties, that of Piako being amongst them.

(by telegraph,—OWN correspondents.] Cambridge, Thursday. 1 regret having to report that caterpillars, similar to those formerly such a plague in Waikato, have appeared upon a crop of , wheat at Pukerimu. It is, however, hoped, as the grain is fast noaring maturity, they will not do it any great damage. The whole of the grain is looking remarkably well, and Waikato will no doubt give a bigger return of wheat than it has even previously done. The annual general meeting in connection with the Trinity Presbyterian Church is being held this evening. Two delegates from the Auckland Presbytery being present. King Tawhiao is still at Maungakawa, but the natives from a distance are many of them returning home, I expect food is getting short. The Cambridge resident who thought be saw a wasp, ridicules the idea of it belnjj a Ligurian bee, as he is well acquainted with those insects, and he firmly believes it was a wasp similar to those in England. It was in his workshop, but he did not attempt to capture it. Perhaps he has a lively recollection of being stung by them many years ago. Pakroa, Thursday. Colonel Fraser, M.H.R., and Mr. H. A. Gordon, Inspector of Mines, accompanied by Messrs. Nicholls and Bobson, of the Ohinemuri County Council, paid a visit to Karangahske and Waihi. They visited the Mammoth , and other mines at both places, also the Karangahake Reduction Works. Mr. Gordon promised to recommend a grant of £150 for a road at Waihi, for the transit of the Union Company's machinery, and also £40 for a road from Ohinemuri to Marototo. A deputation waited on Mr. Gordon at Karangahake, requesting him to assist in constructing a road from Karangahake to Waitawheta. There will be an interim school election this month here, owing to the constitution of the new Waitekauri school district.

WAITAKEREI. We have had splendid weather for the holidays— fine, with a cool breeze most days ; and the roads thanks to the sun and windpassable. Tourists and visitors have had an enjoyable time. The falls being the chief attraction, many seem to think they have seen Waitakerei having seen the falls ; but the wiier few visit the lakes and the coast, with its wide and varied scenery, where exists a wild beauty whioh never palls the eye, and at this time of the year is especially enjoyable. Of course, one day is altogether insufficient to embrace all,—but more than one house is now open for the accommo-dation-of those who wish to see these wonders of Nature, and at the same time breathe the bracing breeze* of our hills. It is a pity that the carelessness of some and the mischievous propensities of others should mar these times of healthful enjoyment. Mr. Bell has suffered a considerable loss by a fire lighted on the road, and running through his fallen bush. One hundred pounds would not cover the loss above the falls by the fire last year. Another one was started in the same place this year, but, fortunately, died out without doing muoh damage, If an example oould be made of these offenders it would be more satisfactory to all. A rather amusing incident took place near Mr. Bill's. Six horses being tied to a makeshift fence, used as a baulk for cattle, bolted, with the fence between them, the scene can be better imagined than described. Another nuisance at this time of the year (the very zenith of the close season) is the practice of young men and larrikins bringing firearms, and firing indiscriminately at objects, pigeons and tuis, etc., especially. No pity will be shown those young men if caught at their cruel sport. It is poor.spoct to kill the parent birds and leave the little ones to perish. Since my last a deputation of councillors have inspected the roads needing repair, etc. The grass is beginning to burn up on shallow soils, but it has been a wonderful year for growth on the whole. Potatoes bid fair to be a good crop wherever they have had a chanoe. Many of the village settlers have made a mistake in not being more liberal with boned ust. Fruit promises to be plentiful —[Own Correspondent.]

CLEVEDON (WAIROA SOUTH). A soiree in aid of the Papakura parsonage fund was held in the Public Hall here, on January 10th, Tea was on the table at seven p.m. The hall was fairly filled with a fashionable audience, and the tables were loaded with oakea, bum, etc., presided over by the following ladies/ namely—Mrs. R. Couldroy, the Misses E. Poyntcr, C. Thorp, M. Hyde, C. WallU, R. Coutts, etc. After the tables were cleared an excellent concert wu held, at which several friends from Auokland assisted, amongst whom was Mr. O. Oswald, the celebrated elocutionist. The following programme was exoellsntly gone through Pianoforte dust, Misses E. and L. Stephens address by the chairman, Rev. O. R. Hewlett; duet, " Venetian Boat Song," Mrs Farley and Mrs Fox; song, " Never More," Miss Clayton; recitation, "The Jackdaw of Rheims," Mr G. Oswald ; duet pianoforte, the Misses Harbutt; eong. " The I"* 1 *

Emigrant," Mrs Fox and Rev. 0. R. Hewlett; song, "I Arise," Miss Clayton; recitation, " Rubenstein's Piano," Mr G. Oswald, which was encored; song, " A Bunch of Cowslips," Miss L. Harbntt } speech and reading by the Rev. T. Norrie. '! hia item was a tableau representing "Britannia and Her Children." This brought the concert part to a close. Mr. C. Farley proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies who had so ably presided at the tables, which was responded to by Mr. W. H. Thorp. Mr Crawford proposed a vote of thank# to all who had assisted at the concert and entertainment. The votes were carried unanimously. The singing of the National Anthem brought a very pleasant meeting to a close. The hall was beautifully decorated with ferns, nikau, oabbage trees, and flowers, the Dramatic Club also lending their scenery for the occasion.—[Own Correspondent.] This district was connected by telephone with Papakura on Saturday, the 31st Deo. This will be a great boon to the settlers and the travelling publio. The monthly meeting of the Band of Hope was held in the Publio Hall here on Friday, the 30th December, A very interesting programme was gone through, and the election of officers for the ensuing year took place. On January the 2nd, a conoert and ball, held under the auspices of the Publio Hall Committee, took place in the Public Hall, Owing to there being a grand volunteer entertainment on the 26th December, the attendance was not so good as it otherwise would have been. This district has been visited by a great many visitors during the holidays, the beautiful Wairoa Falls being the great attraction. The crops on the whole here are looking well. In one instance the hay crop ot a settler averaged over two tons to the acre.— [Own Correspondent.!

ARATAPU. An interesting cricket match took place last Wednesday on the Mangawhare ground between the scholars of the Aratapu and Dargaville Publio Schools. Messrs .Stall worthy and Hosking acted as umpires and managers of the respective teams. Dargaville boys went first to the wickets, and knocked np a total of 53, chiefly through the effort* of F. Horspool (13), John Stantfield (13), and A. McLean (11). The Aratapu boys totalled 89, the highest scorers being W. J. Allen (17), L. Kitching (17), and P. Nield (10). In the second innings Dargaville soored 52, F. Rayues (15) and C. Stansfield (12) being highest scorers. Aratapu, who wanted 17 runs to win, then went to the wickets, and secured the required number for two wickets, thus winning the match by one run and eight wickets, The Aratapu and Mangawhare Cricket Clubs met for the second time this season on the latter'u ground last Saturday, the result being a second defeat for Aratapu. This and the former match were lost by very few runs. Aratapu wont first to the wickets, and, with the exception of Isbister and Masefield, were easily disposed of. These two made a splendid stand for more than an hour, the former, stonewalling, made five, whilst the latter ran up a score of 41 by free cricket. Harding and Hudson were very effective with the ball. The Aratapu score closed at 70. Mangawhare ran up the score to 74, with tho loss of eight wickets. F. Dargaville (19), Taylor (14), Hudson (13), and Hosking (11), not out, were the principal scorers.—[Own Correspondent, January 9.

ARAPOHUE. The School Committee at last woke up to a sense of their duty and gave the children a feast on the 30th ultimo. The weather being delightful, the muster was about the largest ever seen on th<a school ground, and everything went off without a hitch. About a dozen Maoris were present, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Captain Peacock, late School Inspector, who is making a tour of the district on agency business, was also present, and welcomed by both parents and scholars. The genial face of Mr Alex, Bradley was for the first time missing, much to the regret of aIL Having just entered upon his 88th year, he did not feel equal to the fatigues of the journey to and from the school, especially over our rough roads. After the juveniles bad gone home thoroughly pleased and done up, the elders enjoyed themselves with a dance in the school till midnight. Mr Masefield'a barn was burned down on' the 28th ultimo, when he lost some bridles and a valuable collection of tools.

The Cemetery Trustees held a meeting on Saturday to make arrangements for a concert, at which the Koporu Strollers will kindly aieiat.

The Northern Wairoa Gazette closed ill brief existence with the old year.[Own Correspondent.]

MANGAWAI. On the 21«t December a meeting of the Church of England Temperance Association was held in the church schoolroom—Mr. Thomas Sturoh in the chair. An excellent programme was naccessfully gone through. A few days ago no little stir was caused by the steamer running aground at the township point, having gone up a blind creek and there fixed herself on the sand bank. In about two hours, however, she steamed astern and gob dear again. The sports and pastimes at the Beach passed off in a successful manner. Many other affairs, such an concerts and the like, are to be inaugurated in the course of the summer.

The continued dry weather is making havoc amongst plants requiring moisture and rain.

The whereabouts of the alleged silver mine has not yet transpired.—[Own Correspondent.] The first indication of the Christmas season was made by the breaking-up party ot the Misses Tutin'B school, when cards of invitation were sent to those friends who were interested in the pupils at the Parsonage. This was followed by a grand Christmas tree at the Kaiwaka. On Christmas Day service was held at' St. Mioha.el's new church, which was beautifully decorated with ferns, etc. The aervice was conducted by Mr. Tutin, actio lay leader, the organ being played by Miss E. M. Tutin. In the afternoon Mr. Tutin took the Rev. C. A. Tobins' service at the Beach, which was well attended,—[A Correßpondent.]