COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8951, 16 January 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[fsom our own correspondents.]

Hamilton, Saturday. A gentleman returned a few daye elnoe from Victoria speaks in the highesi; terms of the general prosperity of that oolony, not only ia the towns but in the agricultural districts. Referring to the proposed settlement on the Murray for fruit-growing purposes, of a quarter of a million acres by the Messrs. Chaffey Brother!, he says that the township lots have been readily disposed Of and that there ia a large demand for the first terrace of ten-acre sections, a mas being able to purchase one or more of these. The irrigation works for supplying j water to the first terrace are In course of construction. When theee are completed and the land taken up the irrigation of the highest terrace on which the remainder of the land is situated, will be commenced. Referring to the Broken Hill mine, this gentleman stated that at the time he left there were 900 men employed on the mine, and that it had been arranged, in view of proposed extended works, to increase this number by 500 on the 12th Instant (Thursday last), making 1400 altogether. Very little business was done at the Borough Council meeting last night. Mr. Coatea was absent from Hamilton, and Mr. Von Stunner was prevented from attending by a sharp attack of illness. Some needed improvements in the bathe, and the matter of Vincent's drain, were deferred till Monday night, in the hope of there being a fuller meeting. On the motion of Mr. Knox the "Works Committee was made to consist of the whole Council, five to form a quorum. The appointment of a chairman was left over till the Monday evening, the meeting being adjourned at ita rising to that day. Ohaopo, Saturday. The wholesale poisoning of small birds, assisted by local Highway Boards, is already beginning to bear fruit. In the Pukekura district the caterpillars have appeared in iwarma ae of old, before the inlirod action and spread of small birds. The oat crop will probably suffer, as old hands will remember, the habits of these caterpillars feeing to crawl up the stiaw and bite through it just below the pickle of corn, which then fell to the ground. Grass and other green crops they devour as they travel, leaving the ground lately green, looking scorched and withered. The way the old settlers met these travelling swarms of caterpillars was to dig ehallow, narrow trenches across their line of march into which they fell, and before they could escape up the opposite side xA the trench they were destroyed in myriads. Wairoa South, Saturday. On Thursday, January 12, the Wairoa South Presbyteriap soholare met in Mr. J. S. Wilson's paddock to celebrate their annual trfat. The boye are taught by Meusra James Bell and John Matheson, the girls by Misses "Wilson and Miss Jane Matheson. They assembled in the ohurch, and after singing a few hymns, were addressed by tho superin tendent. He stated that each was to be presented with a book to encourage them in their duty and regular attendance at the Sunday school. He was sorry to say that while there were 42 names on the roll, the average attendance was only 25. He hoped parents would take more interest in their children's regular attendance and spiritual welfare. He regretted that the Bible was excluded from being taught in the public schools. There were families and their child- ' ren who never attended a place of worship. He regretted that a member of the House Of Representatives, a Sunday-school teacher for more than twenty years, should be one of the opponents of Bible knowledge being taught in public schools. The Roman Catholics were to be commended for their zeal and energy in that respect. Be reminded the children that it was through the iindnees of Mr. A. Ru«sel that they were able to be presented with books last year, and this year they were indebted to Mr. Grainger, to whom a hearty vote of thanks was passed. Sport and play, followed by a plentiful tea, ended the day. We were pleased to see that our minister, the Eev. T, tforrie, was able to be present.