COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9039, 27 April 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondent^.] Churchill Thursday The difference with the Waikato Count* Council with reference to the use and contr l of the punt here has been settled. Th rju l which was sunk in the river, has beca raised and is now in charge of Mr. Gibbs. « Ngaruawahia, Thursdav Messrs. Hodgson and McDonald, of tL Raglan County Council, will interview Main Jackson, the member for Waipa, before hi leaving for Wellington, to urge upon him th claims of the special settlers on the Akata. (Hot Springs block) upon the Government : * have the Akatea road from Ngaruawahia t° the Huntly juntion made fit for wheeled traffic. * It is stated that the Public Works Depart, ment will hand over the Raglan- Whata what road to the control of the Raglan Count* Council, and with it the unexpended balance of the £250 for its repairs, about £180 Hamilton, Thursday Mr. T. G. Sandes has been appointed en gineer to the Raglan County Council. Mr. Bradley and family left Hamilton this morning for Remuera, where Mr. Bradley h» leased the residence lately built for Mr ,\, S Smith. ' Ull There are five candidates for the three vacant seats on the Hamilton Highway Board, Messrs. Atkinson, Knox, Pitzrov Peacocke, Maunder, and W. Jones. '£he election will take place on May sth at Frankton.

The local option voting for the borough to. day resulted as follows:—For increase of publicans' licenses, 11; against, 3. For in. crease of New Zealand wine licenses, \\', against, 2. For of accommodation licenses, 9; against, 4. For increase of bottle licenses, 9 against, 4. Cambridge, Thursday. At the adjourned meeting of the Cambridge West School Committee Dr. Hooper vvu unanimously elected chairman. Kennedy, Boyle, and Howell, the three Kihikihi youths sent from Napier on a charge of stealing horses from Cambridge were remanded this morning by Mr Wens' J.P., till 2nd of May, but the local lock un not being considered secure for their deten. tion, they were sent to Mount Eden & charge of Constable Murray. Ohacpo, Thursday. Mr. J. S. Ruckland held his first cattle sale since resuming his Waikato business here yesterday, when there was a larger attendance than has been seen in Oliaupo for a considerable time past. 1300 head were yarded, and about 900 sold. Prices ruled low for stock out of condition, whilst forward steers and fat cattle sold freely. DRURY. At the close of the usual morning service of the Presbyterian Church here on Sunday last Mrs. Blackhall, nee Miss Blake, was presented with a neat silver biscuit barrel, as a small token of gratitude for her long and faithful service as organist, and leader of the singing. The Rev. T. Norrie made the presentation, and spoke in warmest terms of the services rendered by Mrs. Blackhall, and on behalf of the congregation wished her health and happiness. Mr. Blackhall returned thanks on Irs wife's behalf, in very suitable terms, and the interesting ceremony was brought to a close. On Tuesday evening a very successful vocal and instrumental concert took place in the Drury Public Hall. The choir consisted of members of the Philharmonic Society, under the conductorship of Mr. J. Dixon, and Mrs. Blackhall presided at the organ. ■ After a few suitable remarks by the Rev. T. Norrie, a very interesting and varied programme was well rendered, consisting of anthems, glees, duets, solos, and readings, in which the following ladies and gentlemen took part Mr. J. Dixon and sons, Mrs, Dixon, Misses J. Blakely, Cossey (3), and Messrs. Herdegen, Fielding, and other members of the society. The chairman also gave two humourous readings, and votes of thanks to the choir and all who had contributed to the success of the concert were given, and the National Anthem brought it to a close.— Correspondent, April 25. J

PUKEKOHE. The Pukekohe Mutual Improvement Class met on April 9, for the election of officers for the third year of its existence, into which this useful society has just entered. The Rev. Mr. Law was again unanimously elected president of the society, and resumed the chairman's seat, which he had only a moment before vacated. He thanked the members for their confidence in him, and spoke in hopeful terms about the prosperity of the class, which had undoubtedly done much good to those members who had been regular and active attendants at the many meetings held throughout the past two years. The new minister to the Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Mr. Findlay, and Mr. Eugster were then elected as vice-presidents, Mr. David Russel, our efficient secretary, haying been promoted by the Board of Education to the Waipu school, a new secretary was found in Mr. Fisher, who was also reelected treasurer. With the appointment of Mr. Bennett as librarian, Mr. Wright as editor, and Mr. Eugster as reporter, it is hoped that the library, the " Budget," and the public may get their dues. However, to cheer and assist these officers in their work, the Misses Tinling, Anderson, and Usher, and Messrs. Hooper, Carroll, and D. Bayly, were also added to the General Committee. It was further resolved that the thanks of the society be tendered to our former secretary for the active interest he had always taken in our meetings. After fixing the programme for the current quarter, impromptu speeches for the next meeting, the business of the class came to a close.

On 16th April these dreaded impromptu speeches were to come off, but only about a dozen members and a few visitors put in an appearance on that occasion, and even on those present the inclement weather seemed to have a terribly depressing influence, for out of eight ladies and gentlemen, whose lot it was to speak, only two fulfilled their duty. Mr. Law spoke well about the all-important question, ' Is the present r.rined state of the European Powers calculated to secure peace or to precipitate war ?" Mr. Fisher entertained the class with his wonted thoroughness and clearness about some of the causes of the present general depression, cliieily alluding to the current rumours of war, dreads of social revolutions, consumption of alcoholic liquors, scarcity of gold as currency, extravagance of Government expenditure, want of good land laws, &c. As the remaining embryo-speakers could not be induced, neither by tears nor by threats, to exercise their slumbering talents, this dull meeting came to an early and untimely end.— Cor respondent.] BOMBAY. The monthly meeting of the Bombay Band of Hope was held in the Wesleyan Church on Tuesday evening last. Mr. D. B. Allison, vice-president, presided. The meeting was opened with a hymn and prayer, and a wellarranged programme Mas nicely carried out. At the close, four new names were added to the pledge book. It was announced that Sir William Fox and Mr. Glover would pay Bombay a visit in the interests of the Alliance, on Thursday, May 3rd. On Wednesday evening the popular service of song " Uncle Tom " was given in the Wesleyan Church, Bombay, by an efficient choir from Pokeno, assisted by a few mala voices from Bombay, under the able conductorship of Mr. W. Dean. The attendance was very fair. The proceedings were opened by the Rev. Mr. Law, who very ably read the connective narrative. At "the close a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Pokeno choir and to Mrs. Kingsford for presiding at the organ. A similar compliment was paid to the Rev. Mr. Law for presiding. A few kimd friends provided refreshments, which were handed round beforo the audience dispersed. . , The wheat crops are found to have varied very much, ranging from about 16 bushels up to 38 per acre. Oats have yielded very fairly, but the caterpillar played havoc amongst a few very promising fields of oats, the lartarian suffering the most.—[Own Correspondent, April 26.]