COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9075, 8 June 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.]

Ngaruawahia, Thursday. Another mysterious disappearance has taken place here. On May 31 a quiet gentlemanly young man, of good address, and who was said to have been lately in the Auckland Hospital, put up at the Delta Hotel. He signified his intention of proceeding on to Hamilton, to which place he had sent on his portmanteau, and where he had spent a fortnight some seven months ago. On Monday, at half-past three o'clock, he said he was going for a walk, and was seen going in the direction of the river, and has not been seen or heard of since. He is about 24 years of age, of medium build, and dark complexion. Hamilton, Thursday. In respect to the proposal to erect public buildings for Waikato, the Under-Secretary for Public Works writes stating that the vote for £1000 for departmental buildings has long ago lapsed, and that the Government sees no chance under the present circumstances of getting it put on again, and therefore, unless the borough intends putting up the buildings at its own expense, there is no need to go further on with the matter.

A young man, reported to the police as being missing from Ngaruawahia since Monday last, is recognised here as a Mr. Power, son of a clergyman in the South of England, who was here on a visit at the end of the year. It is quite possible he may have wandered away to the Maori settlements on the Waipa, as he spent some seven months amongst the Maoris some time ago. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday __ the following cases were heard : —D. McNicol v. Whitaker, claim for wages, £71 6s 6d; nonsuited with costs, £4 life 6d. G. Edgcumbe v. H. M. Moore, £6 8s ; judgment reserved. Same v. Albert rotter, £9 Os 6d; verdict for plaintiff with costs, £1 16s. Knox v. Lunie, £14 15s ; verdict for plaintiff with costs, £1 ss. N. R. Cox v. Turn wait, goods and interest, £1 10s ; verdict for plaintiff with costs, 18s. J. Hill v. Amelia Johnstone, service of horse, £3 10s; nonsuited with costs, £4 17s 6d. Same v. Johnstone, £2 10s; verdict for plaintiff with costs, £3 4s 6d. Pennington v. Webb, goods, £5 4s Id ; verdict for plaintiff (less 4Jd) with costs, £1 7s. Dellicar v. Wright, wages, £2 19s; verdict for plaintiff, each side to pay their own costs.

The Commercial Hotel is about to change occupiers, the new landlord being Mr. A. Bright, of the Waikato Hotel. An application to St. Peter's Church vestry, which has the exclusive use of the Hamilton Public Hall on Sundays, for Sunday School purposes, has been made by the Salvation Army, who purpose to utilise it for Sunday evening services. Whatawhata, Thursday. The attention of the local authorities needs directing to the manner in which the decking of the costly bridge over the Waipa at this place is being destroyed by natives, who are daily carting over it with sledges.

Tauwhare, Thursday. With respect to the provision made by building silos for winter feed for his cattle, Mr. Doad wishes me to correct the statement in a previous letter that he has as yet opened any of them for the use of his cows. They remain as they were built, still uncut, and his cows have been running only on new ryegrass. Mr. George Graham, our new teacher, took charge of the school on Monday, when 25 children were present, an increase on late attendance. At an adjourned meeting of householders the following were elected a School Committee: — Messrs. Hansford, Speake, Dodd, Sutter, Took, Walworth, and Diprose. The latter gentleman was elected chairman.

Cambridge, Thursday. The annual licensing meeting will be held to-morrow, when renewals for the three hotels will undoubtedly be granted, there being no objections, and the police report is favourable in each case. It is rumoured, however, that Mr. White intends giving up the Masonic Hotel at the end of the present month.

A pigeon-shooting match will be held here on Saturday next, at Mr. Sharp's paddock, Hamilton Road. There are thirteen entries, and it is expected there will be a large attendance.

The Cambridge Domain Board are about to effect a very necessary improvement to the lake reserve, by erecting gates at the several entrances, in place of the present posts, through which the numerous calves, which are allowed to roam about the town, effect an entrance, and do considerable damage to the flower-beds.

Mr. A. J. Hunt, so long and favourably known here, has been promoted from the Gorton Estate, the property of the Bank of New Zealand, to the managership of the Matamata Estate.

Football seems to be in a languishing condition in Cambridge this season, caused, no doubt, by the absence of several of the foremost members of the club.

Paeroa, Thursday. At the Police Court, Paeroa, yesterday, before Mr. H. W. Northcroft. R.M., Edward Keheler was discharged witn a caution for blasting logs in the public street, Paeroa. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, the case of James Coote v. James Mackay, judgment summons £9 Is, was adjourned for one month, by consent of the plaintiff. The case of Edwards v. James Mackay, judgment summons £15 15s, was adjourned for one month, by consent of plaintiff. Phillips and Son v. W. 0. Hunt, £100, goods supplied, summons not served. A (large amount of other business was also got through.

PUKEKOHE. At the Mutual Improvement Society, on thi 14th May. there were 15 members and fiva visitors. The principal business of the meeting was to be the reading of short papers bv four of our younger members, but as onto two of them turned up, the hopes and antici nations of the class were only half fulfilled* However, what little we got from the two present was very good, and well deserved the grateful acknowledgement with which it was received by the audience. A young anonv mous, who was too bashful to address his col! leagues himself, had his short essay about "Metals" read by the secretary. After this Mr E. Hooper entertained the class with his views "On Swimming." His practical hints were partly criticised, partly supplemented at the ensuing discussion, in which Messrs Law, Macdonald, Fisher, and Eugster took part. The president (as if he had appre hended the unwarrantable absence of one half of the promised papers) was fortunately prepared to fill the gap with a very interesting account of one of one of his minis" terial trips to Waipou.ri, a goldmining town in Otago, where, six years ago, he was blocked up for three days m a severe snow storm On the 28th of May Mr. John Routley deli", vered an excellent address about " Will " be! fore the small number of members who had found their way to the class-room on that wet winter evening. The essayist handled his rather difficult subject with great tact and ability, but although he went thoroughly into the matter, some of his critics still would have wished a clearer definition of the word " will" than he had offered in his essay. It remains, however, an indisputable fact that all things considered, this paper was far superior to any other the class had ever before received from a member of the youns lecturer's age or standard of education Where there is a will there is a way" appears to be the motto of this promising young man. May many others follow his example.—[A Correspondent.]

COROMANDEL. A GRAND organ recital took place in Christ Church, on Monday evening last, for the purpose of raising funds for a new instrument. Admission was free, but a collection was made for the above object. A splendid programme was gone through, to the great delight of a very appreciative audience. The weather was very bad, and no doubt prevented many attending, but in spite of that a handsome collection of over £7 was the result. The programme commenced by the choir singing the Te Deum. Jackson in F ; Mr. Marshall followed, and sang " Consider the Lilies," which is a grand piece ; later on he sang " Nazareth." Teach me, 0 Lord" (organ and violin), by Dr. Atterbury and Miss Boyd, was a splendid piece of music. This lady and gentleman also gave some other excellent pieces durin" the evening. Miss Ring sang, " Low, at Thy Feet," and "Nearer, My God, to Thee, assisted by the chorus in the latter, which was highly appreciated. Mrs. Inder sang " Tired," and snowed that her voice had lost none of its sweetness. Mr. Gentil sang " The Reaper and The Flowers" in a first-class style. Mr. Carnell sang " The Lost Chord" better than usual. Mrs. Home sang "He Wipes a Tear from Every Eye," which was very good. Mr. Gatland sang "Angels ever Bright and Fair" in good style. Mrs. Cadman sang " Vital Spark' very sweetly. The choir sang, "I Will Lift up Mine Eyes," and wound up with the hymn 300 A. and M., and the Rev. A. English pronounced the beneuio tion.—[Own Correspondent.]

TE KOPURU. The promised evening for romps and fun for the children came off in the Te Kopuru hall on Friday, June 1. Tea was served at 6 p.m., and partaken of by the children first, as this was their evening. Afterwards the adults satisfied the inner man. Meadames Boult. Lindley, Nicholls, and Misses Turner, and H. Andrews were unwearied in their exertions to satisfy the wants of all. When the tables were cleared away, the hall was thrown open to the children, who proceeded to enjoy themselves with unmistakeable heartiness. All the usual games were indulged in, kiss-in-the-ring seeming to be specially enjoyed. _ Several adults joined in the games with juvenile good-will. Mr. Lindley, of course, was in the thick of it. The astonishing strength of lungs possessed by the Kopuru children produced a serious effect on some visitors.

The newly-formed road down to Tatarariki has been sown with grass. It would be a good thing if this road could be closed to traffic through the winter, so as to allow the grass to form a good sod and the earth to consolidate. The benefit of a little selfdenial now would be felt in time to come.— [Own Correspondent, June 4.]