KATIKATI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9078, 12 June 1888, Page 6

KATIKATI.

In common with other places, our district lias come in for its share of rain during the last few weeks. . Indeed, on Saturday, the 12th of May, the rainfall was so great as to cause some apprehensions lest the rivers should rise over their banks and damage crops and fencings. Fortunately the downpour stopped in time, and the swollen streams sank as rapidly as they had risen; but farm work has Been a good deal retarded by the continued wet weather, and a few fine days would be very acceptable. That the unexpected most frequently happens has just been brought under the notice of one of our settlers, with a vividness bordering on the unpleasant. Mr. John Killen, Glenville, considered the leasing of his farm to a Mr. Perry so far completed that he had packed up a considerable portion of his property and belongings (prior to removal), taken another place, and engaged a carpenter to execute a few repairs on his new house. Mr. Perry had been in the district, inspected the property, was pleased with its appearance, and finally determined on leasing it. Mr. Killen was therefore daily awaiting a message to say that the few finishing touches had been put to the agreement, when, to his surprise, a telegram reached him from Mr. Perry, saying that he had altered his mind about Glenville, and would not now require the property. At the last meeting of the school committee a letter was read from the Board of Education, Auckland, to the effect that, if the attendance at No. 2 school did not average 40 for the present quarter, the pupil teacher would be withdrawn from the school. It seems that the Board recently passed a resolution that all schools whose averages fall below 40 will in future be in charge of a single teacher, and as the strict, and not the working average, is that on which education matters are based, there appears every reason to apprehend that serious injury will be done to country schools. In a district like ours, when children come to school sometimes a distanceof three miles.it could not be supposed that on wet days the attendance would be large; nay, it would be positively wrong to encourage children to walk such a distance in the rain. A wet day, therefore, means a small attendance, and as at this season of the year the weather for the most part is uncertain, the quarterly average cannot but be greatly lowered. This of course will bring j about the removal of pupil teachers in schools ! averaging from 40 to 50, with the result that j the teaching in these schools will be seriously weakened. It is a pity that this had not been thought of when the number of teachers was being reduced, and the reduction applied only to large establishments whose teaching staff could bear thinning out infinitely better than the unfortunate country schools. Mr. Gledstane's store at Waihi has changed hands, Mr. Ha.rley, of Bowentown, being the j purchaser. The s.s. Result has been laid up for a thorough overhaul during the last fortnight, and the cutter General Gordon has taken up the running. Owing to the length of time the cutter takes in making the trip from Tauranga here, a good deal of inconvenience is felt by those waiting for goods, and the reappearance of the little steamer is anxiously looked for. A considerable extent of land has already been prepared for oats and wheat, and ploughing is being rapidly pushed ahead. There has always been a fair local market for oaten chaff, so that the raising of a good crop of hay is generally remunerative.. The weekly football matches are still held in Preston's paddock, and are well patronised both by players and spectators. Several outside matches have .already been arranged, and a good season's play is looked forward to.—[Own Correspondent.] ELTHAM AND NGAIRE. The winter has fairly set in ; rain has fallen heavily for nearly ten days. Fortunately nly the by-roads and one or two places on 1

the main roads get more than a foot deep in mild. '• r " ;• * \\ r. , A meeting was held in Ngaire last Friday, the 25th May, for ' discussing the advisability of establishing creameries at various places between Patea and Waitara, • and making arrangements with the Freezing Company at the latter plaoe for the shipment of the butter. Nothing practical was done. Mr. J. B. Godkin was in the chair, and a large number were present. Aftpr some discussion, it was agreedonly two dissentingthat it is advisable to merge the Road Board into the County Council. _ The Foresters' ball, on the 24th May, at Stratford, was a great success. The hall was crowded. It was a financial success as well as otherwise. A series of fortnightly Saturday evening entertainments have been inaugurated by Mr. and Mrs. Crowhurst, assisted by others, at Ngaire Public Hall, for the purpose of wiping off a small debt on the building. The first surpassed all expectations. The house, although the night was by no means fine, was crowded. The performers were all at their best. Ido not know all by name, but among those who did help were Mesdames Crowhursts, Nixon. Robsons, Sinclairs, etc., and Messrs. Crowhurst, Robson, Hamilton, and Cremer, etc. Miss J. Sinclair, aged 8, gave a recitation, in character, in a manner that would have astonished an Auckland audience. So much talent and self-possession is rarely met. Miss Clara Crowhurst, also about 7 or 8, was equally. good in giving a local medley composed by her father for the occasion. The entertainment finished with a farce and ventriloquial exhibition by Mr. Crowhurst. „ A meeting was held last week at the Eltham School, to consider the advisability of proceeding at once with the erection of a puDlic hall. A subscription was started by Mr. Hamilton some weeks ago, and about £80 has been promised, together with a section in the heart of the township, a gift of Mr. Adams, the Mayor of Patea. The result of the meeting was that it was decided to call in the subscriptions promised, and proceed with the building. It is proposed to make the hall 30 feet by 45 feet, and a twelve foot lean-to at the back.

The Education Board (Wanganui) have called for tenders for the enlargement of the school at Eltham. The attendance has doubled within the past twelve months. A number of new settlers have come lately, and there is every prospect of this being a large place, and if the railway to Auckland comes in about there, it is sure to go ahead. [Own Correspondent.]

RAHOTU. An ordinary meeting of the school committee was held on the 17th May. Present: Messrs. G.W. Gane (chairman), D. Lusk,W. Conaglen, T. Collins, and A. Coffey. The correspondence was read, and it was resolved, "That the chairman communicate with the teacher to rive the children half an hour for dinner, ana close the school half an hour earlier." Accounts were passed and other routine business was transacted, and the meeting terminated.

A meeting of the library committee was held on the 21st, Mr. Chapman presiding. It was resolved to write to the members who were in arrear with their subscriptions, asking them to kindly pay up, as the committee were desirous of purchasing more books.

_ The flax industry is stirring people up considerably. lam informed that a gentleman from the Wairau (a Mr. Vavasour) has been here looking out a site. He is likely to start a flax-mill somewhere in the Oaonui district, using the water from the Oaonui River. There is an abundance of flax in the neighbourhood. The weather has broken at last, and although wet, it is not very cold. Butter is on the rise. It is reported that a Mr. Stead, of Christchurch, is here buying up all he can get, and giving a satisfactory price. —[Own Correspondent.]

MAHURANGI. Notwithstanding that at the last meeting of the County Council a sum of money was voted to each councillor to be spent on clearing the wateriables on the main roads in their respective districts, I regret to have to call attention to the disgraceful state of the main road north at about half a mile from the township. The road has been metalled with soft limestone, and from negligence of one kind and another, there is a regular river of water down the centre and in the wheel ruts, and during the late wet weather the road has become a regular mess of sludge, or, as a Scotsman had it, " mair like parritch, mon while in places there are regular pools of standing water. I speak for ratepayers when I say there is no necessity for such a state of things. No doubt the Council has been actuated by a spirit of economy, and with a view of reducing the overdraft at the bank, but eight per cent, is a mere trifle compared to what it Will cost to put this portion of the road in repair. In fact, it will soon be impassable for dray traffic, and the cost of repair will be out of all proportion to what a few shillings spent a month ago would have saved. A petition, with over 150 signatures, is being forwarded to the Government in favour of devoting the proceeds of the sale of the Puhipuhi Bush, or any other Government bush, to the formation of the main railway north, and the completion and metalling of the main north road instead of allowing the money to be devoted to local or district lines; ana a request at the same time goes to our member of the House of Representatives to see that it is not lost sight of. Mr. G. S. Such. Warkworth, desires the thanks of the district for the activity he has displayed in obtaining the signatures, also for the time he has given to this object.—[Own Correspondent.]