COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9083, 18 June 1888, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

CLEVEDON, WAIROA SOUTH.

A public meeting of ratepayers, convened by the Wairoa Road Board, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best ways and means of building a goods shed at the Wairoa Wharf, at the landing, was held in the Public Hall here on Saturday, June 2, at 7.30 p.m. The chairman of the Board (Mr. C. W. Stephens) presided, and stated that' some of the ratepayers wished the shed to be built out of the general rates of the district; and, as there was a question raised that it was not legal to spend the rates in that way, he had written to Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, Controller-General, and the reply he had received was that, under sections 138 and 140, Road Boards Act, 18S2, it would not be lawful to spend the rates for the erection of a goods shed. Proposed by Mr. J. A. Smith, seconded by Mr. F. Smith, "That the rates of the district be not applied for building a goods shed." Carried unanimously. It was decided that the goods shed be put up by public subscription, and a list was opened in the room, and £10 promised, and the owners of the s.s. Waitoa have promised to carry all timber and material from Auckland free of freight. Messrs. J. Bell, D. Crawford, R. Finn, J. Henderson, and T. Murray were appointed a committee to collect subscriptions and put up the building. There should be no trouble in raising the necessary funds, as most of the ratepayers will use the building, when once erected. An interesting ceremony took place in the new Presbyterian Church here on Wednesday, June 6, at 9.30 a.m., the occasion being the marriage of Mr. G. A. Wilson, eldest son of Mr. J. S. Wilson, to Miss L. Dow, fourth daughter of Mr. John Dow, all residents of Wairoa. It was not generally known that the marriage was to take place in the church, but there was an attendance of about forty,

principally of the fair sex. The church choir was present, and played the marriage hymn No. 525, " How Welcome Was The Call," &c, as the bridal party entered the church. Miss Mathcson was the only bridesmaid, and Mr. John Wilson, brother of the bridegroom, acted as groomsman. The Rev. Thomas Norrie performed the marriage service in a solemn and impressive manner, after which the rev. gentleman wished the newly-married couple every joy and happiness. He also said that, this being the first marriage solemnised in the new church, on

behalf of himself and the office-bearers of the church, he had great pleasure in presenting the newly-married pair with a Family Bible, with a suitable inscription. The rev. gentleman concluded his address by advising the newly-married couple to follow the teachings of that good Book, the Bible. As the bridal party were driving away from the church grounds, their friends threw showers of rice after them. [Own Correspondent, June 11.] ARAPOHUE. It is with much regret that I have to record the death on Friday evening, the Ist instant, at her son's residence, Whakahara, of Mrs. Weighill, at the age of 64. The deceased lady had been in delicate health for some years, and seldom went from home, but she always evinced a kind and hospitable disposition towards those who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. This was the first interment in our cemetery, and the funeral service was conducted by the Rev. G. T. Marshall on Sunday afternoon in the presence of the deceased's sons and a very large number of sympathising friends. Were it not for the Government grants our County Council would have to file its schedule, as I gather from the last annual statement that while the receipts from county rates amounted to £893 lis Bd, the expenditure and liabilities under the three heads alone of salaries and commission, printing and advertising, and law charges, absorb over £900. it is no wonder that the proposed loan of £6000 is so urgently advocated by certain parties. The leap, year ball, given by the ladies on this side of the river (and*not merely by "the ladies of Arapohue," as announced in the invitations), on Friday, the Ist instant, in the i school, was a grand success. Having ao many eligible candidates for the " beauship" in our district, the promoters of the ball— prevent jealousythought it prudent to elect Mr. E. Bassett, of Aratapu, a popular and

highly-respected gentleman, who bore his honours very modestly.[Own Correspondent.] OKAIHAU. The annual examination of the public school took place on June 1, and was conducted by Mr. Fidler. The result was alike creditable to teacher and pupils. The many friends of Mr. W. H. Nicholson will be gratified to learn that he has this year sustained the very high reputation he always held as a painstaking and successful teacher. The following is the result of the examination :— Number on roll, 40; below Standard 1., 18 presented in 5 standards, 22; passed, 20; tailed, 0; excepted, 2. These two children were excepted because they had not made the necessary number of attendances during the year on account of their long distance from school—some six miles. A deputation of the school committee waited on the inspector to point out the inadequacy of the building to the growing requirements of the school. The building was erected by the settlers themselves without any assistance from the Board, or from Government, over 18 years ago, when the settlement was much smaller than it is now. The roof is very leaky, and the chimney is defectivea small iron one. Mr. Fidler promised to lay the facts before the Board, but he did not hold out any very sanguine hopes that a new building would be built in the present state of depletion of the building fund. He expressed himself highly gratified at the order and discipline of the children, and at the neatness and excellence of their work, many of them taking full marks.— [Own Correspondent.] OPOTIKI. At a vestry meeting of the Church of St. Stephen the Martyr, Opotiki, on June 4, in the church, there were present: The Rev.' T. J. Wills, Messrs. H. H. Holmden, E. P. Dumergue, W. Oates, Thos. Wvatt, and C. D. Litchfield. The Rev. Mr. Wills stated that one of his reasons for convening the meeting was to comply with the request of the Diocesan Synod for a statement of the names of the declared members of the church for statistical purposes, and that this matter had apparently been overlooked in the past. The chairman then informed the meeting that he had interviewed Mr. Abbot, builder, ro repairing the floor of the church and the outside buttress, and had ascertained that the work could be executed for about £210s ; he also pointed out that a great inconvenience is incurred at the parsonage for want of an outhouse and stable for the storing of fodder and housing of the horse during bad weather, and suggested the initiation or inauguration of an annual tea meeting under the auspices of the church. Mr. Litchfield thought that the question of making up the arrears of stipend should have the first consideration of the vestry. Mr. Holmden proposed, Mr. Oates seconded, " That the repairs to the church floor, buttress, and cross beam be attended to at once." Carried. It was resolved that the Rev. Mr. Wills and the parish warden, Mr. Litchfield, superintend the repairs. It was resolved that a conversazione be held at an early date for the purpose of raising a fund to pay for the church repairs, and that if any surplus remain it be expended in the erection of a stable on the parsonage grounds. The meeting was closed with prayer by the rev. chairman.—[Own Correspondent.]