COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9096, 3 July 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM our. OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Hamilton, Monday. Mr. Hudson' has written to the Mayor acceding to the request of the Borough Council that Thursday, instead of Wednesday, should be the day of the week on which Saturday's return fares shall be issued from all stations to Hamilton. The Hamilton market day has been altered from the Wednesday to the Thursday, so as to enable settlers from upcountry using the railway to come into town at 10..'*) a.m., and return home by the evening train, which was impossible on the Wednesday, and therefore rendered the boon of Saturday's rates useless. Lot 407, a three-acre reserve on the Hamilton East side of the borough, was leased to Mr. Cowper on Saturday by auction, for £1 per annum for 14 years, the lessee to erect a boundary fence, and the borough to have the right of re-entering at three months' notice, paying the cost of fencing. ' When the Codlin Moth Bill was knocked on the head, it was held Out as an alternative to enable trie codlin moth pest to be kept out of the country and to enable the orchardists to cope with it where it had taken hold that the importation of from infected countries, such as Ta^-h—_ America, and Australia should be altogether prohibited. It is to be hoped that those who helped to slaughter the Codlin Moth Bill will urge this matter on the Government, and not leave the unfortunate fruitgrowers in the lurch. A duty of Ad per lb will not keep out infected apples, boxes, and barrels, and if these are allowed to flood New Zealand with the codlin moth as Quickly as the fruitgrowers get it under in their orchards, it will be the old game of Sysiphus rolling the stcne up-hill. What is needed is positive prohibition. and something more even than this. Vessels carrying apples from America to Australia put in at Auckland on the way, and

■ V though they may not land a single case of the fruit at Auckland, they land the codlin moth • in swarms. When the hatches are taken off to put out other cargo, the moths hatched out . on the voyage have Deen seen to issue forth from the hold in large numbers. A gentle- " : V man in Hamilton was relating his own per- > sonal observation of, this fact. The only way to stop this would be to compel vessels hav- ||, ing apples on board from infected porta to " fumigate the hold before opening the hatches. If the Legislature cannot give us a Bill to assist in eradicating this pest, it can, at least, . save us from the spread of it from without' while, as orchardists, we are doing our best to prevent or diminish its ravages. W hatawha.ta, Monday. No little disappointment at the action taken by the Legislature in the matter of local self-government has been experienced in country districts in Waik&to. The feeling -- is very strong against so many forms of local governmentcounties, road boards, lioensing committees, etc.all necessitating extra cost of working, each having its own set of officials, when one local governing body could see to and undertake the lot. Heavy and increasing local taxation, with present low prices of produce, is driving the farmers to the wall. If some relief is not given from the heavy and ever increasing local taxation, the rate collector will, within a limited time, perhaps, find the farms, but the occupiers will be gone, practically rated and taxed off their farms. Huntly, Monday. Our football team has scored another victory against Hamilton, and this time on their own ground. On Saturday Marshall, for Huntly, kicked off the ball on Sydney Square at two" p.m., and the forwards making a good rush, the leather was kept pretty lively near the Hamilton's '25 pretty well all the time, and towards the end of the first spell Hunt, y got a mark right in front of the Hamilton goal, and Marshall taking a place-kick, made a neat goal (3 points) for Huntly. J.iif was trie only score made. during vho, game. The second spell commenced with Hammond kicking cff for Hamilton, but though the ball was kept well in the latter's ground no score was made. For Hamilton Hammond, M Hume, Sage, and O'Neill played an excellent game ; Harris, Marshall, and Bailey keeping up the credit of Huntly. Messrs. R. Gwynne and Hamley umpired for Hamilton and Huntly respectively, and Mr. Percy Stevens acted as referee. Cambridge, Monday. Where threshing has been done in this part of the Waikato, the wheat has turned out quite equal, and in many cases beyond, estimated yields; oats, scarcely so well. Mr. Allwill's traction engine and machines have been doing good work in the Tamahere district, and returned on Thursday last to work nearer home: Some, few farmers have made preparation for storing their grain when threshed, but the majority have had to sell at once. Mr. J. Taylor has had built a commodious fire and vermin proof granary 45 by 18 feet with 16 feet studs, iron sides and roof. Wairangi, Monday. Prospecting has been going on here, and from time to time results have been obtained - which, if not much in themselves, have been most encouraging as showing that reefs exist in this part of the district, both auriferous and argentiferous. This should lead to a more thorough exploration of the district. The test made by the Messrs. Locke is reported to have given some three ounces of silver and as many weights of gold to the ton. Two miles away and further on, however, there is a complete network of reefs in the Wairangi, which have never been fairly tried. The country is quite close, within ten or a dozen miles of To Aroha, and may be a portion of that golden belt. _ One thing is certain, there would be no hindrance to prospecting, and resident settlers would afford every facility to parties visiting the district for that purpose.

[by telegraph.—own correspondents.] Hamilton, Monday. The Mayor has given notice of motion for next meeting that the salary of the Town Clerk be reduced from £150 to £125 per annum; and Councillor Jones has . given notice of motion that the wages of the Foreman of Works be reduced from 7s to 6s per day. Neither motion is likely to be carried. Whatawhata, Monday. A nasty accident happened to Mr. Goble of this place to-day. He was handling a bottle of yeast, when it' burst in his left hand, cutting the sinews of the little finger, and otherwise maiming him. The sufierer drove into the hospital at Hamilton to-day, when his wound was dressed by Dr. Kenny but it will probably disable him for a fe*v» weeks.