COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9099, 6 July 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents. ]

Hamilton, Thursday. Mr. Cotter, of Auckland, has given his opinion that the Waikato Hospital Board are warranted in resisting payment of the £300 awarded to the Auckland Board against them by the Auditor-General. The Waikato Hospital Board showed anything but a fair or liberal spirit yesterday in dealing with an application from their contractor of supplies, Mr. J. Knox, for an allowance to make good the advanced price on certain articles caused by recent alterations in the tariff. Tenders for the supply in May were very low, cutting in some instances to the sixteenth of a penny, and in cases where an extra duty has been put on, these articles ean only be supplied at a loss. Mr. Knox applied merely for a rebate to the amount of the extra duties on the several articles on which they had been increased, but the Board declined to accede to the request. A case of some interest was heard by Captain Jackson, R.M., at the Police Court yesterday. Mr. C. A. Davis, a new settler of Kirikhoa, was charged with negligent driving on Sunday last. An accident, for which, as it proved, Mr. Davis was not to blame, occurred while the volunteers and their band were marching to the church. A boy ran across the road in front of the buggy and pair which Mr. Davis was driving, and being knocked down by the collar of one of the horses, fell between them. Mr. Davis with great presence of mind did not pull up, or the boy would have been trampled to death, but drove slowly on, and the buggy passed over the child without injuring him. It appears that a number of boys were following the band in the roadway, and not as they should have been, upon the footpaths, which are as wide as those of Queen-street, and Mr. Davia and Mr. Searancke, who was in the buggy with him, shouted to the boys to clear away, which they did. Just, however, as the trap was passing, the boy knocked down by it shot across from beside the band in front of the horses. Four or five witnesses who were near swore to the negligent driving of Mr. Davis— he passed through the

— - ■ ■ ■-'■'-'- ■-' boys at a* smart trot; one going even "the length to swear that ha saw him take the whip from the socket and lay it across the reins, though he would not depose that he 4 actually used it on the ho.„es, and all swore that he made no attempt to pull "up. Tine case was going hard against defendant, who defended himself, till he placed Mr. W. N. Searancke in the box, who was with him hi the buggy. That gentleman swore positively that the buggy approached the volunteers at a walk, that the whi'j was never out of the socket the whole time, and if laid across the reins must have touched himself, that Mr. Davis had the ponies, which were much excited by the music, well in hand, and was doing his utmost to restrain their pace, which at no time exceeded 44 miles an hour, and that the onlookers must have been deceived as to the pace by the dancing and prancing of the horses, also that before the trap passed the boys, the passage was well cleared, the boys having scattered to the footpath, warred by the shouts of himself and defendant. Captain Jackson said this evidence most flatly contradicted the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution, and as Mr. Searancke was in the buggy and had the best opportunity of knowing what took place, he felt bound to dismiss the charge. .» ■ Tamahkrk, Thursday. Mr. J. S. Bucklaud held a most successful sale yesterday of the live and dead stock of Mr. S. S. Graham. - The attendance was the largest of any that has taken place for some time, being almost equal to that at the opening of the Hamilton saleyards. The most satisfactory feature was the brisk demand for cattle, which realised an advanced rate.. The farm implements also met with a brisk demand, and realised good prices. Te Awamoto, Thursday. It is satisfactory to find that the question of increasing the Hospital accommodation by the erection of additional buildings is under contemplation by the Board, so that patients from a distance will be able to be received. The case of Mrs. Beasley has been severely commented upon by the local press, the unfortunate sufferer being sent to Hospital and sent back again on the plea of no accommodation. The whole matter of Hospital extension, &c, will now be reported upon by the House Committee, doctor, and architect at next meeting of the Board. The local Te Awamutu cheese and bacon factory company, as the outcome of borrowed money and large interest, is about to go into liquidation. The money paid in interest would have yielded a good dividend. Mr. J. L. Mandeno has been appointed liquidator, and has been empowered to dispose of the property and business of the company. Ohaupo, Thursday. The weather of late has been most genial and favourable for getting the land ready for wheat, of which a large area will be sown this year. ' ~ ■':•-"' Owners of sheep, it would appear, have been remiss in not sending in their regular annual returns, which are required for presentation during the sitting of , Parliament. The sheep inspector notifies that he will prosecute ah those who do not send in their returns by the 14th instant.

RUAPEKAPEKA. ''.-;/ A very successful concert and dance was given in the Ruapekapeka school-room by the Ruapekapeka Social entertainment Society on June '12. Mr. T. Hedley having been voted to the chair, made a few remarks, after which the following programme was gone through in a very satisfactory manner: —Master J. Timperley, song, "The Old Veteran ;" Mr. J. Evens, song, " There Was & Little Nigger That Lived in the West;" Miss C. Flanagan, song, " Will You Ever Think of Me, Love Miss Timperly, song, "Mother, Is the Battle Over Mr. 1). Owens, recitation, "The Burial of Sir John Moore ;" Mr. T. Hedley, reading, " A Sailor's Wedding;" Miss M. Owens, recitation, "Tha Stormy Petrel" Miss ■ Timperly, song, "When Shall We Meet Again?" Mr. J. Evens, song, "0, Joe, the Boat is Going Over;" Mr. T. Hedley, recitation, "Home; Miss C. Flanagan, "Kiss Me, Mother, Kiss Your Darling; ' Mr. J. Owens, recitation, "The Little Hero;" last but not least, Mr. G. Irving, song, "Sweet Bell Mahohe.", The room being cleared of desks, etc., dancing was kept up in a. spirited manner till sunrise. Mr. J. Owens officiated as M.C. Suitable refreshments, provided by Miss Owens, were served at intervals during the evening.— [A Correspondent.] ..'■■'