COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9103, 11 July 1888, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

MANGAWAI.

A change in the management of the hotel has taken place. Mr. Dean has made way for Mr. Garland, whose activity and business habits augur well for the settlement. The telephone to Kaiwaka will be open on or about Monday next. It will be a very great convenience.

The meeting relative to the steamers' freight and other matters resulted in nothing decided being done by the owners. A promise was made to give something towards a receiver of goods at. the wharf shed and to consider the other matters. ' - •■■",'• ""'•",.'

The Temperance Society, with the Rev. Tobin in the chair 1 , had a very pleasant evening last week. There is an improvement in the general tone of the proceedings, which is most pleasant to tee —[Own Correspondent.]

RAGLAN,

There was great excitement here last''Week among the flax-dnssers, caused through a bet of £5 aside between Messrs. Donaldson and La Trobe. The bet was Hook v Knife, and which was the bsst tool to use to cut flax with. Mr. Domldson used the hook and Mr. La Trobe th« knife. They were to work a day cutting aid it came off at La Trobe's mill on Monday last, the knife gaining the day by 12cwt; 2qr 141b. ; Mr. La Trobe managed to get through with 3 tons Bcwt Oqr 271b, and Mr. Donaldson 2 tons 15cwt 2qr 131b. As everyone is aware, this part of New Zealand has; always been run down, and I am of the opinion that it is also thought the people know nothing, and are very ignorant of work. People coma to the place and try to teach us new ideas. The using of the hook was one of them, and that is the way it was settled. Some of the flax-dressers here have been working mills ever since flax machines were made. Now, I think if the hook was bettor than the knife, it would have been brought into use long ago by them.—[A Correspondent June 27.]

KAWAKAWA.

Whatever may be said of the sombre quietness of " Sleepy Hollow," and its no less quiet inhabitant*, they are at least grateful and kindhearted. Last week I stated that on the departure of our late postmaster and his wife addresses and suitable presentations were made on the eve of their departure. I now have to record another kindly act of grateful remembrance to a late custodian of the peace and good order of the community for the past four or five years. When PoliceConstable Coughlan was removed to Auckland, the local Bench gave testimony of his zeal and ever efficient discharge of his duties, and though he left this district two or three months back.. it appears his friends in a social point of view had not forgotten him, and the members of St. Paul's Church and Sunday-school, of whioh he was an active and constant attendant, have forwarded to him a very beautiful writing-desk of varied native woods, which it has taken, no doubt, some time to have made to order, and this accounts for the delay. It will be no less on this account acceptable as a kind remembrance of his sojourn in Kawakawa. Beyond stating the excitement and gratification of cheap fares and freight to Auckland from the rival steamers, I have only one item of news, and that is ancnt the return match of our local football team with. Whangarei, which came off at that township on the 10th June, and resulted in a win to the hosts on that occasion ; but so well and cordially did they entertain their conquered visitors, that the defeat was more than compensated by the hospitality shown to the visitors. A return match has been arranged to be held at Kawakawa on an early date.[Own Correspondent.]

RAHOTU. An ordinary meeting of the Road Board was held on the 14th June. Present: Messrs. Syme, G. W. Gane, J. McHardy, M. Fleming, J. Stevenson, W. Bayley, and J. Mcßeynolds (chairman). The correspondence was read. £70 had been received from the Treasury for Crown and native rates. Tenders are to be called to keep open the bush road drains for one year. Great discussion took place on the amount of rate to be struck ; ultimately Id in the £ was carried by a majority of one. A discussion took place re the correspondent's report, he having evidently touched some on the raw, but it took a back seat. The resolution moved by Mr. Bayley, " That the clerk send reports," was thrown on the table a3 useless. He got a seconder in Mr. Stevenson, but an amendment was moved, " That we proceed with business," which was carried by tour to two. The third Wednesday in each month was appointed the day of meeting. Mr. Stevenson moved, " That no member living within five miles draw his five shillings allowance." This was lost. Mr.Ganß suggested that all the five shillings' which had been drawn should be refunded. A 0 ™ 11 " 13 were passed. Messrs.Bayley, Syme; McHardy, and Fleming drew their five shillings lor attendance. The following notice of motion has been tabled by Mr. Gane:-"That any member having ratable property WifcMn me miles of the office, and having drawnlany sums of money for attendance, be reauestec to refund the same to the treasurer. —iuw ; Correspondent.] ' _______—,