TE ARAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9129, 10 August 1888, Page 6

TE ARAL

Our young men gave a ball or dance, to which many were invited, but the weather being inclement, some were deterred in consequence. Owing to the non-receipt of a grant, the district library has not increased its number of books to any great extent, but still there is an increase. More subscribers would benefit the library and themselves too, and be heartily welcomed. —FOwn Correspondent.] POLLOK. A general meeting of the members and adherents of the Waiuku Presbyterian Church, including the other preaching stations in the circuit, was held in the Kohekohe Church on Friday f the 3rd instant, to take into consideration the resignation of the Rev. P. I. Kiddle ; also, to consider the ways and means of getting another minister. Mr. Riddle will leave in a few days for some place in Canterbury, but no decided action has been taken in the way of getting another minister. The weather in this district is, and has been during the winter, uncommonly fine. The grass is beautiful and green- The clematis, the harbinger of spring, has made its appearance much earlier than usual. The drooping willow and poplar are budding out. A dish of ripe strawberries could have been got in at least one garden here at any time since the month of May last; also a bouquet of very fine ilowers all the winter through. In some gardens, early potatoee are up and in rows. Some parties have commenced to plant their general crop, so that the tubers may be pretty well developed before the dry weather sets in. There is every appearance, at the present time, of a very early spring.—[Own Correspondent, August 6.] HUKERENUI. The usual meeting of the Hukerenui and Motatau Vigilance Committee was held at Mr. Gray's residence on Saturday, the 28th July, at 7 p.m. Present: Mr. Black (chairman), Messrs. Lambert, Gray, Cowen, McGinley, and Home. The first business of the meeting was to consider the re-valuation of certain land in the district under the Village Settlement Scheme. The secretary read a letter to Mr. Hobbs on the subject, which, having been approved of, was signed by the members present and directed to be sent accordingly. It was then resolved to take such steps as would lead to the continuation of the Ramarama Valley Road. Commenced some twelve months ago, this road came to a stop at the Ramarama stream, and consequently has, up till the present time, been of no use for the purpose intended—viz., to connect the Ramarama Valley with the Whangarei-Kawakawa Road. The settlers there have at present no means of egress from their sections without passing through private property. A petition was read by the secretary to the Commissioner of Waste Lands re cemetery reserve for the district; signed by the committee and directed to be sent. A petition to the Postmaster-General praying for continuation of mail service to Kawakawa, and the establishment of a branch at Towai, was also read and approved of. Resolved. " That the Minister of Public Works should be asked to give more publicity to tenders for road work m the district; and to direct that the date for opening the same should be fixed at other than Sunday." Proposed by Mr. Gray, seconded by Mr. McGinley, " That the Government be requested not to collect rents till the land had been re-valued." Carried. Mr. Gray then moved, " That a petition should be forwarded to Sir George Grey, praying him to use his influence to prevent the injustice of gumdiggers being compelled to pay a license for digging on open lands, and that the Chamber of Commerce and the Trades and Labour Union should also be communicated with on the subject." Seconded by Mr. Cowen, and carried nem. con. A vote of thanks to the chairman and secretary brought the meeting to a close.—[Own Correspondent.]

HAG LAN. Some of the men who came to Ragla.n to start a flaxmill have cleared out and left their names printed on the minds of one or two of the townspeople. Are those the sort of people to help the place to go ahead ? Flaxdressing is all the go here. There are six milk at work day and night, so I should say there is good inducement for a steamer to run regularly. It will be a good thing when the winter is over, and the grass begins to grow, for oar animals are beginning to look the worse for the cold and the shortness of feed. I hear that Mr. Wilson's accommodation house at the Whaingaroa Hot Springe is iust about finished. Those who seek the gooa of hot springs will find them all that can be desired A very successful social was held at Waitetuna on the 30th July. At intervals in the dancing, songs were sung, with great applause by Messrs. AlcPherson, Petty, Turner, and Moon. Mr. Moon made a very proficient M.C. Dancing was kept up until the small hours. The county has brought the doe tax into force—a very absurd tax it is too. In the first place the tax is 2s 6d a head for cattle and sheep dogs and 5s for all others. The collars cost at leaet 6d each, and the collector gets Is a collar. Of course any dog used to drive cattle would go for 2s 6d, so very few will be ss.—[Own Correspondent.] NGAIRE. A few weeks ago I mentioned that * butter factory, to be erected near here, was on the tapis, and a decided step towards the attainment of that object was made on 26th ult., when a meeting was held in the Town Hall to consider the subject A strong feeling was manifested to have the matter pushed forward, and on a canvass of those present being made, upwards of A." 100 was subscribed. It ie the intention of those interested to make every effort to start the concern free of any_ outside help, and to carry the business on in a purely cc -operative basis. Preparations are being pushed forward for the production, on the 17th instant, of a dramatic entertainment, when a number of

debutantes will appear. A burWu titled " Beauty and the Beast," Wjjj \ ett first on the programme, and the oW, 0 ? 1 " ,, will be taken by the Robson famik drama, "The Bitter Cold," will Xi, A ■when the undermentioned will takp , ' parts assigned:—Ralph Waters Mr I)M trie Hamilton: Dick Bemis, Mr. T. E <■ rc ? hurat; Mary Manners, Mrs. T p j-, rr->w-hurst; Harry Manners, Mr. Tom Sb,, " w " Tinker, Mr. Amoore; vSukey, Mrs Si'T- 3; —[Own Correspondent.] Ol nclair.