COUNTRY NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9150, 4 September 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS. J Hamilton, Monday. Many conjectures are afloat as to the reason of the active demand for young stock and their increased price. At recent sales, eight-months-old calves have even fetched 28s and 30s each. Those who are most conversant with the district say that the reason is not the early springing of the grass, nor the fear that turnips if not quickly eaten off will have to be ploughed in, but that it really is to be found in the actual decrease in the number of cattle, caused by the knocking on the head of newly-dropped calves ana the speying of cows and heifers. If this be so, it is the more satisfactory as pointing to a permanent rise in the value of stock, and coupled with the severe drought in New South Wales, affords a somewhat better outlook for New Zealand stock-owners. The intending milk suppliers to the Hamilton Creamery met on Friday evening last to consider Messrs. Spragg and By crofts proposals for the reopening of the creamery at the Waikato Dairy Company b premises this season. The suppliers were willing to accept the terms, 2£d per gallon for the milk, but were utterly unable to give the guarantee required of 600 cows, and Mr. Swarbrick was deputed to communicate with Messrs. Spragg and Bycrofton the matter, the more especially as in the case of the Ngaruawhia factory that firm has accepted the smaller guarantee of 400 cows. Up to Saturday evening no reply had been received from Messrs. Spragg and Bycroft, though a telegram had been looked for throughout the day. The sale of Mr. Warden Northcroft's household furniture took place on Saturday, and the family left the same day. Mr. and Mrs. Northcroft will be much missed in Hamilton, where they had many friends during their residence of the last seven or eight years. The quarterly meeting of the Borough Licensing Committee will be held on Wednesday next, when applications for transfers of three out of the four hotels will be made. There will be no opposition in any case. Cambridge, Monday. _ At the annual meeting of the Lawn Teenifs Club the following were appointed a committee, namely, Messrs J. Bull, Cooke, Lusk, Macara, and Rutherford. Mr. Cooke declining to act as secretary, the appointment of that officer was left to the committee. A very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the committee of the preceding year. Mr. J. Hill returned toWaikatoon Saturday, after his second trip with horses to the Sydney market. Profiting by the experiences of his first trip Mr. Hill took over the exact class of horses to suit the Sydney market. Amongst these were seven or eight Merrileg's colts, which were much admired and eagerly competed for, and sold for prices such as £27, £28, and £21). Merrilens himself is thought much of, and a strong effort will be made to get him back to Jsew South Wales for the next season. Mr. Hill made good prices of the whole of his venture sold. During his visit he sold the entire horse Stonewall Jackson for 73 guineas. The south wind blowing on Friday was so strong as to make the jigger mail service by rail an hour later than it otherwise would have been. The second match of the season was played on Saturday here between the Cambridge and Hamiton football teams, and resulted in a draw. The game was a give and take one. The local team had the best of the scrums, but no scoring was made by either side. Tamaherb, Monday. A serious accident happened to Mr. Arthur Wheeller, of Te Rore, on Saturday night. He had ridden over to his brother's house here, Mr. A. T. Wheeller, and on reaching the newly-made road nearly at the end of his journey his horse shied at a cart left on the roadside. Shying across the road, the horse tripped and fell in the water table, falling on Mr. VVheeller's leg, who still kept hold of the reins. As the horse struggled to get up, however, it kicked Mr. Wheeller on the right side of the face, breaking in the bone on the right cheek below the eye. Dr. Waddington was at once sent for, and attended to the injury. He does not expect any permanent injury to the sight, but Mr. Wheeller has had a very narrow escape. WAIPU. A cutter, laden with general stores for sale, ha« been in the Waipu River the most of last week, and is said to have done a considerable trade. It would be advisable for the authorities to keep a watchful eye on these " marine stores." We have plenty of stores established throughout the settlement, doing legitimate trade for moderate profit, handicapped greatly by being obliged to give long credit; but our legitimate traders will be obliged to succumb completely to such adverso competition as above stated, if they do not receive protection from the hands of the proper authorities. Constable Abrams arrested a gumdigger known by the sobriquet of " Dutch Harry" for burglarising the premises of Mr. Turner, at Ruakaka. He is said to have stolen about twenty pounds' worth of provisions from Turner's store, and is to be charged with the offence before a bench of local justices. The general impression is that the accused is of unsound mind, and should be committed to the lunatic asylum. A few of our boys have organised a drum and fife band, and intend soothing the bucolic breast in the summer evenings with the sweet, shrill strains of the fife and tuck of drum. A concert in aid of the band was to have been held on Tuesday last, but had to be postponed in consequence of inclement weather. The Gospel Temperance meetings are a regular monthly institution here, and the meeting held on Monday last was of more than usual interest, the Rev. J. M. Eraser having consented to lecture on the comprehensive subject of " Universal Responsibility in Regard to Temperance." He endeavoured to point out, in a fervent and earnest manner, the moral guilt of all persons who in any way encouraged the use and traffic in anything that brought death and ruin to their fellow-men.