COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9152, 6 September 1888, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own CORRESPONDENTS. J Hamilton, Wednesday. A reply from Messrs. Spragg and Bycroft has been received by the proposed milk suppliers to the creamery here, stating that their firm will reduce the guarantee of cows from 600 to 500 in the case of Hamilton, but that they cannot commence the season here with a lesser number. It is as impossible to give a guarantee of 500 as it was of 600 cows; and great dissatisfaction prevails, that while a guarantee of 400 suffices at Ngaruawahia a larger guarantee should be demanded at Hamilton. Since the matter of the yard fees in connection with the Hamilton cattle saleyards cropped up it has been discussed with one, at least, of the auctioneers using the yardsWhile admitting that per cent, commission only is charged on sales at Ohaupo with yard fees, he states that the commission charged at Hamilton—five per cent., without yard fees— is fair when compared with other outside cattle sales. At Ngaruawhia, in the Piako, and at Cambridge, five per cent, commission is charged in addition to the yard fees, so that really the country settlers get the benefit intended for them by the Council when they abolished the system of yard fees in connection with the Hamilton saleyards. Moreover, in the case of the Hamilton yards the auctioneers using them have to pay a-half per cent, on their sales to the borough to cover wear and "tear of yards. Ohattpo, Wednesday. Mr. J. McNicol held a large and well attended cattle and sheep sale yesterday. Prices still maintain an upward tendency. Mr. Gordon's sheep dogs were much admired and found a ready sale. The general centre of attraction here yesterday was the Buckeye Reaper and Binder exhibited, and a very general opinion was expressed that it would rapidly supersede the harvesting machinery at present in use. Its lightness, its suitability for rough and sideling ground, owing to the mechanism for binding being on the platform, and its general efficiency, were all pointed out and admired. As it has already been described in detail in the Herald and Weekly News, and will be on exhibition again at Cambridge on Saturday, no further description of it need be given. Whatawhatj , Wednesday. Another death occurred hist night at the native Whatawhata settlement on the Waipa, namely, that of a sister of the girl whose death I reported a week ago. This makes the sixth death in this small native settlement of 40 souls all told, within the last six weeks or two months, and calls for the immediate attention of the authorities. The symptoms have all been of the same character, evidently a form of typhoid. Time was when the Government provided for the medical attendance in such cases, but now responsibility is so divided that between hospital boards and Government the natives are allowed to rot off like sheep. An application was recently made by the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to the Government to know what the Government were inclined to do in the matter of extending medical and charitable aid to persons of the native race within its boundary, but the only reply received was that the Government must reserve its decision on the matter, as the question was a broad one. This was some months ago, and whilst the Government has been thinking over the application, or rather while it has been conveniently pigeonholed, the natives of this settlement have been literally decimated by disease. [by telegraph.—own correspondents.] Hamilton, Wednesday. This morning at half-past seven o'clock, a man named William Wishart, a labourer employed at the tunnel, who has been in Hamilton for the last week, was found dead on the footpath opposite the gateway into Sydney Square, in Grey-street, by a lad named White. He was taken to the Royal Hotel, and Dr. Murch was at once sent for. He found that life was extinct, though the body was still warm. Deceased had told the police yesterday that he intended to return to his work on the Railway contract to-day. An inquast was held to-day before Mr. Searancke, coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr. Proctor was foreman, when a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, namely, "Death from Apoplexy," was returned. Deceased was well known in this district as an excellent workman, and he is supposed to have been a single man, having no relatives in the colony. At the Licensing Meeting to-day the Commercial hotel was transferred from C. J. W. Barton to A. Bright; the Waikato Hotel from A. Bright to P. Lemansen; and th, Royal Hotel from E. L. Smith to H. Meredith..