COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9154, 8 September 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[by telegraph, —own correspondent.] Hamilton, Friday. At the meeting to-day of the Kirikiriroa Road Board—present: Mr. Primrose (chairman), and Messrs. Huttle and McLean— following tenders were dealt with Davis' tramway road, Hugh Kelly, £20 19s 6d; M. Shanaghan, £18; J. Dixon (accepted], £14 19s 6d. For works on Mangawara Road, near Taupiri: D. Thompson, *65 4s; Carter and Bennett (informal), F. W. Little wood (accepted), £33 Is Bd. An application was made by Mr. Thomas Clarkin, that the road between his farm and W. Chitty s, should be opened. The clerk was instructed to give Mr. Chitty notice to remove the obstruction. In answer to a request for £5 subsidy for gravelling a road past his property, it was stated that 80 chains of the work was so badly done that it should not have been passed. The Board resolved that, as their engineer had passed the work and paid for it, the subsidy must be paid. Cambridge, Friday. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day —before Captain Jackson, R.M.—the following cases were heard —H. Gillett v. R. Mainwaring, claim for £4 6s, board and lodging,. Mr. James Hally appeared for the plaintiff. Judgment was given for the amount claimed and costs. William Milne v. Joseph Butler, claim £1 13s, balance of account for stacking and thatching, etc. Mr. R. W. Dyer for the plaintiff, Mr. Hally for the defendant. Judgment was given for the plain with solicitor's and Court fees. No witnesses, costs were allowed. Mr. John Houghton, senr., left to-day with his family to take up his residence in Auckland. General regret is expressed at the winding up of the old-established firm of Houghton and Sons, the members of which have earned the respect of the community both as business men and members of society. The weather is splendid, and there is promise of a good fruit crop in the orchards here. LUCAS' CREEK. I understand that Mr. A. McArthur will not be in charge of the s.s. Gleaner for the present, pending fresh arrangements being made. General regret is felt in this and the surrounding districts in consequence. I believe Mr. W. McKirdy has been taken on as engineer of the steamer. I am. of opinion that Captain Holden would find itgreatly to his advantage, as regards the traffic, to run the Gleaner three handed for the present, retaining Mr. A. McArthur in charge of the s.s. Gleaner, aa it is wholly owing to this gentleman's painstaking care and ability that, the present trade has been built up. He has been running on the creek, taking the whole of the traffic, for nearly 10 years (formerly as master of the cutter Spray, and for the last eighteen months in charge of the s.s. Gleaner). During the whole of this time he has won and retains the implicit confidence of the settlers and general public by his courteous bearing and careful attention to the interests of passengers and cargo. Mr. McArthur has been one of our best settlers for many years. Mr. W. Stevenson lost one of his horses the other day under rather peculiar circumstances. It appears that one of Mr. Stevenson's sons was riding the animal through the old bush when it accidentally put its forefeet into a small drain it was crossing, breaking one of its forelegs. The poor animal had to be shot, as nothing could be done for it. The spring appears to have now fairly opened, but no doubt we shall yet have an occasional snatch of wintry weather for some weeks to come. Our settlers are all very busy just now preparing the land for the reception of the spring crops. The various orchards are commencing to show the first signs of the near approach of the growing season. Some varieties of late peaches are in full bloom already, while tne damsons and other kinds of fruit are also coming out. There appears to be a good chance of a large bloom on the trees this spring, which will give promise of a rich return of fruit, should the season prove favourable. It is to be hoped that the codlin moth will not make its unwelcome appearance. Our orchardists should take the necessary steps to prevent the moth getting headway, and should it appear, there can be no doubt that if taken in time its ravages may, with a little care, be reduced to a minimum. Mr. S. J. Frost has opened his land for gumdigging purposes. A dance was held in the schoolhouse on Friday, the 24th of August.—{Own Correspondent, September 4. J