COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9183, 12 October 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Hamilton, Thursday. A limelight exhibition is to be given in a few days, under the management of Mr. Reid, in aid of the funds of the Presbyterian Church. The annual Wesleyan Home Mission services will be held in Trinity Church, on Sunday next, when the services will be taken by the Revs. Best and Rishworth, the annual soiree in connection therewith being held on the following Tuesday evening in the schoolroom, and a public meeting later on in the evening, in the church. Oxford, Thursday. A man named William Gordon, who has been living for some time past ill and in a, state of destitution in a whare above Oxford, was sent down to Hamilton to-day, to the charge of the Waikato Charitable Aid Board. He has been kept alive for some weeks by the charity of the settlers, and notably that of Mr. Rose, of the Oxford Hotel. Gordon belongs to Auckland, which place he left some two months ago, swagging it to Waikato, and will, therefore, if strong enough for the journey, be sent on to tha Charitable Aid Board of that district. Wuatawhata, Thursday. Mr. J. C. Booth, the contractor for "the Government works on the Kaniwhaniwha, Road, pitched camp with six or seven men, 011 Friday, and has made a commencement of the work, which it will take some three months to complete. It is most gratifying to observe the general appearance of prosperity upon the farms in this district. The crops and grass are looking grand since the late rains and warm weather set in. Most of the wheat ami oats, though not quite all, are now in, but a considerable extent yet remains to be planted in potatoesthe crop of the Waipa. One of the best pieces of wheat! have seen this spring in this district is that on the farm of Mr. Calder, though only a, small field of five acres. The wheat has followed a potato crop, unmanured, of last season, which turned out fifty tons of saleable potatoes, although a ton and a-half of the seed, being bad, missed growing. As a reply to those who say that tanning will not pay, it may be mentioned that Mr. Calder has already sold 38 tons of potatoes, some in Waikato and some in Auckland, which, after cost of freight, commission, etc., have netted him an average of £2 los per ton. Otorohanga, Thursday. Before going to Wellington the member for Waipa promised to urge on the Government the claim of this place and Te Kuiti to telephone communication with the rest of the colony, and though Ministers for Public Works have acquiesced in the need of such an undertaking, no step has yet been taken to provide this convenience. Twice a week the mail arrives from and leaves for Auckland by railway, and even the Government officials have found it necessary to despatch a lineman by trolly to Te Awamutu to carry an official mail between that place and here, but To Kuiti enjoys no such advantage, and the loss and inconvenience experienced by natives and Europeans having business at the Land Court through the absence of telegraphic communication is much complained of. HELEN SVILLE. A carnival took place at Mr. Becroft's skating rink here last week, and was a very good turn out for our quiet little village. The ladies' dresses were well got up. The prize for the best-dressed lady was awarded to Miss Bella Rawson, the second prize going to a young lady from Auckland, a Miss Long, who was greatly admired by everyone. The most graceful lady skater was Madame Howlet, and she took the third prize. Her dress was trimmed with fruit, and fitted her to perfection. I cannot give the names of all the ladies who were present. There were Spanish ladies and peasants, and one young lady personated '' Folly," but she was rather too short for the tall gentleman she promenaded with, which spoilt the effect of the character. Among the gentlemen's dresses were Parsees, Robinson Crusoe, Volunteers, Jockeys, and one who represented Hjorth's soap, his dress being covered all over with the labels. The usual number of clowns, niggers, and shoeblacks were well represented. All went off very well, and everyone appeared quite satisfied with the evening's amusement. The Helensville brass band discoursed some splendid operatic music at intervals during the even ing, much to the gratification of the audience. Another carnival is to take place shortly.— [A Correspondent, October 6. J