COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9187, 17 October 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OUR OWN CO DENTS.] Hamilton, Tuesday. Mr. Allright was here for the Board of EducatioH yesterday, and inspected the teacher's house at the West Hamilton school. It was found necessary to re-roof the dwelling, and iron will be recommended for the purpose. Has it never occurred to those in charge of such matters that the houses of school teachers ami the schools themselves will have to be replaced, and all at about the same time ? This will entail a very heavy expenditure. Now, the teachers of the public schools are the best housed of any people in the colonv, and they occupy the houses free of rent. If a small rent were charged, and funded at interest, a sum would be provided to replace these buildings some fifteen years hence, when the greater number of them will all at once need to be replaced. It has been supposed that the Hamilton Cricket Club will be a weak one this year, but this is a mistake. Several new members have joined lately, and the club will be able to raise a far more formidable team than was anticipated. Whatever its strength, the club is determined to fulfil all engagements set down for it in the Waikato programme of matches for the season, if it only brings a short-handed team into the field. The following have been selected to play the opening match of the season at Taupiri against the Taupiri team, namely, Browning, Stevens, Gaudin, Sage, Gribble, Hammond, Barton, John Edgeenmbe, Primrose, Forbes, and Von Stunner. The Salvation Army services continue to be largely attended by numbers of all classes of people, and many by their influence have been brought into a condition of respectability and their families into comfortable circumstances. As showing the general popularity of the movement it may be mentioned that at last Sunday's church parade of the volunteers more members were detailed off to the Salvation Army service than to those of all the other churches put together. Cambridge, Tuesday. Mr. R. Reynolds has arrived with a fine herd of Jersey cows for his farm from, VVanganui. It is high time that a meeting of those interested in the holding of the Waikato Horticultural Show which takes place annually in March, was convened, in order to let intending competitors know what classes of flowers, and fruit, and vegetables prizes will be given for, so that they may initiate preparations for competing. This year the show will bo held in Cambridge, and it is desirable that the annual meeting of the committee for the appointment of otricers should be held here also, the principal exhibitors being from this and the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi districts, for all of which Cambridge is of course the more convenient centre, as the railroad cannot be utilised for the transmission and return of the exhibits. The tender of John Finnerty, 1701 16s lOd, for the contract on the Te Aroha-Lich-tield Road, has been accepted. There were eleven other tenders ranging from £739 13s 9d to £985. [by telegraph—own correspondents.J Paeroa, Tuesday. Miss Lena Gibbons, of Parawai School, has been appointed teacher at Paeroa. Cambridge, Tuesday. _ A special meeting of the Borough Council was held this evening. Present : His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), and Messrs. Webber, Bond, Clements, Priestley, and FergU3on. It was proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Mr. Priestley, "That in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of the Rating Act Amendment Act, 18SS, the Council by special order resolves that sections 22 to 51, both inclusive, of Rating Act, 1882, shall apply to the recovery of all rates now due or hereafter to be made for the purposes of such borough." The resolution was carried. It was stated that Messrs. Richardson and Bach would give in the report re the gorse nuisance at the next meeting; Tenders for carting gravel for twelve months were received, From Jos. Cochrane, Gid per yard (informal); Messrs. Fogarty, Brockelsby, and Dillon, Sd per yard (accepted). It was reported that the timber for flooring the Public Hall was sufficiently seasoned, and the work will be proceeded with forthwith. Te Awamutu, Tuesday. Milk suppliers are to be congratulated on the fact that the Te Awamutu Cheese and Bacon Factory Company have made arrangements with Mr. Henry Reynolds for the lease of the factory as a creamery. Mr. Reynolds will receive milk at once from the settlers. The only case of interest at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day was an action by W. Bond, of Kihikihi, against J. A. Kennedy, a traveller for Woollams and Co., Auckland, to recover £8 10s, value of a horse hired to defendant and killed through his alleged negligence. The horse was hired to take defendant to the Porotorau tunnel in May last. On reaching Te Kuiti the same evening defendant placed _ the horse in a bare allotment for the night, about a chain and a-half square, one corner of which was within three yards of the railway rails. In the morning the horse, frightened at the engine, rushed the fence, and in jumping it, was impaled on a stake, and was shot bv defendant's orders. Mr. Hay, for plaintiiV, insisted on negligence on the part of Bond in putting the horse in dangerous quarters, and brought evidence to prove that no prudent man would have done so. Defendant, who was not present, had telegraphed to the Bench, shortly after the opening of the case, for an adjournment, and the plaintiffs witness having been examined, the defence was adjourned to next court day, the magistrate ret using Mr. Hay's application that, if adjourned, defendant should pay the claim and costs into Court. KlHllcillf, Tuesday. Major Jackson, member fur Waipa, arrived here from the South to-day, and was heartily welcomed by numerous friends. He will address the electors at To Awamutu in a few days. ■ Ngaruawahia, I uesday. Messrs. Dickeson and Burnett, brewers, dissolved partnership to-day. Mr. Burnett retires, and Mr. Dickeson carries on the business.

MAUKU. It may not be generally known that the worthy Resident Magistrate (Dr. Giles) at present acting in Auckland was one of Mauku's early settlers, and was seeded down here to bush life up to the time of the native disturbance in 1853, when he joined our settlers in forming a volunteer corps for the defence of their homes. He was also one of the founders of St. Bride's Church, taking an active part in the committee for its erection. After the disturbance, he abandoned-farm life for what was more congenial to his tastes, and started in his profession, and contributed to literature. Soon after this, he was solicited by the Government of the day to accept a position of responsibility, which he has held ever since; and I am sure all his old friends, as well as his new ones, hope he may long be spared to retain the position he so ably fills. The doctor was tho composer of the Mauku settler's song, part; of which is quoted in Baron Von Hocnsretter's book on New Zealand. The two schools in this neighbourhood, Patumahoe and West Mauku, have just gone through the standard examination under Air. Airey, the inspector. At Patumahoe 78 passed, which is higher than has ever been made here before. Mr. Short, who has charge, has a good deal to contend against by the irregular attendance; but he is considered to be a very painstaking teacher, and the recent examination has proved him to be so. lie hay been ably ssisted by Miss

Phillips during the past year. At West Mauku 78 per cent, passed. The attendance lias been very regular, the average for the last quarter, and the worst one of the year, was 41*1. _. „ , , Mr. Reynolds, of the Waikato, has been in the district looking up milk supplies, as he purposes, if supported, to commence buttermaking at Mr. Kingsford's factory at Pukekohe; and his taking it up must be a good thing for the district, for Ins reputation as a buttermaker is established, and it is to be hoped the people will support him as far as possible. The price for milk is low, no doubt, but look at the price of butter. The genial rains we have had have brought forward crops and grass a good deal. Fruit trees of all kinds give promise of an abundant crop.—[Own Correspondent.]

MATAKOHE. I ? St. James, in his Epistle, referring to the human tongue, which he calls a little member, says, "'Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth." Without question, I think this remark of the moralising Apostle would also apply to the pen, although with the latter instrument more caution is usually employed. I cannot help thinking that your correspondent, "A. Tramp," forgot thi3 necessary caution, however, last week, when he accused Mr. Charles McMlU'do of bragging of acquaintance with the daughters of Dean Stanley, young ladies whom " A. Tramp" declares do not exist, the evident intention of the paragraph being to point out that Mr. McMurdo is not only untruthful, but has been guilty of the snobbishness of pretended acquaintance with fersons at home above him in social rank, do not know whether Dean Stanley has daughters or not, but I do know perfectly well that Mr. Charles Napier McMurdo. son of General Sir Wiliam McMurdo, ana nephew of Lord Napier of Magdala, has no occasion to pretend to the honour of an acquaintance with Dean Stanley or anyoue else, if he does not x>ossess it. I should not have troubled you with these remarks had Mr. McMurdo been present to defend himself, but he ia in Australia, and his brother, Mr. Henry McMurdo, of Pahi (perhaps luckily for "A. Tramp , '), is also temporarily absent.—[Own Correspondent.]

RAGLAN. On Monday last, between 8 and 9 p.m., a cry of fire was raised. In a small township like ou.rs, it did not require the aid of the telephone to indicate the locality. However, the result would have been very serious had not willing hands turned out to render assistance. It appears that the kitchen chimney in the cwo-storey house now leased by our new storekeeper, Mr. Rendell, was in a furious blaze, and at one time it seemed evident that the whole of the extensive building would be consumed, as the lighted soot, constantly falling on the dry shingles, ignited in several parts; but through the strenuous efforts on the part of our embryonic fire brigade the flames were subdued, though not until midnight. The owner of the house was most active ; and by the expression of his face, it was perfectly plain that his brain was as hard at work as his hands. The noninsurance of the premises was his all-prevail-ing thought. If I were an insurance agent I should have a word with that gentleman. To add to the disaster, the lady of the house, Mrs. Rendell, was within dangerously ill, with rheumatic fever. lam pleased to state that with all the noise and clamour (which under the circumstances was restrained as much as possible), she is none the worse for the scare. The larking element is here, if not the larrikin. The only difference is that the one is the English and the other the Irish mode of expressing the word. Special constables will have to be sworn in for the next event of the kind. The s.s. Rowena made her appearance in the harbour on Thursday last, about 8 a.m., with several passengers for this port and a full cargo ot merchandise, furniture, and luggage. She left Onehunga the afternoon of Monday last. The return cargo consisted of pigs, some tine wethers (from Mr. J. Moon's farm at Waitetuna), flax, hides, wool, and produce from other sources, altogether a very fair load. Messrs. S. and T. Wilson have nearly completed the erection of their commodious hotel at the Raglan Hot Springs. This, together with our hotels in town, the Temperance and the Harbour View, should be sufficient inducement for all those seeking health or those requiring resuscitation from past labours We can ensure peace, quietness, and invigorating sea breezes, not to be surpassed in New Zealanu. This seaside resort will eventually become the first sanatorium of the colony. I see our boatowners and builders are fixing up their pleasure boats for the forthcoming season. The monthly mebting of the Raglan Highway and Harbour Board took place to-day (Saturday). Present: Messrs. A. Gilmour (chairman), Mitchell, Pegler, Savage. Danda, and Philp. The following resolutions were carried : "' That the Raglan Countv Council take authority over the Raglan Licensing District from August 2sth last;" " That tenders be called for putting beacons into position ;" ''That the chairman wait on the Raglan County Council at its next meeting re the annexation of that portion of the Kairoi district to the Town of Raglan Highway District (already petitioned for)." Accounts were found correct and passed for payment. The Governor-in-Council has approved of the plans for the construction of a wharf into deep water. The chairman was ordered to call tor tenders for the erection of the same.—[Own Correspondent, October G.]

WAITARA. The newly-elected members of the Waitara Town Board met for the tirst time on Monday, October 1, when Mr. Frederick Bluck was acrain unanimously elected chairman of the Board. The various committees were formed and some routine business transacted. The Board adjourned to the tirst Monday in November. We have had some steady rain after a long spell of dry windy weather. The rain has done an immense amount of good, both to crops and grass, and also to our river, which has had a good scouring out, and left a deep bar. Don't the New Plymouth people wish they had a "creek" to wash the sand away from their breakwater. —[Own Correspondent.]