COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9241, 19 December 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Bombay, Tuesday. On Fridav the annual concert in connection with St. Peter's Church was held in the Public Hall. The Rev. E. J. McFarland presided. The first item on the programme was a piano solo by Mrs. McFarland; then a song, "London Bridge," by Mr. G. Mackey; song, " King Christmas," Miss Sawyer; song, "Hearts of Oak," Rev. E. J. McFarland; song, "Alas! Those Chimes," Mrs. Bisphain; song, "They All Love .Jack,"Mr. Mackey; song, " Love's Old Sweet Song," Mrs. Harrop; song, "Jessie's Dream," Rev. E. J. McFarland : song, Many Happy Returns of the Day," Miss Sawver ; song, " My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair," Airs. Bispham. Second part: Piano solo, Mrs. Harrop; song, "The Bridge," Mr. Mackey (encored); song, " Fiddle and 1," Mrs. Harrop (encored); song, " Love's Young Dream," Mrs. Bispham (encored), reply, " Oft in the Stilly Night;" song, "The Pilot," Rev. E. J. McFarland; song, "The Harp That Once Through Tara's "Halls," Miss Sawyer (encored); song, "The Wicket Gate," Mrs. Harrop. The whole ending in a farcc, entitled " The Coloured Barber," Mr. J. Harrison taking the chief character. This evoked lots of laughter and fun for the vounger portion of the audience. Miss Ford, Mrs. McFarland, Mrs. Harrop, and Miss Wright, played the accompaniments. Mr, McFarland moved a hearty vote of thanks to all those who had taken part in the concert, especially to those from a distance, which was carried by acclamation. The singing of " God Save the Queen " brought the concert to a close, after which refreshments were then handed round.

The crops in this loeality are, generally speaking, looking well. The orchards that are not well sheltered have suffered very much from the nasty cold winds we have had lately.

[by telegram, —own correspondents.] Rotokua, Tuesday. Arrangements on an extensive scale are being made for a large gathering of natives on Christmas Day at To Awahou, about seven miles from here. Several hundred Maoris are expected to be present, many coming from Napier and Gisborne. Hamilton, Tuesday. Colonel Hume, with Colonel Shepherd, arrived by train to-day, and the Hamilton Light Infantrv Corps, under Captain Reid, mustered to the number of GO for inspection parade on Sydney Square. After putting the corps through a variety of evolutions, Colonel Hume complimented the officers anil men on their general efficiency, and stated that for physique, cleanliness, drill, and discipline, the corps was not equalled by any company lie had seen in the colony.

MANAIA (HAWERA COUNTY).

The well-known lines from Act 111., Scene 2 of Shakes petes " King Lear" : — Blow, winds, ami crack your cheeks ! rage ! blow ! You cataracts ami hurricanes, spout Till you have drenched our steeples, drown'd tho cocks!

have been quoted more than once 011 this coast within the past mouth or two, in consequence of the never-ceasing storms of wind and rain that we have experienced. One gentleman of a punning tendency on showing his fruit trees to a friend, said it was a " blasted" country. Another settler in the district informed "Your own" that he had serious thoughts of constructing a plough, with sails, and dispensing with horses altogether, for ploughing and narrowing. He said the wind is quite strong and constant enough to drive a double-furrow plough, provided we went round and round the held, -instead of up and down in the usual manner! In spite of all the rough weather, however, the grass is looking well, and there is plenty of feed, and in consequence the hearts of many of the settlers here rejoice exceedingly. Butter in the keg at Stl per lb, and some of the farmers —or their wives—are making from SOU) to 1001b of butter per week ! One party informed me 011 Saturday last that he is making at the present time 15 or 161b of butter a week from one —an Alderney. This is undoubtedly the district — par excellence—for small settlers whose wives understand dairying. In a very few years the whole of the bush round the foot of Mount Egmont will be under grass, and stocked with cattle and sheep, and there will be hundreds of dairy farms, that will supply the English as well as the Australian markets with butter and cheese of the finest quality. Last Wednesday was a lovely day. You ought to print the last sentence in red, for it was a red-letter day with us. For weeks we had had wind and rain, rain and wind, but on the day just mentioned it was bright, warm, and calm, which doubtless induced so many people to visit the Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show at Hawera. Mr. Fantham, a settler near Hawera. who has taken all the first prizes for cattle from Palmerston all along the coast, was successful in beating all competitors in most lines. There were about 500 exhibits at the show, and a concourse of about 2000 people. The grounds—.so acres—were well adapted for the purpose, and the committee of the Association must be congratulated upon the unqualified success of the whole affair.—[Own Correspondent.]

OPUNAKE.

Another acquisition to the district is Mr. C. McGregor, a brother of our local blacksmith. He is from Capetown, and 110 doubt he will be successful if he combines good workmanship with charges to meet the times. Probably he has a bit of go" in him as well as his brother; if so, he will succeed. The privileges in connection with our horseracing, to bo held on the Ist .January, were disposed of, viz. : Publican's booth, H. Brown, Kaliotu, £11 ; gates, W. Middleton, £25: refreshment boqth, Kepperly, £2; games, E. O'Sullivan, Kahotu, £6 10s. The cards were retained by the club. A good meeting is anticipated. Mr. M. Jones having secured tho mail contract, Opunako to Hawera daily, and Opunake to New Plymouth three times a week, has removed his home here ; he having proved himself in the past a thorough good Jehu, and having been very obliging, he is wished every success in his undertaking.— [Own Correspondent.]

RAHOTU.

There is not much to report from this quarter jnst now. Things are rather quiet. People are pretty busy. We have had a little excitement about our Domain Board, their lessee, and a deputation that waited 011 the Board. Daring the discussion it was pointed out by one of the members that if they got back a portion from the lessee, the Board would have to fence. They could not make the lessee do it, and had no funds to do it with, but Mr. Mcßeynolds, chairman of the Domain Board, thought that according to what the spokesman of the deputation had said there would be no difficulty. He would give 10s towards ft. Mr. Bay ley offered to do likewise, but the spokesman of the deputation did not offer one cent., although one of his colleagues, Mr. Anderson, offered to give 10s. Where did the spokesman expect the funds to come from ? Quite evidently not from him. Objection was taken to an article re getting a special audit of the Board's accounts, but petitions are being signed asking the Governor to get a special audit.—[Own Correspondent.]

WADE.

Our cricket season has commenced, and the young men of this district are devoting much of their leisure time to this health-giving amusement. When I came to this colony, we indulged in but few amusements; there seemed to be no time for such things. When the day's work was over, to recline, a la Upton, and read a hook, was all the exertion we were capable of. The present generation must have a greater development of muscular power than we had in those days, for it seems a walk or ride of many miles to a Band of Hope or Blue Ribbon meeting after a day's work is nothing nowaday. Cricket matches are played as vigorously as if the players were mere idlers during the week, in place of workers. The intellectual amusements are totally different from what they were when I was young. Everything, from reading to a Band of Hope entertainment must be.light or it will not amuse. The county engineer (Mr. Wilson) paid a visit to our district last week. His mission was for the purpose of trying to settle the disputed right-of-way on the KaukopaWainui- Wade Road, and also to inspect the road metal at Mr. Lambert's. He has been successful, I believe, in arranging matters relative to right-of-way. The road metal has been tried on approaches to two bridges near Mr. Lambert's, and the test has proved highly satisfactory. If the County Council would try their metal in this way previous to going into extensive contracts, it would avoid foolish mistakes, and at the same time save useless expenditure of money. The metalling on the Okura Road is an illustration of this hasty conclusion regarding stone fit for road purposes. This stone, when first quarried, had all the apparent consistency of hard metal, but, when exposed to the atmosphere, it crumbled into dust, and the rain turned it into blue mud, mixed with sand and a few hard boulders. A geologist would pronounce it to be a deposit from an old sea bottom or river bed. County councillors or engineers, not being practical geologists, should resort to experiments in order to avoid mistakes. A number of these serpentine deposits or reefs are scattered over this district. In some cases, such as at Mr. Lambert's, the stone is consolidated, and will stand exposure. The same deposit, to outward appearance, in ther places will crumble into dust, as at I Okura Quarry. When metal can be pro*

cured, it is to be hoped that Road Boards and County Councils will give up that poor substitute for metal—tea-tree.—{Own Correspondent, December 10.]

HUNUA.

There was a picnic at Kelly's Creeft-'on Monday, at the invitation of Mr. Kelly, and over forty visitors came to see the many beauties of this romantic stream. The party left Mr. Kelly's about 11.30 a.m. for the creok, and after enjoying the_ scenery about the Black Falls and the Lily Falls, went down the stream to where a clump of tree-ferns made a delightfully shady place for resting, and there they found abundance of cake and tea provided for their refreshment. After resting for a while in this grateful shade beside the cool waters, the party went down the stream to its junction with the Wairoa River, where the rank vegetation, emulating that of the tropical jungles, is reflected on all sides in the deep, still pools of the river. Returning to the resting-place, and partaking of another cup of refreshing tea, part of the company returned to Mr. Kelly's by the way they came, while a few went to take another lingering look at the Lily Falls, rescrambled up the precipitous banks into the paddocks, and so back to Mr. Kelly's house, where, after three cheers for the host, the party separated, having had a most enjoyable time, and made acquaintance with some of Nature's choicest pictures. It was holiday weather, and the ride home was evidently highly enjoyed by tho young folks. —[A Correspondent.]

KATIKATI.

It is generally admitted that farmers as a community can do their share of grumbling, and a very tolerable share it is when totted up at the end of each 305 days. Just now, however, we cannot wonder at a little growling ; nor is it surprising that complaints from all sides arc both bitter and prolonged. In this district we started with a very promising spring, warm dropping weather early in the season, with plenty of dry days between times to push ahead operations. Following this came a few windy days, which did a little damage, but the winds quickly gave place to light rains, and things began to look up again. During the last six weeks, however, hardly a shower has fallen, and, to make matters worse, we have experienced nothing but dry hot weather, with heavy westerly gales, which have _ completely parched up everything for miles around. Farmers have therefore rather a gloomy prospect before them unless there occurs an immediate change of weather, and as our district is in great part an agricultural one, we all naturally feel anxious as to the future. Many of the settlers have largo areas down in oats, anticipating a brisk demand at Waihi for hay and chatl ; but the paddocks, instead of looking green and healthy, have, many of them, turned to a sickly red, and begun to shoot. The potato crop is not much better, and every pasture is beginning to show symptoms of want of rain.

Mr. R. C. Jordan paid a visit to the settlement last week, having come from Tauranga to arrange for the purchase of the potato crops. 1 hear he was offering £3 10s per ton for > r ood samples lauded in Tauranga, but could not learn that lie had clinched any bargains. One farmer told me lie preferred to hold on until further in the season, thinking that a better price would then be forthcoming. Mr. W. Airey, School Inspector, has just completed the annual examination of the district schools. Both schools (there arc two in the settlement) gave highly satisfactory results, reflecting much credit on the teachers engaged in them. In No. 2 school, officered by Mr. Mulgan and Miss Wilson, 33 were presented for examination, of whom 30 passed and three failed ; whilst in No. 3 school, in clurge of Miss Gill, of 17 presented 14 passed, two failed, and one was excepted. Mr. Gray, contractor for the formation of Thompson's track into a coach road, is pushing the work ahead, and, favoured with good weather, is making rapid progress. The job has furnished employment for a good many of the settlers, and ought, when completed, to he a great convenience to the travelling public. Mr. B. McDonnell's new hotel is now almost finished. The paperhangers have nearly completed their work inside. When this has been accomplished the same workmen will put the finishing touches on the building by painting the outside, after which the proprietor will move into the house from the hotel he at present occupies on the banks of the river. The carpenters engaged on the job have made themselves universally popular during their brief stay amongst us, having taken an active part in football, cricket, and other matters of public interest. Mr. Campbell, who has recently taken over the Pioneer store, it seems, is about to leave, being unable, I am told, to arrange matters satisfactorily with the proprietors, Messrs. Stone Bros. —[Own Correspondent,J

WAIRARAPA.

Six ok writing last, the weather has improved considerably, although it is far from summer weather, high winds taking the place of the past storms, which are not at all favourable to crops of wheat, oats, and grass. Many large areas of wheat and oats that promised a few weeks back a very large yield, and were looking green, strong, and healthy, have undergone a great change for the worse. The high, dry winds, and the absence of rain at the proper season, is causing them to turn brown and withered, excepting upon very strong swamp land, where they are looking exceptionally fine; and, I think, on the whole, with favourable weather for harvesting, farming this season should be flourishing.

Great excitement has prevailed of late amongst the holders of grain, especially iu oats. The news of the drought in New South Wales, and the failure of crops there, caused oats to spring up from lis -Id to 5s (3d in one day in Sydney, and in consequence a boom set in all over New Zealand in oats and wheat. Oats rose from '2s l()d to 4s 3d in Christchureh, and a corresponding rise took place in Wellington, and our district came in for a share of the benefit by the rise, and a rush was made to buy up all parcels in the hands of the farmers, Many lines changed hands three or four times in the course of as many days, commencing at "2s 3d and ending at 4s 3d. The price for the coming crops has been established, and farmers may count upon a rich harvest in the shape of an immediate sale, when threshed, at fully Is per bushel in advance of last season's prices. Long may it continue I

This district is becoming fully alive to the advantage of improving the breed of stock and poultry, as during the past twelve months many additions to our stock have been made. The visitors from here to the Canterbury Show brought back several splendid pure-bred bulls and heifers of various breeds, besides prize Lincoln rams and ewes, and the number of draught and thoroughbred entires have been increased this season by some eight horses of both classes, anil the result of these introductions should soon become apparent in the improved type of horses, sheep, and cattle. Fowl fanciers have also been busy importing from America bronze turkeys and fowls of the Wyandotte, Langshan, and Plymouth Rock breeds. No doubt these importations will give an account of themselves at our next shows.

The liax industry has revived considerably of late, and new mills are commencing in every part of the district, the high price of hemp and flax at home giving a tremendous impetus to this industry, which means introducing a considerable amount of English money into the district, and hundreds will find lucrative employment between this and the Manawatu and Foxton districts. It is estimated that no less than thirty mills are in full swing, employing about 300 men and boys.

Wool is very backward in coming in from the country districts. The shearing is retarded by the unsettled state of the weather prevailing for the last month. From all uuarters we -hear good accounts of the condition of the wool, the clip being heavy, although rather dry, the yolk not getting properly up. However, they will have quantity, and, with the rise in wool, the steady outlet for mutton in Europe, and the better price for wethers this season, as also the splendid percentage of lambs, sheep farmers should nave a very prosperous year, and enable many to reduce their mortgages, besides improving their runs and making their carrying capacity greater. The racing carnival is about to commence in this district. Wellington has just opened their spring meeting of two days. The attendance was very meagre—about 600 the first day and 500 the second. There were no sensational dividends, £"> 19s being the highest, upon Spy, Mr. Tancrcd's Hornby colt.' Only one accident occurred at the meeting, and that to Rifle (Mr. Martin's), who fell during the three-quarter-mile event. His front legs being extended, he split open his chest in an extraordinary manner, and died in a few minutes from the effects of the injury. His rider (young Brukeridge) had his collarbone broken. The next race meeting was that at Island Bay 011 the 4th instant, being a complimentary meeting got up for the benefit of the club's late secretary, Mr. Dorme. After that comes the country race meetings— days at Masterton, 011 the 26th and '27th; one day at Martinboro, on the 26th; one day at 1? eatherston, on January 1: and one day's hack meeting at Kumurau, January 1; and the Wairarapa Jockey Club's meeting of two days in January. During the same period the public will be called upon to patronise a number of gatherings of foresters' sports, Friendly Societies sports, Caledonian gatherings, and minor other amusements. With the end of all these, the public will be surfeited with amusements for some time.—[Own Correspondent.!