COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9242, 20 December 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Wednesday. The meeting for the installation of the Mayor was held at noon to-day, but owing to the absence of that gentleman, who is away at the South on urgent private business, it was adjourned until this evening for completing the ordinary business left over from yesterday week, and will then stand adjourned from three days to three days until Friday, the 28th inst., on which day a telegram received from Mr. Coates yesterday states that he will return to Hamilton.

In transmitting the general nominations for the South Auckland races to yesterday's Herald some mistakes occur in telegraphing. For instance, in the Maiden Plate and Novel Race " Brigg's mare" should read buggy mare, and in the South Auckland Cup race "Emperor" should read Eruption. The name of Fragrance should be added to the Maiden Race, and those of Hawk, and Darkie to the Pony Race. Colonel Forbes, as president of the Hamilton branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society, distributed Jubilee Testaments to the children of the East Hamilton school yesterday. Several friends of the children were present, and Colonel Forbes, in distributing the books, took occasion to make a few remarks appropriate to the occasion. The Jubilee Testaments were distributed to the West Hamilton school children on Monday. Mr. Vincent E. Rice opened the District Schools Scholarship Examination at LeQuesne's Hall yesterday. There were ten Waikato candidates.

Amongst new industries entered into in Waikato is that of wine-making. Mr. P. LeQuesne, of Hamilton, who, as a Jersey man, has had some experience in winemaking, has entered somewhat largely into the business, and has somewhere between 400 and 500 gallons of excellent grape wine, some of which is now ready to put upon the market. The wine is made from W'aikatogrown grapes, and is of excellent quality. The complimentary concert given last night to Bandmaster Mettarn was, as it deserved to be, a success, the Volunteer Hall being crowded to the doors. Of the singing little need be said, though one song v at least, was worthy of mention, and elicited a genuine encore from the body of the house, namely, Miss Cassidy's "Barney Take Me Home Again;" and Mrs. Pannell, who made her first appearance before a Hahiilton audience, will undoubtedly become a favourite, and was encored in the song " Golden Love." Captain Reid also was very good in " Willie Brewed a Peck o , Maut," and the euphonium solo, " Last Rose of Summer," by Bandmaster Mettam was .exquisitely rendered. Colonel Forbes, who presided, explained how it was that-hc had ceased to be honorary colonel of the corps, and much regretted that it_ was so; and, before sitting down, complimented the people of Hamilton on possessing a band, which had material for becoming second to none in the province. KlHlKlHl, Wednesday. The returns of the tickets sold for the concert held last month in aid of the Catholic church fund have just come in, and the committee find that they have realised the handsome sum of between £27 and £28, showing not only that the concert was one of the best from a musical point of view held in the district, but by far the most largely attended. A meeting of those interested in getting up the annual New Year's athletic sports was held on Monday night, at Mr. Bond's, when a committee was appointed to carry them out. A large measure of support has been promised, and if the funds will admit some very good horse-racing may be expected. Te Awamutu, Wednesday. Haymaking in this and the district about Kihikihi has now set in. Despite the cold and dry weather which has prevailed, this crop will be generally a better one than was expected. The dry weather has been adverse to the potato crop, and those later planted will probably have the better show, the dry weather being against the main crop. Cambridge, Wednesday. The annual meeting of the Borough Council was held to-day. Present:—Messrs. Priestley (in the chair), Bond, Clements, Webber, Geldart, Young, and Ferguson. The Mayor (Mr. Hally) was unable to be present through illness. Mr. Priestley announced that the main business was the installation of the Mayor-elect, Mr. Clements, and while regretting that Mr. Hally was unable to be present, he spoke in the highest terms of the manner in which that gentleman had filled the Mayoral office. Mr. Clements was then duly installed as Mayor for the ensuing year, Mr. H. W. Westby, in the absence of the town clerk, acting as installing officer. Mr. McNicol held a large sale of horses to-day, upwards of 230 being offered. A large number were sold at fair prices. Mr. J. S. Buckland relieved Mr. McNicol at intervals during the day. Mr. E. L. Hope, the late popular manager of the Commercial Hotel, Hamilton, has assumed the management of the Masonic Hotel, Cambridge. Mr. Hope is well respected throughout the whole of the Waikato, and the house should do well in his hands.

WAITAKEREI. The village settlers at Swanson have been on thorns for the last two months. About as far back, or perhaps a little .more, than two months since there were high hopes that the long-promised road work was to commence. Indeed, a commencement was made, but not by the village settlers who have watched on in trying suspense while someone has been not busy—but prolonging the proverbial Government stroke—for weary mouths in doing what might have been done well in a week viz., cutting and grading out a short track. The village settlers had begun to have serious misgivings that the whole grant would be swallowed up before they had any show. As it is, it is supposed to have a great hole eaten into it.

The school children at Swanson are looking forward to a treat on New Year's Day. Also the new roads to the coast and to the falls are likely to bring to Swanson a fair share of visitors. It is not generally known that on the new road to the Falls there is a splendid cascade to the right of the present road, which rivals in beauty and grandeur the Falls themselves. The road is fairly good for pedestrians. Waitakerei is a wide district, and pleasureseekers—lovers of the primeval and picturesque—will find ample room, let them take which road they will. The old road to the Falls offers the best accommodation as regards houses open for that purpose—that is, up in the ranges. Swanson lias its temperance hotel, and saddle horses can be procured in the neighbourhood. I hear, also, of one party going to charter a steamer, and take a trip to the North Heads. Crops of all kinds are looking well, and the steady workers amongst the new settlers are likely to meet with due encouragement. —[Own Correspondent.]

MAHURANGI. On , Tuesday, the 11th, an entertainment was Riven in the Dome Valley School, the proceeds of which were to be devoted towards the expense of removing the fireplace in the school to a more convenient position. The management of the whole principally devolved on Mr. Witham, the head teacher, assisted by the pupil teacher, Miss Smith, and a very agreeable programme was submitted, and the performance of the school children reflected the greatest credit on themselves and their teachers. Mr. George Moor presided. The programme was varied, and s at the close all joined in singing the National Anthem, which ended a very pleasant evening's entertainment. 1 notice a very pleasing feature in connection with this school is the establishment of a small museum, to which the pupils are encouraged to contribute, and an interest taken by schoolboys or girls in natural history objects will probably develop in after life a desire for more extended information I can only wish the teacher God speed in his endeavour.

The VVarkworth School Committee held a meeting m the schoolroom on Wednesday the 12th, when, there were present :—Mr. Nathaniel Wilson (chairman), Rev. R. Mcrunney, and Messrs. Such and Douse. \ arums circulars were received from the lioard of Education and Education Department, Wellington, all of which were passed as noc needing special attention from the Committee. That relating to compulsory teaching of what is designated "temperance was relegated for the householders to discuss at the annual meeting. Several small accounts were ordered to be paid, as well as a cheque issued as the Committee's contribution of half the cost of painting the !i ?°A b^ lldin >' s . a "d regret was expressed tnat the Board had not advertised for tenders m the Weekly News, and that such a short time had been allowed for tenders to be sent in, that those in the district who would have been wishful to contract, had thereby been deprived of the opportunity. The school holidays were fixed o? m four weeks » beginning on December 11. lhe report of Mr. Fidler on the examination which he had recently held, was also received, and considered on 'the whole satisfactory. The percentage of passes was 53 "6; of failures, 20. The report stated that Miss

Fordham teaches the little child ~~" lently; that work in the lower part M , school is very good; in thehigher tha the whole passable. But something ° n be done m the practical teaching o?aS tural .chemistry in a large country [?& l " this size I was very much pleased X \P tone and discipline of this school, of w hU ?