COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9451, 23 August 1889, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

VICTORIA VALLEY.

[from our own cokkespondknts.] Noarcawahia, Thursday. Mr. Reynolds is expected here! on Saturday. Dairy farmers will be glad to learn that all difficulty is now over with respect to the opening of a creamery here by Messrs. H. Reynolds and Co. It is their intention to remove the plant from their Whangarata creamery to Ngaruawahia at once. A guarantee of 350 cows lias been given by our ft ewcastle farmers.

Hamilton, Thursday. Dr. Kenny performed a successful operation on the eye of the young man, named Brocklesbani. The splinter of coal, or spark «s it is technically called by miners, was firmly embeded in the ball of the eye below the pupiL A letter received from Mr. J. M. Gelling, who is leaving with his family for the Kermadecs at the end of the month, states that the party is largely filling up, and that amongst the adventurers is Mr. Kerry, a brother of the New Guinea explorer, formerly a resident of East Hamilton, also a French vignerou, who is about to make the grape a specialty in his new home. A meeting of intending milk suppliers for the next season was held this afternoon, at which Mr. H. Reynolds, of Fort-street, Auckland, was present. Satisfactory arrangements were entered into for the leasing of the factory and for supply of milk on the same terms as in others. At the Last date of news, Mr. Charles Paton. of Hautapu, was still insensible. At ; the consultation held between Drs. Kenny and Cushney last night, it was proved that no portion of the skull was fractured, but the patient was suffering from very severe concussion of the brain. Okacpo, Thursday. Waikato is not a hunting country, with its wire fences and heavy post and rail fences in some parts, and would need the well-bred hunter, which makes hunting at home comparatively safe, to enable it to become an institution here. Yesterday two accidents, through one of which Mr. John Taylor, a son of Mr. William Innes Taylor, of the Tamaki, lost his life, and Mr. Charles Paton, of Hautapu, lies in imminent danger, will, it is to be hoped, bring this matter so seriously before the Waikato public, that the annual short hunting season, which, so far as real sport is concerned, is a mere farce, will in future be abandoned. Tk Awamctc, Thursday. The Resident Magistates Court was occupied till ten p.m. yesterday, in hearing the case of Tole v. W. J. Hunter, £23 claim for cattle, &c. Mr. Joseph A Tole appeared for his brother, and Mr. Dyer, of Cambridge, for Mr. W. J. Hunter. It appears that a manager of Mr. Tole's, named Coll, had had dealings with Mr. Hunter, and cattle bought by him had been charged to Mr. Tole, who repudiated the liability. More recentlv, and after Coll leaving the colony, Mr. Hunter held a large sale of Tole's stock, aad stopped payment of the disputed amount. It was to recover this Mr. Tole now sued. The case was fully heard, and judgment deferred till next Court day. Whatawhata, Thursday. Mr. E. C. Shepherd, as one of the trustees of the projected creamery here, waited on Mr. H. Reynolds to-day at Hamilton to arrange on behalf of the milk suppliers for the erection of the creamery on Fergusson's land, near the bridge". Unable to obtain the money through the ordinary channel for the erection of a creamery and plant, they placed themselves in Mr. Reynolds hands, who undertook to do what he could for them. The necessary money has been readily furnished by an Auckland capitalist, on the personal security of the trustees and the building, for three years, a sinking fund being formed by each shareholder, that is the milk suppliers, from a fund raised by a monthly contribution of a shilling for each cow, so that before the end of three years the whole cost will be paid off, and the land, building, and plant be the property of the shareholders. Tenders will be called for at once for the erection of the creamery. Paejs/ja, Thursday. Judge Scannell is holding an inquiry this evening into the matter of- the Paeroa township suo-leases. The natives have leased the township to Messrs. Jackson and Russell, of Auckland, and it appears that there is now some difficulty in certain of the sub-lessees getting their renewal after having just built and improved their allotments. The matter will probably be submitted to the Government.

TUAKACJ. The Blue Banner Lodge No. 10 held their usual fortnightly meeting on August 6 at Tuakau, when the following officers were installed for the ensuing quarter by Bro. McKerras assisted by Bro. Baker, M.; W.C.T., Bro. Revel; V.T., Sis. Oldham; W.S., Sis. Sturtevant: A.S, Bro. Lisk ; W.T., Bro. Collins; F.C., Bro. A. Oldham; W.M.. Bro. J. Walter; W. Chap., Bro. Baker: D.M., Bro. G. Collins: 1.G., Bro. Copland; 0.G., Bro. S. Walker; P.C.T.. Bro. J. Collins, Supporters: Sis. Revel! and McKerras. Hie lodge has recently increased in numbers, and is also in a very satisfactory condition, and considering the dreadful roads said distances members have to come, the attendances at the ordinary meetings are well sustained, and we feel sure will increase as the weather improves. The meetings are conducted on mutual improvement lines, and are heartily enjoyed by all the members. An immediate want in this busv settlement is a public hall as a much-needed convenience for holding meetings, etc. On the 13th mst. the Blue Banner Lodge held a social, by the courtesy of the lodge deputy, at his residence, to which the members invited mustered strong. The refreshments and programmes of games, charades, and music were presided over by the following energetic committee of ladies: Sisters Sturtevant, Oldham, McKerras. Flatt, and Revell, assisted by several bro. members, and by the very creditable way in _ which they acquitted themselves of their arduous "duties, earned for themselves the grateful thanks of members and friends who thoroughly enjoyed themselves to their heart's content and pronounced it a most successful reunion. After a delightful evening's enjoyment, about twelve p.m. refreshments were again handed round, and before parting " Auld Lang Syne" was sung with spirit, after which three ringing cheers were given to Bro. and Sis. Mckerras for the use of thoir commodious reception room. The inevitablo adieux brought the social to a close. —[A Correspondent.] No further annoyance by the railway authorities fencing across the main road has occurred since my last correspondence. The new bridge close to the station, replacing the old one which gave way some time ago, is completed. Mr. Kevell was the contractor. The new railway time-table is generally approved of in this district, and doubtless if the morning train could do the Journev to Auckland in .'3O minutes less time it woufd be more so. A subscription list in favour of the Irish delegates is being handed round. Several have subscribed to it. Our creamery commences operations the Ist of next mouth, being a month earlier than heretofore. Between 400 and 500 cows are signed for. The price for milk is 2|d a gallon, and skimmed milk returned. Had this price been given last year, the creamery would have been better supported. —[Own Correspondent.]

In my present letter I will try to give a fair description of this district, so that intending settlers will have no trouble in finding the place. Victoria Valley Highway District is situated on the west side of Ororu, and extends to the mission station of Kaitaia, the distance being about fifteen miles, the width of tie Valley is about seven miles, including Fairburu. The land is nearly all bush, soil good on limestone formation. The timber is very useful, chiefly puriri and rimu, with some totara and taraire. The land is wellwatered by numerous small creeks, all running into the Victoria river. The Valley is intersected by two. roads, one of these passing through Fairburn, and the other through Victoria, and there is a post office on each of them. The port of Mangonui is distant from the east end of the Valley about twelve miles, and the port of Awanui is distant from the west end of the Valley about seven miles. To both ports there is a weekly steam service. There is a fortv-ton schooner owned by Mr. J. A. Subritsky, that plies regularly between Awanai and Auckland. Freight is very reasonable. The land is not very broken, in fact, nearly the whole of it could be ploughed if the timber were cleared away. There are about 7000 acres of Crown Land within the Victoria Highway district, all of Drime oualitv. There is also

a considerable portiorwTT available for selecticT Wtf accommodation houses ThJf n ° ! *k oj state schools, but ahq'nr, ■ ikon the other hand, there itinerant nreaeher* of t,„ r ¥^^2 nation. Asag nethep.tox". ~ A SIEETTSG was held - - v • house of Mr. Wm. Moor* il e "9 ertc:i 3,1 t'-. at 7-3) p.m., to take into ~-j inr" advisability of shifting th* p >Clsl 4 era tioa *1! S e^ a f^ on of the K.o°mata SwS?© I '®* - the Netherton Road, now I*id ment; also to conoids*" *1" & ** maintaining the punt It Z-» ftMr. S. Chilton, and & Simpson, that the pant b» W,?L ( l the Ohinemuri County, and'tff i r' v ~ '■> be requested to shift the ran- to -V of the Komata Swamp Road and ton Road. The proportion r " unanimously. A good deal then took place about the kea^J^? o3 tins district has received from tWCouncil, the settlers not legally defined road through t>- & to the present time. It 5 that unless could induce t^'i, form the district into a n«v p£; to thereby get representation in they would not get justice. as the the Upper Waitoa Riding' are - - 4 from the Lower Waitoa, with" wards, as the North an d South bkZg 1 * It was stated at toe meeting from the Netherton district exceed annum, not including Governing *■'-1- > ,t: and there were also rates cc'llecvS native lands, while the Council en"*- ■ £5 per annum in the district. I- '." 3 J P e& l fore unanimously agreed to Council to form a new P«id'n~V I '- manner as would take one" ; " Paeroa Riding and give thone member.— A Correspondent.]" ' i,KU; S

OP LI A A CONCERT took place in th» Ch-m- ts n last Wednesday night, and « well patronised, notwithstanding •K. - ' unsettled and • boisterous existed. The following ptogr&nmj* L^ lcf efficiently gone through,"the son, Nelson, and Johnson pkvin ? ~-C cr," & paniments, Mr. JD. Harris 'havie kh-Jh sent, a piano for the occasion D-»f ( v: 7 Mrs. Nelson and Johnson ; son" ■'Li^° s - Miss Salmon; song. " Roman v Las- => p. e '" tain Farquhar ; solo (piano),' '• Mies Nelson ; quartette. '• 'HadT M-11 Swells," Misses Johnson.Xekon R-U, , Salmon ; song, "Still I love Thee"""'V-' Williams; recitation, " The Owl Critic' ~ M'Salmon ; song, " Ye Banks and rT? tain Farquhar ; duet (piano), " ' Misses kelson and Bryers ; sons, '• TwVi Rose WiU Steal," Mr. Williams; cae- "Tv) Wanderer," Misses Nelson and Slmn song,'' Y esterday/' Miss Brven; Canary Birds, Misses ft ei;on and JoS™. recitation, " The Lifting of toe Ban-.«r - Mr Bell; quartette, "Happy Hns* r > K Salmon, Johnson, Bryers, and Neisc-T" 1?" singing of " Auld'Lang Svne"" b--d tf ! National Anthem brought the concert to a close, after which the "hall was cleared io» dancing, which was kept up till midnight. * The train, which only ran tiro cars '-?• week, owing to there being no coal avaikyl for haulage, through the mine beinc sartiaik flooded, resumed running continuously Tuesday last, and the usual quantity of coai is now being brought down to port "for "shir ment, the mine being again in full jn-r C. [Own Correspondent.] " "

TAIRUA. The Maud Graham, schooner, sailed for Lyttelton with a cargo of timber on th« 4th inst. _ The Frank Guy, taree-Eisted schooner, for Melbourne, with about 170,''(0 feet- of kauri, sailed on the 7th last. ~Ti» topsail schooner Welcome, with 110.010 feet" for Adelaide, and the Dune-din schooner' with about 70,003 feet, are readv for sea, aid the Elinor cutter for Tauranca. all Lavl-;-been detained bv the strong E. ana XX gales that have Been blowing in since last Sunday. The weather has moderated to-day, -;d the bar should allow the vessels to get cut in a day or two. The high tides backed into the river by the gale caused a stopple to the mill work for a few hours yesterday morning. _ Exceptionally heavy rains aca strong winds, exceeding the ordinary experience of Tairua residents, has been the weather programme this winter. — fOwn Correspondent, August 13.]

PAPAROA. A telegram from Mr. R. Thompson, 31.H.H, has been received here to the erreet that an attempt is being made to remove the Resident Magistrate Court to ilaung&turoto. The Paparoa settlers protest against the removal of the Court- because Paparoa is the centre of the Otamatea County*, and therefore must be the most convenient position for the sitting of such a Court. Wjupu and Mat-akohe also protest against- the alteration, and other settlements are equally ready to give their voice in favour of the continuance of the Court at Paparoa.— Correspondent.]

ARATAPU. We have had some very high tides this piooo, higher than we have had experienced for three or more years. Around some oi our houses the water has been eighteen inches deep, ami in some instances has been over the floors of the bouses to the depth of a foot. Some of the sawdust formed roads have suffered very much. The Church Road, oa which a large quantity of sawdust was recently spread by a band of men who gave their Saturday afternoon holiday to the improvement of the road to the church, has again been made almost impassable. The following programme has been decided on for a Northern Wairoa Regatta, on 9tb November next: —1. Yacht race (not to exceed 33 feet overall), course about 16 miles; tune allowance, i Champion punt rift; course, three miles. 3. Open sailing boat* (not to exceed IS feet overall): coarse, I'2miles. 4. Double-handed punt- race (three miiesi; open to all who have never won an advertised race at time of entry, n. .Skill race : thns miles. 6. Bovs' single-handed punts, vn miles, boys under 16 years! 7. Ladies' singkhanded punts; one" mile. S. Whaletosi race (not to exceed 35 feet overall, nor than 4 feet beam), to be rowed on gumnle; six miles. 9. Single-handed amateur punts; course, three miles. 10. Four-oared sir raw, with coxswain, gigs not to exceed 'A see: overall, nor more than 4 feet 6 inches trc© rowlock to rowlock. 11. Pig hunt. It is expected that something like £150 will be give 3 away in prizes. ' Measurements of punts w be not more than 22 feet in length, nor Isa than 22 inches across the bottom, ana net more than li inches in the round.—{Ox Co"' respondent, :20th August]