COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8285, 18 June 1890, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Hamilton Tuesday. It is rumoured that there is likely to be trouble over the recent visit of the inspector of breweries to Waikato.

By private letter it is learned that Mr. C. Bake has purchased at VVanganui, for service in Waikato, the thoroughbred entire horse Natator, whose pedigree, by Traducer out of Waterwitch, and through a long ancestral line, is unimpeachable. TAMAHERE, Tuesday. The monthly meeting of the Tamahere Road Board was held on Friday last. It was resolved to make a rate of a half-penny in the £, though some members thought that three farthings would have been more in proportion to the requirements. Messrs. Wheellcr, Rhodes, and Runciman were appointed to inspect the Briefly bridge, the approaches to which were said to be giving way, and to report to the next meeting. The clerk was ordered to give notice to Mr. George Grigsby that the Board would proceed against him for breach of agreement in not clearing the watercourse of the Waitekaruru creek. The clerk also, in consequence of complaints from the settlers that the main road to the railway station from Scotchman's Valley by way of the milk factory at Tawhare, was being cut by a rivehorse waggon, the wheel, the tires of which Captain Kunciman stated, were under two inches wide, was instructed to look up the law with a view to levying a special rate on the part of the district where the damage was being done, to make good the cost of putting the road in repair again, which could scarcely be done for less than £60, so as to keep it open for the ordinary traffic and the farmers' milk carts to the factory. MoußiNsviLLK, Tuesday. It is understood that Mr. William Aitken, to whom the Kereone estate, lately occupied by Mr. Adams, belongs, will cany on the working of it himself, having appointed Mr. dames Gordon as manager. To Mr. Gordon, who managed it for Mr. Adams, is mainly due the grand appearance of the stock, both cattle and sheep, which was remarked upon by everyone attending the sale on Friday last. The property is an excellent one and likely to pay Mr. Aitken well for his outlay in working' it. OfiAUPO, Tuesday. The match between the Ohaupo and the Paterangi football teams resulted in a win for Paterangi by four points to nil. Tk Awamotcf, TuesdayAlexander Campbell was sentenced by Messrs. Maudcno and Kinsley to three months' hard labour for stealing a side of bacon from Mrs. Corby's store at Rilukihion Saturday, 7th inst. The particulars have already appeared in your Kihikihi correspondent's letter of Wednesday last. The charge of burglary was dismissed as untenable, but Campbell was convicted on a second count of larceny. The Te Awamutu Musical Society, financially and otherwise, is in a very nourishing condition. Arrangements have been made for holding weekly practices through the winter.

Ngaroto, Tuesday. The lake has been lowered some six feet by the large drain put in by Mr. Fry. When the contract at present let to cut a drain between the large and small lakes is finished, a very valuable flax swamp of some 200 acres .will be laid dry, the present growing produce of which even at a moderate royalty will more than repay the cost of reclamation. lib will, however, in all probability pay bettier to keep the swamp under crop in flax, than which there can be none more profitable where-the land is suitable.

OPUNAKE. The annual meeting of the licensing Committee on Friday, the 6th inst., in the Town Hall. There were present: Messrs. J. Wagstaff (chairman), G. W. Gane, C. Edmonds, and D. McGregor. The police reports of both lwuses were good. Mr. Middleton and Mr. Prosser both applied for ten o'clock licenses, renewals, which were both granted, the price being £40 per annum. __ At a meeting of the Taranaki County Council, held on Wednesday, the 4th mat., the following took place :—Mr. Adlum said he took exception to the resolution passed at last meeting, raising the salaries of the clerk and overseer. As a notice of motion had not been given according to the Counties Act, sections 111 and 112, he maintained that the action was illegal. The Chairman did not consider it illegal or required a notice of motion. Mr. Olson said it was clearly illegal; he had protested against the matter being brought forward last meeting, with barely a quorum present, and asked that a uotice of motion be given for discussion with a full Council, but had been overruled. The Chairman insisted on the minutes being passed as they were. Mr. Adlum said hewould write to the Auditor. Ultimately Mr. McGregor moved, " That the opinion of the Council's solicitor be asked whether the Council have power to increase or reduce the salary of their officers at their ordinary meetings without notice of motion being previously given of their intention to do so." Seconded by Mr. Olson, and carried. Noticeof motion was given by Mr. Olson to rescind the resolution increasing the secretary's and overseer's salaries passed at last meeting. The school committee held a meeting on the 28th ult. Present : Messrs. Raikes (chairman), Chas. McHardy, D. McSweeney, Fitness, Watson, and Amick. Correspondence was read inwards from Mr. A. H. Moore, re planting the school ground by ornamental shelter trees; also from the Education Board on the same matter: No action taken. From the schoolmaster, asking for an oven to be put in the teacher's residence : Granted on the motion of Messrs. Watson and Afflick. The visiting committee was to see to repairing the fence, consisting of Messrs. McSweeney and Fitness, who were appointed for two months. • As the time draws near for fresh elections for members for the House of Representatives, I think the time is at hand for those persons who bought cash land to bring their claims forward; for the bankrupts who held deferred payment laird have had a good show ; in many cases paying their unsecured creditors nothing in the £, while retaining hundreds of pounds worth of valuable property. While on this, I trust that some member will get a return laid on the table showing the names of all bankrupts who have retained deferred payment land, the property tax valuation at the time of their bankruptcy, also the acreage, and the amount of their dividends if any. The native leaseholders have had a good innings, also a reduction for five years, and a good profit, as the flax on the land was estimated to cost a good sum of money to eradicate, but since lias been a source of a fortune to many. How do the deferred payment settlers stand? Those that run another buyer off have a big reduction, some as much as 50 per cent. Now, I ask, has that not affected us who bought for cash ? Those people contracted to give a certain price for the land, and a third of that was to go and be expended on the roads; lauds on the same roads which were sold for cash realised more on that condition. But what is the result? Hundreds of pounds that cash purchasers expected to be expended on the roads are not forthcoming owing to the reduction. Now, let the cash buyers take action, and get a re-valuation, and the amounts they have paid in excess of the valuation be refunded. That would be only fair with the other measures the Government has adopted. One other thing is much required, and it is to be trusted that the Government will see fit to do it—get returns printed of the prices agreed to be paid by all leaseholders and deferred payment selectors, with their acreage and reductions in the colony.[Own Correspondent.]

WAIPU. As interesting event took place a* the residence of„Mr. M. W. McKenzie, J.P., on May 29, when a considerable number of friends assembled to witness the marriage of Mr. McKenzie's eldest daughter, Miss Maggie, to Mr. Walter Griffon, of Maungaturoto. The Rev. G. Jones officiated. Mr. W. GrilFen, brother to the bridegroom, was best man, and Miss Lizzie McKenzie, sister to the bride, was bridesmaid. After the marriage the bridal party, with their many friends, sat down to an excellent breakfast. The tables were artistically decorated with a profusion of flowers, &c. The bridal party left immediately after the wedding breakfast by coach for Marsden Point en route for Auckland to spend their honeymoon. They carry with, them the best wishes of the whole community for their future prosperity. Another interesting circumstance I should note with respect to this young couple, and that is, that both of them are on their maiden visit to Auckland.

The animal ball in connection with the Caledonian Society eventuated in the Library Hall on the evening of the sth inst., and was a brilliant success. The night was beautifully fine, and there was a very larce gathering of the clans. Fifty couples tripped the light fantastic toe to the charming melody of the bagpipes by Piper Simon Eraser, relieved at intervals by the more soothing strains of the pianoforte, presided over by Mr. Lesly. There was a large display of clan tartans. Many of both ladies and gentlemen were in Highland costume. Supper was provided, and over oue hundred persons sat down at midnight to an excellent spread, the culinary arrangements being under the management of Mrs. N. J. Campbell. Dancing was resumed, and kept up with vigour till four a.m., when the party broke up with singing " Auld Lang Syne." The ladies were tastefully dressed, and the honour of being belle was awarded to Miss Annie Campbell, whose neat figure hi a costume of Campbell tartan, with a stylish bonnet with feathers, was the general theme of admiration. The marked success of our Caledonian Society is due to the lively interest and energy of its secretary, Mr. J. J. Finlayson.—[Own Correspondent.]