COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8468, 20 January 1891, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Hamilton, Monday. Messrs. Knox and Ridler held their usual produce sale on Saturday, when satisfactory prices were realised : —Ducklings, Is to lj 3d; potatoes, 4s (3d per cwt; onions, '2d x: lb ; cabbage plants, Is per 100; oats, 'is t< $ 2d per bushel. The balance of stock it» bankruptcy estate realised good prices.

Ratepayers are asking how it is that it Eetititiou in favour of merging the Hamil.n highway district into the county was hi brought forward at the last meeting of ;he Waipa Council. Every formality incomestion with the matter lias been complied with, and the petition duly signed has been haded over more than a month ago.

Mr. Barwell has already commenced pir> chasing orchards of applet fur carrying on his business this season as eiier maker. He has purchased the fiuit in >.? Hibb's orchard, some live acres, giving tl per ton for the apples and a hogshead oi cider, the purchaser to pick and cart away the fruit. The price may seem small, bat this orchard is some 15 years old or more, and the trees in full bearing, many of them carrying large quantities of fruit, which will pay very well in the aggregate, while at the same time it will allow the manufacturer a fair profit on the cider in competition with colonial beer. Mr. Barwell manufactures what is known as sweet cider in the States, d pleasant, wholesome, and non-intoxicating drink.

Tamaherjj, Monday. The monthly meeting of the Tamahere Road Board lapsed for want of a quorum. A very enjoyable social, got up by the ladies of the district, was held on Thursday evening in the schoolhouse. After an excellent tea the table was cleared, and dancing was kept up till late into the night, to the very excellent music provided by Miss Carey, of Hamilton. Cambridge, Monday. At the monthly meeting of the Taotaoroa Road Board on Saturday there were present: Messrs. Forrest, Brunskill, and Turner. In the absence of Mr. Kallender Mr. Forres: presided. Mr. Brunskill drew attention to the necessity of seeing to the approaches to No. 2 bridge, Whitehall Road, and the widening of a dangerous cutting on the same road. As the chairman of the Board, Mr. Kallender, had signified his intention oi sending an engineer to look at these works, their consideration was deferred until the chairman be present. The clerk was instructed to write to the representative of the ridinj in the Piako Council, urging the desirableness of the Council erecting a watering trough at a place in the main road near Cud worth's farm, where there is an excellent neverfailing supply of water, and situated about a mile north-east of Cambridge, also to the necessity of gravelling Bruce's Road. Mr. Turner reported that the improvements' authorised on the Pukututu Road had been completed at a cost of £2 ISs.

At the Cambridge Highway Board on Saturday, Messrs. Forest, Pickering, and Paton ere present, and in the absence oi the chairman Mr. Forest was voted to the chair. The clerk was instructed to serve notices to cut and clear away furze and other growth from roads adjoining the properties of Mrs. Morgan and Mr. G. T. Is orris. The cemetery trustees wrote declining to accede to the application of the Board to grant a small portion of their large reserve as a gravel pit. As other sites are required in the districts, and all will require to be " taken " under the Act, nobody seeming inclined to agree, the consideration of the question was deferred to next meeting. Mr. Forrest reported the completion of the Mangakawa Road formation contract, at a cost of about '25 per cent, over the Boards estimate of the work. Accounts were paid amounting to £70 10s 6d.

Mr. W. J. Hunter held a very suecessM sale here on Saturday. Draught horses brought £9 10s to £18 ; dogcart was sold foj £17 17s ; a springcart. £12 l'2s ; secondhand waggonette, £10 10s. From 50 to 60 Maori horses from Manugatautari, all unbroken were submitted and realised prices ranging from 10s to £3 ss. The sale of privileges in connection with the forthcoming Trotting Club meeting resulted as follows Booth, £1, A. Bsch: gates, £16 15s, A. Bach ; cards, £1 10s, Bond temperance booth, 18s. The addition of a piece of blank boarding on one end of the fence around the town pump does not by any means improve the appearance of the same ; in fact, it is quite unsightly, and only fit for posting bills on. 1° have made the job look finished the post and rails should have been carried all round—not as at present, three sides posts and rails and the fourth blank boarding. It will be remembered that at last meeting of the Borough Council it was decided to repair the fence between the Karapiro ana Waikato Bridges, which it was estimate would cost £5. • A fresh proposal is now submitted, viz., a new post and wire fence, wit top rail, which has been offered to be con by a contractor _ for £10. It is likely t" latter proposal will be adopted. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT-] Cambridge, Monday. A meeting of the school committee w' a3 held on Saturday night. Present: Messrs Thomson (in the chair), Webber, Sargeaut, Dickenson, Hewitt, and Bond. The resn' of the late concert was given by the chauman. The gross proceeds were £6 tis 6d. tu® expenses £1 13s, and the net proceeds * 13s 6d. The Chairman spoke strongly" the apathy of parents in the welfare of to school, as shown by the meagre attendance, notwithstanding the fact that tho eoneei was a most excellent one. Circulars wer read from Messrs. Carr, Upton, and ' : Motion re the election for the Board o Education. On the motion of Mr. Bon 1 . was resolved to nominate Messrs. Upton an Motion. . t Last night a stack of hay, valued at a»o £40, the property of Win. Harris, Canibi'iat, West, was burnt down. Incendiarism is 3 pected, but there is no clue to the pe r P trator. There was no insurance. .