COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8482, 5 February 1891, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[by telegraph.—own correspondents.] Hamilton, Wednesday. The man Hamilton, who was brought in yesterday from Raglan with his elbow crushed by the machinery of Hall's To Akau flaxmiir, had his arm amputated last night at the Hospital, and is doing well. OARUAWAIiiA, Wednesday. Judge Smith sat till eleven o'clock last night in the Native Lands Court hearing the subdivisions in the Ngatihuanui block, consisting of 10,000 acres, in which Abraham and John Barton and their hapu are chiefly interested. He sat again this morning at seven, and concluded the business in time to leave by this day's train for Auckland. Rotorua, Wednesday. A little girl belonging to Mr. James Taylor, of Whakarewarewa, broke her arm yesterday through falling off a horse. Dr. Ginders attended the young patient, and set the injured limb.

ARATAPU. The onlv summary case that came before Mr. H. W. Bishop, R.M., at the sitting, of the R.M. Court at Dargaville, was one in which Hannah Bryden was charged on the information of the registrar of births at Dargaville with having neglected to registrar the birth of an illegitimate child. A fine of five shillings was imposed. The only other business was five civil cases of no importance.

After having run the public pound for some years, the poundkeeper on bringing a case for poundage fees into court found that the pound had never been legally established in its present position, and that he had been acting without legal authority in impounding cattle. The matter is, however, now being put right. The dog registration fee has been fixed at live shillings per annum for this district, and Mr. Jones, of Whakahara, has been appointed registrar. The Northern River Steam Navigation Company's boats and the p.s. Osprey are at present engaged in a little game of cut-throat. The public are reaping the benefit in very low tares. The Osprey has excellent accommodation, a piano, and other comforts on board winch make her an attraction, but in point of speed she has not come up to expectations. Some were talking of a four hours' trip between Hclensville and Wairoa, before she arrived here, but it turns out that she can give the Kina very little time, for on several occasions the latter has been the first to arrive, and it is believed that during winter weather, with its storms, the Kina will be found to leave her rival behind considerably, although the accommodation on the latter is not to be compared to that of the Osprey, and many would prefer a long trip on the latter to a short one on the Kina. An effort is being made to start a Kopuru Racing Club. A great deal of dissatisfaction was expressed at the unsatisfactory manner in which the last.hare races were carried out, and it is thought that things could be managed better at this end of the river. An excellent course could be laid out on Mr. Martin Cobbald's property. Mr. Thomas Kitching, who has been in charge of the Kauri Timber Company's store for some years, is leaving here to start business on his own account in the Mititai store, which he has purchased from Messrs. Isbister and Son.[Own Correspondent.]

MAYFIELD (BIRKENHEAD). January 28th was a great day with us. Our Government school was opened with a public tea, concert, and dance. The variety given enabled all to appreciate the evening's programme. Only one hitch occurred : unluckily our seats did not arrive in time ; but having willing and energetic hands, substitutes were quickly procured. The tea-tables, numbering three, were tastefully laid with the needtul and floral decorations, and kindly attended to by Mrs. W. Thompson, Mrs. J. Freeman, Mrs. J. Horton, Mrs. Roberts, and Misses Crooks and Thompson, who did not fail to look well after the wants of all present. All seemed to do ample justice to the good things put before them. After 150 or more had indulged in this portion of the programme, the schoolroom was

quickly cleared and put in readiness for the j concert. Mr. Wheeler, settler, then gave a, short address to the audience in which-no referred principally to the speedy advancement of Maytield, showing the rapid strides it had made during the last three years, both m improvements and population. He then in- , troduced Mr. Clarke, our schoolmaster. Mr. Clarke, in addressing the parents, children, and friends of Maytield, expressed his hope that under his careful tuition and kindness the children would progress, and I that he would give satisfaction to all. The following programme was then rendered :—Piano and violin duet, " Serenade, Mr. and Mrs. A. Chambers; song, "Dollys Revenge," Mrs. Langsford ; song, "Jessies Dream," Miss Heron; recitation, " Adam and Mary." Mr. Clarke ; song, " When the Lights are Low," Miss King; recitation, "The Bachelor," Mr. Flewellyn; song. Let us Speak of a Man as we Find Him, Mr. Thompson; song, " Juaiuta," Mm* Heron; recitation, "Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight," Miss King; song, "Just Out of Respect to McGuiuness," Mr. Hankin; recitation, " Allan Bayne," Miss King. Mr. and Mrs. A. Chambers proved themselves musicians in their duet. Mrs. Langsfords "Dolly's Revenge" was nicely sung, but signs of nervousness were visible. .Miss Heron, who contributed two songs, also at first showed slight signs of nervousness, but promptly overcame this and rendered both songs very nicely. Mr. Clarke m his funny recitation caused great laughter. Mr. Flewellyn's recitation was very good and was given in good style, causing .merriment. Mr. Thompson's song was well received. Miss King gave us an unexpected treat in her recitations and song, showing her abilities to be far above the general average ot amateurs. Mr. Hankin's comic song was really good, for which he received loud applause. At the termination of the concert the schoolroom was cleared and dancing commenced, which was kept up until 5 a.m. The music was well provided, having one o; the Berlin Piano Co.'s upright grand's, which was presided over by Mr. Hankin, who fully proved what sweet music could be, obtained from -so fine an instrument, Mr. Phil. Hankin accompanying his brother on violin during the dances. The evening's programme was thoroughly enjoyed, and expressed by all as a great success. Praise is due to the working committee, owing to shortness of time they had to arrange and complete all adhering to same.— Correspondent.]

TURANGA CREEK. On the last occasion when the Rev. T. Norrie preached here, there was a very large attendance, the evening being fine and other, circumstances favourable. It was intimated that the next monthly Presbyterian service would be held on the 15th February, at three p.m., as the supply would be by the preacher from Brookby on that day. On the loth March the service will be as usual in the evening at half-past seven. The harvest has been plenteous, and notwithstanding the unsettled weather it has been pretty successfully gathered in. We have not suffered from caterpillars, as has been one case at Wairoa South and elsewhere. _ . » The ostriches are thriving well, and still furnish an attraction for visitors.— Correspondent.]

NORTH ALRERTLAND. Mr. Frederick Plummer figured as a temperance lecturer here on Tuesday and Wednesday, 20th and 21st January. The hall was well rilled. Messrs. Hunt and Henderson were chairmen for the respective nighcs. A few of Sankey's hymns were sung during the evening. The name of the lectures were entitled, A Thing Infernal " and " The Great Impeachment of the Liquor Traffic." It would occupy too much of your valuable space to recount it all, but the portion, " The treat harangue from the imperial throne of Hell by the Prince of Darkness on the introduction of alcohol to man," was the portion that displayed the great powers of memory the lecturer possesses, and was attentively listened to. A collection was taken up each night. The meeting of the Band of Hope, which was notified for the 24th January, resolved itself into a meeting to consider the resignation of the secretary and one of the committee, through the " excessive animal buoyancy " of a few young men, not of our district. Steps had to be taken to put a stop to this. Several spoke on the subject; but Mr. E, Browne appealed to the resigning members to reconsider their decision, and appealed to the young men to act differently for the future. It was decided to call a meeting for this purpose at an early date to prevent a recurrence. Votes of thanks were passed to the president, for his handsome wall-card; to Mr. Isaac Powell, for his generosity in giving a handsome donation; to Mr. J. rook, for his aid in the musical department, his family, a relative, and himself giving a" choice selection, winch was capitally sung, i and Was attentively listened to. Mr. W. J. Macdermott's visii is eagerly looked for. He is expected about the 14th of February, on which date it is intended to hold the next meeting. A narrow escape -from a serious accident, by being thrown from his horse when returning from his Sunday duties, nearly happened, to Mr. C. Richards. His horse shied at some Eipe drains, not noticeable on account of eing hid in some tea-tree till right upon them, but, with the exception of a severe shaking, I have not heard of any serious results. The shock would be felt more severely on account of getting advanced in years. The roads are feeling the effects of the heavy timber traffic —no fewer than eight teams sometimes going twice a-day. The teams are not the property of the timberowners ; but it is to be hoped the responsible parties will see that the culverts and bridges are left in the same state in which they found them when they started. There are no complaints about the weather, the moisture being sufficient to keep things on the move without doing any damage. Oats have turned out well; and would have been better only for the sparrows. Dire vengeance is pronounced against them next season.—[Own Correspondent]

KAWAKAWA. An attempted " runaway match" occurred this week, causing: no little amusement to the local gossips. It appears that one of our lads and lassies (both very much under age) had been doing the "Romeo and Juliet" business for some time past, until at length it got to the ears of the damsel's father, who took the lad to.task and insisted on them going to the registrar at once, to which the boy consented. The antecedents of the loving pair being too well known here for secrecy, a cart was procured, and in the middle of the night they, accompanied by the father of the brideelect, made for Whangarei, and the next morning presented themselves before the postmaster to be made one, when* to their consternation, they were informed that a residence of three 'days on the part of at least one of the party was necessary ere the matrimonial knot could be effected. It was finally decided that they should wait the desired time, and present themselves again for the completion of their wishes. Misfortune, however, overtook the expectant ones, for the boy's father, in the meantime, hearing of the transaction, blighted the hopes of the young couple by. declaring the boy to be under age, and objecting to their marriage. It is needless to say that the now despairing lovers returned to their homes during the dark hours with the dreary fact plainly illustrated that " the course of true love never does run smooth," for they will now have to wait two long years before they can be made happy, unless the stern parient" thinks fit to relent.

Mr. John Black, of Towai, has been gazetted as a Justice of the Peace for the colony. The gentleman is highly esteemed in his district, and will fill up a long-felt want. The Kawakawa Agricultural, Horticultural, and Industrial Society are arranging a good programme for their exhibition on St Patrick's Day, ami are soliciting assistance from the usual patrons of these very desirable undertakings.—[Own Correspondent.]