COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8483, 6 February 1891, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Hamilton, Thursday. The position of the Te Aroha seat still occupies the public mind. Colonel Fraser based his main chance on the informality of the nomination of Mr. Allen, which might have been signed by telegram had the telegram passed along wires, as provided by the Act, under the control of the Government of New Zealand; but this provision was complied with only in part, as the nomination was cabled from England. A fatal objection appears, however, to have cropped up. Under clause 9, Elections Amendment Act, 1890, the objection to the nomination as informal must be lodged not later than five clear days before the day of election. This was not done, though it is known that Colonel Eraser's attention was drawn to the informality of the nomination in time to have done so.

In what manner are patients dealt with as to charges in other hospitals in the colony is a question in many people's mouths'! Here, in Waikato, the charge is 28s per week, and as a consequence, charged to poor and rich alike, the one pays and the other often does not, or it is drugged out of him or his relatives through the Court. At yesterday's meeting a very hard ease cropped up where charges to the amount of £'6'2 had run up in the case of a young man who died a few weeks ago and was eleven months in the hospital, being more than 23 years of age when he was received into it. The father, a labouring man, with Gs (id per day, is held responsible for the debt, and as a matter of charity, not, of right, his liability is lessened to i'3o if paid off at the rate of 10s weekly, but failing regular payment the original claim is to be revived. Is it possible that a working man can meet such liabilities as these? and maintain his family without hampering himself with fresh debt, or was it supposed that our hospital system was ever intended to be one available tor the better-off classes —for if the notice recommended to be placed over every patient's bed, that the charges are to be paid monthly means anything, it means that failing compliance the patient is to pay or clear out. If the whole oost of the hospital as it is, is provided for, in the estimates framed yearly, which sum is raised half by rates and half from the revenue of the colony, in the shape of subsidy, what need is there for any charge at all? The average number of patients in the Waikato hospital is now 1(3 per day. If all paid, this would mean a sum of £3 4s per day received from the patients, or say between £1000 and £1100 per annum. Merely a fraction of this sum is actually paid now, where a far larger amount would be recovered, were a more moderate charge made in the first instance. Accidents and diseases must, of course, be cared for, but it is unworthy or a great national institution, such as our hospital system, to care for the man's immediate necessities and then render his life wretched afterwards by prosecution for liabilities or keeping them hanging over him, which it is utterly impossible tor him to meet, and especially is this so when the liability is one not of his own,' but of a relative over whose acts he has no control.

Taupiri, Thursday. The return cricket match with the Huntly club was a close game on Saturday, Huntly winning this time by only one run; the score's being : Huntly, 42; Taupiri, 41. The Taupiri club plays Tuhikarainea at Ngaruawahia on Saturday, 21st instant. Morrinsville, Thursday. The local body has agreed to. give £10 towards the cost of the ditch to take the water from the Tauhae road leading to Taupiri, about to be undertaken by the Lockerbie estate at a cost of £60. Thaxter's road and the road throuch Jenkins' property to the Motumaoho are both to be improved. Te Awamutu, Thursday. At the annual church meeting, Mr. Cox was unanimously elected churchwarden, and Messrs, Ahier, Burgess, Gresham, Long, and J. L. Mandeno vestrymen for the ensuing year. _____

WAITAKEREI. The continuous showery weather has made it catch work for the harvests, which though, in this district as a rule, of limited extent' still the weather has taxed the patience of many. Late potatoes should do well. - Since the election the Waitemata County Council seem to have become oblivious to the repairs needed to the roads, It is curious

that the only time justice is attempted to be done to the wants of the different roads is the last six months before the election of a new councillor, and then many are still neglected, and what is more, have never since the existence of the Council received any attention. The Mountain Road from Henderson to the Palls has been a disgrace to the local body for some time, and bias fair to get woose. I heard that a man was employed improving it; but, if so, the process is very slow. Possibly he means 1 to make a twelvemonths'job of it. It would certainly have been much better every way to have let the clearing of the slips by contract; it would have been much cheaper, apd the work would have been done by now. I heard there. a deputation of councillors this way some 1 time ago. What they came for I don't know; a-holiday trip, I suppose. I hope-it was not charged to the riding. It is generally hoped here that the councillors will do as other Councils have done— that is, cut down the present cost of administration. It could well admit of being reduced one-half, and then compare favourably with some of the other Councils ; but I am afraid such an effort is beyond the Waitemata County Council. It is much easier to levy an additional $d in the £ on the stupid, long-suffering ratepayers. Some of them have already paid rates for more_ than a quarter of a century, and are yet without a road. Such is the encouragement given to settlement. No wonder farms are deserted, and the place gets a bad name. Yet there is much good land, as the condition of the cattle and horses and sheep will testify, and the yield of fruit is likewise very good.— [Own Correspondent.!

ARARIMU SOUTH. The exceptionally wet weather we have experienced lately has very much interfered with harvesting operations. The crops in the district are good, some especially so. I saw, last week on Mr. Kiely's farm, the finest crop of oats I have seen this year. ■ It stood seven feet high and was full of ear. A crop like this, grown without any manure, is a sure proof of the goodness of the soil. The potato crop will, if the weather keeps fine, be a very good one, but it is feared that if we get much more wet weather, a second growth will commence, which would be a very serious loss. Two reaping machines have 'been kept very busy for the last six weeks,' and there are still several crops to be reaped. The late winter interfered a good deal with the young fruit, so that the orchards do not show up as well as usual. Our telephone is not erected yet. The posts are lying on the ground, but there is no sign of them being put up. It is to be hoped that they will be erected shortly. VVe badly need a ready means of communication with the outside world. It is feared that a thief has been in our midst. Some twelve months ago ten calves mysteriously disappeared, and have never been heard of since, and a fortnight ago a mare belonging' to Mrs. Ellis was missed from a paddock near the school. The mare had many opportunities of straying away had she been so inclined, but being a pet she was not likely to leave her home, hence it is feared that she was stolen. A description of the mare may be seen in the advertising columns of this issue, and it is to be hoped that she may be recovered. All the old settlers of the district are exceedingly annoyed about the affair, for they say never until within- the last twelve months has a beast been taken away. If the thief be caught, and' ever' again come near- these parts, he may expect to get a warm reception.[Own Correspondent.]

PUHOI. The annual snorts of the Puhoi school children took place on Thursday, the 29th ultimo, in Mr. J. Scholium's paddock. Between 70 and 80 children were present. The sports commenced at three o'clock with seven races for boys, followed by a like number for girls; also, two hurdle races for boys and two for girls. The prizes were 2s, Is Gd, and Is, and 3d each for non-winners. The sports being over, the youngsters were marched to the residence of Mr. J. Scholium, where tea, cake, and other necessaries for the inner man were provided for them, to which I need hardly say they did ample justice after the running they had. Some knives for the boys and lollies had been sent from Auckland for the girls, which were duly distributed. Mr. R. Scriven acted with his usual impartial zeal as judge, and Mr. W. Scholium as starter for the races. Music had also been provided for them. After having a few dances, they began to look homewards to make room for the young ladies and gentlemen who began to arrive to celebrate the 51st anniversary of New Zealand, and so ended one of the most happy days for the children in the year. Contract No. 2: Puhoi and Komokoriki Road has been let, Messrs. Talhoph and Co. being the contractors. I have every reason to believe that the work will be finished to the satisfaction of the engineer. This section when finished will join the East and West Coast Main Roads, and will be a boon to the deferred payment land selectors. A week or two ago Mr. Kensington, of the Survey Office; Mr. Wilson, Waitemata County Engineer, who laid out the road, and our councillor, Mr. J. Scholium, went along the road, and Mr. Kensington - remarked that the settlers had done a lot of work on their sections since taking them up. If the weather does not soon change for the better, there will be very poor burnings. As the settlers are increasing their,flocks, they also like to increase their clearings. Fruit is not so plentiful as the last few years. Of pears, there are hardly any; and, as for apples, I hear that the codlin moth lias at last made its appearance in the district. Some of the old settlers say they knew the moth in the old country; that some years it was more mischievous than others, and on the average there was always plenty of fruit, thus they don't fear the pest much.—[ A Correspondent.]

MAHURANGI. Ox Thursday, the 29th lilt., a miscellaneous concert, promoted by the two friendly societies of our district (the Oddfellows and Rechabites) was held. in the Masonic Hall, Warkworth. The object was a charitable one, that of assisting Mrs. Toovey, who, from sickness in her family, has' had the misfortune to need assistance. There was a good attendance, the large hall being well tilled. The Rev. R. McKinney presided, and a very interesting and varied programme was submitted, giving evident satisfaction to the large audience. The proceedings were begun with a piano solo by Airs. Kayner, splendidly played in this lady's usual fine style, her exquisite music gaining deserved applause. Mrs. Shoesmith followed with a song, "The Skipper and His Boy," Miss C. Horsley accompanying. This lady's excellent singing and educated voice fairly carried her audience with her, and elicited loud applause. Mr. Marsden followed with a comic song, "You Get More Like Your Dad Every Day." Applause followed, and in response to calls of " encore," the last part was repeated, when Mr. Woods gave a recitation, and this was followed by Miss Harrison singing the song, Tired," Miss Krippner accompanying, which gained applause. Miss 13. E. Southgate next came forward, and sang " The Song That Reached My Heart," Mrs. Connolly accompanying. This was so very nicely sung, and the hearts of the audience were so reached, that demands of encore had to be acceded to, when the latter part was kindly repeated. Miss Barton followed with the song " X Do Jsot Love Thee," Miss C. Horsley accompanying. This accomplished musician, with her well-educated voice, is an acknowledged success in our district, and loud applause, accompanied with calls of " encore," was the result of her song, when a portion was kindly repeated. Mr. and Mrs. Connolly next sang the duet, "The Wind and the Harp." Deafening applause was the result, and, in response to " encore," Mr. Connolly sang " Mr. Mulcahey, Esquire," and Mrs. Connolly accompanied on the piano. A recitation by Miss A. Lomar was the next item, nicely spoken by a very young lady, hearty applause following. Mr. Marsden gave another comic song, which greatly pleased the audience. A violin solo by Master Petersen gained a verdict of very good. Another song by Mrs. Shoesmith, " Our Hands Have Met," was sung with this lady's usual good taste. Mr. Grant followed with the song, "Good Company." He carried the audience with him, and was encored, when the song " Rather was well sung, and deserved applause followed. A recitation by Miss Lomar was well spoken, and great satisfaction manifested. Mrs. Rayner favoured the audience with a piano solo. This lady's brilliant execution was much admired. Mr. Grant gave " A Soldier and a Man," which was followed with applause, when the National Anthem concluded this part of the entertainment. The chairman, on behalf of Mrs. Toovey, thanked the audience and those who had so kindly aided in the entertainment for their practical sympathy, as evinced by their presence. A vote of thanks to the chair was

carried by acclamation, when the hall was cleared for a dance, which was kept up with the usual vigour till the " wee snort oors," Mr. R. Warin efficiently acting as M.C. The weather in this district has been unusually moist for this time of the year, not a week having passed without rain more or less, and ■ on - Sunday, the Ist, 'we had a regular downpour, lasting the whole day. As a consequence, feed is abundant, and most animals are rolling in fat.[Own Correspondent. _________