COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8487, 11 February 1891, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

ARATAPU. Five or six months ago great improvements were started on the portion of the Kauri Timber Company's property' fronting the Aratapu Road. A high fence hid the back premises of the row of houses from view, and, as these premises were very wet and damp, * raupo and weeds flourished. The company removed the high fence, and laid these back yards open to view. They then gave the inmates every encouragement to effect improvements. A drain was run through each yard, and a picket fence erected in place of the old wooden wall. Material and other assistance was given to improve the dwellings, nearly all of which have had additions put to them, so that they now front the Aratapu Road, and the back yards are. now the front gardens. Trees were planted, and, as an inducement to the employees to make the houses neat and attractive in appearance, the company offered prizes for the best kept cottage and garden. Three pounds, two pounds, and one pound were the three prizes. A wonderful improvement has been effected, and property in the road has been increased ui value thereby. Wednesday last was the day appointed for the awarding of the prizes. Messrs. T. S. Webb and Stallworthy were appointed judges. The garden soil is made up in a great measure with decaying sawdust, and flowers and vegetables seem to thrive remarkably well in it. The judges found very little , difficulty in awarding the first two prizes, as the cottages and gardens of Mrs. Barker and Mrs. A. Campbell stand conspicuously out from the rest for the great care and labour that have been bestowed upon them. 4Che first prize was given to Mrs. Barker, and the second to Mrs. A. Campbell. For the third prize two gardens lying side by side claimed attention, namely, Mrs. Day's and Mrs. V. Souter's. There was some difficulty in choosing between these two, as one was principally a flower garden and the other chiefly a vegetable one, but eventually the prize was awarded to Mrs. D*y, and honourable mention made of Mrs. Souter.

Mr. Bridgeman, general manager of the Kauri Timber Company, is making a tour of the mills. He arrived here on Wednesday overland from Whangaroa and Hokianga, The topic of engrossing interest just now is the approaching tug-of-war between Aratapu and Kopuru. This was inaugurated last year at the Jubilee sports, aud a banner trophy purchased to be competed for annually. Aratapu now hold the banner, but the Kopuru men intend, if possible, to take it from them on Wednesday next. Twelve men are in training for the tug, and, though averaging only about 11 stone in weight, they are in excellent condition, and look for waul to victory. The twelve men are: Messrs. Nicholls, G. Little, JJ. Johnson, W. Keegan, C. Honeycomb, JWWatt, P. MeDeruiott, J. Martin, John Booth, Joe Molloy, C. Molloy, and John Anderson, two of whom will have to stand out in the fight, ass only ten men a side are allowed. Mr. A. W. Legge acts as captain, and W. Wright as fairplay man. Aratapu have not been able to get their men together well yet, and may lose for want of practice. Regular practices arc to be held for the next few days, aud, as Aratapu will have the advantage of weight, they may be able to' hold their own. Their team comprises: Messrs. W. Donaldson, Bonella, C. Heywood, Humphries, R. Liddle, Arthur Webb, C. Raw, G. Nield, F. McCowau, and J. Fletcher. Excitement ran very high last year, and so it will again. \Road contractors seem to be somewhat of a rarity here just now. Tender after tender has been called for by the County Council, and only one tender has been received on several occasions. Mr. Thomas Kitehing has resigned his position as sub-postmaster at Aratapu, as he is removing to Mititai, where he opens business on his own account. Mr. John Stallworthy has been appointed postmaster in his stead, and takes charge from the Ist February. The Jubilee was celebrated here last year by a day's athletic sports, and everyone was so pleased with the success that attended them that it has been decided to hold them annually. No money prizes arc given, but all prizes are in the form of trophies. The following list of donations will show that the sports are very popular Mr. Bridgeman, trophy valued at £2 2s : Mr. J. A. Walker, silver teapot; James Lowrie, pair lady's boots: Mr. R. Barker, pair men's shoes; Mr. W. L. Wilkin, a pi;j; Mr. James Brown, lib gunpowder; Mr. W. Chadwiek, 12 yards print; Mr. E. Basse tt, Berkshire pig ; Messrs. Vousden and Wilson, side of bacon; Mr. Corkill, a cake; Air. John Black, 1001b flour; Mr. S. Mead, pair eightfeet sculls; Mr. J. Morgan, lewt potatoes; Mr. T. Nield, a fat sheep ; Mr. A. W. .Jones, set Jubilee brooch and earrings; Mr. Tor* rington, pair tweed trousers, to be made to order; Kauri Timber Company's Aratapu and Kopuru stores, pair men's boots each ; Mr. T. Slater, lDOlb flour; Mr. J. H. Thompson, a pig, valued 30s; Wairoa Dell, one year's subscription; Mr. J. Watt, an umbrella; Mr. Woodhead, trophy, valued £1 ; Mr. A. E. Harding, ditto Messrs. Hussach, U. Matthews, G. Heatley, W. J. Basse tt, trophies not yet named; Mr. J. Harrison, a tea service; Mr. E. Thompson, a pair of sculls; Mr. R. Fowler, a pair of shooting boots; and Mr. T. Palmer, a fruit dish. In addition to this, numerous sums of money have been given for the purchase of trophies, and of this sum the committee offer a suit of clothes for first prize in the hour go-as-you-please. A programme of twenty-five events has been drawn up, and a great number of young men have been in training for some time. Entrance fees are only a shilling, and entries will be numerous, so that a really good day's sport is anticipated. The riilemen of Aratapu and Kopuru carried off nearly all the prizes at the shooting on the Dargavillc range on Anniversary Day. There were tour range and three aggregate prizes, and our boys brought all away with them, except the 300 yards range prize, which was won by Mr. L. Marriner. The aggregates were won by G. Little, S. Edmonds, and Haswell in the order named ; the remaining range prizes were won by Haswell, W. Woods, and G. Little.[Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAE (BAY OF ISLANDS). A well-ATl*iondkd meeting of the settlers of Whangae— formerly known as the Kawakawa .special settlement—took place 011 Sunday, the 25th January, in the little church of St. Patrick's, to consider whether their building might be used us a school, a tiling which is much nted, but which the Board of Education, under existing circumstances, do not see their way to provide. The meeting, which was preceded by divine service, had been convened, at the request of several of the settlers, by the Rev. 1. Walsh, who occupied the chair cx officio as minister of the district. The object of the meeting having been stated, Mr. Wilding, a gentleman who, since his recent arrival, has taken much interest in the advancement, of the district, stated that lie had been in correspondence with the Board for some time, and that he had recently seen the inspector, who had promised to visit the settlement at an early date. He had also personally canvassed the district, and was happy to be able to report that tb ;re were no fewer than tlurty-threo children within the limits of school age, whose attendance had been promised by their parents. He thought there would be no difficulty in securing the services of a teacher should a building be obtainable. The chairman said 'that he had authority for stating that no difficulty would be raised by the board of trustees in which the property was vested to the use of the building as suggested, provided the settlers were unanimous in the matter, and that the conditions proposed wove satisfactory. He would suggest therefore that the question be thoroughly gone into, so that a proper understanding might be arrived at. After some discussion two resolutions were unanimously carried, the first affirming the desirability of using the building as a. school, and the second recommending that the site be offered to the Education Board at a nominal rental, for short lease renewable by consent of both parties, 011 condition that the Board undertakes to keep the building in repair. A vote of thanks was proposed to the chairman, who in replying stated that it was to Mr. Wilding that the settlement was really most indebted that gentleman having succeeded in stirring up public interest in the matter, as well as having undertaken the correspondence with the Board. It is much to be hoped that the laudable enterprise will he carried into effect without delay. The settlement, though now in its twenty-fifth year, lias hitherto benefited but little from public expenditure. The number of children entitles it to a share of the educational advantages which are usually so lavishly distributed, while the Board, at the cost of a nominal svm for fittings and repairs, will obtain a building in a most convenient and central position, and in every way suited for the purposes required.—[Own Correspondent.]