COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8531, 3 April 1891, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Hamilton, Thursday. _ The Hon. the Native . Minister was in Hamilton yesterday, having travelled through from Te Aroha on his way to Otorohanga, where he will be met by Mr. Under-Secre-tary ,Lewis, and have an interview with Wahanui on purely native business. Mr. Cadman visited the Hospital yesterday, going over the buildings, and inspecting the pumping gear, etc., and was much pleased with the highly creditable condition in which the institution is maintained. He.was likewise driven round the Claudelands course, and expressed some surprise that a country club like the S.A.R.C. should, in so short a time as four and a-half years, have got so perfect a course and training track, and so commodious and handsome a grandstand and appurtenances. Leave of absence for a month has been f ted to the medical officer of the Waikato [ospital Board, conditionally on his providing a substitute to the satisfaction of the Board, Dr. Kenny's pay to run on, and the substitute to be paid not more than £25 by the Board for the month. This is the first holiday in four years Dr. Kenny has had, and his health was beginning to suffer. Every preparation is being made to perfect the arrangements for Saturday's race meeting on the course of the South Auckland Racing Club at Claudelands. In consequence of the attendance of the Governor and Lady Onslow, and of Admiral Lord Charles Scott and Lady Charles Scott, for whose comfort and accommodation all necessary steps have been taken, a very large gathering from all parts of Waikato may be expected, and a more than usual crowd by the Auckland, Te Aroha and Cambridge excursion trains. Never before in Waikato have larger fields or a , better class of horses accepted for the several events, and if Saturday should be a fine day a big thing will be successfully pulled off. Invitations have also-been sent to the officers of the Austrian warship now in port. Waitoa, Thursday. The following tenders have been received for works in this district James Parr (accepted), £40, for widening and deepening Johnson's creek extension drain ; O. McCabe, £55 (accepted), for works near Holden's, on the Te Kawana Road, to which Mr. Holden contributes £20. There were two other tenderers for this work,' W." Thompson at £67, 193, and James Gordon at £56 15s. The tender of Mr.' Collins for work connected with Lovegrove's Road, £15, has also been accepted. , ■ [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Hamilton, Thursday. A boy named Fred Hunt, working for Mr. Livingstone near North Hamilton, was thrown from his horse early this morning, and sustained a fracture of the leg above the ankle. He was at once brought into the hospital. He was riding Signora on the training ground at Claudelands, and when coming up the straight the horse shied and threw him heavily.

PAPAKURA. The annual soiree and general meeting of the Papakura Presbyterian charge was held in the Papakura Hall on the 26th March, and was as usual a great success. The Rev. T. Norrie presided, and opened the meeting with prayer. A bountiful supply of tea and other good things was provided on two large tables, the one furnished by the ladies of the congregation and the other by the bachelors, and both were presided over by lady friends. When the tables were cleared' the _ proceedings were opened by a few suitable remarks by the chairman, who referred to the many deaths that hadoccurred, during the year, and yet acknowledged the hand of God in giving much comfort and tokens of prosperity. Mr. E. D. McLennan, general secretary, read the thirty-fifth annual report, from which it appeared that twelve stations had been supplied by the minister with Divine service during the —three weekly, two fortnightly, and seven monthly —thus requiring him still to preach five times on the one Sabbath, and four times on the other, besides having frequent services during the week. A weekly prayer meeting is held in the Wairoa church, and is fairly attended, and occasional services are held in other places and churches. The communion was dispensed twice at Drury to 46 and 29 communicants; twice at Papakura to 34 and 39; and twice at Papakura Valley to 16 and 12, and four times at Wairoa to an average of 32. Nine members have been added to the communion roll, five by examination and five by certificate. Five members died during the past year, and five have removed from the district, so that there is a reduction of one in the roll of membership. There have been 23 baptisms, 12 marriages, and nine funerals attended. There are six Sabbach schools in connection with the charge.attended by 203 scholars, and taught by 21 teachers. Religious instruction has been imparted by the minister in six dayschools to a gross attendance of 103 scholars. The Hunua Church has been painted, and the grounds of the Papaura Valley and Papakura Churches have been improved. Steps are being taken to get the Wairoa Church painted and the cemetery improved. Sixty copies of suitable periodicals are still circulated monthly throughout the charge. The following is an abstract of the general treasurer's receipts for the year 1890: Sustentation fund, £158 19s 8d ; schemes of the church, £10 17s lOd; Dayspring fund, £2 17s; Sabbath-school fund, £2 9s lOd; building and cemetery funds, £41 18s 3d ; periodicals and sundry expenses, £12 10s : total, £229 12s 7d. The report was adopted, and officebearers appointed for the current year. Then a varied, attractive, and lengthy programme was exceedingly well rendered by the following ladies and gentlemen : —A piano duet overture, by the Misses Hayles ; a vocal duet by Misses Hayles and Simms; and solos were sung by Mrs. Coates, and Misses Battley, M. Bell, and E. Reid, and Dr. Carolan, and Messrs. Barber, Williamson, Sims, and Lankham, the accompaniments being played by Misses Hayles, Bell, Middleton, and Lankham, and Mrs. McCurdy. An excellent reading was given by Mr. Kin", and several recitations were well rendered by Mr. Kekwick. Frequent encores were called for and complied with, and the singing of Mrs. Coates was highly appreciated, and especially so in the piece " Ora pro Nobis," which was sweetly sung and ably accompanied by an invisible chorus and by Mr. Williamson playing on a harmonium kindly lent by Mr. Calvert. A vote of thanks, moved by Mr. E. D. McLennan, to all who had contributed to the success of the soiree and concert, was carried by acclamation and responded to by Dr. Carolan, who also moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, who suitably responded. The singing of the National Anthem by the whole company, and the pronouncing of the benediction by the Chairman, closed a most enjoyable and well-attended meeting.—[Own Correspondent.]

DRURY. The monthly meeting of the Drury Band of Hope was held in the Public Hall on the evening of Easter Monday, and was well attended, 140 being present, and was in every way most successful. The Rev. T. Norrie presided, and opened the meeting with prayer. The following programme was well rendered : Hymn 171 (Hoyle's Collection); song, " Sign the Pledge for Mother's Sake," Miss Ballard • recitation, " The Newsboy's Death," Mr. Kekwick; Hymn 117 ; reading, " Tibbie and Her Uncle," by the Chairman ; dialogue, Misses L. Hirst' and F. Cossey; Hymn 114; recitation, " Somebody's Mother," Master G. Harding; quartette, Mrs. Flanagan, Miss S. Cossey, Mr. Flanagan and Mr. Lowe; recitation, Mr. Kekwick (encored); dialogue, " Peter Squill's Downfall," in which several parties did their parts well. The meeting was closed by the benediction being pronounced by the Chairman.— Correspondent.] .

BOMBAY. Special services were held in St. Peter's Church. Bombay, on Sunday last, March 29. In the morning the usual Easter service was held, and in the evening the harvest thanksgiving service was held, the Rev. E. J, Mc Far land preaching to good congregations at both services. The church was nicely decorated with ferns, flowers, etc., and a fine display of fruit, vegetables, etc. One pumpkin, from the estate of Mr. F. Luard Wright, eclipsed the prize pumpkin at the South JBrauklin Show by 21b or 31b, weighing 751 bs. The vegetables, fruit, etc., were sent by Mr. McFarland, per Mr. Farrar, to the Prison Brigade Refuge.—[Own Correspondent.]

PAHI. . , On Sabbath, the 29th instant, the residents at Pahi listened to a farewell sermon delivered by the Rev. G. T. Marshall, clergyman of the Wesleyan denomination. They were much surprised on learning a few days previously of his removal from the district, in which he has made many friends. At the close of the service Mr. Edward Adams presented him with an address expressing esteem for himself and regret at . his removal, and wishing him much success in his new field of labour. Mr. Adams also, in a few feeling remarks, handed him a sum of money subscribed by members of all denominations, with which he might purchase in town some memento to keen bis friends in Pahi in remembrance. Mr. Marshall, in reply, expressed his surprise and pleasure on receiving the gift, and wished all a tender farewell.—[A Correspondent.]

PAPAROA. The Rev. G. T. Marshall, whose removal from this circuit has been quite suddenly effected, preached his farewell sermon, on March 29, from Acts xx*., 32. _ The Wealeyan hapel was crowded, there being a very large

c ongregation. After the service, there being c n after meeting, several persons went up to * e pulpit to bid Mr. Marshall good-bye. In th parts of the circuit, Mr. Marshall has reUved kindly expressions of regret at his ce * pected departure, and at Pahi he, on uney reC eived a sympathising testimonial, un H by all the members of the congregasig ei \ u l read by Mr. Adams, together with tion. a e 0 money to buy some books as a a P ur ®to of their esteem and regard. meme n quarter meeting was held at the The \ t h e 30th March, when theexpendichapel o t j ie q Uar ter was more than covered ture for £ UCO me, and the balance of deficit by the ]yl r , Marshall was subscribed by the owing to j lO were present. At the close of members ry business some conversation enthe ordina c - t ( ie circumstances which had sued respe removal of Mr. Marshall, after led to the Wilson. moved, "That this meetwhich Mr. go j Mr. Cliffs representation at ing approve our minister's removal," which Conference r by Mr. J. R. Cliff, six voting was seconde on all( j f our against, while two for the moti rQwn Correspondent.] were neutral.

KAUKAPAKAPA. A concert in aid of the funds of the Wesleyan church took place in the Hall on Wednesday evening last. Captain Dawson occupied the chair. There was a very good audience, considering the unsettled weather that prevailed. There was an excellent programme, which was carried out with great spirit. The audience was appreciative, and a great number of the songs were encored. Miss Wilkins, ot Waikoukou, sang Consider the Lilies " in fine style, received an encore, and responded with " The Song that Reached Mv Heart," which likewise received much applause. The concert was a success m every way. It provided a very pleasant evening entertainment for those who were present, and effected the object for which it was got up. The chairman explained that certain repairs had been done to the church and fences, which had incurred a debt of £4 some shillings. They had taken at the door that evening £4 los, so that when all the expenses were paid there would be about os to the good. He warmly thanked all those who had so kindly helped him in the matter, and likewise those who had patronised the concert that evening. The singing of ' God Save the Queen" brought a very pleasant evening to a close. —[Own Correspondent.]

PAPARATA. On Monday evening, March 23rd, a sacred concert was given in the new church in aid of the church building fund. The weather was rather threatening, which caused some not to venture out. The Rev. T. G. Carr presided. The proceedings were opened with a piece by the choir, " .Break Forth, and prayer by the chairman. The following programme was then well rendered: — Choir, " Sweet Sabbath Bells duet, Mr. and Mrs. Partington; violin solo, Rev. T. G. Carr; solo, Mr. A. Sawyer: solo, ..Miss Martin choir, " Ring the Joy Bells recitation, Miss Cuthbert; solo, Mr. D. McKenzie; solo, Mr. R. French; duet, Misses M. Buttimore and Martin; violin solo, Rev. T. G. Carr; solo, Mr. Partington ; choir, "Go Forward;" solo, Mr. Partington; solo, Miss M. Buttimore; solo, Mr. A. Sawyer ; choir, " Listen to the Bells solo, Miss M. Buttimore; choir, " Home, Light Home." The usual vote of thanks was accorded to the vocalists and the chairman. The Doxology and Benediction brought a very pleasant gathering to a close. Refreshments were provided at the close. On Thursday evening the monthly meeting of the Band of Hope was held in the church, Mr. W. Lindsay presiding. The interest was well sustained by the secretary, Miss M. Buttimore, providing a capital programme of about twenty items, nicely rendered. Mr. Gus Sawyer presided at the harmonium.— [Bombay Own Correspondent.]