COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8631, 29 July 1891, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OCR own CORRESPONDENTS.]

V : Hamilton, Tuesday. Mr. H. Reynolds, it appears, will not be here for another week, having sailed in the Rimutaka. This is well, for it gives tune for the settlers to give him a fitting reception on his arrival in Waikato. Unfortunately, no one has felt it his duty to move in the matter, for that is all that is wanted to make it a general, and a great success. There are Mayors of Hamilton and Cambridge, and there are chairmen of the Farmers' Club, and of the Waikato and Waipa Counties, and any one of these gentlemen— better still, all five of —once moving in the matter, would find themselves assisted by an influential committee, which would take all further trouble and responsibility ■ out of their hands, Mr. Reynolds is nob the man himself to care whether he is welcomed back by a hearty shake of the hand or by a banquet, but something more than the usual recognition of welcome is due to him from us, and moreover due to ourselves. The publication in English papers of his public welcome and reception here on his return would do much to establish and extend the estimation in which he or his firm is held at home. It is clearly the duty of Waikato not to fail in this matter.,

Whatawhata, Tuesday. A meeting of thdse interested in forming a mounted infantry corps here in connection with the Te Awamutu Cavalry Corps, called by Captain Bruce at the request of several parties, was held on Saturday night. There was a fair attendance, and some four candidates joined, while others promised to consider the matter. The general opinion of our young men is that such a corps would be better attached to the Hamilton volunteers, as that place is within easy distance and our natural centre. The main road from here to Ngaruawahia is in a very bad state, almost impassible in places. Surely it is the duty of the Waipa County to act upon the report of its engineer and see to this matter. It is reported by many settlers on the Waipa that their cows are suffering from abortion. This will be a serious matter as the calving season comes on. It is said that there is on many lands a considerable quantity of ergot in the ryegrass, which of itself would explain the reason of this state of things, but doubtless the extremes of heat and cold this winter occurring so suddenly one after the other have had something to do with it. Ohaupo, Tuesday. . The Pokuranga hounds meet on Thursday at the Tamahere corner and on Saturday at Cambridge. * Hontly, Tuesday. Mr. W. Montgomery, who has recently purchased a piece of land from the Waikato Coal Company, over which the road passes from the Great South Road to the river, has given notice to the authorities that in fencing this land lie shall cut off three settlers, preventing them getting to the Croat South Road. The clerk or the Waikato County Council has pointed out that this roadway is not the public road but only a track- used, and that the former still remains. This will necessitate an application to have the legal road made passable. Mr. J. Harris, who has been unable to play in the local football team, having dislocated his elbow, is, I am glad to say, rapidly recovering from the injury under the skilful care of Dr. Broome. It is hoped Harris will be able to play in the match with Pokeno on Saturday next. Pakkoa, Tuesday. A largely-attended meeting was held at the Academy of Music, Paeroa, on Saturday evening last, tor the purpose of forming a brass band for this district. Mr. Thomas Ritchie presided, and much enthusiasm was shown in the matter. An influential provisional committee was appointed, with instructions to meet next Wednesday eveniug to decide upon details. It is likely that Mr. Charles Everett, late bandmaster of the Thames M avals and of the Te Aroha Band, will be appointed leader. ARATAPU. Last Saturday we had a visit from a team of llelonsvillo footballers, accompanied by a numerous band of friends, numbering in all some sixty souls. They gave our township quite a busy look. The Wail'oa footballers proved

themselves quite a match for the visitors in the afternoon, and prevented any score being: made. Twelve of the Wairoa representatives belong to the Aratapu Club. -. ; , • To-day we have a visit from a Waipu team, containing four McKays, three McKenzles, McMillan, Gill, Lea, Carmichael, Steven*, two Sutherlands, and QuintalL They are to play an Aratapu Club team to-morrow afternoon, and a tough game is expected. The local team will be very little weaker than last Saturday's representatives. Football is all the talk at present in Aratapu. The boys under seventeen are matched against Dargaville boys, and the boys under twelve against Kopuru boys,— Correspondent, July 17.] • * OMAPERE (HOKIANGA HEADS). Mb. Duncan, the popular"Government Insurance agent, lately paid us another visit, and by the last steamer Dr. Stevens returned from Auckland to accompany him round the district. Dr. Stevens has been seriously ill, and all his friends in this part of the country were right glad to see him again fully recovered. Apropos of the subject, our district is still minus a medical man, and if Dr. Stevens, who I hear is not altogether unfavourably impressed with the idea, could be induced to remain in the district, his advent would be hailed with joy by a large number. Of late there has been a largo amount of sickness, both amongst natives and Europeans, and several patients requiring medical assistance have been compelled to make the journey to Auckland. Well, bearing in mind the truism that " Rome was not built in a day," we must, I suppose, wait patiently until such time as our population will support in a fitting manner a doctor of our own. My attention has lately been drawn to a somewhat bitterly written paragraph that appeared in last week's issue of the Weekly News, signed by "A • Correspondent." As the matter has been largely talked about in the district, and ha« caused no small amount of indignation and annoyance amongst the right-thinking portions of our community, I hasten to contribute a little light on the subject. Black sheep, they say, are found in every flock, and, go where you will, individuals possessing only small mental calibre are invariably found diametrically opposed to those who, by virtue of their education, position, and experience, naturally stand to the front. "A Correspondent," after giving a description of a concert recently given in one of the back settlements, closes his remarks by referring to an incident that happened at our late concert, and by generally mincing up matters, and studiously suppressing the truth, places before the public a totally unreliable statement. Imprimin, the writer of the paragraph is well known, and we know exactly how much of his statement to believe. Secondly, the writer, if not the delinquent, was probably the prime mover and instigator. Thirdly, his younger brother did so far forget himself as to actually throw the offensive missile on the stage. Contradiction iB useless, as the young fellow (a mere schoolboy) confessed the charge against him to one of the committee. It now transpires that he was actually seen throwing the missile, while he has made a boast of doing so to others. Further comment is unnecessary. If "A Correspondent" is not now satisfied I shall be giad to give him fuller particulars per advertisement column. Perhaps I should state that the gentleman referred to by " A Correspondent" is an accomplished musician, and can well afford to treat with contempt such obloquy. Suppressio vert suggestio falsi is an aphorism that meets the case under consideration.[Own Correspondent.]