COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8767, 6 January 1892, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

•■■<* [raOM OUR OWN <pBRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Tuesday. The Hamilton monthly cattle sale takes place on Thursday. A nuhber of useful horses are advertised by Mr, McNicol, and a large number of mixed store and other cattle by Mr. W. J. Hunter.; i The rain continued during the whole of yesterday, but b/oke off last night, breaking" fine and dear this morning. It must have done an jmmeuse amount of good to the grass lands, which would have been quite brown with another week's drought. About 60 men, many of them from Hamilton district, went up by train yesterday to Te Kuiti, seeking employment on the railway works, on what is. called the co-operative principle. Mr. Vickerman, of the Public Works Department, went up with them. Some valuable pedigree Jersey cattle, a bull and a cow, were taken on from here to Raglan by Mr. T. B. Hill, the cow having been secured by th« local constable. Air. Bulford. They are from the herd of Mr. Hulke, of Tarimaki, and should form the nucleus of a valuable herd in Raglan, besides largely improving the ordinary stock of the district. Their pedigree is unimpeachable, coming from one of the best strains of Jersey blood in England.

HUNUA. At the invitation of the Misses Crouch, the greater part of the residents of Hunua were invited to a picnic at the falls. After viewing these, the picnickers, some 70 to 80 in number, repaired io Mrs. C. Rhodes' river paddock, where the young people indulged in all kinds of outdoor games. In the evening the Messrs. Rtodes Bros, invited a number of young foils to a dance, and although the space at command was small, the party made the most of it, and broke up about; eleven p.m., haviig spent Boxing Day of 1891 very pleasantly. ] Amongst the many nsitors to the falls, our old friend, Mr. M. telly, was to the fore with a very unique party, some twelve in number, representing eight nationalities, viz., English, Irish, Welsh, American, French, German, Danish, and last, though not least, a New Zealander, Irish and Scotch in one. Their high admiration of the falls and scenery was proof that fatiguing riding and walking was fully compensated for. On New Year's Day the Hunua annual school sports were held in the school grounds, when racing was indulged in for sundry prizes by the scholars. The committee worked hard in the interests of the children, serving up all the good things of the season, including lollies. There was a large number of visitors from the surrounding districts, making up the largest gathering Hunua has had. A dance concluded the day's proceedings at the small hours of the "2nd of January. The country has looked parched for a month past, the weather being very sultry at times. Late crops have suffered for want of rain. On the 31st December we had a very refreshing shower, and ai/ain to-day (the 4th instant) in the early morning heavy rain fell, and at intervals throughout the day. At about six p.m. there was very heavy thunder and lightning, with heavy rain. The bush known as Skyhigh has been on fire for some days. Fortunately, the rain had a quenching effect. Had the fire extended to the Otaua ranges, it must have done a vast amount of damage. It would be well for people passing to and fro to be more careful with fire, as report says the parties are known who were the cause of the above fire. The visitors to our district very naturally ask who looks after our roads. The Road Board, of course. Why, you ought to make the main road so that people could drive in. Ten pounds in the hands of a good pick and shovel man would do it. To get that man and pay him is the trsuble. Our roads will remain as they are until the local Board make by-laws to regulate the traffic thereon, as is being done in other districts, as is seen by your widely-circulated Weekly. Several oases of la grippe, some of a very severe type, have occurred in the Hunua. — [Own Correspondent.]