COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8887, 25 May 1892, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

PAHIATUA. The summer has departed, and winter set in in earnest. The district has been visited wit h nearly eight days' boisterous weather, which has had the effect of causing floods, bad roads, and preventing the growth of grass. Both sheep and cattle are having a bad time of it. I am afraid all stock will be very short of feed this winter, unless we experience some long spell of mild weather in June or July. During the summer grass was so abundant that settlers stacked very heavily, and now as grass is eaten down and growth stopped by frost and cold rains, the effect is quickly beginning to tell on all stock. One good result of the recent rains is the growth ot newly sown grass on land burned this summer, of which there is a very large area in this district, and that pasture coming on will be a great help to stock, but a Ion? interval occurs before it is fit for feed Root crops appear to grow well in this quarter. One settler has a splendid crop of turnips near the main coach road, upon which he is fattening 400 sheep. The yield of potato crops is something enormous. One small farmer here has dug six acres of stumped land from which he has obtained over 100 tons of the tubers, or fully 16 or 17 tons per acre, and many other settlers are getting 10 and 12 tons to the

acre. We have been well supplied with amusements of late, having had within a week or so a circus, an illusionist, Davy's Bright Lights Company, and the veteran Billy Barlow, and there are others billed to arrive shortly, including the popular Snazelle. Pahiatua will very shortly be the " boss " town in the matter of publichouses, at any rate as far as the proportion of hotels to the population is concerned. At present there are three large hotels in the centre of the township, and applications for two more licenses for large hotels, and three applications for houses ranging from three-quarters of a mile to two and three miles outside the main street. Accidents have been very rife of late. Broken legs, arms, and ribs are quite a common occurrence amongst the bush fellers, and men employed in road cuttings, etc. One old man has had a rough experience lately. His name is King Wenham. Going home one evening, and the night being dark, he fell over a prostrate log (with which the townshin is plentifully strewn) and broke his collar-bone, and before the injured shoulder had quite mended he tripped over some obstacle, and in trying to save his bad shoulder, dislocated the sound one. Pahiatua is fortunate in securing the services of a resident medical man in Dr. Gault, who appears well suited to the district, and quite equal to any emergency, or game for any rough trip into the back country at a moment's notice. ' The dairy industry appears to occupy the attention of a great many of the settlers owning small areas. Meetings have boen held in the outside settlements with a view to consider the question of erecting dairy factories. At one place Mr. Wilson, dairy expert, attended and fully explained the working of such concerns, and Mr. Chester is to be in Pahiatua next week in order to meet settlers who are desirous of obtaining information upon butter and cheese factories. One settler here, owning nearly 500 acres of rich pastoral land, intends devoting his property to dairying, and I learn that Messrs. Carlile and Thomas, of Woodville, who own 300 acres of rich land on the banks of the Manawatu, have received a good figure fcr their property for dairy fanning. At the recent examination of the public school in Pahiatua '235 were presented, and all in Standards IV., V., and VI. passed. The only failures were in 11. and 111. The fact of the failures occurring in these standards is, I think, mainly due to their being amongst the small children, who in attending school, if the weather is bad and they reside any distance from the school, are often kept at home ; whereas older children are not kept away so often on account of the weather. —[Own Correspondent].

ARATAPU. The Aratapu School Committee have lately spent a good (leal 0 money, granted by the Board, in the improvement of the school grounds, and not before it was needed. Our school surroundings have been most untidy for many years the school standing in a damp semi-bush locality. The committee will soon change all this, however, as they are showing considerable energy in the matter, and improvements are going on at a pace. Within the last few months the grounds have been fenced and drained, and a contract has just been completed for the burning, and spreading of clay over the playground. Sawdust from the mill has in the past been spread, but the wind carries it away, and it needs to be constantly renewed. The clay will be more lasting, and, being burnt, it is also dry. The next move the committee contemplate is the planting of shelter trees round the reserve.

The County Council have agreed to open out the drain along Church-street, at a cost not to exceed £10, and tenders are to be in by next meeting. This is a very necessary work, as it will open out a path through the swamp to the school, and the drains which have been cut on the school reserve will then be provided with an outlet to the river, which at present they are without. Mr. Gerring has arrived, and taken charge of our school. First impressions are favourable, and it"is generally believed that he will give every satisfaction. It is pleasing to see the teacher's residence cnce more in the hands of a family man. We have had a lot of sickness about lately, and more deaths have occurred in the district during the last three months than I have known to take place within a similar period previously. Mr. Birkett, a gumdigger, died on Monday from inflammation of the lungs; Henry Kuku, a native at the settlement, on Saturday, and several others just previously. We were glad to see your Mr. Berry up this way lately, and also to find that your columns have since been advocating the formation of a thorough good road between the Kailiu Valley and Hokianga. The bridle track now being cut is not sufficient, and the Government will do well to fall in with the advice given in one of your recent leaders. Such a road as was advocated will be of immense advantage to the country, and no one knows this better than the Hon. John McKenzie himself.

AWITU. In a recent issue I noticed an article speaking about the cultivation of the pecan tree. If the statements are true in that article, it cannot be too widely known in New Zealand. It is a good mare, or cow, that will give her owner £10 or £12 a year after the first four or live years, and then, unlike the pecan tree, she soon dies, and the farmer's profit is gone ; but with this pekan tree, it is like the crook —it goes on for ever. If you could give the country readers of the Weekly News any information oil the subject of pecan tree cultivation you will be conferring a boon, as there is no doubt the tree will do well in this district —that is if it can stand the salt air and the strong south and south-west winds. Doubtless it can resist these, seeing that it grows so well in California We are glad in this district to see the firm stand being taken by the Government in regard to the Dog Act. It is a blessing to know that the Act is making its power felt in other places beside Awitu, as it was said by many that this Road Board were working singlehanded in the matter. It is to be hoped that other boards, not far from here, will see their way to act in concert, and put a stop to this public nuisance. The Awitu Road Board did make an example of two natives last year, and I hope they will remember it for the future, as I feel sure that the present new Board will take no nonsense from white or black in the matter of the dog tax, as much loss to settlers in the past has been inflicted by native and other dogs. Winter now is coming on, and so far we have had it very mild. Stock generally are looking well, especially sheep, which seem to thrive in this part. I have noticed a good many farms with caterpillars this season. Strange enough this pest did not make its appearance until well on in March, and they are not the usual army, but a large brown fellow, who does his work at night, for he is only to be found in the day by searching carefully in the thickest parts of the grass. I suppose when we get a I little frost, these fellows will curl up.—[Own Correspondent.]

MANGONUI. Our usual Band of Hope meeting took place last Wednesday evening, the 11th May, when the following programme was gone through : —Hymn 136 ; recitation, " A Little Girl's Speech," Letitia Irvine; song, " The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls," Miss E. Gai'ton; recitation, "Do Your Best," Day Henderson ; hymn 189; chorus, " Look Not ( Upon The Wine," choir; recitation, Chancellor Campbell; song, " Kathleen," Miss Rosieur; recitation, " Oh Make My Coffee Strong," Miss Houston; chorus, " The Bells of St. Michael's Tower," choir; dialogue, " The Waverer," May and Daisy Williams ; song, " Love's Young Dream," Miss Prosser ; hymn 179 ; recitation, '* Little Birdie," Annie Ellis ; song, " What is Home Without a Mother," Miss Wrathall; chorus, " The Golden Gate," choir; song, " Little Shamrock," Miss E. Wrathall; hymn 180; song, " Killaloe," A. Ballance ; duet, "Gipsy Countess," Miss E. and Master J. Garton ; hymn 10. Each item was well rendered, especially the dialogue, which the little girls recited with excellent expression. It would be useless to attempt remarks upon each item, as all were so pleasing, suffice it to say that the audience came away thoroughly satisfied with their evening's enjoyment.— [Own Correspondent.]

MATAKOHE. For some time past it has been apparent to all that the erection of some suitable storage shed and waiting room on the wharf was a work much needed, so that not only could intending passengers by the steamer have some suitable place to stay in while waiting, but that there might also be provided a proper and secure place for all goods arriving by the steamer. In reference to this receiving shed and its custody, Mr. Fiedler could, ana no doubt would, take the charge of it, and as he has arranged with the Northern River Steam Shipping Company to act as their agent here, would be willing to receive all parcels ana goods, if so desired. That, however, could not be done satisfactorily until the shed is erected. Mr. Fiedler has broken the ice re the starting of this much-needed work by offering a contribution of £2 towards the funds which would need to be raised to carry it out, and as the directorate of the steamer company very lately were able to show that handsome profits are being made by the company, there is but little doubt they would offer substantial assistance. It has been a disgrace to the community that some effort in this direction was not made long since. . There are, of course, already a couple of little sheds, but they are at the foot of the wharf, and not at all convenient, at anyrate as waiting-rooms. Some other arrangement than this needs to be made, and now when the winter is close to hand is the time to get suitable shelter provided fot those whoss business or pleasure calls them to the Matakohe wharf. The ladies of Matakohe, married and single, last week gave a Leap Year Ball, which, much to the credit of the promoters, turned out a completo success. The ladies having brought this little bit of social enjoyment to a successful issue, is certainly rather a slur on the efforts of the married men some months back, who got as far as issuing invites to a preparatory committee meeting, and then called a halt. The ladies certainly have managed things better, and the visitors one and all were loud in praise of the entertainment. Time prevents me saying anything further at present.[Own Correspondent.]

AIM ATE NORTH. A member of the Maori Committee has furnished a Mat of the food, etc., consumed at the late great meeting at Waitangi. The numbers assembled were said to be about 1200, aDd the time extended to nearly three weeks. The list comprises :40 tons of potatoes and kumeras, 130 pigs, 7 bullocks, 29 sheep, and £396 were spent in bread, cake, and other requisites. The potatoes and kumeras were contributed at the rate of about lOOlbs for each man. Each man was called upon to contribute at least 3s in money. It is said that not one drop of intoxicating liquor was on the ground, and no police case arose out of the whole affair. The one Maori policeman who wore Her Majesty's uniform has carefully laid it aside until the next meeting. Although the pakeha may sometimes be inclined to be vexed at the Maori laihoa and waste of other thinps than time, it has to be acknowledged now that the managers of our General Assembly in Wellington could learn a little from Waitangi; and it can scarcely be claimed that an assemblage of the same number of Europeans would meet for such a time, under similar conditions, without a row. At the meeting of the Bay of Islands County Council, on Monday, it was resolved to bring the Dog Registration Act into force on June Ist. A petition, signed by about 100 Maoris, was presented, asking that action might be deferred until after Parliament had had a chance to review the Act, but the majority of the Councillors said that as the request of the Maoris had been granted in that actiou had been stayed until after the Waitangi meeting, no good could be gained by waiting longer. There can be no doubt that the visit of the chiefs from the East Coast, coupled with the speeches from Messrs. Cadman and Carroll, have had a very powerful influence for good on the Northern natives. Their talk is wonderfully changed. At the same Council meeting it was resolved, " That the thanks of this Council are due, and are hereby given, to the chairman and members of the Waitemata County Council for calling the late Counties' Conference, and for providing facilities for holding the meetings ; and also to the clerk of the Waitemata County for his exertions in connection with the Conference."[Own Correspondent.]