COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8888, 26 May 1892, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OCR own CORRESPONDENTS. J Hamilton, Tuesday. A very important question, to come before the Hospital Board on the Ist proximo, was discussed at the meeting of heads of families, held on Thursday morning last, to consider the question of procuring the services of a medical practitioner for Hamilton district, should Dr Kenny's application for the post of hospital surgeon be granted, as he will then be, ny the new rule of the Board, disallowed all private practice outside as at present. Mr. Lang has given notice of motion that out-patients applying at the hospital shall receive the attention of the medical officer, and that medicines be dispensed to them from the hospital at a fixed fee, these fees to go to the hospital funds. In the original motion of Mr. Lans, intended for last meeting, this fee was fixed at ss, but in the motion, as adjourned till to-morrow week, the amount is left an open question. Now, if such a course be adopted, it will seriously interfere with the possibility of getting a private family practitioner for Hamilton and the greater part of Waipa and Waikd.'o, for such an one would have to compete vith the hospital itself. It is very well, if a man feels ill or hurts himself, for him to go up to the hospital, consult the doctor, and get treatment —but how about the women and children ? They cannot go from home, miles to a doctor, but must have his attendance at their own. homes, and because the hospital enters into competition with the private practice of the faculty they are to run the risk of no competent physician taking up Dr. Kenny's present private practice, when his services, or those of his successor as the case may be, are entirely confined to the hospital. If this motion were to be carried it would be necessary, indeed, to add a lying-in ward to the present hospital, or leave women in childbirth to the sole care of a midwife. The supporters of this proposal say that as members of the Hospital Board they are bound to consider first of all the interests of the hospital, and. if its funds can be in this manner increased it is not for them to study the interests of the general public. The same plan has been tried at the Thames and elsewhere, and with signal unsuccess. It has ended in the boycotting of the hospital by private practitioners, and in absolute loss to the hospital funds, and to the hindrance of legitimate hospital work. Dr. Macgregor, too, lias set his face very strongly and wholly against the system, and it is more than doubtful if persisted in by any Board that a Government subsidy would be again forthcoming. As a matter of relief to the indigent who cannot afford to pay a private doctor or for medicines, our Hospital by-laws specially provide attendance and medicine free of charge, and this is a3 far as the system should go in this direction. For the Hospital to go into competition with the medical profession in ordinary cases of illness, which could best be treated at the patients' own homes, is unjust and mischievous. A very strong opposition was expressed against Mr. Lang's motion at Thursday's meeting of settlers, and a hope was expressed that all present would use their best endeavours to prevent the acceptance by the Hospital Board of so mischievous a proposal. The county football match, Waipa v. Waikato, will be played on Sydney Square on Saturday next. Occasion will be taken of the presence of so many footballers and representatives of the various local clubs to draw up a programme of the Waikato Association's matches for the present season, and to consider other matters having reference to football in Waikato. It is to be hoped the weather will prove favourable to the gathering. The following teams have been chosen Waikato: Fullback, E. Johnson (Hamilton); threequarters, E. B. Harris, C. Lovell, and E. Hall (all of Huntly); halfbacks, W. Hammond (Hamilton), J. B. Harris, and T. Connolly (Huntly); forwards, T. Frost, J. Montgomery, F. Carter, J. Atterill, and C. Smith (Huntly). and A. Peacock, J. Gillett, and E. Williamson (Hamilton); emergencies, F. darken, J. Quinn, J. Wriglit, and R. Gillett (Hamilton), and W. R. C. Walker (Cambridge). The following represent the Waipa team Fullback, Huingahau (Whatawhata); threequarterbacks, E. Walker (Cambridge), J. Corboy (Paterangi), and W. Bishop (Whatawhata) ; halfbacks, J. Hume (Hamilton, Kusabs, and F Bowden (Paterangi); forwards, J. Ryburn, P. O'Connor, W. G. Mackay, ana G. Cruikshank (Paterangi), F. Jolly, R. Harrison, W. Moore, and D. L. Smart (Hamilton); emergencies, G. Mayes, A. Snaith, and Jumbo. The captains will be chosen on the ground. Mr. W. Duncan, inspector of assessors, arrived here to-day in connection with the duties of his office. The Court of Reviewers sits at Cambridge on the 30th inst. Yesterday was bright and fiue and kept as a general holiday. In the morning the Hamilton Light Infantry Volunteers paraded on Sydney Square, some 45 of all ranks, and then proceeded to the Volunteer Hall, in the paddock, outside of which they were drilled by Captain Reid, and fired a feu de joie in honour of Her Majesty. They then preceeded to the Commercial Hotel, where Mrs. Bright had a first-class dinner provided for them, and afterwards the greater number proceeded to the butts where firing was carried on till late in the afternoon.

A letter received in Waikato from Mr. Henry Reynolds gives a very unfavourable account of the butter market at home which lie says " utterly collapsed " at the end of March, and that the firm suffered largely towards the end of the season through the bulk of their shipments arriving late. Any advance to creamery suppliers made next year, says Mr. Reynolds, would have to be made 011 prospective values, as they are certainly not warranted in making any on the basis of last season's returns. if this is bad news for all concerned, there is some consolation in knowing that the question of milk-testing has been practically accomplished. " I have found a machine (Lister and Co.'s Positive Butter Test)," writes Mr. Reynolds, " which will fill all our requirements, and will show the exact percentage of butter fat, which is the only true basis on which to pay, as those will acknowledge who have made good butter returns from milk showing a low percentage of cream, and we have proved 011 the other hand that in many instances where the cream percentage was high we were not getting a corresponding quantity of butter. These ' milk testers ' are quite new here, so we shall be adopting the latest and most perfect methods. I am getting two or three made at once, so that suppliers themselves may have an opportunity of seeing them at work and of testing their correctness before next season." Mr. Reynolds gives some idea of how the milk business is carried on in London. He was supplied with milk rich in appearance and quality, but the tester showed that it contained only 7 per cent, of cream and the rich colour was artificial, but after complaint to the milkman the tester in a day or two proclaimed a percentage of butter fat indicating 10 per cent, of cream. Mr. Reynolds' remarks will be received with interest, for, as lie says, " I consider that the most necessary qualification of a milk tester, after correctness, is that it should be easily worked, and that each supplier should be able at any time to see the wliole process of testing samples, so that there may never be even the slightest suspicion of a possibility of unfairness." Ngakuawahia, Wednesday. The match between the teams of the Hamilton and Ngaruawahia colts came off yesterday. The Hamilton footballers arrived by the morning train, and the match was played in time for them to return by the train in the afternoon. The visiting team was captained by Mr. J. Harris, and the local team by Mr. Jervois. The match was a close one, Ngaruawahia losing by one point, scoring a try, but for our visitors G. Steadman scored a try, which Richard Gillett converted into a goal. Of the 60 one pound shares with which it is intended to start the new boat club here, 53 shares have been already subscribed. Rotorua, Wednesday. The tourist arrivals during the past week numbered seventeen. There are now thirty remaining at the hotels, and ten patients at the Government Sanatorium. The steam launch succeeded last week in effecting an entrance through the Ohau channel into Lake Rotoiti. The difficulty and risk, however, experienced on the occasion referred to was such that Captain Gilmer is not anxious to make auother trip outside of Lake Rotorua. The ketch Katie is now lying sunk in the Ohau channel, and has been in this position for some time back, and, to all appearance, is abandoned. The lot of a Minister of the Crown is not altogether a happy one. The Hon. Mr. Cadman, after his arduous task here during the past few days, was no doubt in need of a spell, and for quietness decided to rest the night after leaving here at Ross' Hotel, a place some distance out of Taupo ; but what must have been the hon. gentleman's surprise to find the übiquituous deputation still on his track, and in that out-of-the-way place he had to sit up till near midnight giving an attentive ear to all that was said to him. Te Aroha, Wednesday. Captain Forster and Lieutenant Scott, of the Salvation Army Prison Gate Brigade, held two meetings here last week, and were fairly successful in interesting people in their worthy work. The meetings were held in the public hall, and were pretty well attended, notwithstanding the very unfavourable weathet. It is announced that the Salvation Army intend commencing operations here soon, and I think the feeling generally is that it will be a mistake if they do so. There are already four Christian bodies in the field, namely, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, and Presbyterian; quite as many as at present are actually required, and the advent of a fifth body will only subtract a

few from each of the nresmrTT"" Many well-wishers oP the Armv^ re^ ' ' to have occasional visits from W ° uld li ke officers, and would give them a "«" 6 of ill come at such times, but the '.£7 We! " ground so well worked as this f V ' Dk that does not present a good field for tv " lct is, nent efforts of the Salvation Armv Pertna fhe annual meeting of the You™ x, , Club was held m their rooms last fJ}?* night. Between twenty and thir* Urda men were present, and the following y bearers were chosen for the en*,.;. g 0l " Cf: - President, Rev. F. G. Evans ll year : - dents, Messrs. Ingrain and La\vW e ' rjre,itary, Mr. J. T. Mainay; tre f \f ecre ' Devey: committee of management <\ *• Wild, Lavery, Keesing, F. K \v n? Brß, and Calderwood. This club "provide Rg !' ing, recreation, and pleasant evening f •' members, and lias done much "or i 115 among the young men. It is entire „ Wo L k supporting, and at present hits , L • balance of more than £9. ' cre dit The Domain Board are bavin" some , useful alterations made in No. 1 i n d v ery bathrooms. Rooms in which neonlr. „. * cline, after taking the baths in> T • re " erected, and when furnished will L u ' much appreciated hv the public If=,- Vc great things for the Domain Board that can keep the domain in its present (in r \ 165 supply all the requisites for the hith er ' their two zealous caretakers, ami now s! |)a j a good sum in improving the bathrr 11 without a single penny of help from 0 ?!?* Government. 1 oin t " e A very useful addition to the domain Wo „u be a reading room, in which paper* L . J &c., could be obtained. It is thought 'h that the Government might well erect t',,;; re Te Arolia, although it would be a verv S mil equivalent for the very large sums spent r other watering places. 1 on Mr. D. Wallace has removed his r>l ant &c., from Waiorongomai to a central nositir ' in le Aroha, and is now in full swiii" a»ai

PAPAKURA. A MEETING of the Board of Review urn! the Land and Income Assessment A.'t KQi was held at the Resident Magistrate's ton }' house here on Monday, the 23rd i] ;iv u'v. Present: Messrs. S. Kaill (chairman) u' land; S. Luke, Otahului ; and B. Han-;* Tuakau. The following cases were dealt' with, and reductions in the vahmiJ. made:—Brothers Godwin, Drurv £'-MVi . £1450; John Watson, I'apatoetoe, £H'iO ,° £1170; Mrs. Hotham, Otahuhu, £SQ to'W! Mrs. Murphy, Otahuhu, £80 to £40 and ciii to £100; A. Buckland and Son's iDntr, Yards), £100 to £25, and (I'apakura Yards' £•200 to £125; W. S. Grahame (property at Papakura), £964 to £850: Mrs. CliamberinV (Drury property), £1987 to £1561; James Oil. worth, £150 to £140, and £280 to fn. Arthur Brooks, £200 to £150; A. AlexandV Wairoa, £280 to £160; Church of En'danrl at Papakura, £200 to £150; R. White Hunua district, £247 to £200, £247 to £21,' and £86 to £70; Rev. T. Nome, £.592 to £542; J. Hamilton, £1405 to £550; lots"Is 12, and 3, £218, value sustained ; ,J. McCosti Clark, Maraetae, £560 to £220; J. \Y. lard, £325 to £190; Mrs. E. Arthur, £100 to £65. Twenty-four objections were gone into by the reviewers, and they took great pains in each case. Mr. Duncan appeared on behalf of the Government Commissioner and gave great satisfaction, and the follow! ing assessors were present to uphold their assessments :—T. L. Stevens, '1. Mclnnig and C. W. Mellsop. The Board sat from half-past ten a.m. to half-past live p.m. Many objectors were called for anil no appearance made, and great complaints were made by some present, that fuller notice of the meeting _ had not been given, and especially that it had only been advertised in the daily papers, and not at all in the Weekly Is ews. The same Board will sit at the Resident Magistrate's Courthouse, Pukekohe, on the 26th May, when some of those who did not attend here may appear. The weather was very wet and stormy, and may have prevented some from attending. Good humour prevailed throughout the day, hut a settler remarked that it was rather suggestive that Mr. Stevens, the assessor, should assert that the cause why Druy was not more inhabited was on account of .Mrs. Chamberlain wanting so much for her land, while he still put a higher value on it. This lady braved the storm, and pleaded her cause so well that she got the substantial reduction of £426 on her property.—[Own Correspondent.]