COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8934, 19 July 1892, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OUR, own ' CORRESPONDENTS. J

Hamilton, Monday. The football match between the Hamilton East and Hamilton West colts on Saturday proved an easy win for the East side of 18 points to nil. -t or the winners Nickisson, Hunt, W. Black, and Clements, played a sterling game, whilst for the losers, J. Harris, Dyiston, Hyde, and Quick were most conspicuous. ~ J,, ». The Hamilton East and-West schools also played a match on Sydney Square, and it was won after l*n exciting game by the East School with a score of 6 points to 2. Wiiatawhata, Monday. An Association match between the Whatawhata and Hamilton Football Clubs was played here on Saturday, and was won easily by Hamilton. • . . On Thursday morning the committee appointed for the purpose at the public meeting the preceding day, met and collated from the Taainanian Codlin Moth Act and the Bill drafted by the Waikato Horticultural Society some six years ago the most valuable clauses of each, and formulated therefrom a Bill for the consideration of the Otahuhu Fruitgrowers Association at its*meeting on Tuesday. Since then a Bill on the lines indicated has been drafted by two Hamilton solicitors, Messrs. Dyer and Swarbrick, and printed at the Waikato Times Office. The printed copy was submitted to a second meeting of the committee on Saturday night, and approved. A copy of the Bill will be taken down to the Otahuhu Fruitgrowers' Association meeting on Tuesday by Mr. George Edgecumbe, the Waikato delegate. It differs from the Tasmanian Act, which has worked beneficially for the last five or six years, inasmuch as it seeks to be worked by boroughs and counties, instead of by specially constituted boards, the settlers of every., district having thus ,the whole say in the working.'election of officials, and expenditure. It follows the Tasmanian Act in limiting -the taxation at 6s per acre for the working of the Act, which should be ample to pay for inspection by the local body, advertising, making up the rolls, etc., etc. It enforces a penalty for offering infected fruit for sale, and provides for keeping out of the colony fruit from unclean districts. It is not permissive in its character, but comes into force in every borough and county in the colony, and, where the County Act does not run, will be worked by the Government. With such an Act it may be hoped, if not to stamp out the pest altogether, to bring its depredations, as in Tasmania, within reasonable limits.

The Public and Volunteer Hall having been handed over to the volunteers during the week, and the St. Peter's Church interest in the building having been bought out for £100 by the Government, the Sunday-school yesterday had to be held in the church, and will so continue to be held for the next three months. After that time the vestry hope by donations and otherwise to increase the £100 they have in hand to a sum sufficient to erect a suitable building on their allotment between Knox's mart and the church in Victoria-street.

Cambridge, Monday. On Saturday, at 2.30 p.m., a large number of practical farmers met on Mr. Taylor's farm, just beyond the Cambridge town boundary, to witness a trial of Booth and Macdonald's (of Christchurch) "Spading Harrow." The implement was in charge of Mr. George Neal, the Cambridge agent of the firm. Four splendid horses and a driver were supplied by Mr. Taylor. The frame of the machine and the gearing generally are the same as the well-known disc harrows of the same makers, the only difference being that instead of discs there are four spade points or blades, which in revolving dig into and turn over the soil in a manner which no other form of harrows has yet done. The first paddock operated upon was a rich black loam, which had been ploughed rather shallow anil afterwards rolled. It was full of twitch grass, and sodden with the late rains. The machine was first driven along the line of furrows, and then a second time back again on the same track. Many of those present were of opinion that this was a satisfactory course to pursue, others maintaining that it should cross the furrows at a slight angle, and a trial was made straight across, which in the opinion of the majority did the best work. The manner, however, in which the machine should be worked to the best advantage is a matter which depends on the quality and condition of the ground to be operated upon. A move was then made to a turnip paddock behind Mr. Taylor's residence. The turnips had been eaten down to small cup-shaped bottoms, and the ground was clean and smooth. From the work done here it was quite evident that with the spading harrow ploughing after turnips will be quite unnecessary. The work done was excellent, and as the harrow covers eight feet rapid progress is made. • There is, however, one point yet to be solved. On Saturday the land was rather sodden, not actually wet but damp and difficult to disintegrate, and although, as previously stated, Mr. Taylor furnished a good team of four horses, it did seem they had as much to do as was good for them. Consequently unless small farmers combine to furnish sufficient horse power, the machine will be beyond their reach. It would, however, be desirable to see the harrows worked on perfectly dry land, and by a man who understands how to set them, before pronouncing an opinion as to the horse power required. Immediately after the trial, the machine was bought by Mr. Taylor. Your correspondent, who had not been on Mr. Taylor's land for many years, saw that during that time great improvements have been made. The quality of the land is unsurpassed in the Waikato. Mr. Taylor possesses a magnificent property, and deserves it.

At the monthly meeting ot the Taotaoroa Board, on Saturday, there were present:— Messrs. S. iseddon (chairman), H. R. Branskill, and Turner. The clerk reported that he had received from Mr. Bailey his resignation of his seat as a member of the Board, as he had left the district. The returning officer was notified to make the necessary arrangements for tilling up She vacancy. The district roads were reported in fair condition for the season of the year. At the monthly meeting, on Saturday, of the Cambridge Highway Board, there were present:—Messrs. James Forrest (chairman), H. J. Paton, M. H. Pickering, and James Taylor. Mr. Bailey's resignation was received. Mr. Pickering reported that the poplars which overshadowed the road at Crawford's Gully had been removed as authorised. The chairman was authorised to spend a sum of fifty shillings in re-forming the road in front of Clements' Park before putting on the gravel. It was agreed that the following works be undertaken when the weather has settled fine, viz., repairs and the laying of gravel from Main's to Camp's corner, repairs and gravelling from Arnold's corner past Chapman Rwens; ditto Dougherty's road deviation towards to G. L. Hally's. The chairman undertook to see what could be done towards carrying, off storm water from the main road past L. B. Ewen's property. -

POLLOK. At a meeting of the Pollok Mutual Improvement Class held on Tuesday, the 12th instant, a good programme was gone through of songs, recitation?, readings, and one essay. _ There was a scene from "The Merry Wives of Windsor," extract from the Athenreum, Mark Twain's fine description of his visit to France, extract from the Scottish-Ameri-can, Dr. Norman McLeod's graphic description of his visit to Jerusalem ; scene from "The Bride of Lammermoor," Ravenswood and Lucy Ashton plighting their troth at the Mermaiden's Fountain in the forest, breaking betwixt them a gold piece, the then emblematic ceremony of two lovers pledging their love to each other. Mr. A. Clark gave another essay oil The New Zealand Civil Service and General Government." He said " What a great blessing it would be to New Zealand and to the tax-paying portion of the population if the Government would reduce the enormous expenditure going on, and let it be at least in proportion to our cirumstauces and population. - During the time when the great boom was going on of spending the borrowed millions lots of Government servants were taken on, salaries were increased to a large extent, some being doubled. iNow since our borrowing days are past, and the interest of that great debt weighing so heavily upon us, both the salaries and numbers ought to be reduced to even less than

[ what they were Wore the days of ben-owing began. See whatihe Governments of neighbouring colonies ,re obliged to do at the present time. Thy who copied our plan of public works pole? in borrowing million, from the money-ltaders of England, and in spending and plmdering it in the most prodigal manner. They, however, are now wise in carrying >*t retrenchment to the letter, , not like on; nominal retrenchment which is only a deluion. When our present Government took tffce, the noise of retrenchment resounded fran Cape Maria in the far north to the Bluff in the far South, but it was all gammon" It is, however, true that the Governmafc dismissed a considerable number of civil servants, putting them in possession of f.t pensions, and at the same time quietly filling up their place? with . creatures . of their own, two instead _of one in sxne instances, slightly changing the name of the office, gulling th« people, and thus increasing rather than decreasing the pubic expenditure. That is what our paternal Government calls retrenchment, and fcking credit for its good management of the affairs of the nation, not requiring to go t< extreme measures, like Victori.'. and Queeeland. The people, however, d i not reqilre to thank the Government foi that, but v give thanks to the God of naturt for our exceedingly fine climate, our well watered land, where there are springs aid brook; by the thousand in each provincial district. also to our fertile fields, producing extensie flocks of sheep and oxen, cereals, fruits and other crops in abundance for home use and exportation; while her sister colonies of Australia, although blessed with fine lands in nany respects, are on the other hand often it the point of ruination caused by severe troughts at one time and severe floods at an<ther time. But in NewZealand there are Either of those extremes, and that makes a wonderful difference. We are also indebted to the quality of our beef and mutton, wiieh, like that of all other comparatively sinal islands in temperate zones, are excellent, superior for tenderness and nutritiousness* commanding a high price in the English narket, and equal to trie island fed beef and mutton of Great Britan and Ireland. Thesehave been our helps, not the retrenchments of the Government.— [Own Correspondent]

TaIRUA. Friday last a scritch match between the Landing, section acd the Tairua section of the above football club was played on the club grounds, and resulted in some very good play on both sides. I may specially mention W. Duncan, for the Tairua team, and J. and T. Dufty for the Landing team. Result: Tairua, 10; the Larding, 8. In the evening a concert was given by the children attending tae Tairua district school under the leadership of the head teacher] Mr. H. B. Wilson. The programme, which was a long and varied one, consisted of the following items Piiuoforte solo, Miss R Allen; song, Little Nell," the elder'children; recitation, "My Pocket," Clarence Norgrove; round, "Daisy Chain," by the children; recitation, "Leap for Life," W. Thomson; recitation, " Freddy and the Cherries," Gus. Joyce; glee, " Which Wav Does the Wind Blow," by the children ; recitation, " The Cats' Tea Party," Flossie Joyce • glee, "Railway Train," by the children; dialogue, " Choice of Trade," ten elder boys • round, " Who 11 Buy My Posies ; pianoforte duet, Misses A. Hull and R. Allen; recitation, " The Careful Messenger," E. Hull; glee, " Tommy and the Apples recitation' " Pinola," H. Joyce; glee, "Little Sister's Gone to Sleep," Misses Joyce, Allen, Thomson, Gamble, Bell, and Howell; dialogue Growler and the Cat," H. Gamble and°lda Bell; glee, " Who is a Brave Man ;" recitation, "The Twins,' T.Thomson. Exercise by the school brous-ht the first part to a close. Part II.; Pianoforte duet, Messrs. Walters and Hull; solo and chorus, " Kyrie Eleison," Miss Walters and school piano;" duet, Misses Walters and Allen; glee, "Around the Hearth;" round, "Follow Me;" medley, " School by a New Teacher," by the elder scholars ; recitation, " A Fellow's Mother," G. Adams; round, "The Bell Doth Toll recitation, " Mousie's Plea," May Bennett round, "Raise Your Hands glee, "Mv Native Land;" recitation, "The Shingle W. Thompson; glee, "Cock Robin;" glee, "The Indian Warrior's Grave;" reoitation, "Greedy Mouse," W. Furber - recitation, " The Pipes at Lucknow," Annie Joyce; round, "Good-night." The farce, " The Aurora," played by Masters Bell, Thomson, Simpson, Hopkins, and Hull. To say that the whole was well renderd and faithfully carried out would be but doing it justice. Too much praise cannot be accorded toMesdames Hull and Edwards, and Miss A. J. Walters, assistant teacher, for their untiring exertions in making the concert a success, independent of the work entailed in providing the tea for the children in the afternoon, and catering for the dance in the evening, leaving for the most fastidious actually nothing to be desired.— Correspondent.]

PORT ALBERT. Our Band of Hope held their usual monthly meeting in the Wesleyan Church on Tuesday evening, July 5, and, considering the very bad state of our roads, was well attended. In the absence of the president, Mr. Mander took the chair. The programme was good and varied, consisting of speeches, recitations, songs, and reading?. Before the close of the meeting, two of our young people came forward and signed the pledge book. Last Wednesday the monthly meeting of the Port Albert Agricultural Society was held at the residence of Mr. R. Walker. The tea was excellent, and the evening's discussion was interesting and profitable. Some of the members were prevented from Roing by the showery state of the weather. The weekly meetings of the mutual improvement class here appear to flourish. lhe members take great interest in them. On Saturday, the 9th inst., was the election of officers and committee, Mr. J. Shepherd Priding. The following were elected to office for the coming quarter: President, Mr F. Mander; vice-presidents, Messrs. L. P. Becroft, and R. Walker; secretary, Miss Hartnell; assistant secretary, Mr. R. Partington ; treasurer, Miss Gubb; committee, Messrs. Reid and 0. Judd ; auditors, Messrs. F. Hartnell and S. Gubb. An excellent paper was read by Mr. C. Judd on Government, followed by an animated discussion. A reading by Mr. F. Mander ; also readings by Miss Hartnell and Mr. Shepherd, and musiaby Miss Gubb.[Own Correspondent.]