COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8958, 16 August 1892, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM 008 OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] * Whatawhata, Monday. A serious accident happened to Mr. Ostler, of Frankton. He was supporting a heavy j beam, when lie fell and was struck on the arm. At first it was thought the limb was broken, but the result was on examination found to consist of a badly sprained wrist, which is even now, a week after the accident, no better than at the first, and has to be carried in a sling. ' Te Aroha, Monday. A meeting of leaseholders in the Lipsey town portion of Te Aroha was held in the Court-house on Thursday evening ; about 60 persons were present, and Mr. S. J. Hirst, chairman of the Town Board, presided. The meeting was called by the Town Board to consider proposals submitted by the Hon. Mr. Cadman, in conjunction with Mr. Millar, solicitor for Mr. Lipsey, for alterations in the terms of the leases in the township. The land is at present held under the Goldfields' regulations for a term of 21 years, at an annual rental of £5 par £ of an acre for business sites, and £1 per acre for residence sites. The proposals submitted to the meeting were as follow: Area: Business sites and residence sites to be the same as at present. Rent: Business sites not less than £3 per annum; residence sites not less than £1. Term : Ninety-nine years lease, with revaluation at the end of every 20 years, but the rent not to be less than the above The re - valuation could be made by the Warden, or other person appointed by the Government, and otj arbitrator appointed by the owners of the block, and the umpire appointed by the two arbitrators. Buildings and fences not to be taken down or removed at any time during, or at the expiration of the term, whether affixed to the freehold or not." Considerable discussion took place, and eventually the following amended proposals were drawn out and unanimously agreed to Rent : Business sites in VVhitaker and Bridge-streets, £3 per annum; all other business- sites £2 per annum. Residence sites, £1 per annum. Terms: 99 years lease, with a re-valuation of business sites only every 20 years, but rent not to be less than the above. Re-valuation to be made by two arbitrators, one to be appointed by the owners of the township, and one by the leaseholders, and an umpire appointed by the two arbitrators. Residence sites to be £1 per annum, during the term of lease. Buildings and fences not to be taken down or removed at any time during or at the expiration of lease. A sub-committee appointed by the meeting waited upon Mr. Lipsey to ascertain his views upon the amended proposals, and he agreed to them subject to the approval of his solicitor, Mr. Miller, of the Thames. It is thought here that the new terms of lease, in accordance with the proposals of the meeting, will give general satisfaction, and that, as a result, a good deal of building and repairing will go on.

The uncertainty of the last few years with regard to the land question has done a very great deal to keep the place back, and -to prevent new settlement, out a fair rent and a good long term of lease will, without doubt, cause a great many of the now vacant allotments to be taken up, built upon, and otherwise improved.

[by TKLKORAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Monday. At Mr. J. McNicol's sale, on Saturday, of Mr. Richardson's dairy stock, there was a good attendance, and satisfactory prices were realised. Sixty dairy cows just springing sold from £2 15s to £8 43, averaging £5 each ; Swayne's dairy cows averaged £5 5s ; fat cows, £5 5s each; Ayrshire bulls, two years old, £2 10s each; fat long wool wethers, 19s. •

Morbinsville, Monday. Mr. Frank Marshall was leading a horse, yesterday morning, when it reared up, and knocking Mr. Marshall down, broke his left arm betweeu the shoulder and elbow. He was taken into Hamilton, arriving there at uiue p.m., and had the limb set by Dr. Brewis, returning again to Morrinsville today. Paeroa, Monday. The J unction Sawmill closed down on Saturday. ■ WAINUI. Arbor Day was duly celebrated in Wainui on the 4th instant. The school children and their friends assembled on the school ground at three o'clock in the afternoon, and proceeded at once to plant the trees. The trees are of various kinds, both useful and ornamental, and v> hen they grow no doubt they will be a beauty and a joy for ever. After the tree-planting was over, the children had a merry time, entering into the various outdoor games with that spirit so characteristic of the Wainui children both old and young. At five o'clock tea was laid in the school rooom, at which young Wainui did wonders in demolishing huge plates of cake and bread and butter. Later on in the evening a concert was given, at which Mr. Kinsey presided. Miss J mid played the accompaniments, assisted by Miss Lamout and Miss Kinsey. It is a great pity that there is no other instrument than that wheezy, asthmatic old harmonium upon which to play the accompaniments; it quite spoiled the effect of some of the songs. The Chairman, in a few well-chosen remarks, impressed upon his hearers the importance of tree planting. He said that although we might never want the trees ourselves, it was our duty to leave the world more beautiful than we found it, and not a barren treeless waste. He then proceeded with the programme, which was as follows —Glee, " See Our Oars song, "Romany Lass," Mr. Griffiths ; song, Miss A Lambert; song, The Old Brigade," Mr. Evans; recitation, Mr. Hamilton; duet, " Whispering Hope," Miss Judd and Miss Kinsey; song, " Bay of Biscay," Mr. F. Kinsey; song, "Beautiful Dreamer," Miss Elias: song aud chorus, " Mother Shipton," Mr. Philpot: reading, Mr. Hellyer; song, " Charity," Miss Kinsey; song, Anchored," Mr. Barry (encored); dialogue, scene from "The Rivals," Miss Judd, Miss Elias, and Mr. Phillpot; song, "Caller Herrin'," Miss Judd; farce, "The Coalheaver's Revenge," Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Phillpot, Mr. Lambert, Master Gubb, and Miss Lambert. The singing of the National Anthem by the company concluded the concert, after which the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up with spirit until the small hours of the morning. Mr. Evans kindly acted as M.C., and Messrs. Glanville and Hamilton provided good music on the violins.—[Own Correspondent.]

KAITAIA. One of our friends, Miss Larmer, passed away on the 2ud of August. She haa been suffering from consumption for a period of six years, and the bereaved family are much to be pitied, as they have suffered more bereavements before this. Mr. R. V. Johnston is about to start in business, at his own farm, up Kaitaia Valley. He will nave started too late in business, as the place is destitute of money, but his capacity as a business man no doubt is unequalled in this district. The lambing season is well on, but I fear the flood that is on will drown a few, which will be a loss to the poor farmers who are relying on their wool for a living.— Correspondent.] TAHEKE. We have been enjoying glorious weather here for the past wees or so. There have been sharp frosts on several nights. When the road are open to sun and wind they are improving rapidly, but in some parts they are in a frightful state. The track from Taheke to the Auckland block section is almost impassible, and owing to the impoverished state of the county exchequer, the main road is absolutely dangerous in some places. I hear that some of the flower beds recently planted in the school grounds by the teacher, have been despoiled already. It is a great pity that the offenders cannot be caught, and well thrashed.—[Own Correspondent.] AWITU. Arbor Day was observed in this district on August 4. There were about 40 children present at the school. Miss M. M. Cossey, teacher, said some of the children from the Manukau Heads school were also present. Mr. Hamilton, sen., was also present as chairman of the Road Board, to represent that body, and took an active part in the proceedings of the day, assisted by Mr, George J. Garland, chairman of the School Committee. The School Committee mustered in good force, there being present: Messrs. J. Garland, J. Cruickshank, E. Garland and John Irwin, who all took an active part in the business of the day. The children of the school, under the care and direction of the head teacher, Mr. J. W. Rennick, were soon to be seen planting the trees. At a little after twelve o'clock an adjournment was made to the school where a plentiful supply of tea and other good things were served o'Jt to all, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. After luncheon all went back to the reserve to finish planting. We had a grant of 60 trees from the Government experimental grounds, Whangarei, which came promptly to hand m 'good order and condition, of the followingj kind Catalpa speciosa, English oak, sycamore, - Oregon pine, Oregon cedar, Norway spruce, Austrian pine, and J?inus Insignia. There were also presented to the School Committee 30 Pinus insignia by Mr. R. Millett. These were all planted to form a shelter belt to protect the finer or more delicate sorts, and will, I have no doubt, give a good account of themselves in a few years. At about tour o'clock tea, etc., was to be had for the asking, . when all present voted the day to have been

a success, and want to their respective homes well pleased with the day's proceedings ft is to be hoped, now that Arbor Day has been established m this district, it will be kent , n each year. And if it is understood that a daw in the first week in August in each year shall be observed as Arbor Day, proper steps can be taken to secure grants of trees, and nre pare the ground to receive them. Not onl J will the institution of Arbor Day beautifv th. country, and conduce to health, but it will supply timber in years to come for man® useful purposes.—[Own Coi respondent.]

POLLOK. At a meeting of the Pollok Mutual Improvement Class, held on Friday evening, the 12th August, an entertaining and instructive nro. gramme was gone through, consisting of songs, readings, recitations, and one essay The songs were : "My Old Kentucky Home «d 7 ?*!£ 13 , * e the Red, Re d Rose'" Bonnie Wood of Craigie Lee," "Norah the Pride of Kildare, "t>ear Old England " Reading and recitations were: Cordial Re ceptiou to Grant, the great American General and ex-President of the United States of America, by the Emperor of Japan- Em perors Speech; Grant's Speech ; scene from the Fair Maid of Perth ; Harry of the Wvnd Clearing the Street with his Two-handed Sword; Speech by the Hon. Judge Haliburton, of British North America at Burns Centenary, Glasgow; Mark Twain's Glowing Description of his Visit to Versailles • Dr. Norman McLoed's Visit to Malta bv Moonlight; scene from Henry the VIII Queen Catherine kneeling at her husband's' feet imploring him to do her justice, and not to cast her off. Mr. A. Clark gave another essay on the New Zealand Civil Service and General Government. He said : " Many men at Home and abroad believe that Mr. Gladstone is a great statesman and a great man of general ability, but on the other hand many think that he is wrong with his Home Rule for Ireland both for the empire at large and for Ireland itself. I hat may or may not be, but what has that to do with the cablegram sent by Mr. Ballance to Mr. Gladstone? Had he any ri ,r to send that message as Premier, as if = ali the people of Jiew Zealand were Home Rulers. Let Mr. Ballance send as many private cablegrams to Mr. Gladstone as he pleases, but he must withdraw the one he as sent as Premier. Mr. Ballance appears to be doing a number of things in his official capacity as Premier in an autocratical way, which is quite opposite to the constitution ol this democratic colony. If such things gc on at this rate, the nation will at no distant date set down its foot and call a halt. The Education Act and other things fostered by the Government are overdone, and will be the means in a short lime of giving New Zealand a majority of the non-producing class, or the non-working class, who have never put off their coat to work, and never intend to ; who would take it as an insult to be told that their near relations were honest working people; their whole aim appearing to be to ride on the backs of other men who are willing to work, with hands deep down into the toilers' pockets. Our State Schools are loudly proclaimed to be great institutions, in fact, thousands of people at the outset thought so who think otherwise now. Interested persons, who are reaping benefits less or more therefrom, keep up a cuckoo cry, declaring the present system of education to be perfection itself. In some respects it is good, but iD other respects it is poor. Judging the tree by its fruits, it is miserably poor—good for turning out a plethora of the non-producing class, crowding the Government offices with office-seekers, and a regiment of cadets. There is, however, an exception to this rule. The children of farmers and other settlers in country places, who, generally, cannot afford to keep their children at school past the third or fourth standards, the children must go to work; they must even work mornings and evenings when attending school, having often more than three or four cows each to milk twice a day, also to feed Eigs. calves, poultry, cut and haul firewood, 11 large boilers, etc., and during school holidays, when town children are spending their time pleasuring, visiting friends at a distance, and so forth, the farmers' children have then most to do. But happily it is of this material generally that the great men of the world r.'-e made, self-reliant men. such as Washington, Grant, Lincoln, Garfield, Stanley, Hugh Miller, David Livingstone, and such a throng of other brilliant stars of the first magnitude; while the other poor things, having little or no self-reliance, although crammed up to the teeth with little else than school standards, go glimmering through the world like so many will-o'-the-wisps, clogging up the highways and by ways of real industry, threatening to upset everything for Government billets, with big wages, big pensions, short hours, long holidays, and an Act oi Parliament fixing all these privileges till death."—[Own Correspondent.!