COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8964, 23 August 1892, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from otjb own correspondents. J • v Hamilton, Monday. The attention of the police was drawn on Saturday, by Mr. T. G. Saudes, the Waikato agent for the Society , for the Suppression of Cruelty to Animals, to the case of a horse belonging to Mrs. Newell, of Ngaruawahia, aerated water manufacturer. The horse was driven up to Hamilton in the spring cart, delivering goods that day, and suffering from an old and severe collar gall. The spot was perfectly raw, about twice the circumference of a penny piece, and looked more like an ulcer than an ordinary raw, and was covered by a piece of coarse sacking. The police took the horse out of the cart, and brought it down to the police station, and the driver will be brought before the Police Court charged with the offence. The sale of leases of East Hamilton Domain lots, by Mr. John Kuox, on Saturday, was well attended, and prices ruled high, almost as high as when the same allotments, which have oeen given up by the then lessors, realised some four or five years ago. The term of lease was for 14 years, with the benefits of the Board's improvement clauses, and the upset price being 7s 6d per acre per annum. .Lots 159, 160, and 161, 3a, realised 15s per acre; lots 214 and 215, 3» 15p, 16a per acre ; lots 173, 174, and 175, 3a, 16s per acre; lots 385, 386, 387, 388, and 389, 4a, 15s per acre, and lots 180, 181,182, 183, and 405, 4ja, 18s per acre. The house in Grantham street, lately occupied by Mr. J. B. Whyte, was passed in with a reserve of £300. Neither was there anv bid for the farm belonging to Mr. Morris. The volunteer reserve at Frankton was put up in two lots, but there was no bid. It will be shortly offered for lease by tender.

The football match between the East and West Hamilton colts on Saturday resulted in a win for the latter by 5 points to nil. H. McKenzie acted as referee. Jack Harris captained the West, and W. Kelly captained the East team. Tries for Hamilton West were got by T. Mayes (2) and J. Quick (2). No goals were kicked, the wind blowing strongly. Cambridge, Monday. At the monthly meetiug of the Cambridge Highway Board there were present. Messrs. Forrest, (Chairman), Paton, and Taylor. The returning officer having reported that Mr. McCaw had been elected a member of the Board, that gentleman took his seat. The annual balance-sheet, which had been audited and found correct by the Auditor-General, was signed by the Chairman, who reported that the large pipe culvert between the foot of Ewan's hill and the Tamahere bridge, which on various occasions had given trouble, would require taking up and built at a higher level, which would be done when the water subsided. The Chairman referred to a notice given to the Waikato County Council by the Waipa Council relative to an inquiry about to be held with the object of readjusting the responsibility of the maintenance of the bridge over the Waikato at Cambridge. He stated that Mr. Paton aud himself had been deputed by the Waikato Council to bring forward evidence to show that there were no good grounds, as tar as Waikato is concerned, for disturbing the present arrangement; he would, in fact, he declared, be able to show conclusively that it would be no inconvenience to Cambridge country district settlers if there was no bridge at all over the Waikato River at Cambridge borough. Tney had the Narrows bridge, built by private subscriptions and maintained by the Waipa and Waikato counties. A gravel pit having been opened on the Bald Hills Road, Mr. Paton was authorised to make a cutting on the road so that the traffic may not be impeded. An old wooden culvert near the Hautapu Schoolhouse gate having been reported to be rotten, and a portion of it extending near to the centre of the road being at present an open and dangerous drain, the chairman was authorised to have a set of pipes laid at once. The monthly meeting of the Taotaoroa Highway District Board was held on Saturday. Present Messrs. Seddon (chairman), Brunskill, and Turner. The balance-sheet of accounts to the 31st March having been at last returned by the Auditor-General and certified to as correct, was signed by the chairman. Mr. Arthur Main, elected in the place of Mr. Baily (resigned), was unable to take his seat, as he is suffering from a severe attack of rheumatic fever. The clerk handed the Board a form of petition got up by the landowners and farmers in the provincial district of Canterbury having reference to the unfair and unequal burden of taxation laid upon landowners by the Government. The clauses of the petition from A to L having been carefully considered by the meeting it was unanimously resolved to authorise the chairman to sign it on behalf of the farmers and landowners of Taotaoroa. and the clerk was directed to affix the Board's common seal and forward the petition to Mr. Lake at Wellington for presentation. The chairman - was authorised to have a small cutting made on the Puketutu Hill Road and to reduce the grade, and to obtain stuff to raise a lower portion of the road at present overflooded by storm water.

NORTHERN WAIROA. The barques Grasmere and Killarney are now both lying at the Kauri Company's Aratapu wharf, where they are to load for Australia. The company have taken to ballasting their vessels from Australia with coal, and our import of coal has consequently largely increased of late. The Kiilarney in sailing up the river touched a mud bank, and was detained for two days. Robert Barlow has been performing in the Dargaville and Aratapu Halls to fairly good houses, whom he seems to have been successful in pleasing. From this part he went to Helensville.

Hard times is the cry of many whom we meet ou the roads, but when we think of the large amount of money spent in sports and pastimes from week to week it seems that the hard times are due more to an over-expendi-ture than a lack of money. Football matches and dances occur almost weekly, aud always something special on the boards. On Friday last the Bachelors' Ball was held at Dargaville. Everything was on a large scale, there being over a hundred couples present. Music was supplied by Messrs Hunter, Dormer, and Eady, and gave every satisfaction. The catering was m the hands of Mr. Mac Lean and consisted of everything that could be desired. The ladies dresses were very fashionable, and in some cases very expensive. The low-necked dresses seemed to be lower than usual, and gave one the idea that there would soon be no bodies to dresses at all. A committee of. three married gentlemen was appointed to select the belle and the choice fell upon Miss F. Scott. The selection of course did not give satisfaction, either amongst the other young ladies or their admirers. A Maori woman was lately killed at the Waimamaku settlement by the falling of a tree during a heavy gale. . She was sleeping in her whare when a large tree was blown down and fell right across her, completely crushing both her legs. She lived for a few hours in great misery, but succumbed the same night. A sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court has held at Dargaville last Friday, presided over by Mr. Bishop R.M. A large number of civil cases were heard and disposed of, but none of them were of any spocial interest to others than those interested. The amounts claimed averaged pretty high, and there were few if any of the usual c.ises against gumdiggers. The Albertland footballers have decided upon visiting Wairoa on Septemher 3, to play our leading club at Aratapu. Ido not know what strength the Albertlanders possess, but, I do not think they will be able to score a win here. I hope, however, that they will have finer weather and lower tides than on their last visit.— Correspondent.]

STRATFORD. The advancement which Stratford has made within the last two years is phenomenal. The customary "pub., church, and two or three stores and a blacksmith's shop are now a large' town. Three handsome hotels, some half-dozen churches, the same number of boarding-houses, together with carriage factories, clothing establishments, drapers, banks, booksellers, and all the business places necessary for the comfort of the travelling and resident public are to be found, and numerous large buildings going on. ■ Many persons are crying out that the progress is too rapid, but up to the present they are totally wrong, and when the position of the place is taken into consideration, it is obvious that Stratford will be on of the great inland oentres. Indeed, it is a necessity, nor will its progress either interfere with nor be retarded by the growth of Eltham, which was for a time considered a rival. Doubtless some of the improvements have not yet borne fruit, for instance, the work done to the main street, which, on account of the extraordinary 1 amount of traffic and the very unusual amount of rain that has fallen has become almost impassable. The Railway Department has made a great deal out of leasing their frontage in the township, and one would think that the Commissioners could find it in their hearts to spend some of these rents in improving the railway accommodation. The Taranaki representative team was entertained at Mrs. - Muir'a Club Hotel the Tuesday after their return from Auckland, and a pleasant evening was spent. The same evening at Wilson's Stratford Hotel Mr. John D. Macgregor, of Midhurst, was bauqueted, and a large and influential assemblage were present to bid farewell to

that gentleman, who has been a leading member of the Stratford County Council since the tormation of the county. It is said that the average monthly sales at Stratford amount just now to about 6000 head of cattle. In speaking of cattle at Mr. McGregor's sale his cows averaged about £8 10a a head, some bringing as much as ten guineas.—[Own Correspondent.!

MIDHURST (TARANAKI). This little township has stepped out of late, and many new buildings have been added. Mr. Joseph Mackay, J.P., late of Wellington, who bought the large property of Messrs. Lattey, Livermore, and Co., the Indian tea merchants, has doubled the size of the already large house, and now it is one of the handsomest residences in the district. Messrs. Honor and Crockett are having a large dairy factory started at the Tepopo Bridge. The dam and water race are completed, and the timber is on the ground for the erection of the building. Another noticeable feature is the improvement at the Midhurst Sawmills. Since Mr. D'Aroy Hamilton bought' this property the mills have been vastly improved, a completely new building has been erected about /0 feet square, and new machinery improvements are also noticeable. Mr. J. D. McGregor, one of the oldest settlers in the place, has left last week, having Bold his farm and stock at a phenomenal figure. Mr. McGregor was a most popular man, and has served in public capacities of many kinds. He has latterly confined his attention to his duties as county councillor, and has given great satisfaction. His loss will be much felt. He goes to take up a sheeprun south of Wanganui. A dinner was given to speed him on his way, and a large and influential assemblage was present. We are having glorious weather here now, and are entitled to it, if the average rainfall is to be anything like fairly distributed, and allowing us twice as much as any other place. The County Council election has caused a great deal of excitement. Messrs. A. Brown and D'Arcy Hamilton contended. The latter had a majority of 12 in Midhirst, but in Stratford the former got a block vote, which put him in 15 ahead. Mr. Hamilton is not a favourite at that end. His interests lie too much a few miles on both sides of Stratford, and he occupies much of his time and talent in running Midhirst and Eltham against the hub of the universe. Another vacancy has occurred, and he is again standing, this time opposed by Mr. C. V. Stead, and will again probably meet with the same fate from the same cause.— [Own Correspondent.] ELTHAM. Trade has been increasing here very rapidly lately, and many buildings and shops have gone up. Messrs. Whiting and Bassett and Messrs. Kemp Brothers nave both started new furniture and joinery works. Mr. Searle has built a handsome billiard room at the corner of Chapman and Mountain Roads. The hairdresser's and tobacconist shop lately carried on by Mr. J. Riley, next door to the billiard room, has changed hands, as has the bakery, which is being carried on by Messrs." Buckeridge and Wilkinson, storekeepers. There 13 also talk of another hotel being erected, and £100 was offered for about half an acre of land at the corner of Mountain and Chapman Roads, which will be the outlet for the Ngaire, Mangamingi, and other large blocks of land, but was refused. The co-operative dairy factory is to be opened shortly, and will meet with large support. About 600 cows are promised. The Council Council are at last doing a little towards improving the main road, bus there is still room for more work to be done. There is some talk of a chemist's shop being opened every day in the week, a want very much felt. Mr. Wilkinson is having a nice house built on the Mountain Road, and Mr. Hamilton has the building material for another of similar dimensions.

There, has been a marked improvement in the cattle sales here lately, and the several auctioneers are beginning to take a warmer interest in the place. The public hall has been very much enlarged, and the floor is noted for its quality from a dancing point of view. It is a pity that the Eltham football team has taken so little interest in the game this year, afs some of the best players on the coast are members, and are much missed in the field of representatives.—[Own Cortesdent.]

NORMANBY (TARANAKI). The plain and fancy-dress rink carnival and dance, under the management of the amalgamated committees of the Normanby Dancing Class and Popular Opposition Rink, came off at the Town Hall on Friday evening, the 12th of August. The hall had been very tastefully decorated, and ou all sides visitors were , expressive of the pleasing effect and general appearance of the decorations. Rmkists were so numerous that it was impossible to get around without observing the utmost caution. The stage also was crowded to such an extent with spectators that even standing room was not available. Those rinking were principally in plain dress, but amongst those in fancy dress the most noticeable were: — Ladies: Mrs. Wales, Red, White, and Blue; the Misses L. Lorimer, Highland Lassie ; B. Wilson, Little 80-Peep; D. Wilson, Ivy ; C. Rowe, Flower Girl; F. Rowe, Ivy; E. Dill. Coming Thro' the Rye; M. Blake, Gipsy Queen ; J. Lloyd, French Dancing Girl; L. Lloyd, Ivy. Gentlemen : Messrs. J. Haywara, Hawera Mounted Rifles; C. Hunger, Hawera Mounted Rifles ; F. Meredith, Cricketer ; J. Sanson, Sailor ; W. Epping, Huntsman (Queen Anne's period); and Master S. Lloyd, Clown. The Hawera Brass Band, uuder the able conductorship of Mr. Thomas Smart, played through an excellent programme in their usual style. Refreshments having been partaken of, the floor was cleared ready for dancing, which commenced at 11 p.m. to the strains of first-class music (piano, violin, and cornet), also provided by Mr. Thos. Smart, Hawera, which gave every satisfaction to those occupying the floor, who numbered some forty couples. Mr. C. Hunger, in his usual way. demonstrated what a thoroughly able ana efficient M.C. is capable of doing at such gatherings, showing the " right man" in the " right place." The refreshments were under the able supervision of Mrs. Pollard, who, with other lady assistants, must be congratulated for the manner in which these duties were carried out, as throughout the evening refreshments were distributed ad lib. The following aie the gentlemen who comprised the committees :—Dance : Messrs. C. Hunger, C. Stuart, W. Towers, J. Hayward, jun., S. Dale, J. Grant, C. Litchwark, S. Greatbach; Rink: Messrs. Bert Rowe and Fred Meredith, who must be congratulated in providing for the public one of the best entertainments of * the season, fully sustaining that reputation for popularity which makes such gatherings not only a pleasant but also a confirmed success.. ' The thoroughbred Gipsy King has left this district for tneWaikato, where the owners intend to offer his services during the coming season.

The draught entire Director has been sold for £250, and leaves this district for the Wairartipa for the coining season. Police-Sergeant M. D. Stackpoole has been appointed to and is now in charge of the Hawera sub-district.

The artesian well experiments at Hawera have, I am sorry to say, so far proved unsuccessful. About £60 worth of piping was used in the two trials that took place. Other schemes will now have to be resorted to for supplying the borough with water. Mr. Harrison, late of the Beresford-street School, Auckland, has commenced his duties as head master of the Hawera School. The members of the Egmont Farmers Union have presented Mr. A. A. Fantham with a silver medal in recognition of the valuable services he has rendered, also for the able management of its affairs. Returns show that the Foresters in the Taranaki province number 500 members with funds amounting to £5794 5s lid. The weather is proving much _ milder. This, with the days lengthening, indicate that we are once more advancing towards spring, consequently gardening operations have become general throughout the district. —[Own Correspondent.] INGLEYVOOD (TARANAKI). Thursday, August 11, will be a red-letter day in the annals of Inglewood, as on that date the ladies invited the gentlemen to a leap year ball in the Town Hall. There must have been fully one hundred couples present, quite a galaxy of youth and beauty of both sexes, stalwart men, and healthy, vigorous women, many of whom had travelled through many miles of muddy roads to get here. The ball was under the management of a committee of ladies, of whom Miss Carstens was secretary, who were untiring in their efforts to provide for the comfort and enjoyment of their guesta. They had the floor thoroughly scrubbed, decorated the hall with foliage, Ac., providing a moat bounteous supper, to which ample justice was done. The music was all that could be desired. The Inglewood brass band was in attendance, and played several selections before and during tne ball, with considerable skill and precision. Dancing was kept up till four o'clock next morning, when the assembly broke up, everyone having thoroughly enjoyed themselves, there being only one drawback, viz., the inadequacy of the building to accommodate the number of persons present, it being evident that Inglewood has far outgrown the capacity of its town hall. Steps will require to be taken either to considerably enlarge the present one or build another. At entertainments, etc., it is frequently impossible to get even standing room. j

Oar brass band is recovering numerically from the inroad made in its ranks by death and the migration of its members, and is becoming quite proficient under the able tuition of its bandmaster, Mr. Marsh, and its indefatigable secretary, Mr. H. W. Tarplee, who has been untiring and painstaking in his efforts in coaching the recruits. Our town has made considerable progress lately, and bids fair to become of considerable importance in the near future, as settlement is being vigorously pushed forward, and large areas of bush are being fallen all round it.—[A Correspondent.]

WANGANUI. Our Public Library has for the past week been in the hands of the painters and repairers, and already shows signs of thorough renovation, both inside and out. In our library we have an institution that any town might well be proud of, and it is only right and proper that considerable care and attention should be bestowed on its preservation. The local railway station has also been submitted to the tender mercies of the " daubers," and now presents a very creditable appearance. The authorities would earn our further gratitude if they would kindly make & few very necessary additions, and so make provision for the growing demands of trade.

We are having a boom in a small way, perhaps, but a boom for all that. During the past few months people seem to have become possessed of the idea that there is nothing like " biz.," and business places for produce and general goods, and for small general stores, have been springing up like mushrooms, and from what I can gather there are more on the tapis. Industry and ambition are both commendable qualities, but methinks that in these cases they are slightly misdirected. It would bo different had there been a proportionately large increase in population. Arbor Day has gone—and that is about all that Wanganui knows about it, for with the exception of the schools the day was not observed as a holiday. However, the scholars of the boys' schools planted a number of trees in the schoolground, and were apparently well satisfied with their part in the celebration. "Oh, disgusting!" Do not start, gentle reader, for the exclamation was only that of your humble scribe on passing down Victoria Avenue on Sunday evening last. " And why!" you ask. Unfortunately the reason is only too patent to pedestrians whose Sabbath observances compel them to use our principal thoroughfares on Sunday nights, for, congregated in shop doorways and passage entrances, a portion of our rising generation many of whom have nearly " riz" to man's estate—hold congenial fellowship, and, as part of their ordinary procedure, make insulting remarks to passers-by, use language that would pollute the mouth of his Satanic Majesty himself, and cover the footpaths with odoriferous expectoration. And these things exist in the nineteenth century. The Wanganui Poultry and Cage Bird Association held its fourth annual show on Wednesday and Thursday in last week in the Drill Hall. The committee were rewarded with thorough success, both in the attendance of the general public and in the number of exhibits. Competitors there were from all parts of the colony, and, although our local fanciers more than held their own, they had by no means a monopoly. Messrs. Reid Brothers, of your city, were conspicuously successful in "the poultry classes, and succeeded in annexing a number of awards. Mr. Anton Mayer, one of our oldest identities, was conveyed to his last resting place on Sunday last. The deceased gentleman was 69 years of age, and came to Wanganui 33 or 34 years ago, and has been amongst us with the intermission of a few years spent in Switzerland, his native landever since. Mr. Mayer, in his quiet and unobtrusive manner, had earned the goodwill and respect of all who knew him, and his remains were followed to the cemetery by a large and representative gathering. _ The Union Boat Club's annual ball, which was held in the Fire Brigade Hall on Friday, the l'2th instant, was, in every detail, a complete success. Company, music, catering, floor—iu tact, everything— nothing desirable, and the energetic committee are to be complimented on the result of their efforts. Mr. T. D. Cummins, well known all over the colonies as being prominently connected with fire brigade matters, left for Sydney last week on a health-recruiting expedition, he having been ailing for some time. Sergeant Lyons before leaving Wanganm was entertained with a social farewell at the Rutland Hotel by about 50 gentlemen, thoroughly representative of all classes of the community, and made the recipient of a handy leather travelling bag and an elaborate tea and coffee service, as a slight recognition of his painstaking, yet unostentatious, labours in our midst. Another departure which I have to record is that of Mr. Christopher Parker, one of our oldest settlers, who has determined to remove his family to Gisborne, where he has purchased a station. His family went at the latter end of last week, but Mr. Parker himself remained in order to be present at a farewell banquet tendered to him by many of his old friends. Fully sixty gentlemen, representing all professions and industries, sat down to a sumptuous menu provided by Host" Kennedy, of the Red Lion, and many and high were the compliments paid to the guest of the evening, the crowning event of the evening being the presentation of an elaborate and well-framed address signed by many of our most influential town and country residents.—[Own Correspondent.]