COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9027, 4 November 1892, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

' [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] ■ . Hamilton, Thursday. At the close of the meeting of the Hospital Board, yesterday, a question arose as to what the Board should pay for the use of the strong-room recently added to the Borough Council Chambers— already pay now £14 per annum for the use of an office in the Council Chambers—and a'- sum of £26 per annum was demanded by the mayor, who is one of the Hospital Board. This was objected to by the Board, who offered to pay £1 more per annum, or £15 per annum altogether; each Sarty remained hrm, the : secretary of the oard stating that > the strong-room was not fireproof, and it ended in the Mayor telling the secretary of the Board to remove the Boarc's papers and books out of the strong room. The Hospital Board has land of its own within the business part of the township, and the expediency of building an office of their own—the rent of the present one would more than pay interest on the cost of its erection—pretty freely discussed. The Borough Council, with whom rests the settlement of this question, will do well, at its meeting on Tuesday next, ill coming to terms with the Hospital Board, for the £15 a-year which they would lose makes a sensible reduction from the amount of the borough's contribution to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. At a meeting held last night of the West Hamilton School Committee, it was resolved to vote for the election of Mr. McGowan to the Board of Education, as being pledged to look after , the interests of the country schools. Yesterday, at the Hospital Board meeting, which is the last of the present Board, the Chairman referred in a congratulatory speech to the affairs of the Board during the past twelvemonths. The expenditure had been £2707 19s Bd, which included the erection j of new buildings to the amount of £699 14s lOd; water supply, £86 18s; charitable aid, outdoor, £246 3s lOd : cost of refuge, £176; salaries, £600, which would leave the expenditure on the hospital about £1500 for drugs, food, and various current expenses. In the I twelve months 181 patients had been treated, and 13 deaths had occurred. He also drew attention to the fact that at the coming election the Board was increased from 14 to 15 members, a fourth representative having been granted to Waipa County. On the motion of Mr. Chepmell, the Hospital Board has passed the following resolution : —"That the secretary write to the Auckland and Thames Boards, declining to be responsible for the treatment of any patients going from this district, unless by special authority from this board." Cambridge, Thursday. Mr. J. K. Pierce has been returned to the Borough Council, there being 45 votes given for Mr. Pierce, and 19 for Mr. Gemmill. A general meeting of the members of the Waikato Trotting Club is called for Monday evening next at Mr. T. Well's Chambers, when business of importance will be brought forward. The nominations for the Spring Meeting are receivable in Auckland at Mr. W. Blomfield's up to ten p.m. on Friday evening. At the meeting of the Cambridge Farmers Club, Mr. Forrest gave notice that he should at a future meeting of the club, move that the Minister for Agriculture be asked to vißit the Waikato and address the club. It is stated that Mr. F. D. R. Smale has been appointed curator for the fish-rearing establishment at Okoroire. Oiiaupo, Thursday. There was a smaller than usual attendance at Mr. J. McNicol's cattle and sheep sale on Tuesday last, but good prices were realised, especially for young stores. ' Dairy cows fetched from £3 10s to £5 12s 6d; forward store steers up to £6 16s; three-year-old steers from £4 5s to £5 ; empty store cows, £3 53 to £3 10s'; eighteen months' heifers, £2 to £2 5s ; yearling steers, 475; fifteen months old steers, 52s 6d : fat cows, £4 14s to £6 10s; longwool hoggets in wool, lis 6d to 12s; merino ewes with lambs, 8s ; fat shorn ewes, 7s 6d. Morrinsville, Thursday. Our residents will be glad to learn that the Piako County offices are to be removed to this township, and that, provided an allotment is given to the county in the township, offices will be at once erected. The following tender j have been dealt with for works in the districtTe Aroha and Lichfield Contract No. 1 : James Orr and Owen O'Grady, £45 16s; J. McLeod (accepted), £24 17s 6d. Contract No. 2 : Orr and O'Grady £35; S. Davey, £29 10s (accepted) ;J. McLeod, £14 15s. Contract No. 3 : Montague. £25 lis : Orr and O'Grady (accepted). £19 13s ; J. McLeod. £22 15s. Contract No. 4 : B. Montague, £22 Is ; Orr and O'Grady, £22 12s; P. Moriarity (accepted). £20 12s, including outfall drain. Contract No. 5: B. Montague (accepted), £20.

DRURY.

The monthly meeting of the Drury Band of Hope was held in the Public Hall, here on November 2nd, and was well attended. The Rev. T. Nome (president) occupied the chair, and the following programme was well rendered Hymn (Hoyle's) 102 ; chairman's address; song and chorus, " Dreaming of Home," Miss S. J. Cossey ; selection by the band, "Mapfinta," Mr. Dixon and sons; anthem, " The Song of the Soldier," choir ; recitation, "Not Dead but Drunk," Miss Ballard; hymn 53: song, "Gone! Gone! Gone !" Mr. S. Bollard (encored); recitation, " Young Joe," Miss Eva Cossey; anthem, "Abundantly Able to Save," choir; recitation, "Nell and Her Bird," Miss M. J. Cossey; reading by the chairman ; recitation, "The Drunkard's Dream," Miss Ethel Harding; ' dialogue, "A Slight Misunderstanding;" recitations, Misse3 Ada and Olive Dixon ; hymn 42 and the Benediction closed a successful meeting. At a meeting of the committee it was agreed that the next meeting should be conducted by the ladies, and that it should be held on the 30th instant.— [Own Correspondent.]

PORT CHARLES. Since writing last, things have been very quiet here. The rain has been very much in evidence lately, to the detriment of things in general and sheep-shearing in particular. The flocks hero are neither many nor great in numbers; still, we would like to get the shearing over. If the weather continues as it is to-day, for a week, we would be pretty well through with the shearing for this year. Mr., Brown is here at present repairing the scow Pukapuka, and is engaged lifting her on blocks, and the soft nature of the beach is giving him a good deal of trouble. However, he expects to get the vessel up high enough in a couple of days from this to enable him to commence operations. The late wet weather has had the effect of lowering the school average considerably, which is a matter to be deplored, as we have just about enough children to keep the school open. I notice at the special meeting of the Rodney County Council, re defaulters, a very sensible remark of Mr. Hudson's regarding the limit of rates recoverable by legal process. If the Act should be amended as proposed, it would have the effect of considerably replenishing the empty coffers of the several County Councils. Then we might have roads instead of the present impassable bogs. It is of no use railing at the county councillors, when they have not the necessary funds to do the work with, and I think the existing ratepayers would raise a howl if the rates were raised on them.[Own Correspondent.] HAKARU". One of the most successful gatherings witnessed at Hakaru took place on the evening of October 28. The event was the celebration of the Wesleyan tea meeting, annually given by certain ladies of undoubted liberal propensities. The ladies who generously furnished the viands on the above occasion were Mesdames Mooney, Sarah, D. Stewart, W. Stewart, and Starch, and the hearty patronage accorded those ladies was in itself the best evidence in favour of the excellence and Elcnty everywhere visible. Several relays ad to be gone through before the large concourse of people had been accommodated. After tea, the hall was arranged for the aftermeeting which was to follow. The programme did not embrace much speechifying, but what was deficient in that particular line was amply supplied by song, which, while it enlivened the proceedings considerably, afforded no pretext for tears or regrets. The pieces given were as follow : — Opening piece, instrumental duet, by the Misses E, and M. Mooney ; speech, by Rev. J. Mather (chairman); song, "The Song that Reached My Heart," Miss Martin; song, "The Song I'll Ne'er Forget," Mrs. Hannah ; song, " The Pilot," Mr. Parker; song, " A Dream Within a Dream," Miss A. Mooney; instrumental, "Prince Albert's March," Miss Sturch; song, "Jessie's Dream," Miss Ford; song, "She Wore a Wreath of Roses," Miss Bowmar; instrumental, " Language of Love," Mrs. W. Stewart; song, "Just Before the Battle," Mr. Parker; instrumental duet," Shepherd's Evening Song," Miss Sarah and Mrs. W. Stewart; song, "Tit for Tat," Miss A. Mooney; song, " Hard Times," Mrs. Tanfield ; song, "When You and I Were Young, Maggie." Miss Martin; song, "Coming Through the Rye,". Miss Ford; recitation, "Shipwrecked," Miss Gubb; instrumental duet," Waves of the Ocean," Mrs. W. Stewart and Miss E. Mooney; recitation, " The Burial of Sir John Moore." Mr. W. Hartnell; song. " Dreamland, Miss Thomson. The several pieces were rendered in a pleasing and most effective manner, atid justly merited the hearty applause unsparingly bestowed. It is a real pleasure to welcome

back into A. musical circle that clever pianist Mrs.* Stewart, who, as Miss Allie bcriyiner ot Vn er yea proved herself on« of the most miable an( successful of players. At \ e conß ion of the programme, votes \thanks were given to th« ladies who hacVp m ; provided the trays, to the Pinners for their assistance, also to Mr. and MVSarahfor the use of the hall, and to Mr. MVheßfor presiding. Th<* collection taken at & 0r amounted to the very satisfactory sunOf £9, which Roes to help the circuit fund.-te a iwaka Correspondent.] I •