COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9335, 19 October 1893, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.]

Hamilton, Wednesday. The following nominations for the several ridings of the Waikato County Council were reoeived yesterday by Captain McPherson, the returning officer : —For Rangiriri Riding, Messrs. Johnson, McCrae, R. R. Ralph, and Ross ; for Kirikiriroa Riding. Messrs. Primrose, Coates, Edgecumbe, ONeill, and Seddon ; for Tamahere Riding, Mr. Barugh ; and for Cambridge Riding, for which two members are required, only Mr. Paton. This will necessitate a special election for the Cambridge Riding, and Mr. Paton and Mr. Barugh will be returned without going to the poll. The vital statistics for the Hamilton district for the quarter ended the 30th September are as follow : —Births, 33; namely, 10 girls and 23 boys, which is considerably below the quarterly average. The number of deaths, namely, 20 (11 males and 9 females), shows even a more marked increase ; but of these 5 occurred in the Hospital and 1 in the Refuge. Of marriages there were only 4. The patient Drabin in the Hospital is still improving under his severe mutilations. He resolutely denies that he threw himself under the engine, and states that his foot slipped as he was passing away from the front of it. The registration of electors for the Waikato and Waipa districts is still going on apace. A large number of applications are brought daily by every post to the Registrar, Mr. Kirk, chiefly from women. Applications will be received up to the issue of the writs for the new Parliament, probably another fortnight, though those desirous of being placed on the rolls should lose no time in sending in their forms of application, as there is no telling to a few days when the writs will be issued.

I now learn that the Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club will not have to seek another tennis ground, as Mr. Ehrenfried, the purchaser of the property, does not intend to disturb present arrangements. Te Awamotu, Wednesday. The want of adequate accommodation at the public school is cause of grievous complaint here. Application has been made again and again to the Education Board to enlarge the school, hut the work remains neglected, not certainly for want of funds, because these seem easily procurable, when town schools nKed not necessaries even, but luxuries. The Education Board tried to obtain part of the allotment belonging to the Public Hall alongside, but failing to do so have allowed tke matter of enlarging the school-house to be shelved. The school site is quite large enough, but slopes down from the rear of the school, but not too much so to allow of the building being added to from this side. There has been a great influx of settlers with families into the district during the last, twelve months, and the school committee, so crowded is the school, have had to turn children away. The teaching of one class has had to be carried on in a building outside the school altogether, and used likewise as a coal-shed and stable. The present schoolhouse contains accommodation for only 80 children, while there are 120 on the rolls, and the prospect of a hot summer coming on. Where are the members of the Education Board, people here are asking, who professed so much care for the interests of country schools when seeking election? If the Education Board require evidence of the necessities of the Te Awamutu School, let them turn to the reports of their own architect. f

I DACRE'S CLAIM-OMAHA. ■ ' A public meeting was held in the Hall on Saturday evening, October 14th, to receive the report of . the committee in connection with the Whangatehau wharfs, and also to discuss county matters. There were over 40 persons present, residents and others. Mr. j G. Savage was appointed chairman, who I called on Mr. Sadler (secretary to the committee) to read the correspondence. The meeting requested the committee to continue their duties, and urge on the Department the necessity of commencing the erection of the wharf with as little delay as possible. The meeting was unanimous in passing a vote of thanks to Mr. Jackson" Palmer, M.H.R., for the services he had rendered to the district.'. ■ ■'' , ■ The next business before the meeting was County Council matters.- The chairman asked if there were any persons present who i intended to offer their services at the next ! County elections, to address the meeting. The present member, Mr. William Green- j wood, said he intended to offer himself at the next election. He had done the best he could during the last six years for this riding, and if elected again he could not promise to do any better in the future than he had done in the past. There were some parties in Wark- i worth who were going to try to get into the Council for the purpose of < securing the lion's share of the funds. . If he were elected, he would see ' that this district got its fair , share. ' , , Mr. George Knaggs said he had been re- ] quested by some of the ratepayers to contest \ the next county election. The present , member had made reference to the last six ' years in which he had held office. He (Mr. Knaggs) drew the attention of the meeting to the state of the roads at that time. They had then been only recently graded and formed. The channels were all clear, as well as the pipes and culverts. The roads were , formed into a good shape for carrying off the water. It must also be remembered that the Council at that time had a " dead horse" in ; the shape of a heavy debt on their hands, and he gave them credit for the able manner in which that " dead horse " was disposed of. But that did not take three years to accomplish. Funds were got to spend on the roads during that time, and at the last election it was generally conceded that the roads were getting into a bad state of repair, and, as a matter of fact, they had been going from bad to worse ever since, as anyone who used the roads could see for themselves. The pipes were nearly all stopped up, and in many places the water was running down the centre of the road, making that portion, which should be the highest, even lower than the ditch at the side. The system of alloca-tion-of the funds under which the Council was worked, he did not approve. It was a system that would never give good roads. It was open to abuse. It was a bad system that placed in the hands of a councillor the power to lay out work, then employ his own sons, and then pass their work. He thought it would be better to work the county witharoadoverseer.oran engineer.but not an expensive one. It was always an unpleasant duty for a man to have to inspect and pass work done by a neighbour, but with an overseer, far more work would be got for the rates. Separate ridings accounts should be kept, which could be submitted to the Couucil, say, quarterly, and published in the papers in such a way, that every ratepayer who wished could see at a glance bow the account stood. He was strongly opposed to the Council striking a poor rate, to pay the charitable aid levy, as it would have a tendency to perpetuate the system, which he hoped to see considerably modified, if not wiped out altogether. He thought the candidates at the coining general election should be pushed to give this matter their consideration, so that the funds of the local bodies could be relieved. If he had been a member of the Council when on-> of the members stated that he knew a mm who was receiving charitable aid to the extent of 4s 6d per week, and who had sent £> to Melbourne for a gambling sweepstake, and who drew pauper rations and sold them to a neighbour for grog, he would considered it his duty to have that man's name, so that steps could have been taken to prevent such an abuse as that. He was also opposed to special rates or borrowing, for making roads. It generally occurred to people, after such money was spent, and the interest had to be paid, that they have not got their money's worth. It was better to make the best use of the funds* they had. He alluded to several other topics, and having answered a few questions, during which he expressed himself in favour of hanging up the Counties Act, if possible, and after some general conversation, It was proposed and seconded, " That in the opinion of this meeting, Mr. George Knaggs is a fit and proper person to represent this riding in the Rodney County Council." An amendment of a similar nature was made for Mr. William Greenwood. On the amendment being put, seven voted for it, and when objections were raised against asking the meeting to show which candidate they were going to support, the matter was allowed to drop. A vote of thanks to Mr. Greenwood for his past services, was carried by acclamation. A rote of thanks was afso accorded to the chairman, when the meeting dispersed.[Own Correspondent.]

, PAPAROA. Messrs. Cltff and Fen wick have been unfortunate enough to have about 100 acres of felled bush burned. The fires have been burniug all the week. Rain has now fallen, and it is hoped all the fires will be extinguished.— [Own Correspondent.]

KAUKAPAKAPA. Welcome showers have fallen during the last few days, which has given a good start to grass and crops. No rain had fallen for a fortnight, and everything looked parched and at a standstill. A subscription was started about a week ago for the injured men, Fulton and Simcock. In a few days the amount reached over £40. Mo doubt many other subscriptions will come in, as the list has not been taken round at all yet. Mr. C. Lewis has charge of the list, so it could not be in better hands. It is proposed to hand over for their benefit the net proceeds of the forthcoming Flower Show, to be held early in December next. That is our largest yearly gathering ; and I have no doubt a goodly sum will be raised. The prize list is now going round the district for those to subscribe who are willing to give prizes. As a rule, this lists is well filled in with handsome prizes, and but little is required to be taken from the funds. With a view of keeping the expenditure as low as possible, it is to be hoped that all the prize list will he filled in this year, so that all the money taken can be handed over. Much sympathy is felt throughout the district for the injured men.—[Own Correspondent.]