COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9712, 7 January 1895, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from ona OWN COEEESPONDKKTS.} j ' " ' Hamilton, Saturday L question was discnased at the meeting of he Charitable Aid Board, the other day irhich is of far more importance than it at irst seemed.- A member of the Board ware of the rale, granted relief to an Applicant on his own responsibility, instead at referring 1 the applicant to the secretary «ao alone has the power of granting temporary ruef until the Board has had an opportunity o considering the application. The membr's action was confirmed, but some two or Urea wanted to go a step further, and alter tie rule so as to give members the power ol panting temporary relief independent of the Secretary, urging that it was an unnecessary nuuiabout way ot doing business, and that people might starve before the secretary could be communicated with and his answer be receive!. The majority of the Board resolved to let natters be as they were, and thought it » as advjable not to make the getting of ration* or ioney relief too easy, as there wag » tenancy to fly to the Board on every possibli occeion, and leaving the matter to the indj. vidlal decision of members would be burdening them with unfair responsibility, and layng them open to undue pressure, not only frm the applicants themselves, but from thir friends and clergymen who were ready atbnce to take up their case. There is alpady too large a number of seemingly remanent pensioners en the Charitable Aid Bard. 1 the weather still continues close and wet. vTbre was a solid soft rainfall nearly the whle of yesterday, and to-day has broken weagain. The rain has had a marked effect 9Pa the pastures, and the growth has been vlntet phenomenal during the past week. \ Mtk the railways in the hands of the OovVnment, and worked more as colonisers thanas direct revenue producers, our own Govjpment might take a leaf out of th« bookhf the Railway Commissioners of New Soutl Wales. They had made last season someSncessions with the view of increasing the falities for the carriage of small quantities If fruit and similar produce, which have fen found a great gain to the small produo and the general consumer. They have nw, it appears, decided to make similar rrangements in regard to the carriage of paclges of butter, eggs, and cream, which kould commend themselves to the notice t the New Zealand Government. The coitions are that butter or eggs in one packajs weighing not more than 901bs, or a can of (ream containing not more than 10 gallons,re to be carried for any distance up to 100 n\es for Is, and for a longer distance at a rat proportionately lower. A similar concessit to country settlers in New Zealand would bfound very convenient to dairy and poultry mers, and- small fruit-growers, as well as t<consumers generally in New Zealand. V "Mr. T. >. Sandes, having completed the taking of he levels for the diversion of the drain, intided to clear the model farm reserve of vter, through Mr. Gillett's farm instead of;he way it was commenced, the adjournedjieetiug of the committee of the Waikato Cunty Council to consider the line of drainagwas held yesterday afternoon. Mr. Sandes rented that by the newly-proposed route the bgth of the drain will be fully 100 chains, inning up to some eight or nine feet deep iQhe heaviest parts ; also that the pipes under.be railway line and at Mr. Gillett's crossig would have to be lowered i feet 4 inches The committee of the Council thought tha according to this report the work wouldbe too heavy an undertaking, and resolvedto go on with the work along Te Aroha-stiet as at present commenced, with certain codifications. The fall is to be eased, and thi pipes across the Peach Grow Road will be jit in less by a couple of fee. than at first Deposed, and the depth of tie drain at the ro& reduced by two feet, under these altered auditions the engineer, M\ Sandes, to carry out the woik without injury t\the road or to private property. No new falls of earth have cone down in the dain since the work wu stopped. The drab, had laid dry the soddend soil, and comparatively little water was no» running. T)ie contractor, Mr. Bolton, hi agreed to the alterations under new arrangments, and tie work will be recommenced 0. Monday. 1 j # TeAwamctu, Saturday. The annual picnic and sports in connectioi with the Teßahu school were a great sue cess. Besides the school children then werenumbrs of their elders present, th occasion bong taken for a general pub lie holiday! Abundance cf refreshment' were set put and partaken of under the trees (growing near, and everyone seemed to ieartily enjoy themselves. Th« following |ere the results of the sports :— Big Boys' Jnrdle Race (over hurdles 3ft 6in): P. Welsh J: C. Taylor, 2; E. Turney, 3. Big Girls'sace : B. Jones, 1; L. Stewart, 2; L. Bond, ji. Small Boys' Hurdle Race -. B. Jones, 1/G. Pollard, 2; A. Pollard, 3. Small Bo's' Flat Race: G. Raymond, 1; J. Riley, 2 A. Bond, 3. Small Girls' Flat Race: A Bond, 1; A. Cavauagh, 2; D. Blacketri 3. Boys 280 Yards Flat Handicap: C. Taylj, scratch, 1; F. Cavanagh, 15yds, 2; H. Journe. 20yds, 3; time, 40 2-sth s. Little Oris' Race: K. Cavanagh, 1; A. Turney, i; J. Hampton, 3. Small Boys' 250 Yards Rice: E. Ellis, 1; A. Pollard, 2; R. Jones, 3J Big Girls' Race (280 yards): L. Bond, 1 M. Jones, 2; M. Ellis. 3. Mens Race (28>yards): F. Jones, 1; E. McUabe, 2 ; H. M<Govern,3; time, 26 1-33. Boys' High Jump: ?. Cavanagh, 1; F. Turney, 2; R. Bourne, 3. Half-mile (small bovs): R. E. Burke, I; A. Pollard, 2. Half-mile Race (big boyi): R. Jones, 1; T. Bond, 2; H. Bourne, 3. Young Ladies' Race: Miss A Turney, [; Miss A. Ellis, 2; Miss E. Harper, 3. A daice in th« schoolroom in the evening brought ihe day's festivities to a close.

PAPAKURA VALLEY. On Boxing Day the annual district picnfc was hdd at the usual place, and a large gathering; assembled from all parts of the district The day was fine, although extremely warm, but notwithstanding this, the gair.es usual on such occasions were heartily entered into. In addition there were three tennis courts laid out for those who are wedded to that enjoyable game. In the evening Mrs. Middleton kindly invited the dancing portion of the assemblage to finish up the oay at her house, where dancing 1 was indulged in until past midnight. | On Mew Year's Day the Sunday-school I picnic was held at a pretty spot in one of i Mr. Middleton's paddocks. In addition to the children there was a good attendance of adults, and all combined to make the day an enjoyable one. The superintendent (Mrs. Muir), had charge of . the proceedings, and proved herself, if not'' the right man in the right place," something just as good. The refreshments were plentiful and varied, and were partaken of with apparent satisfaction by all; but the avidity with which a large bucketful of apples (brought on the ground by Mr. Middletou) were devoured was a very clear object lesson as to which is the most suitable food for hot weather. During the afternoon, in addition to tennis playing, rounders, swinging, etc., races were run by the children for prizes kindly supplied for the occasion. Enthusiastic dancers, who were not too tired, wound up the day by attending a dance, kindly given by Mrs. Stewart at her house. Harvesting has started. Some of the oats are standing in the stook, and some are even stacked. Consequent on the drought, many of the crops will be light. The day before New Year's Day Mr, Charlie Middleton was unfortunate enough to give one of his feet a nasty cut with at adze.—(Own Correspondent.]

THE FORTY MILE BUSH. Thk weather is still glorious. Australians say that the heat has been almost equal to ! that of Sydney and Melbourne several times during the last few weeks. The bush hai quite redeemed its character. We have been a wonderful time without rain. The farmers and people who have gardens are crying out for rain. Fancy that in the bush. The Christmas holidays passed off quietly. On Christmas Eve all the shops were prettily decorated with ferns, saplings, and Chinese lanterns, and nil the evening, in each town* ship, crowds walked up and down the main streets, laughing and talking, and now and then popping into the brilliantly-lighted and gaily-decked shops. The shop-keepers say that- money was not so freely spent this Christmas as in former times. The churches were tastefully decorated on Christinas Day. At Holy Trinity Church, Woodvillc (Rev. J. C. Eccles) aud the Anglican Church, Pahiatua (Rev. H. JDavis) full choral services were held in the morning, and in the evening special carol services were held. The minor churches h« special services, too. A daily mail service between Pahiatua and Ngaturi commenced on January Ist, 1595 and Mr. John Milne is to be appointed post master. This- is another proof of the growth of the bush districts. Mr. Dunning, of Makuri, has been appointed a J.P. for the Makuri district. I deeply regret recording the death of Mr. T. Hodgins, a much- respected settler in the Mangaone Valley. j Deceased had been illf° l three months, and passed away at a friend residence in Wellington. Mr. Hodgins was at the timed! his death a J.P., and a member of the Pahiatua County Council.- He was much trusted and t respected by everyone n« came into contact with.v A wife and three grown ,up sons are left to mourn their loss.— [Pahiatua Correspondent.]