COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9721, 17 January 1895, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM ©OR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Wednesday. Yesterday was fine but there » every

appearance of a recurrence of the same warm rains with northerly weather which we have had for the last week or two. Already some crops are ready for the sickle, and in another week at latest the harvest will be in fall swing. Favourable as the weather has been for the growth of grass, there is an appreciable shrinkage of milk at the factories. The Hamilton Creamery, which up to lately has been receiving 1100 gallons daily, is now only receiving 1000. The percentages of cream are everywhere improved, and it is usual for the milk to begin to fall off in quantity about the commencement of the year, but one would naturally have looked tor its keeping up its volume with bo unprecedented a growth of grass as we have lately had. The following are the vital statistics for the Hamilton district for the quarter just ended December 31st last. That there is an apparent falling off in the returns must be attributed to the cutting off of the Huntly district returns Births : Boys 11, girls 14, total, 25 ; deaths 9, seven males and two females, of these three were hospital cases; marriages 5. Owing doubtless to the dose warm weather people generally throughout the Waikato are complaining of the prevalence of mosquitos which are quite as bad as they were a few years ago before the great bulk of the lands were drained. Cambridge, Wednesday. At a meeting of the Domain Board Mr. T. Wells, the father of the Board, has bean again re-elected chairman, well merited compliments being paid him on the occasion by his proposer, Mr. hi. B. Walker. Under the present administration the Board, besides doing a large amount of work, and keeping up the domain about Lake Te Kotou in beautiful order, has cleared off the heavy incubus of debt under which it some time ago laboured, and has now & credit balance at the bank of £8814s 5<J, besides assets io the value of £126 lis 9d, The Cambridge Root Show in connection with the Waikato Farmers' Club promises this year to be a moat successful event to judge by the inducements to compete offered to farmers. Mr. James Anderson, of Pukerimu, and others, showed clearly what could be done last year in the matter of turnip growing, the foundation of all. .good and profitable farming, and this sea3ou we trust to see a magnificent result, the present weather being so favourable for the early growth of all root cropu. Messrs. W. Souier and Co. have written to the club offering a large number of prizes _ for exhibits grown from Sutton's seeds, including first and second prizes of £1 and 10s respectively, for Sutton's Crimson King swedes; the same for six Sutton swedes other than Crimson King; prizes of 10s and 5# J zor yellow flesh and white flesh turnips, red and yellow mangolds and carrots, swedes and turnips to be certified not only i as grown from Sutton's seed, but taken j front r>ot ic3s than five-acre crops. Messrs. E. and W. Hellaby have promised half a ton of bi.medust for prizes, or its equivalent in cash, S3. Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosper, and Co. have also promised a ton of manure, Morkinsvillk, Wednesday. It was mentioned by the chairman at the meeting of the Piako County Council last, week, that a sum of £45,455 had been placed on the estimates last year for repairing and making goldfields roads, and it was left to the engineer and Mr. Gavin to draw up a scheme of what is reasonably required by Waiorongomai, with a view to applying to Government for a share of the grant. Te Awamutu, Wednesday. Mr. W. O. Garland's concert, held in the granary of Messrs. Walton, Coulthard and Co., last night, was in every way a success, as it could scarcely have failed to be with such a galaxy of local talent, from all parts of the district. Mrs. Bispham, Mrs. F. A. Whitaker, Miss McChesney, Miss Gilchrist, and Mr. Taylor ware a host ;in themselves. Three jubilee choruses, given by tft<a Garland family themselves, " Lily of the Valley," " Swing low sweet Chariot, , and " Good-bye Brothers'," were excellently i rendered, as were also the " Harp in the Air" by Mrs. Bispham, and the aong " Vv his per and I shall Hear" hv Mrs. Whitaker. 'Mn.s Gilchrist's song, " jLiechnagar,'* was _ also much admired, The gong by Mr. Garland, "We don't know h'vw wo love them till we 7>i>g them," deservedly draw forth an encore, rtsv'J the cla-rionstw solo of Mr. Stewart certainly deserves mention. Hgntly, Wednesday. An excellent programme of sports has been arranged by the Huntly Sports Committee for Tuesday, the 29th inst.

WAIU.SU. _ 0 Jftiniavy 8 there was a sight not often seen at the Waiuku wharf. Two steamers, three cutters, arid numerous other boats, punts, etc. The steamers were the s.s. Weka and s.s. Tarn o' Shanter; cutters, the Betsy, Undine, and Mary Ann. The former of the cutters has been running to and from Waiuku and on the Manukau waters for over 40 years, and she now looks as (jay as ever. The Undine, Mary Ann, and the Tam ©' Shanter are old stagers. The Weka is the new steamer belonging to the Waiuku and Onehunga Steam Navigation Company, and the boat is making very fast trips. On the above occasion there were a large number of the settlers at the wharf, and the general impression was that things were looking up, which I hope is the case. On January 10 the s.s. Weka left the Waiuku Wharf on a fishing excursion to Manukau Heads. Between 60 and 70 left here, and at way ports about 30 were taken ou board, making in all 100 or more. Rain fell at Manukau Heads about four o'clock, though not heavy, but, as they reached nearer home, it was raining much heavier. The steamer arrived at the wharf at nine o'clock, all well, but a little damp. Between 200 and 300 fish were caught, and no one was dissatisfied with their day's outing. On January 11, the monthly meeting of the Waiuku Band of Hope took place in the Temperance and Public Hail. The .President, the Rev. R. Barr, presided. There was a long and varied programme gone through, mostly by young people, which was done very creditably. During the past week we have had a lot ot rain, not at all favourable for the harvesters, but no doubt it will be of great benefit to the grass ind root, crops.— Correspondent.]

PAPARATA. On January 10 the Band of Hope meeting was held in the Wesleyan Church. Mr. Lindsay occupied the chair. The meeting was opened with a hymn and prayer by the chairman, after which the following programme was rendered, viz., recitation, Mabel Jones; reading, Amy Lindsay; hymn 80; recitation, William Buttimore; solo, Miss Laing ; recitation, Lucy Lindsay ; _hymn 128; recitation, Willie Jones; duet, Misses Laing and Martin ; reading, Mr. L<?ng; solo. Amy Lindsay; hymn 168: recitation, C. Roke; clarionet solo, Mr. T. Wright; reading, Mr. Lindsay. Mr. A. Oldham presided at the harmonium, Mr. Wright also accompanying with the clarionet. A very pleasant meeting was closed with a hymn and benediction.— [Bombay Correspondent.]

MATAKOHE. With the exception of a gumdiggera' dance on New Year's Eve, everything here went on as usual. On Christmas Day was started, in Mr. D. Smith's paddock, the game of lawn tennis. It is intended to keep up this amusement every Saturday afternoon. Our County Council are calling tenders for increasing the berthing accommodation at the end of the wharf, and to erect a shed thereon. This is a very sensible proposal, which must commend itself to all interested in the shipping trade. The bi-weekly service has proved a boon (even with all the drawbacks) to the general run of the travelling public in these parts, and it would be a retrograde step to revert to the old weekly service.—[Own Correspondent.] •