COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9927, 17 September 1895, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM our own CORRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Monday. A football match was played on Saturday afternoon on Sydney Square between the YVhaingaro Club .and the local fifteen. The game was a very even one, and no score was made until near the end of the second spell, when Mumby crossed the line and scored the first and only try for the visitors. The Hamilton men then pulled themselves together, and by a good bit of following up Williamson scored a try for Hamilton, no goal resulting. Wright shortly afterwards placed a goal from the field,- and a few minutes afterwards the same player by a good run secured a second try for the local team. No goal was kicked, and the game finished in a win for Hamilton by 10 points to 3. Mr. Alexander Livingstone acted as referee. The various creameries throughout the district open this morning for receipt of milk, but it will be a few weeks yet before they are in full swing, as feed is somewhat backward this season. The Hamilton streets were lit; up with gas on Saturday night for the first time, and its superiority over kerosene was plainly manifest. A number of people turned out " to have a look" at the lamps. Most of the shops and private dwellings expect to be lit up with the gas during the week. That the company may go ahead and prosper, and the town with it. is the wish of all. ( Ngaruawahia, Monday. Many of our settlers coming home from the Hamilton sale on Thursday night, complain very much of the state of the road, especially at this end, and it behoves the County Council to have something in the way of repairs done before a serious accident occurs. A good many of the farmers also think that it is a pity the Hamilton gales do not commence an hour or two earlier, as at present the selling is not over as a rule till six o'clock or later, and to those who live at a distance it is a great inconvenience, especially if they have stock to take home with them. At present it is generally about two o'clock before the sale commences. Tamahere, Monday. ■ The meeting of the Tamahere Road Board was held on Friday, when there were present: Messrs. Runciman (chairman), Furze, and Rhodes. The question of stray horses on the roads was discussed, and it was decided to employ a ranger to impound them. At! the same time it was decided to employ a man to shoot the Maori pigs, which are doing great damage to the roads in one part of the district. Some time ago the Maoris were warned that their pigs would be destroyed if not kept off the roads, and for a short time they were kept away, but now the pigs are worse than ever, and the Board iTecided to take active measures to put down the nuisance". The Local Government Bill was discussed at length and resulted in the opinion that it would be an advantage to local bodies to have a consolidated Act to guide them instead of the number at present, but that the new proposals were not asked for, or in fact, required. That the financial part of the Bill appears to be drawn regardless of expense, that is in respect to the appointment of paid commissioners, paid chairman, and expensive elections, which _ together with Hospital and Charitable Aid would about absorb all the rates at present levied without leaving anything for roads, etc. Accounts amounting to £13 12s 7d were passed for payment. Cambridge, Monday. The usual monthly meeting of the Cambridge Borough Council was held on Thursday evening. Present: —Messrs. J. S. Bond (Mayor), A. Bach, R. McVeaeh, W. Souter, and R. Davies. The newly-elected councillors —Messrs. H. Kerr, C. W. Arnold, J. Howe, and T. W. Simpsontook their seats. The clerk read the letter of resignation sent by Mr. Priestley, and on the motion of the Mayor, it was resolved to place on record the Council's appreciation of the services rendered to the borough by that gentleman, and also by Mr. James Hally, during the past eight years, both having filled the office of Mayor, as well as of councillor, to the satisfaction of the burgesses and Council. The Finance Committee submitted a statement of accounts, from which- it appeared that the overdraft was £53 14s 7d. ; Accounts amount* ing to about £37 were passed for, payment. The Works Committee reported-that some necessary alterations had been made to the saleyards. The Mayor reported that the contractor for the cemetery improvements was not carrying out the work according to the specifications, and it was resolved to inform him that unless the work is finished to the satisfaction of the Cemetery Committee within a fortnight, men would be put on to complete it. The usual committees were appointed. It was ordered that tenders be invited for leasing the public hall. Consideration of the Local Government Bill was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee, to report as soon as convenient. The remaining business was of . a routine character. (b? telegraph—own correspondent.] Kuaotcnp, Monday. Loram's hotel here has changed hands at a satisfactory figure., MAUNGATUROTO. As the teacher of the district school, Mr. Jameson, has been appointed to the Clevedon school as head teacher, the school committee met on the evening of the 2nd instant for the

purpose of considering who his successor should be. The Board submitted the name* of Messrs. Joseph Glenny, S. H. Gillies, R. McPherson, A S. Hill, and A Gerring for the consideration of the committee. Copies of the reports of the inspectors on the schools taught by each for several , years back were lodged as a sort of guide to choosing a successor. The committee spent a considerable time in analysing the inspectors' reports, and the choice at last lay between Messrs. McPherson and Hill. As the former, however, was unmarried, the occupation of the residence attached to the school required consideration.; Finally, it was decided to choose Mr. McPherson, provided the residence would be occupied; and, in the event of him not being in e position to occupy it, the Board was requested to appoint Mr. Hill. The committer in losing M. Jameson, desired to expresi their clesp regret at his removal as, durinp the seven years that he had been teacher, ie had been found to be painstaking in his duties, the children under his tuition had progressed in a most satisfactory manner, and the order and discipline in the school had been all that could be desired. From a public point of view Mr. Jameson will be greatly missed in the district. He is a capable musician, and took no end of trouble in endeavouring to improve the music ia the Congregational Church, and to make it attractive. He taught singing classes and acted as organist, all gratuitously. I understand he is to be presented with quite a number of testimonials ere he departs : A watch chain from his pupls ; a clock from the parents of children ani others ,who appreciated his worth ; a cruet from the Bible-class, of which he wus leadlr; and a scarf pin from the Endeavoured. r AWITUOn the sth instant, at half-past seven p.m., a meeting |of the members ot the Awifci Mutual Inprovement and Debating Society was held it) the central school to receive the report of ;he committee appointed for that purpose a fortnight ago. Mr. George -J. Garland (resided, and said that all persons present , cauld now become members of the society if they wished before the rules were read, and that would entitle them to take part in tbs meeting, also at a later period in the electicn of officers. Quite a large number signified their willingness, which brought up the membership to nearly forty, with a good sprinkling of lady members. The rules of the socety were read by Mr. J. Rosser, secretary, pro tern., and after a few additions and i little revising, were adopted by the meeting. Amongst other things it was decided to hold the society's meeting fortnightly in (he central school. The election of officers tc serve for the present session respited as follows :Mr. Alfred Palmer, J.P., president; Mr. James Hamilton and J. G. Garland, vice-presidents; Mr. Joseph Roseer, secretary; Nr. Eton Reid, treasurer; and Miss Gledhill, 7 Mr. E. Garland, and Mr. W. G. Hamilton, committee. A vote of thanks to the committee who had brought up th» report, and i the usaal vote _to the chair brought a very successful meeting to a close. There is nat a little concern ielt in our district in respect to the regulation passed by the Board of Education to make all schools under the average of twenty aided schools. It is sincerely to be hoped that the resolution will be rescinded by the Board, as it will have a very serious effect on all small country schools. It is a very great hardship upon country people to be placed in this position, simply because they are unfortunate enough to live in the country.[Own Correspondent.] •, Japan and the Japanese have never io completely monopolised the attention of the world as at the present time. The stories told of them—the people and the countryhave hitherto been of the " pretty-pretty" type, and they have been indulgently considered as interesting, though pitiful burlesques of Western civilisation. But, as the French proverb says, " we have chanced all that," and the determined character of the Japanese has been forcibly illustrated in the course of the memorable struggle between the great races of the Orient. 5° near and yet so different, and with all their difference, how absurdly alike. Japan has been aptly named the " land of oppositee," and truly, if we except the "mimicry of the Occident," one could hardly have gone astray (a few years back) in reversing in Japan the best established code? of etiquette of England or France. Pierre Loti, the French novelist, has given in his little book, " Madame Crysanth6me," an insight into Japanese customs. This story of life ashore during the visit of the French fleet is instructive as well as interesting, especially in the light of later events, the Japanese war not being thought of at the time even of publication. * Unfortunately the "opium habit" has to ft certain extent established itself in this beautiful country. It is not so nrevalent as in China, and it is more than likely that it will give place to* »i much more healthful and enjoyable pastime. Vanity Fair Cigarettes are establishing themselves firmly here, as indeed the world over, and already promise'to expel their predecessor. We are advised that " ahoo "is shortly to make an appearance in Auckland, but what " Wahoo" is, whether it has being or life, a new banking venture, another mining syndicate, time alone can tell—"Wahoo."