COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10008, 20 December 1895, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Huntly, Thursday. The Huntly School Committee, who are anxious that the provisions of the School Attendance Act, 1894, should be enforced in this district, applied a short time ago to the local constable, requesting him to accept the position of truant officer. This was done at the suggestion of the Education Board, who had been appealed to to appoint such an officer. The committee has received a reply from the Inspector of l'olice, stating that the appointment of the constable canuot be sanctioned. The reasons Riven for refusing io confirm his appointment as truant officer are, that hi 3 ordinary police duties, such as bailiff to the S.M. Court, collector of the dog tax in two ridings, etc., lire sufficient for him to attend to properly. There is a peculiar urgency for the existence and services of a truant officer here, as there is p tremendous leakage at times in the school attendance, some weeks there being as many as 50 absent without excuse. The committee has forwarded the reply received from the Police Department to the Education Board._ At the weekly practice of the Huntly Musical Society oil Tuesday night, the conductor, Mr. James Macdonald, who has just returned from a six weeks' trip to the South, was presented with a silver-mounted ebony batou by the members as a token of thoir appreciation of his manly, genial qualities. The president, Mr. A. Edwards, made the presentation in his usual felicitous style, Mr. Macdonald acknowledging the gift and the spirit which prompted it, in a neat little speech. The Huntly Library and Reading-room is getting well 011 towards completion, the contractor, Mr. Lord, being unable to make as great headway as he would like to owing to some of the timber not being as dry and well seasoned as it should be. The building is 30 feet long by 18 feet wide and 12 feet high, divided into two. The front or reading-room will be 1G by 18. There is a double chimney, both fireplaces being fitted with register grates. The bricks for the chimney were given by Mr. W. Collins, the owner and proprietor of the Huntly Brickyard. There are five large windows, three in the front room and two in the back, bo that the building, which is to be lined and ceiled, will be welllighted and cheerful. It should be ready for opening by the end of the year. Mr. Lord is, I hear, the successful tenderer for the erection of a large house for Mr, C. C. McMillan in the Waingaro district. On Sunday last Mr. Burton, a student from the Wesleyau College, preached in Ralph's Hall. It being the anniversary of the Sunday-school a large number of children aud their parents attended the services. Miss McDounoll was yesterday again the recipient of a souvenir on the occasion of her leaving the school, where she has been employed (luring the last four years. This time the children made her a present of a handbag accompanying the gift with an expression of their regret at her departure. The heat is excessive in Wuikato just now, yesterday being a scorcher. Hamilton, Thursday.

It is understood that Mr. Cadman has given consideration to the sugar beet industry as regards its connection with the Railway Department, and has given instructions to Mr. Grant, the district traffic manager, to visit the Waikato district and collect facts bearing upon the question. Mr. Grant lias interviewed Mr. (jane, the president of the Farmers' Club, with the object of ascertaining approximately the average distance the Department would have to carry the roots, if an arrangement were entered into to carry them at a standard rate. The information required litis not been yet tabulated, but the secretary of the Club lias been instructed to commence this work. The produce of '2500 acres would probably be some 40,000 tons, and half of this amount would have to be carried by rail. This, as the district manager, pointed out, would cause the business of the railway to be so mueli increased an to necessitate that additional rolling stock would have to be provided. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday for the installation of Mr. \V. Dey as Mayor, with the usual ceremonies. The following tenders were also dealt with Dog collars, E. Jones, 6fd, accepted; 11. Waite's tender at Is, 1.) Id, lOd, ll)jd, Is, and Is, according to distance, was accepted. The tender of W. Kelly for carting was accepted. Noaroawaiiia, Thursday. The name of Mr. Ellis, of the Ng&ruawahia school, has been submitted by the Ngaruawahia. School Board to the Ponsonby School Committee for appointment to the Richmond Road School.

Te Kuiti, Thursday. The first cricket match played in the King Country tool; place last Saturday week at Te Kuiti. Considerable interest was taken in the game. The sides were Mokau v. Te Kuiti, the latter winning by a large majority. Mokau, first innings: S. W.Gordon, 16; G. Steadtnan. 0 ; \V. Hampton, 4 ; H. S. Morse, 21: W, Taylor, 9; W. McCarthy, 18; C. Harrison, 0; T. Hunt, 9; B. Lewis, 0; W. McGough, 1; .1. W. Thompson, 1 ; extras, 9: total, SS. Te Kuiti, first and second innings : C. Bennett, 4, 7 (not out); Keats, 2, 0 (not out); D. Sullivan, 0 and 1; P. Colcbrook, 0, 4; McDowell, 3, 2; Higgins, 6, 2; A. C. Koch, 5, 4; Relii, 3, 8; William 0, 4; Ryan, 1, 0; Bowdeu, 1, 0; extras, h, 5: total for both innings, 57. A return match will take place at au early date. Cricket has evidently caught 011 in the King Country.

Cambkidok, Thursday. Yesterday Mr. Arthur Bach was duly installed as Mayor of Cambridge. Tho retiling Mayor, Mr. Bond, rend a statement summarising the principal works undertaken by the Council during his term of office (three years). He had much pleasure in handing to his succcsssr a clean sheet, there being a credit balance at the bank, and no public debt or outstanding liability. Mr. Komi also announced that a munificent oiler had been made to the borough in the shape of tho nucleus for a museum, lie strongly urged the council to accept the offer, and take steps to provide a building, and suggested that were the library taken over by the Council, an additional room for a museum could be nut on at a moderate cost. He congratulated Mr. Bach upon his accession to the office of Mayor, ana said that Mr. Bach's lengthened experience of local government, and his public spirit and energy, eminently fitted him for the position to which he had been elected. Mr. Bach then made the usual declaration and took his seat. He thanked the burgesses for the honour conferred upon him. He should follow the uolicy of his predecessor and of previous Mayors in keeping down expenditure, and no act of his should place the borough in debt. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Bond, ex-Mayor, for his able conduct of the affairs of the borough and the Council during his three years of office This was seconded by Mr. McYVagli, and Messrs. Simpson and Hseott also spoke in favour of the motion, which was carried unanimously. At the invitation of the Mayor, the councillors and press representatives adjourned to the National Hotel, where an excellent repast was provided : ami, after drinking the health of the^ Mayor aud Mayoress, the company separated. Cambridge is to have a new (factor in place of Dr. Cole, who has gone to Gisbome. Dr. Simpson, who has lately been in temporary chaige of Hawera Hospital, is to arrive at New Year, and will occupy Dr, Cole's old residence.

At a meeting of the Domain Board to-day further work was authorised to bo done on the Lake reserve. Mr. l'nr lie, the contractor for laying out the bowling green, is making good progress with the work. i'l:o factory for the Fruit Evaporating Company is rapidly approaching completion, and the contractor hopes t;o linish in about a week. BOMBAY. Os December 16 the session of the Debating Society was closed with a social, the president, tlio Rev. E, J. MoFarland, occupied the chair. The report of the committee ifc to what should be done with the surplus funds of the society was considered, and the suggestion of the committee unanimously adopted, i.e., the balance in hand go to form a nucleus fund to purchase a piano for tlio hall, to be he vested in the officers of the society. The president gave an address reviewing the work of the society during the past session, after which the evening was spent in songs, readings, and recitations. On December 17 St. Peter's Church was the scene of a very pretty wedding, when Mr. W. B. Ball, of Mount Eden, was united to Miss Maud 11. Forde, youngest daughter of Mrs. Forde, of Bombay. Th» Rev. E. J. McFarland officiated, the service being choral. The church was nicely decorated. The bride, who wore a rich costume of white watered silk, etc., was given away by her brother, Mr. E. Forde. Miss Forde, who attended as bridesmaid, wore a very pretty fawn-coloured costume. Mr. T. Ball, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man. As the happy pair left the church Mr. Dent played tuo wedding march.— [Own Correspondent.]