COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10018, 3 January 1896, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FB« ODR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] \| ■ Hamilton, Thursday. A MEElio'of the Hamilton Cricket Club was heldon Tuesday for the purpose of <\p« pointingßelection committee. The following gentlemawere elected, namely, Messrs. C. J. W. Barti, J. Hammond, and E. Gothorpe, togetheryith the captain (P. W. Browning), and secitary (T. Buxton), ex officio. A meeting f tho newly-appointed Selection Committj was held afterwards, when tho team to py against Te Awamutu, at Hamilton onSilirday next, was chosen as follows: Brownlg, Ewen, Gothorpe, Houseley, Fielder, [unt. Barton, Cox, W. Hammond, Speight, ,nd, Ross. Emergencies: Jack and Buxton?!

Last nfhfc the new regulations with re« speck to eeping off cattle from the publio streets cjie into force. All cattle found at large no] between the hours of six p.m. and six a.m. m liable to be seized and driven to the poun. Mr. Martelli, tho poundkeeper and rantr, has received strict instructions tooarryltt tho law in this matter, having no reaper to persons, but to observe the strictestimpartiality. Captal Bronn during his visit to Waikato has vised and examined the orchard in which ijw&s said that its natural enemy was attack!! and destroying the larvae of tho codlin th, bat he has not, it appears, been success 1 in his investigation. Indeed ho. found iat those orchards in which it was reports (hat the destruction of the larva took pice, were more infested this year with the colin moth pest than ever, it being almost impossible to find a sound apple in them. {

The eatrnetiva fire of Monday nitrht lias struck i note of terror into the biißineßi people J Hamilton, and caused them to conaider de question of providing a watei supply ir the town. The lake is on a hijhei -level thn the town, but tho water is not pure, m- could its contiuuance as a supply be deperled upon. It is thought that the best and cheapest source of supply will befonndn resort to an artesian well, and this may Is obtained at an expeuse al'ogether of about 5000. This would be a very wise expenditue and quite within the means of the borouh, and the proposal to write to Mr. Metcsf for information, modes of procedure, otOj to be taken in carrying out the scheme of i,water supply for Hamilton, will recommend itself to the authorities. Of course sucrscheme would only embrace the town prope and could hardly bo supposed to include sen outlying portions of it as No. 1, on the oa hand ana Irishtown on the other. \

Whatawhata, Wednesday. While tho fjellof dry weather has made a sensible reduction in the yield of milk, it has not madet corresponding addition to the average yield if butter fat by improving its quality. The pastures are already drying up, and presQfc a very sultry appearance. The heavy rail of Monday will do a great deal of good, but it was not half enough. Tho milk froj the same sappliera has not yielded so mush this season as last, and it would eeem tlat the cause is a natural one, aaraely, that the soils are deteriorating in their milk-producing capacity, through being year after yea: called upon to produce milk. Alexandra, Wednesday. Mrs. Papesdi and her daughter, who were injured by the trap accident as reported in your last, are low fairly out of danger, and making a rapid recovery. Many people have since visited the scene of tho accident, and the general expression is one of wonder thai escaped with their lives. j KmiKini, Thursday. A bazair, Christmas tree, and social, in aid of the Catholic Church fund here, were held on Wednesday, in the Town Hall, and proved successful beyond expectation. A large tradi was done by the ladies who were in attendance. These were Mesdsmes Tristram, Clarke, Floyd; and Verner, with Misses Donovan, Potter, Maunder," F;irre!l, Hayes, Kerr, and J. M. Corboy. The refreshment stall was ably presided over during the day and at tho social in the night, by Mesd&mes Jackson and Moody. Morrinsville, Friday. A very pretty wedding took place here on Tuesday last when Mr. George Vincent, oi Waihi, was married to Miss Pickett, eldest daughter of Mr, William Pickett, of this township. The church had been beautifully decorated by lady friends of the bride and hridegroom, and looked extremely well. The Rev. Mr. Evans performed the ceremony, and the church was filled with well wis hers of the yonnn oonple. The bride was given away by < her father, while her brother, Mr. William Pickett, acted as best man. After ; the oeremony the wedding party sat down to » sumptuous repast, which had been laid out in the school-room, after which the usual toasts were proposed and enthusiastically drunk. The happy day was closed by a very enjoyable dance m the school-room, when all the young people in thediitrict were presont. Rotorua. Wednesday. The annual meeting of the Rotorua Jockey Club, fixed for February 12th, has been abandoned. The secretary had written to the Colonial Secretary in the usual course asking permission to use the totalisator on the dato in question, and in reply received a communication refusing permission to use the machine, on the ground that the limited number of licences available for the ourrent racing year had be«n already allocated. As this meant a decrease of at least £40 in estimated revenue, there was nothing for it but to relinquish the idea of holding the usual races this year. It has, however, been decided to hold a hack race meeting on January 29th under the auspicen of the club, at which £00 in prize money will be given away. At a special meeting of the Town Board, called without notice, on Saturday afternoon, it was decided that in future purchasers of bath tickets to the value of £5 or ovor should be allowed a discount of 2i per cent, being the same as is allowed to vendors of postage stamps. This concession, if taken advuntane of by storekeepers and others, will open the way for a thorough check system, which is at present being evolved, Nq other business of importance was transacted.

Many complaints have been made by visitors lately, who find the various bathinghouiiea closed on publio holidays. It l>-■■• therefore been decided that in fiitur >. baths still remain open on all »;; ** , .rith the exception of Christmas Day iiuii Good Friday. ' The Ngawhas, or boiling springs, on the Tarewa reserve, at the back of the Kuiran, formerly reported as evincing signs' of increased Activity, still attract attention in this . respect. One of them shows geyser action, and throws water eight or ten feet high. It is considered that the Euirau may be affected by this abnormal activity. The followiug tenders have been accepted for Sanatorium supplies for 1896 Groceries, % Samson; dairy produce,; J. McKenzie; butchers' meat, T. Kirk; bread, W. Rogers; firewood and coal, Rnsabs Brothers. A thunderstorm, of unusual severity, happened on Monday last, i In a little over two hours the rain gauge at the Sanatorium recorded 1.96 inches. As a party of tourists undor convey of Mr. A. Warwick were returning from Tarawera, and about half-way across the Jake, the storm burst upon them in 8,11 its fury. The wind blew with the fore a of a oyclone, lifting the wator right into ihe boat. She, however, proved eeaworthy, and the passage was safely effected. On'their homeward routo past ■ Wairoa tho track was much cut up, huge boulders being found on ground whioh was perfe(jtly clear in the morning. " . vv:. ; >'.- .'.■.-.:• ;iiTi!ieNeiv Year was brought in with th! customary rejoicings amongst .the-natives, Tho brass . band, which;. is almost entirely composed of Maoris, paraded both townships, and by this means a good deal of superabundant enthusiasm • was worked off, Today the band holds its athletic si;Wtfl, and ft great attendance is anticipated. ■> iV • ,( 4p. ■/:' : '.'-.' i :'■ •■ .'.7 ••■■■ -v.-.' ■ I