COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10032, 20 January 1896, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS. ] Hamilton, Saturday. A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held on Thursday evening next, to pass a special resolution for appointing a day in each work upon which a half-holiday shall be proolaimed under the provisions of the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, 1894. Some little time ago 1 noticed the exceptionally good shearing talies made by shearers on the Eureka station, which would lead outsiders to think that shearers were making a very good thing of it. Happening to drop across one ol the a lately who was shearing at Wood- , the following results were arrived at, which BhoW that while there are a few exceptionally expert men who can make big wages, the average is by no means out of tne way. On the station referred, to 32,000 sheep were handled. Sixteen shearers were employed during; seven weeks to complete the work, but during this period only 27 working days were put in, owing to the weather. This loss of time seems nut of proportion, but it is.the fair average of past years. Prom this it will be seen that the average rate of wages was only £2 3s per week per man. The New Zealand Fruit and Vegetable Evaporating Company is now commencing operations, and offe-a the following liberal terms to orchardiats intending to take advantage of it. They will give £4 per ton for good marketable apples delivered at the factory, Cambridge, or in Auckland; but in order to make the business more co-operative in its nature, £2 only will be paid in cash, monthly payments, the balance in fully paidup shares of tho compauy. They will not accept' braised or damaged apples, or those badly affected with the moth. These terms should suit orchardists, and would be highly remunerative if only they could be safe from attacks of tho moth. Four tenders were received for re-decking the Cambridge bridge over the Waikato riverT. Doyle, £37 i T. H. Browne, £27 10a; F. Cooper, £25 13s; and R. Moise, £18 6s, extra timber 20a per 100 feet (accepted), The repairs to the Waikato traffic bridge have already cost £1020, £400 of which has been contributed by the Government and the balance. £620, by the various local bodies. This last contribution by the Government of £200 will make the total cost of repairs £1220. The Salvation Army's floral festival has been a great success. On Thursday night there was a grand procession through the streets, in which many countries were represented—Swedes and Germans, a Welsh woman, and Japanese lady, Indians and Maoris, _ Last night a combined national and musical meeting. was held in the Volunteer Hall under the conduct of Major Holdaway, who apologised for the absence of his wife. Selections were given on the bagpipes, fairy glasses, and violins; and songs were rendered by Captain Macaulay and Lieut* Bali), Moorapajiwi q» th^OMWPb;

autoharp. The hall was three-parts filled, and the meeting vas concluded with the usual eoffee supper. Ohaupo, Saturday. The caterpillars are making sad work in some parts of the Waikato. On many farms they are reaping and binding night and day to save the crop. This pest has made a sudden appearance, and has spread over the district in swarms. ' The weather has cleared up at last, but has been very favourable for the young turnips, of which a large area has been sown. Several people have had to sow their turnips a second time this season, the first sown having been taken by the fly. < Te Awamutu, Saturday. 'Owing to the fact of Mr, Nicol's sheep fair being held on Wednesday, the 12th of February, the committee has determined to hold the fruit and flower show on the following day, February 13th. The former date would have suited the Hamilton and Cambridge people better, as their half-holiday is on the Wednesday, but they can perhaps make Thursday the half-holiday instead of Wednesday. It is an improvement to hold our annual show a month earlier than usual, as the 17th March was too late for a full show of flowers and some fruits. A large number of special prizes have been given, and amongst them sevetal from Auckland patrons, of them are two guineas from the Warehousemen's Association, and the same sum from Mr. F. W. Lang and Messrs. Tooman and Co., while Messrs. Edgecumbe, Cotterill, A. Buckland, Gunson, Gwynne, J. Joues, Mesdames Gwynne and Thornton, and Messrs. Friar and Davies, Reynolds and Co., Hunter and Nolan, Esam and Arthur each have given a guinea, and many more gave half a guinea and trophies. The prize schedule is now in the hands of the printer. A social will be held in the public hall on the evening of the 29th instant, anniversary day, under the patronage of the Amateur | Athletic Club.

Tu Aroha, Saturday. The School Committee met in the schoolroom last Wednesday evening. The following members of committee wore present: Mr. Gilchrist (chairman), Rev. Mr. Joughin (secretary), Rev. Mr. Evans, and Messrs. Wallace, Macky, and Bell. Correspondence from the Board of Education was read re alteration of the teaching staff in the school. After some discussion it was resolved that the Board be informed that the committee desires to retain the services of MissSlatoras assistant teacher, on the understanding that a good male pupil teacher be appointed as woll. The committee also decided that the usual school picnic on January 29 should not be held this year. It was thought that the public picnic, which was held on New Year's Day, aud at which the children's interests were so carefully attended to, met all the requirements of the case. The secoud meeting under the auspices of the local Hack Sports Committee was held on the racecourse on Thursday afternoon. The attendance was rather small on account of the showery nature of the weather. The Volunteer Band was in attendance, and furnished an attractive musical programme, Mr. Sheppard officiated as judge and Mr. G. McUlashan was the starter, and both these gentlemen discharged their duties in a manner which left nothing to be desired. The various events on the programme were worked off with commendable despatch. The following is a list of tho winners, and in nearly every case an easy victory was obtained. Maiden race, six furlongs: J. Jackson's Topsy 1, F. Puvitt'B Comet 2; Lady Morrison. No Name, and Polly Ford also ran. Hurdle race, one mile aud u-half: C. McLeod's Plunger 1, F. Tonge's Victor 2, Lipsey's Recruit 3. Pony race, five furlongs: Jackson's No Name 1, McLeod's Plunger 2, Tonge's Victor 3; Ironmonger and Brown Bess also ran. Champion handieap, one mile: Jackson's Topsy 1, Pavitt's Comet 2, Rowe's Brown Bess 3. Hack scurry: T. Devonport's Fanny. Trot: J. White's Look On; Mermaid and Fanny also ran. Foot race i P. Tonge, Byds, won; there were eight contestants iu this race. 11l view of theTe Aroha Jockey Club and Paeroa Race meetings iu March, Mr. G. McGJaehan has started a stable at Te Aroha West. At present he has three horses in training. Mr. J. Selby arrived here last night on his bicycle, having come right through from Auckland in stages. He left this morning for town by way of Paeroa. WAITAKEREI. • Tub weather since the 2ud of January has been overcast and unsettled in character. The high winds that have prevailed have blown off much fruit. Many have been busy with their'oaten hay, and I believe the majority of the crops will be safely housed, and are, as a rule, much heavier than usual. The annual Swauson Public School picnio was held oil tho Ist instant in Mr. Spencer's paddock. There was a large attendance both of locals and visitors. There was some disappointment expressed as to the management, both in the edible department aud at the tone of the sports. It has been mooted that money changed hands. It is to be hoped that this is a slander. At a recent visit to Hobeonville, one of the most flourishing corners of this riding, I was well pleased to mark a steady and healthy progress. The tone amongst farmers there was much more hopeful. More land is brought under the plough. There have been good crops oi hay, good prices for wool, and better prices for their lambs. It was said of one fanner that he had made or cleared £1 per head ou his sheep. No doubt much is due to good judgment aud management. The sheep looked healthy and the lambs well grown, and all in good condition. I think the best out-door orop of grapes I have ever Been in this country I saw at Mr. Holland's, at Hobsonville. He told me some of the bunches last year weighed over 41b each, and faun the appearance and promise of this year I can well believe it. He also has a splendid patch of tomatoes quite worthy of notice. A new teacher's residence is in course of erection. It seems to be of rather an extensive character. This, with the new school, will form a striking feature at the entrance to Hobsonville from tho Great North Road. —[Own Correspondent.) t HUIA. j I am glad to be able to say that the muchneeded road from Huia to Auckland is almost completed. The several contractors expect to be done within the next two or three weeks. All those who have occasion to travel to the Huia will be very "lad, and will much appreciate the change of grade and the bridges over theoreeks. The road will now end at the post office, Auckland side of the Huia River. It was hoped that the money granted by Government would also have allowed of at least a footbridge over the Huia River, but it is found that there will be uone of the grant available after paying for the work done and that in progress. There is no doubt, however, that the money has been most judiciously expended. The best thing for those interested to do now is to apply to the Government again for a further small grant, say, £200, for the purpose of erecting this urgently-wanted bridge over the Huia, and to continue the road as far as the No. 1 Huia Sohool. On January 2 the 8.8. Weka landed a large party of excursiouistsatthelluia Mill wharf, and then went on with the remainder of her passengers to Manukau Heads. A good percentage of the Weka's party werefrom Auckland, and it is no doubt owing to their being entire strangers to the district that twelve poor unfortunates were-left behind when the Weka started for Onehunga. As they were landed at the wharf they naturally expect id to re-embark there, and, no donot through inadvertence, they were not told they would havo to walk about a mile and leave from Marama Point, the wharf being high and dry at low tide. Their faces formed a picture not easily forgotten when they saw the Weka almost out of sight. However, through the courtesy of Messrs. Barwell Brothers, and the charterer of tbeir steam launch (the boat being that evening in Marama Bay), they left nere about dusk, and arrived in Auckland at midnight.- [A Correspondent.] NORTHERN WAIROA. Bcshmen, millhaiids, settler's) and others are returning to work after the holidays, and the steamers are crowded on each return trip. On Monday three steamers left Helensville for Northern Wairoa, and they arrived iu the following order: —Ethel, Wairoa, Kina, the last-named being one hour and ahalf behind the first, and the mails, strange to say, were brought by the last boat, and it was ten o'clock before they reached Dargaville, whereas by contract terms they should be delivered there at six p;m, -More of our people have travelled to Auckland t-huo holidays than usual, and our towntihips have been rendered much quieter thereby, but Auckland shops and boardiughouse-keepers, and probably hotels, have benefited thereby. Our timber mills and bush contractors have been kept busy all through the year, and the new year opens _ with the trade brisk, and good signs of still more improvement. The Kauri Timber Company are spending a lot of money in improvements at Te Kopuru, arid also at Aratupu, They have cut out their old logs, and are' now cutting good green timber, and to keep the mills going the busheß ore kept busy at work. The barque Kassft in loading at Aratapu, the schooner Aratapu at Te Kopuru, and the barque # Coquette at -TatararikL The laatnsmed is to complete at Aratapu, her cargo being staves for Rockhampton. , * : ; , The , ridiculously ; high , prices asked for sections in . the Dargaville township and the conditions • imposed are not likely 1 to be accepted by purchasers. - % Mr. M. Harding is throwing three thousand acres of the. Mangatawhiri Block open for 4 fipwtow Note. to.suit. buyers, .and aa tbfo J*-; -. ■ »- u vm. f» ; . v/'v;' lV .v':

land is centrally flitiiateTb^rf 555 OH and Dargaville, it should off well %EM Correspondent.] H0», jpfvSg; POLLOK. $SJ A VERY agreeable and enjoyable ni™- Ifflll held here on the Bth inst., Mrs ]),, »M %Ii her son, Mr. James Scouller, havinpT N : sis thrown open their house and jtrounda t '? iflP picnickers, where a goodly muster J? 11)8 lifl wards of a hundred mcu, women and ?f b liP dren, a number of whom came from i • P-if® sat down to the good cheer so Rener*"?' Iffi provided by the fair organisers of the i i"H'> » Ife Their nameß are as follow: — M J,) ni ' ! - li'lH James 8. Pye, John ?ye, Mclnnes unaI"'*1 "'* ill Misses Mclnnes and J. Cochrane. )f .i r ll \'sm ments were served up on a most ljC mm scale. After all had regaled themsclvM llffl distribution of a large and varied a* Nil ment of prizes that had been selects 1 " till suitable for children was proceeded with " 'lilf number of the settlers had in a kind m» n Bfl defrayed the cost of them. The $Jj| were then drawn up in liue, and went'*" [i'lp with the drawing of the prizes, which J* 'li doue by a system of lottery or lucky ( 41 rajl|l with the exception that in this case th J| > nil were no blanks, and all the children J," |S rendered happy; and, in consequence Wf !'. *jst' home fully satisfied with their day's 'enu Pill tainment! after which a most determine IS tug-of-war was indulged in by some of a If 11 men. It was Pollok v. Awitu, 7 men a-si<h 'isP After a most severe struggle, I'ollok w® lips with flying colours.-[Own Correspondent.] BP WAIPU. P The Waipu Pastoral and Agricii|t, r .| |'Sp Society has decided to hold the show on ti sill 11th March next. Miss A. C. Kempt h s ' 4'.® also at the same time been appointed tl) ||f canvass the city for special prizes on hcbalf of the Society. A prize is to be awarded to the best cow for dairy purposes, judged by 4 |S| practical test _ for yielding quantity and my quality of milk. A Government c] ar? expert is expected to be present to test th pM ( milk from cows exhibited. _ ||j§ A bush fire lias been raging for several lII' days on the outskirts of the settlement ne ar |M Mareretu, and several hundred acres c ; \ forest destroyed, at the same time endanger, f ing the homes of several settlers. if,'! Mr. K. McAuley, residing on tho u[,p. p£j end of the North River, had all his not. MM buildings burned on January 12, and if it had »| not been for the assistance of a large numbs fefli of neighbours fighting the fire, his resiJeu« | : &| would have also been destroyed. jp& The scow Papakura loaded up this week fern with kauri logs consigned to D. Goldie aud |||| Co., and returns for /another load im g! mediately after delivering the load no w gw| board.— Correspondent.] jp|| TOTARA NORTH. 1| Our Christmas and New Year have been very jlifl enjoyable: the weathor could not have been p. ' better, and sports and amusement galore, viz., pi three cricket matches, a concert in aid of the Eis| Takaknri Cricket Club, and on January 3rd l,l|| we were enlivened by a'brass baud played by pj| natives from the Wairoadistrict,accompanied p|| by European comic singers and performers, fej® winding up with a dance till the small hours. r|l{ The band was a good one, and all admitted Hp that their dance music was perfect, and wa< is|jj quite a treat for Totara. They gave an end?, fm tainment at Kaeo the following evening. The ;'il| concert given in aid of the Takakuri Cricket |s ,f Club was quite a success, and was well v, $-,« tended, ana much praise is duo to the Indies and gentlemen who so kindly gave their ser vices. The club receives £3 9s (3d, which will fe give them a good help. The programme was K'j? an exceedingly good one, and the singing «tj [■&} warmly appreciated. Owing to the lengthy re? programme, and the shortness of the evening, |;,f| the encores were not responded to. The lull was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up till twelve o'clock.—{A Correspondent, January 6.) pjj COROMANDEL. || A very successful concert was held in the jgv schoolroom, upper township, on January 10, ref! in aid of the Sunday-school, which has been l|| carried on in this place by Mrs. Lodge, Mr, Raj Martin, and others. The room was filled by ||| a large and appreciative audience. The |-Jt Coroinandel Town Band was in attendance, r>ij| and discoursed sweet music before the basiness, and also during the programme, which ||| was very attractive and well rendered. The I'jyi duet, " The Pilot Brave," by Messrs. Battson Ifl and Tonge, brought the entertainment to an l: end. Mr. Cox, on behalf of the Sunday- ffi|| school committee, returned very hearty lb thanks to all who had contributed to the jl| success of the gathering, and to the audience i|| for their patronage. The whole affair was |i| most enjoyable throughout. Corres Ify pondent.J || TAHEKE. If It is announced on good authority that our pi esteemed landlady and storekeeper, Mrs. li |?j, Hudson, is retiring from business, and that M Mr. G. W. S. Patterson, J.P., of Kaikoheami |fel Auckland, has taken over the whole gum i: v store and public business, and will place an :2$ efficient manager in charge of this business. ' M In years gone by a large gum business was |i done here. Mr. Patterson intends placing ou ! the river a steamer to work the traffic instead M of the old punt. This is much needed, for |§ often we have been without flour, and the fl punt delayed by stormy weather on the fs river. This cannot occur with Mr. Pattersuu in our midst, as he can any time, at a few |i hours' notice, supply our needs trom the main |S| stores at Kaikohe. The change will he an m advantage, for the gum of the whole district has to go into this merchant's hands, proving || that he can buy to the best advantage this which is tho staple industry.—[Own Cortes- fi poudent.] || RANGIAWHIA. 1| On New Year's Day the Wesleyan Metho- 5;-y dists held a large and successful tea meetii-e, | in aid of the church building fund. Both the p tea and meeting was well patronised. M At Feilding, on Boxing Day, the twentieth annual meeting of the Feilding Athletic Sports Club was held, when the attendance was larger than on any previous occasion, W: there being '2500 persons present. -Mr. W. A. L. Bailey acted as sports director, and, f needless to say, filled his position admirably, s} all tbe events being got off up to time. He wa9 ably assisted by the followiue com- , mittee Messrs. B. Gosling, A. C. Matherson, W. Reid. E. Goodbehere, G. Savwell, E. H. Fisher, F. T. Tethbridge, G. Kirton, :'A R. H. Wisker, H. Woolven, W. G. Hay. $ bittle, G. Tethbridge, and F. H. Jaiw. Messrs. J as. Scott and 0. W. Fowles were timekeepers, and Mr. Hartgill was starter. Mr. H. Z, Sherwith, as the honorary and -j courteous secretary, was up to his eyes in business, and succeeded in performing his $ duties most satisfactorily. The Feilding V Brass Band, under the couductorship of Mr, R. F. Haybittle. was in attendance. In the |{| evening the Feilding " Tuis " gave an excel- |gjj lent minstrel entertainment in the Assembly || Rooms to a good audience, who showed their |sk appreciation of the same by loud applause. ||j —{Own Correspondent.] | RAGLAN. On the 3rd instant the annual sports wert held, and spite of a little grumbling at the , absence of aquatic events on the programme, ; ; passed off very well. In the eveniug an | entertainment was given in the Public Hall V.' by a number of the local amateurs. The | hall had a most elaborate and decorative ; stage with wings, and a very tasty drop | curtain had been everything l»i»f |j finished in a most complete and artistic |. manner. Great credit is due to Messrs. |r Smith, Donaldson Brothers, Honchen § Brothers, Morgan, Foss, and others who || carried out the work. The programme was § an excellent one, and i was well carried | through, more especially so as moat of the | performers had been hard at work all day i" « assisting to carry ( out the sports. The con- ,| cert was well given, and in the second g part the Huia Glee Minstrel Troupe made S their appearance, being" the first seen in 1 Raglan. The usual dance followed on and a was well patronised, dancing being kept up |s until after daylight. The concort and dance | realised over £11, and after paying for thf | materials used in the stage erection, a sub- a stantial balance was handed over to the a sports committee. I A meeting of the sports committee wa! || held in Smith's Hotel on Monday, the 6tb p instant, Mr. E. Burton in the chair. The M winner of the Boys' Raco, 0. Moon, «as | disqualified on the ground that he was over |! age, and the prize was given to the second (Taylor) and third (Conradi). The secretary | ; reported a balance of £10 3s 7d, the balance : | from last year being £5 los 6d.—{Own or ' & , respondent.] fe