COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10037, 25 January 1896, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM 008 OWN CORRESPONDENTS. Rotorua,. Friday. Me. Mdeller, Commissioner of Crown Lauds, who has been in the Whakatano district in connection with the sale of the Oporiao Estate, arrived here on Wednesday j nifjht, He travelled from the coast, via Ruatoke and Galatea, in company with Mr. Reany, district engineer, who has been there re Rotorua-Wlmkatane, via Te Teko Road._ The Town Board meeting took place this afternoon, Mr. Malfroy in the chair, und Messrs. Mueller, Brent, Dansey, and Dr. Cinders present. It was decided to appoint Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday, as that day seemed to be the most suitable for storekeepers. Recently the Board let by tender the grazing rights on the Pukeroa and the public pound, but as some hitch seems to have arisen in regard to the latter, the chairman and secretary were appointed to examine the Act, and take such steps as might be considered necessary. A lengthy discussion took place in regard to the management of the baths, so far as the staff of attendants were concerned, and it was decided _ that the Government be requested to-appoint a female attendant at the new sulphur bath (Postmaster) without delay, as the strength of the sulphur fumes frequently caused lady patients to faint, and the absence of an attendant of their own sex was much to be deplored. It was also decided to ur(jo the erection of a room for ladies to rest in after bathing. The intolerable nuisance arisinc from the high boarded fence around a portion of the Pukeroa was again referred to, and the attention of the police was called to the matter. Mr. Malfroy stated that he and Mr. Reaney had consulted together in . regard to the projected wharf. It would have to be carried out for a distance of nine chains, in order to get three feet of water, and such being the case, and in view of the small sum of money voted (£150), a width of six feet only was possible. A lengthy communication received from Mr. H. Tayler, exlaiuing why he had. declined to vacate the premises belonging "to him " on the Pukeroa reserve. The land been given to him by the natives in 1880, ana he considered that he should receive some compensation lor it. Mr. Mueller pointed out that whatever rights Mr. Tayler claimed to the laud, had been before three different Native Land Courts and rejected. Besides the natives had made the land over to the Crown without any reservation. The Crown had given authority over it to the Board, and it was left to them to see that Mr. Taylor ceased his occupancy. Any claim for compensation by Mr. Taylor should be submitted to the Government. However, there was no wish to deal harshly, and enquiries would be made in Wellington regarding the matter. The rest of the business was only of minor importance.

The nominations for the Hack Races are very satisfactory, in spite of the fact that the money to be given away is only about £60. There are 11 nominations for the Cup, and 10 each for the Flying Handicap and 'Pony Race.

[by tehsqraph.—own correspondent.] Hamilton, Friday. Mrs. H. Bucklecon, of Auckland, who)is at present on a visit to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Graham, of Hamilton, had a narrow escape from a serious accident yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Buckleton ana same of her sisters were out driving, and when coming down Barugh's Hill at Tamaherethe breeching strap broke and the horse immediately commenced kicking violently until he had cleared himself from the buggy, the occupants of which had in the meantime half tumbled, half jumped out, fortunately not much the worse for their misadventure. The buggy and harness were considerably knocked about, the shafts being broken off short and the body of the buggv broken in several places. An adjourned meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council was held last night, when the question of Gibbons Creek gully culvert was considered. It was decided to write to the engineer and inform him that if the work was not gone on with at once it would be completed at his— engineer's— At a statutory meeting of the Borough Council Wednesday was appointed as the shopkeepers' half-holiday for the Borough of Hamilton.