COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10080, 16 March 1896, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Saturday. The Hamiltou Borough rejoices in an overdraft of £825 17s.

The first working party of ladies for the

reduction of the debt on St. Andrew's Church, was held at tlio Vicarage, Cam-

bridge, yesterday. There was a large attendance. The Kirikiriroa Road Board have resolved to strike a halfpenny rate. They found that the receipts for the year were £972 l(>s 3d, with an expenditure of £920 19s 9d, and that when the arrears of rates due and the Government subsidy were paid, and accounts paid up to date, tho assets would amount to £216 18s Bd. The gravelling on , the River Road would cost £100, and the necessary expenditure on the North Ngaruawahiaßoad would cost another £102, so that the Board expenditure would be about squared. Acting on the advico of the clerk, the Board decided to strike a rate of a halfpenny in the £. Owing to the continuous dry weather there has been a serious falling off in the milk supply all through the district, and although the recent showers have caused the grass to spring sufficiently so as to prevent the further decrease in feed, it has not increased tlie milk in quantity. The rains, though very welcome, have not been sufficient. A lawn tennis match, between two ladies and two gentlemen of an Aucklaud tennis club, and the same number of the Hamilton team, has been definitely arranged to come off at Easter. Fleming's Bridge, on the CambridgeOiiaupo road, will be closed to traffic on Monday next, in order that some very necessary repairs may be carried out. Mr. F. \V. Lang has presented the lady players of the Hamilton lawn tennis club with a very handsome trophy in the shape of a lawn tennis bat to be competed for by them. The first drawings for the ladies' and gentlemen's singles have been made, and the players are to arrange their games before the 21st. A meeting of the members of the Waikato Hunt Club is called for Friday, the 20th inst., and will be held in the Borough Council Chambers, Hamilton. A lad named Wylie came into the hospital suffering from a wound in the hand which is likely to be serious. It appears that he was skylarking with another lad, when by accident a piece of pointed tea-tree was run into his hand. The wound festered and blood poisouing ensued. He went to Rotorua and his wound was dressed by Dr. Cinders, but when he arrived at Cambridge the wound was attended to by Dr. Cushney, who finding his patient was seriously injured, sent him on at once to the hospital in Hamilton.

Te Aroha. Saturday. Tho Jockey Club rounded off their day's sport with the usual annual concert and dance in the Public Hall on Thursday night. The building was packed to the door with a large audience, who thoroughly appreciated the splendid programme prepared for them. The management of the concert was left in the hands of Mr. Mcludoe, and, despite the fact that he had had rather short notice, a most successful evening was spent The thair was occupied by Mr. W. Herries, the president of the club, who thanked the various performers for the ready manner in which they had responded to tho call mada for their services. An excellent programme was then gone through.

MAKETU (DRURY). The Maketu Band of Hope held its opening soiree on March 6, and scored a grand success. The old Catholic school was the locale, and, thanks to the gratuitous services of Mr. Mclntyre of the creamery, presented quite a comfortable appearance with its new seats and platform. The building was crammed from front to back. A subscription list is going round to purchase a harmonium, for the joint use of Band of Hope and Sunday-school. The Rev. Mr. Norrie kindly presided, and gave an able opening address, and his humorous Scotch readings were much appreciated. After hymn GO (Sankev), a song and chorus by Misses Cairns, Maherty, and Martyn was nicely given. Then a capital recitation, "The Lost Ship," by Edwin Harvie. Mr. Mclntyro save two songs, the " Drunkard's Ragged Wean" and "The Guard Ship." Mr. Russell delivered a thoughtful address. Miss Fanny Atkins sang "Daddy," and later on sang " Eileen Alaunah" with Miss Jennings. A collection was made while Mr. Allen played a solo on tho violin, and £1 realised towards perliminary expenses. Willie Nicholson anused us with his recitation "Rustic Logic." Miss Sharp, of Bombay, was excellent in her recitation, " What the Train Brought." Two little girls, Stella and Nellie Mclntyre, aang " Died in the Street" very nicely. Mr. Mclntyro returned thanks on behalf of the committee to all who had contributed towards the success of the evening, and then a surprise was sprung upon us in the shape of a dialogue, " Mrs. Mooney's Lodgers," capitally given by kind friends from the Drury Band of Hope, namely, Misses Cossey (2) and Mr. Pulman, of Hunua, and Messrs. W. and J. Dixon and Mr. Mcßurnie, of Drury. Hymn 135 closed the programme. Misses MoPherson and Maherty played the accompaniments, and the piano was lent by Mrs. Maherty. The secretary entered the names of several new members, and the Band may be considered fairly on its feet. Monthly Anglican services have lately been held in the Maketu school, and last Sunday evening, March 8, Mr. Dent, of Pukekohe, preached to a large congregation.—[A Correspondent.] ________

"What a funny little man you are!" These were the now historic words used by Lord Alfred Douglas in reply to his father, the Marquis of Queensberry. So much was elicited by the recent sensational trial ot Oscar Wilde. The same remarkable worils are found in that remarkable book, ine Green Carnation," and in this case are usee by Lord Reggie Hastings. Now, 11 " •} an open question as to whether Lord D R< quoted the words of the novelist, or w the latter utilised the reply ' ia ,[ , t f Marquis by his prodigal son. ih» the father folly deserved sucli an epitlj is clearly shown by the fact that he chose to Shi, own cigarettes, when he conld Ob,rin Indian Chiefs ar.i*i«-»w » iwnUet. Latest' stvles and best value in gents hit's for the warm weather. Straw, soft and flexible hats. "The Huia brand, all shapes' to order -J. W. Shackelford, 262, Queen-street.