COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10082, 18 March 1896, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.]

Hamilton, Tuesday. It has been for some time a matter of dispute as to which local body is entitled to receive the auctioneers' license fees for the Waipa County Council, and the county has collected them since 1592. The Borough Council, however, puts in a claim for the whole of them since that date, namely, £30 for 1892, and £40 for each of the succeeding five years. The borough, however, waives its right to the last year's fees and claims only £190. The county, it would seem, considers that whatever right the borough might have to the current year's fees, and any fees in future, they had no claim to any money received during past years. The Council resolved to tak« a legal opinion on the question, and so settle the dispute. The Mayor of Hamilton has now received the opinion of the solicitor to the Municipal Association, which is that the fees of Messrs. McNicol and Co, must be paid to the Borough Council. The Mayor has been authorised to instruct the solictor to the Borough Council to make a demand of £190 ou the Waipa County Council.

Matamata, Tuesday. Mr. Vickermau, the Government surveyor, is making rapid progress with the WaitetunaAotea Road, having now reached the plateau. It is said that, if sufficient suitable land can be surveyed off, the Government intend establishing an improved land special settlement, similar to that established at Rau-a-Moa, and which appears to have firmly ttken root.

Cambridge, Tuesday. The Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association will hold its fourth auuual median, at Olwupo, ou Tuesday, the 24th instant, the business to be transacted beinjj to receivc the report- and balance-sheet and elect officers for the ensuing year. We have been desired to drew special attention to Messrs. McNicol and Co.'s large horse sale, to be held at Cambridge on Thursday and Friday next. Some 250 horses of all classes will be offered, consisting of unbroken colts and fillies, medium and heavy draught horses, hacks of all kinds, light harness and 'bus horses. A number of the horses are by Oberon out of strong well-bred mares, and 15 blood mares with foals at foot, anil in foal to Hornsby. McNicol and Co, also announce that they have now, on the road, 4000 two, four, and sixtooth lougwool and crossbred Roinney ewes from the Oponriao Estate, which will be offered for sale immediately on arrival. Most of the sheep passed at McNicol and Co.'s lust sheep fair were disposed of afterwards privately. The Opouriao lot were all purj chased by Mr. J. \V. Ellis, and will be sent overland to Taranaki.

Ngaruawahia, Tuesday. The projected works for the construction of about two miles of large road drains and some road forming at North Ngaruawahia are at our.e to be undertaken, and tenders addressed to Mr. John Gordon, of Woodlands, will be received until noon of Thursday next, the 19tb inst. Te Aroha, Tuesday. The monthly meeting of the Town Board was held on Saturday night, in the Board room, when there were present: Messrs. Gavin (chairman), Hetherington, Hotchin, Gallagher, and Bradley. A statement of the Board's financial position showed the bank overdraft to be £50 3s lOd, and the total liabilities, including the overdraft, to be £132 18s 9(1. Mr. Lavery's tender for supplies for the year was accepted, an amendment from Mr. Gallagher, to the effect that no tender be accepted, being lost. In the matter of letting a contract for supply of teams and dray for road repairing, etc., it was, after some discussion, decided that in the meantime no such contract be let. There was a strong expression of opinion to the effect that the Board should get a horse and dray of their own, and this will probably be done. A special meeting of the Domain Board was held the same night, to receive tenders for the formation of a three-feet track from the Domain boundary to the top of the bald spur. Only a portion of the work will be gone on with at present, the cost being met by & portion of the £100 grant recently received from the Government. There was a great diversity in the amounts of the various tenders, and the lowest, that of Messrs. ■Jackson and Collet, at 3a 6d per chain, was accepted. The highest tender was 17s 6d per chain. At a meeting of the Te Aroha United Society of Christian Endeavourers held recently in the Wesleyan Church, the following officers were elected President, Rev. S. Griffith (the newly-appointed Wesleyan minister for this district); Mrs. Norrie and Rev. P.p., Evans (Anglican), vice-presidents; treasurer, Miss Wild; recording secretary, Mr. Priestly; corresponding secretary, Mr. Fred Copeland. The Society meets alternately in the Wesleyan and Anglican Churches.

A very handsome lectern drape has been presented to St. Mark's Anglican Church by a lady visitor from Auckland. The drape was placed in position for the services last Sunday, and forms a tasteful addition to the church appointments. By way of a counter attraction to the races the local United Christian Endeavour Society organised a public picnic on race day. The Willows was the place chosen for the picnic, and as the weather was favourable, there was a large attendance of the general public, who spent a very pleasont day.