COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10083, 19 March 1896, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from OUR own CORRESPONDENTS ] Hamilton. \V«i IIMda . The rain still hangs off, and people , rf , „ plaining loudly of the continued 2,2 ▼hich is interfering with the cror< j especially with the dairying. The -V ■• ieing dried up, and potatoes, and stn"?' 18 'he turnips, are beginning to feel the t \i it, the latter being at a standstill in rt zrowth, and beginning to change J l ' There is a great uncertainty as to the. jf the latter, and this is seriously 'he sale of cattle, farmers being uuwiili, ' purohase store cattle with the uncertain , '.he turnip crop before them. ' 01 . Mi \l A. Graham has been experiment Kg with the planting of sugar beet and h i given sufficient proof of its suitability nr ,7 Waikato soil, and of its profitable »rc,*th •' a crop. He procured the seed from )l1 Lewenberg, and produced some very hi Plants, clean, of good shape, and free'from fingers and toes, the roots varying from lib',rfjlb. He estimates such plants would pit. 25 tons per acre. Many settlers are bean mug to enquire what is going to be done I the matter of torwarding the sugar beet in dustry, and if the company really intend going on with the business. Mr. R. Watson's farm of 400 acres at I'd, rimu has been purchased by a Mr A R Millar, who hails from Whangare'i, and win with his family and effects came up U. week to settle. Mr. Millar intends nukini a number of improvements. The land is <J good quality, and capable of being larel? improved. 0 Ohacpo, Wednesday ' Works to be undertaken by the Wainj County Council comprise the fascininj of the Whatiwhatihoe and Innesfallen roads - repairs to the Mangapikoßridge at Alexandrathe gravelling a portion of the road between Shakespeare-street, Cambridge West, ay Howie's corner, and carting gravel fro-r. th; Ohaupo railway-station. Mr. Allen wili meet intending contractors at Shakespeare, street on Friday next at nine a.m. and point out the gravel-pits. The chairman of the Pukerimu Road Board has received the following petition signed by 40 of the ratepayers" We, the undersigned ratepayers of the Pukekurs o ».j Board district do hereby request that yon will call a public meeting of ratep ty»i j, to bj held in the schoolhouse, 011 Thursday, the 26th instant. Business: To consider the action of the Domain Board in the matter o| the excessive expenditure at Cambria East, and that the above Board be respect fully invited to attend the meetings." Ii would appear that a very strong feeitc; exists in the minds of the inhabitants 0. Pukerimu against so disproportionate at expenditure on improvements as i? now going on on the East side of the river.

Alexandra, Wednesday, It will be learned with regret that Mr J. Bainbridge, is very seriously ill at hit farm here; so much so as to cause consider able anxiety to his friends. Mr. Robert McGuirk, son of Mr, Mc Guirk, member of the Hospital Beard, died suddenly on Friday last. His death, though sudden-he brought milk in to the creamer? only the morning of his death—whs not unexpected, as he had for some time been suffering from asthma and bronchitis, and Mr. Gresham did not consider it necessary to hold an inquest. After taking dinner he suddenly collapsed, and died in a few minutes. The funeral service was performed by the Rev. Fatner Luck, and was attended by a large number of the inhabitants of Alexandra and the surrounding districts. A large native meeting is now being held at Kawhia, at which lawhiao's successor i! present. It is being iargely attended by the natives of the district, who will leave snortlj to attend the local race meeting.

Ley telegraph— corrkspondkkt.] Clevkdox, Wednesday. Andrew Thompson Motherwell died very suddenly at his residence here yesterday. The deceased was in a buggy aocicent about a week ago, the wheel of his trap passing over him, and since Saturday he had been laid up in bed. As no medical man was called in, it was thought advisable to hold an inquest, which was held this afternoon at the deceased's late residence before Mr D. Crawford, J.P., acting coroner, and a jurv of six, of which Mr. C. W. Stephens was chosen foreman. The evidence went to show that the deceased had been drinking heavily lately. Dr. Bewes, of Otahuhu, made a post mortem examination of the body, and was of opinion that the deceased had died o! alcoholic poisoning. The jury turned a unanimous verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

Paeroa, Wednesday. The half-caste Elliot, who was injured when on his way from the Paeroa races last evening, had his leg fractured, and was subsequently conveyed to the Thames Hospital. Rotorua, Wodnesiay. A peculiar circumstance in connection with the entering of Mr. Dansey's house, where the keys of the safe were obtained, has been made known. A tumbler half full of a sherry-coloured liquid was found on the bedroom table. It is evidently a stronj chemical preparation, and has been handed to the doctor for analysis. One of the largest and most imposing tanjia held in Ohinemutu took place over the remains Wynyard Rogers, son of Mr. W. Rogers, storekeeper. The boy was the lineal descendant of Te Waharoa, the famoui fighting chief.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Society have issued a notice, warning persons of the pain! and penalties attached to unlicensed fishing for trout, or buying, Belling, exposing, or offering for sale the same. It is to be hoped that this will have the desired effect.

Sophia, the famous guide, has been appointed Caretaker of that portion of the Whakarewarewa Block containing most of the natural wonders, and which was recently acquired by the Crown. This was necessary as tourists are insatiable in their eagerness for curios Captain Mair, lon separating from the Governor's party, travelled up the coast fron Whakatane, via Matata, Maketu, and Ti Puke settlements. He was everywhere re ceived most cordially by the natives, amongst whom were many of his old comrades it arms. St. Patrick's Day was duly celebrated by an- athletic sports gathering on the racecourse, and a fancy dress ball in the evening, both of which were liberally patronised.