COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10111, 21 April 1896, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

fFROM OUR OWN CORRESPOKDENTS.] Hamilton, Monday. Mk. VV. J. HUNTER held a very successful sale of farm and household goods, the property of Mrs. Edmonds, of Claudelands. The Household effects realised fair prices, but the dairy utensils not so well. Young cows, to come in in the spring, made a. ready sain, at prices ranging from £2 7s lid to £3 10s ; three-year-old heifers, £1 17s Gd to £213 a; yearling heifers, 13s; calves, mixed sexes, 14s Gd. Pigs fetched good prices, stores fetchin" 12s to £1 7s; Berkshire hoar, £1 6s. Several farm horses were sold at fair prices. There was a large attendance at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Football Club held on Saturday evening. Mr. George Edgecuinlie was elected president for the ensuing year, and Messrs. 1. Slade, U. W. J. Barton. L. O'Neill, W\ Oldam, W. J. Grihble, and Dr. Brewis, viee-jnesitlents. Mr. C, Speight was elected captain, and Mr. E. Williamson deputy-captain. Messrs. Quick, Peacock, Blackburn, and Harrison were appointed a committee, and Messrs. C. N. Lequesue, and H, Tristram were appointed delegates to the union. Mr. 11. K. Tristram was reelected secretary and treasurer. The profit and loss statement for last year showed a debit of £'5 5s 6d.

The weather for the last few days, up to Sunday morning, lias been wet and showery, and intensely cold. Winter had apparently set in, and fires were generally resorted to. Yesterday (Sunday) morning, however, it changed again to fine dry weather, and there is every appearance of a continuance of it. NOARUAVTAHIA, Monday. The soiree in aid of the funds for the relief of the widow and family of the late Captain Gall, of this place, realised a net sum of £14 6s 4d. Special thanks are due to the Misses Guard anil Saulsbury for providing the dauce music, and to the ladies who supplied the refreshments, and Mr. James, who gave the use of the hall.

PARUA BAY. The weather here is no longer a thing to call fortli complaint, and the recent rains have had a wonderfully satisfying influence. The grass is springing everywhere, and, compared with a few weeks ago, the district is looking beautifully green. This is certainly something to be thankful for after the very trying time of drought and bush fires we have experienced. The fact of the Kauri Mountain gold mines having been successfully placed on the market should have the effect of drawing numerous proprietors into the district, and sections of land which up to this time have been considered worthless will now, most likely, have a high value placed upon them by th«ir respective owners, Not only this, but should the reefs in Kauri Mountain turn up trumps, then many other parts of the district may safely receive the attention of prospectors. For instance, the recently opened up Wiley of Waiparara has as much the appearance ot back Thames country as anything I have seen, and it would not surprise me at any time to hear of gold being struck in that locality. The residents of Puma are not at all a fossicking community, or the district might long ere this have developed into ii mining district. Advance Kami Mountain, and give us a start. I am glad to learn that at last there has arrived a parcel of new books for our public library, and there are more to follow at an early date. The committee in their desire to draw more subscribers on to the roll have decided that old subscribers, who have for. some time been oil the books, having a desire to again become members, will not be asked to pay uuother entrance fee, but simply the ordinary subscription of Is per quarter from the time they rejoin. The great event of our Easter season has been the celebration of the anniversary of the formation of a branch of the Christian Endeavour Society in Taranui. Several ladies and gentlemen from Whangarei paid a visit to this district and conducted the services in connection therewith. On Sunday afternoon quite a large gathering assembled in the Taranui school, when service was conducted by Messrs. Owens and Reyburn. The portion of the Word of God dealt with on that occasiou was John xiv. 13-14, " And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask anything in My name I will do it." In the evening the service was conducted by Mr. Mackesy, who dealt with 3o different portions of Scripture, beariue on the subject of sin and its consequences. On Monday the intention was to hold service in the open air, but the unsuitableuess of the weather caused them to again resort to the schoolhouse, where prizes for Scripture were given out to children. The visitors, after singing " God be with you till we meet again," mounted their horses and headed again for Whungaiei. The children, indulged in games until tea-time, when a second spread was partaken of; und I cannot speak too highly of the manner iu which the ladies of Taranui get up a spread. After tea, votes of thanks were passed to the Ruddell family for the use of their piano, to Mr. H. Downard and Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker, and to all those who had in anyway contributed towards the success of their first anniversary. The collections amounted to £2, which has been placed in the bank to form the nucleus of an organ fund for Tarauui.— [Own Correspondent.]