COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10128, 11 May 1896, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

fFHOM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Hamilton, Saturday. The Wesleyan chapel here is to be lighted with gas. The use of gas is slowly on the increase,

The passenger traffic between Hamilton and Cambridge is going to be put on a satisfactory basis, Mr. C. Harwood, our local coach proprietor, has arranged a buggy service between the two places. Heretofore people had to rely upon the railway. This was all very well for the Cambridge people, who could come down to Hamilton in the morning and return home the same afternoon, but to go fron Hamilton to Cambridge was quite a different matter. Leaving by rail in the afternoon they had to remain all night in Cambridge, returning to Hamilton next morning. Now, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the travelling public may leave Hamilton for Cambridge at 9 a.m., leaving Cambridge again, either at 11 a.m. or at 5 p.m., and visitors from Cambridge to Hamilton can leave at 11 a.m., returning at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

The attention of the Hamilton cattle ranger needs to be drawn to the fact that the regulation for keeping the cattle off the streets at uighl is being wilfully disregarded. On Wednesday night last a lady was thrown down and severely bruised by stumbling over a cow lying down in the roadway of one of the streets of East Hamilton. This occurred shortly after ten o'clock at night. In the same street there were at that hour two cows, one with a bell, two horses and two calves at large. A regulation of this kind should be worked impartially, At Mr. Hunter's cattle sale on Tuesday last except for dairy cows and calves the bidding was slack. Dairy cows fetched up to £5 and springing heifers £310s; calves, 12s to 19s; 18 months old mixed sexes, 395; ditto steers, £2; SJ-year-old steers, £316 a. Young empty cows in fresh condition sold up to £3125. There was very little demand for beef. Sheep: Full mouth ewes in good condition, 4s; good lambs, 4s each. Thanks to the attentions of the Acclimatisation Society's rangers this season pheasants have been fairly plentiful, though no large bags have been recorded. That of Mr. Harry Kerr and a friend, in two days in the Cambridge district, having bagged fiftyfive head, is about the largest recorded, oi which 16J brace were pheasants. Ouaopo, Saturday. The Waipa bridge is now out of the hands of the contractor, Mr. D. b\ Scott, who appears to have done his work to the satisfaction of the engineer. The bridge should now stand without further expenditure for a few years more. Farmers are busy now with the threshing and chaff-cutting machines, though the wet weather is far from favourable. One thing, however, is gratifying, and that is to find out that the yield both of wheat and oats is turning out better than was expeoted, thirty bushels of wheat to the acre being in many cases obtained, and as many as forty bushels of oats, though most of the latter will be put through the chaffing machine. The turnip crop is turning out well, and this is a matter of great moment to the Waikato farmer, who depends mainly on the swede crop for his winter feed. Some very fine specimens of Crimson King and Champion Swedes were exhibited in Mr. Souter's store on Tuesday last. The former variety was much the bigger root of the two, but the latter carries off the palm for quality, and Waikato may fairly congratulate itself on being one of the finest districts in New Zealand for growing winter feed for cattle, as owing to the porous character of the soil stock can be fed off without parching the land.

Great excitement has been caused here by the action of the County Council in notifying the county ratepayers of their intention to call in all outstanding rates forthwith. The defaulters' lists for the Waipa County show a woeful tale, the outstanding rates amounting to over £1200. The electoral roll and list of defaulters for the various ridings are now on view at the several post offices in the county and afford anything but pleasant reading for those interested. Many of the prominent people of the district have a place in them. Some defaulters complain that they have never received any demand for their rates, and some that they never knew that the Government subsidy would become lost if the rates were not paid by a certain date. Yet such is the case, and worse still these rates are rapidly becoming statute barred. Pateeangi, Saturday. The first meeting of the newly-elected Mutual Improvement Society was held on Thursday, the 7th inst., when an interesting essay on "Riuvia" was read by Mr. Kay, when, despite the weather, there was a good attendance. The annual meeting of the Society was held, the preceding week, when the accounts and the report of the committee were read and approved as being highly satisfactory. The following officers were elected : —President, Mr. Macky: vice-presidents, Mr. Robert Kay first, and Mr. James Ryburn second: secretary and treasurer, Mr. Macky; committee, Messrs. Webb, Partington, Germsnn, J. Ryburn, AUcock, C. Bowden, and the Misses Macky and Sing. It has been decided to raise money in aid of the library fund by a social to be held on Friday, the 22nd inst,, and if sufficient money is obtained to send to Hunter, of Edinburgh, for a supply of new books.

WHAREORA. In reading country correspondence, anyone is liable to get out of their latitude and longitude witli the different places named. For instance, there is Wairoa, Taranaki, and Wairoa, Poverty Bay. One is on the East Coast and the other is on the West Coast. Again, there is Palmerston North and Palmerston South; one is on this island and the other is on the South Island, which means a considerable distance j and, as a country correspondent lately remarked in the Auckland Weekly News, these mistakes can easily be prevented py placing under the heading the distance in miles from their country post office; then, when a stranger reads of some extraordinary big crop, or some other interesting item, he would know what Bart of New Zealand it occurred in. Whareora is Beven miles from Whangarei. Members of the big House in Wellington are out stumping the country in all directions. It is a pity the poor North has not a few members like Captain Russell. Once upon a time a certain member for Marsden stood up on the floor of the big House in Wellington and had the courage to challenge a certain ex-member for living in a Government house, and with having a Government servant to wait upon him, when the said ex-member had no lawful right to the same. Alas, and alas, how the mighty hath fallen ! Other M.H.B.'s are giving an account of their stewardship, but the political voice of the member for Marsden is not heard in all the laud.-{own Correspondent.]

VICTORIA VALLEY. The autumn still continues all that the most fastidious can desire —nice showers of rain, so as to ensure plenty of winter food for all sorts of stock. The settlers are very busy getting in their grass, and I am happy to inform you that there is a substantial increase in the acreage this season. One man alone has about 40 acres, one-half of which is ploughed, the other .halt being well burned

bush* There, is gnat activity- obssrmsi throughout the diatret in getting the rofl patched up before ik winter seta in. •- | The county chaiman is indefatigable!) his exertions to mate the most of the file money he has to ejpend, and he does ito perfection. ■ f Settlement is iareasing. Not a \J»k passes that does no ; add to our numbetlso' nearly all the lane; is taken up, and I a short time there rill not be an acre/eft ♦that is fit for setlement. So muohffor the far North, athough the North/has been not only needed, but reviled the 'South. However, we have the goose' hat lays the golden eg in our gumfieids. In a few years the pe6le in the North wi be able to make thmselves heard, and that with no iincertainfoice. Then we may lave a obanee. At prsent we get stepmo ler'a treatment from fl Southern Cabinet. lOur Northern membej have no chance wlieJ the distribution take; place.—[Own Corre Don dent.] J l

II'AKORA. 1 I see that the jokianga County Cqmci! have decided to spnd a little money in our district. Tendei'Svere called last we/k tor forming and metaling the main coacl road between the Utakjra Bridge and Horjke, to be let in t.vo sectips. I hear that Lit and Co. were the low** for No. 1, P. Btadell for No. 2. This hi quite revived thi hopes of the settlers, hey will be able to & \ their provisions though during winte with. out being blocked mud flats. I The Utakura Ell Committee arejcaliinj tenders' for the lying of a new flcr and lining the Utakva Halt, not befor it is wanted. The wok is to be complete*) by the end of May. i j The weather hi broken at last. \le have had some very ccd showers rather aou for the young grass jst coming on. Gra(B seed sowing has been te order of the day.-(Own Correspondent.l ]

COWAI. I A promenade ioncert was held In our schoolroom on Friday night in aid,of the football club. Tie opeaing piece was sung by fifteen membes, and was effective; The song, ''On the Bill," was very appropriate. The attendance ias noS up to expedition, otherwise it was i great success. Mil Coi with his violin, aid Messrs, Webb, &din, and Reid played tie dance music. i At the close of ;he householders meting, Mr. Holland,as superintendent of school, gave a financial statement, and deplored the fact lhat the Sunday-school aad eome to an Mid. He suggested that the balance in hand (£) 3s M) should be forwards! to the Brunna'ton Relief Fund. Mr. Lambert moved, am/ Mr. Rawlings seconded, " That as the moneywas contributed by the children from time to time for the purpose of obtaining book rjizes, their parents should be consulted in tie disposal thereof, and not at the will of thepresent meeting, where there vcre so few present, and only one man from the Upper Vajey." This amendment was lost on the shod of hands, but I have heard thai if Mr. Hoi rod sends the money away without having the balance-sheet audited, and with the parents' consent, legal tctioc will be ttlttn in the matter. A gang o! men are forming a road to our school, o«jt the swamp, under the co-opera-tive system, and are making good wages, The workis in charge of Mr. Mitchell.— Correspondent.]

\ POLLOK. A large consignment of drain tiles were landed on the Pollok wharf recently, Thej are to the irder of Mr. JamesNjiven, who is carrying onconsiderable draining operations on his fanl at the Waitara. The tiles are four thousand in number, measuring from two to foul inches in diameter, and weigh upwards offourteen tons. The present state of the cemetery here is not very tfeditable to our community. A! the time wlen the land was set apart for h terment pirposes it was ploughed and laid down in gmss, which did very well for two or three yars, but now it has in a greit measure re|erted to its original state of fern and tea-tree the grass having disappeared. To rectify natters it would not be a bad suggestion if all the settlers, both young and old, would e*mbin« to get up a general subscription towards this object, or, what would perhaps be much more practicable, do what was done in a neighbouring district—organise a working-bee, and arrange a day and hour to meet at the cemetery, and with slash-hook and grubbing'hoes make a clearance. It would only be i few hours work to each. With the addition of a few good shrubs and flowers i; could be made a thing of beauty and a joy for ever," and also render it safe from a running fire, which might occur at any time during the dry weather.— [Own Correspondent.]

NORTHERN WAIROA. The Swedish barque Frej arrived from Lyttelton on Wednesday, and, favoured with a fine breeze, sailed up the river from the Heads in quick time, the boat scarce keeping pace vitb her. The barques Devonport, Elizabeth Graham, and Northern Chief are also in port, and shipping, which has been a little slow of late, is again gathering force. Our mills have been busy in the interval and can stand a little rush now, and at the same time give vessels all the quicker despatch because of the breathing time they have had Scarcity of logs is now never heard of as far a3 the Kauri Company are concerned, for the booms are kept well filled with a fine diss of logs. Employment is plentiful, and altogether things have a healthy look in this district. Drapers' travellers and insurance agents give us long turns, and evidently find that there is money about.

The Arapohue lads are determined to have a football club again this season, and because they are unable to raise a senior form team they have decided to enter for the junior championship under the Wairoa Rugby Union. They duly met to form the club, and elected the following officers :—Patron, R. Thompson, Esq.; president, R. Masefield, Esq.; vice-presidents, Messrs. G. Dreadon, S. Dodd, J. Deunin, F. Bradley, T. Ketching, H. T. Smith, P. Jones, and Odium ; secretary and treasurer, H. Patou; captain, W. Downs; vice-captain, ,]. Masefield; committee of management, J. Masefield, W. Downs, W. Jowitt, C. Webb, and G. Bradley: delegate to Union, C. Webb,— [Own Correspondent.]

PORT ALBERT.

On May 1 a tea and meeting to welcome the Rev. J. W. Worboys to the district was held in the Port Albert Temperance Hall. The function was the joint production of the local Wesleyan Methodist Society and the Good Templar Lodge, and appeared to be wholly successful in attracting an exceptionally large number. Of the tea, it suffices to say it was excellent and abundant. The evening meeting was largely musical, with customary speeches, Mr. John Shepherd occupying the ohair._ Mr. Worboy's address was autobiographical, religious, and prohibitionist, and was very well received. He is wholly new to North Auckland, but seems to have received his baptism of mud in the South. It is gratifyins to find that in this respect he will find no terrors in the " roadless North." The various societies here still hold their own. The Mutual Improvement Society at the Saturday meeting listened to an excellent address Mr. Prank Hirst on " The folly of protection." A useful discussion followed, mostly on the lines of the address, one or two only considering colonial industries would be advantaged by some fr.?ra of protection,[Own Correspondent.!

TE KOPURU. An entertainment in aid of the Kopurn Library was given in the hall on April 24. The hall was crowded, and as a result there will be about £9 clear tor the purchase of new books. The concert was well arranged and carried < out. The accompaniments were splendidly given by Mrs. Wylie, Miss Cotter, and Mr. Webster. The piano used was a fine instrument, specially lent for the occasion by Miss Alien. Then followed the farce, "Boots at the Swan," the chief character being taken by Mr. Lindley in good style. Miss M. Worth wuß, as usual, excellent. Miss M. Sey mom- was also good. The other characters were taken by Messrs. Brassiugton, Leabourne, Bach, and Mrs. Webster.-[Own Correspondent.]