COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10420, 19 April 1897, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Whatawuata, Saturday. The usual monthly meeting of the Newcastle Road Board was held at Ohote on Wednesday last, There were present Messrs, P. Corboy (chairman), J. Bycroft, W. Clow, and Shepherd. Mr. L. O'Neill's (solicitor) advice re the liability of refusing or neglecting to remove furze was received. The opinion was that owners or occupiers were liable to a fine of £1 per diem for not eradicating the furze after a two months' notice, and that if the work were undertaken by the Board the charge would be against the land. An application from Mr. Samuel Calder for drain pipes to be laid across the road at the back of the Whatawhata township was refused, but it was decided to allow Mr. Calder to put down the pipes at his own expense if he considered the drainage necessary for the benefit ot his laud. .Sundry drainage works and repairs to roads in the district were authorised to bo done before the winter sets it. It was also decided to remove the pine trees near Praser's Bridge. Accounts amounting to £34 5s 8d were passed for payment. Te Awamutu, Saturday. There was a large attendance at the annual Presbyterian soiree held here on Wednesday evening last, visitors being present from all the surroiiadinir districts. The Rev. Mr, Mac Donald occupied the chair. The Revs. Ferguson (Auckland), Mitchell (Hamilton), and Young (Kawhia) were also present. The year's statement of receipts ana expenditure was read by the treasurer, Mr. J. H. Mandeno, showing a credit balance of £23. During the evening addresses were given by the ministers present, and several songs were also rendered, and altogether a very pleasant evening was spent. The proceeds of the soiree amounted to about £10. The Manukau cricketers play a match here on Wednesday next against our local club. Te Awamutu will be represented by the following players Messrs. Singleton (captain), Bowden (4), Blackett, Case, Corboy, Conn, Park, and Webster. Hamilton, Saturday. Mr. P. W. Lang, M.H.R., returned to Hamilton yesterday after attending the late short session of Parliament at Wellington. Mr. Lang expressed very strong opinion as to the unsatisfactory manner in which the business of the session had been conducted. Cambridge, Saturday. The public school sports were held here on Thursday, hut though the day was wet the children enjoyed themselves. There was but a small attendance of parents. Yesterday (Good Friday) was wet here, the excursion train from Auckland did not bring many passengers. MANGERE. For years past scarcely a farm has changed hands in the Ihumatao part of the Mangere district. Settlers seemed all fixed for the term of their natural lives, when all at once we learn that the district is to lose several good settlers. Mr. John Massey, jun., leaves in a month or so, the lease of his farm having expired. He has taken Glen Innes. the law Mr. W. I. Taylor's farm at Tamaki West. Mr. Massey has resided 21 years in Mangere, and will be greatly missed. He has been an energetic farmer and a prominent worker in public district affairs. He has held office on the road board and school committee for severalyears, and has for many years been a leader in every kind of religious work in connection with the Mangere Presbyterian Church. a It is greatly to be regretted that the district is to lose such a good settler, for his place will not easily be filled. His father, Mr. Massey, junior, is retiring from active business and has sold his farm to Mr. Frederick Wills, the price being something over £20 per acre. The farm is a good one, as the figure just quoted shows. Mr. Wills should know the value of land for farming purposes, as he has carried on farming successfully for years on the late Mr. Shipherd's property, which adjoins the one he has purchased. Another industrious and highlyrespected settler, Mr. H. Robinson, is also retiring, and will carry with him the good wishes of all his neighbours. He has sold his farm to Mr. Spence. Atkinson, who is a dairy farmer near Mangere Bridge. The telephone line is now completed to the Mangere post office, and will no doubt be a great convenience to the settlers. I understand a number of settlers had to go security before the Department would undertake the work of erecting the wire. Enquiries are being made as to the fate of tenders for repairing the Mangere Bridge. The district engineer called for tenders to be sent in on the 17th March. Nothing has transpired publicly as to whether any tender was accepted. Meanwhile the structure is going from bad to worse.-K)wn Correspondent].

MAHURANGI. Doriho the present spelt of fine weather the idjuaty Council are displaying commendable diligence, in mending our main road in its worst places, but the want of means is a sad drawback to efficient work, and the County Jjouncil might do worse than apply to the I? mentforiv slice of the surplus that is aliened to lave accrued from taxation of which we have paid our full share, and ought m? ve a snare in the division of the profits. lhe metalling on the main road, about seven miles north of Auckland, which is Being done by co-operative labour, is proceedm?< 'hough slowly. The Tauhoa Road, which is being widened in parts, also by cooperative labour under the supervision of Mr. r. Russell, is, I am informed, proceeding rapidly, and reflects credit on the supervisor.' r ■ ■ Bush burning in the district has not been a success this season, and those settlers who have tried for a burn are grievously disappointed with the reault.-lOwo Correspondent.^,,y t ,•.•--„