NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11240, 8 December 1899, Page 6

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

PCKEKOHE EAST. ON Thursday evening, 16th ult., the annual took®„i n COIe 1 c i 011 with the Band of Hope took plnce in the schoolroom. There was a good attendance and a lengthy programme. After an excellent tea had been disposed of and the tables cleared, the Bev. 0. T. Marshall was called npon to preside. An important item in the programme waa an earnest address by Mr. C. 6. Hill, of Auckland, showing the duty of voters at the lowed'Tlth e « iceMinß P. 0 "- . Mis 3 L Hill folhZ " i v SOng ', Strike oat the T °P choriii wi ence heartily joining in the ononis. Songs were contributed by the Kj* ll! ! ! ' Brown ' and Mr. Witburn. The Lodge Family entertained tho audience Miss S fflstruniental musical selections, ami »m ll playe ? a 80l 011 the violin, ana a selection on the pianoforte was congivef M SS Webster. Recitations were given by ft „ usseU ' Mr - Brookes, Mr Llliott. and Mr. Crawford, and a ple'asintr AftPr tfif per formed by Mr. and Miss Lodge! joined to l ' sna Vo ' o3 °/ a thank the audience V' ni?,ng " 104I 04 Save the Queen." in.i ow a plentiful supply of crass and crops of grain and potatoes are looking WEANGAEEI HEADS. wm be C MtW»» efit, -° £ .l be saet wet weather MM Prij ea s t€r •" the stl PPb' of summer very healthy ° 0,110118 a ™ potatoes look our' sdioof'fnr 1 ®;' !a ™? a , in standards of the ordeal for £ third year in succession the ordeal was successfully passed through without a single failure. I Presume this is ' Seakinl ?, t!lennil"rea i l " re of hat is termed breaking the record. Needless to sav the A & number nf P ° rt is ° a very high character. meX tn ik ncc , eSß ? r ? repairs and improveIff Minds lio no 1? ® rB ii?? Md to the school ™?l a ,? e been authorised by the Board, to, a L keing Proceeded with. what 6 n™ te o tß 'i de ™ c haa subsided somewnat now, and they have been Placed in the hands of the Hon. J. G. Ward, to dS

— —-; — pose of in the British, Continental, " t.i American markets The excursion on the 9th ult., from in, ngaroi to Mr. J. Leigh's (late Axibrev'.i grounds here, was well patronised, and m J ■ have been a financial gam to the brass 3-; who promoted the affair. ,W; The excursion to the Whangarei Show «. the 15th nit. was, notwithstanding the feS weather prevailing, a great success. t'nZ ICO people from here and Paruti Bay f ar S; the elements, and one and ail seemed t! enjoy the outing. Three cheers were eita . for the Northern S.S. Co., who gave the «. Coromandol for a nominal ram for the da'; and also for the officers ajjd crew of tk : steamer.—[Own Correspondent.]

PAPABOA. JC& A MODEL Parliamentary election was iv business of the eveiuug at the last of the "Mutual" on the 9th ult. were three candidates: llossrs. H. Hook v A. Winter, and K. Homes. They were In dependont Liberal. Government supporter Ci Oppositionist respectively. Each one gave an address, enunciating his views, then an swered questions. At the close the votiS' took place, when the Opposition candidal won by receiving as many votes as tho otC two put together. ,Jy Tiio ordinary Band of Hope meeting held on the 15th ult. Resides the'usual 5 citations, etc., there was an excellent aildrei by Mr. W. Litherland. dealing: with fallacies objections to prohibition. lie held the vie. which soma others hold, that the Alcoioli,! : Liquor Sales Control Act. of 1895, docs m interfere with the permission (riven to settler! to make and sell grape wine, etc., as per til Licensing Act of 1881. in oiibsoetion 3 of ȣ tion [Own Correspondent.]

NUHAKA NORTH. M SO far as this district was concerned, th* county elections did not croste uracil £ : torest, for only a little over half of the rate.' pavers on the roll attended the poll. wta j was taken at Mnrere. The successful canfi dates for the Waikaremoana Itidin<? wn, Messrs. Lomax. Brown, and Walker. For th 6 Wairoa. Riding. Messrs. Maloney, Donollv, anj Powdrcll were elected; and for Mohaka M ing the followins were elected opposed:, Messrs. McKinnon, Sim, and Sinclair. The committee appointed to form th» • Morere Settlers' Association met last Satm. day evening, when all the members vt»i present. Mr. Proadlock was elected ehaii! man and secretary, with instructions to ok.' tain as mnch information as possible regard, iii!? the working- of similar institutions. Us first meeting of the association is to tab place on or about the 14th December.

PERI A. "'Jf I UNDERSTAND that tho authorities have re. fused to remove the post office from s[ r Hazard's store to the Native School. There were really no grounds upon which to baa the request, and the authorities evidently found on inquiry that such was the case ' We have had very stormy weather for iha last week (20th).

Mr. Carter, dentist. Auckland, has paw another visit to the district, and will come apain in January, if sufficient inducenien' offers.—[Own Correspondent.]

WAIMAMAKU. $ ON tho 9th ult., Prince of Wales' Birthday our little settlement wore finite an animated aspect. All the youth and beauty of tin settlement, together with their parents, an( a large number of visitors from Omapera congregated in the school reserve. The after noon was passed away with games ani sports, in which both young and old participated. Several of the events were keenly contested. Tho 'Vaimumaku Brass Band under Bandmaster Worrell, with their usnaj liberality, were also in attendance, and discoursed sweet music (luring the afternoon, much to the enjoyment of all present. At 5.30 p.m. all sat down to a sumptuous repast under the cool, spreading boughs of the large puriri trees which adorn the banks of the river. After tea, everybody adjourned to the sohool, to witness tho production of tit operetta, " Red Riding Hood's Rescue," which had been prepared by the Waimamaku Valley 6chool children. Soon after the doors were open the room was packed, some even having to stand, while others, who happened fo arrive late, had to content themsolTe3 with witnessing the performance through the windows. Sharp at 8 o'clock the curtain rose to an audience which the juvenile performers could not well complain about. The principal parts were taken by Misses Corfteld, Brace? (55. Morrell, Page, and White, and Hasten Cahill and Bracer. Although it was the first attempt at anything operatic by our yona; performers, the play went on without a hitch from start to finish, all the performers giving an interpretation to the well-known operetta' that could not he surpassed, even by older players. Too much credit oannot he given to Mrs. Cahill and Mr. Cahill, our much-es-teemed school teacher, who spared neither time nor energy in training the children for the production of such a successful entertainment. The orchestra/—Miss Nellie Eofi (piano), Messrs. A. Hall (violin), L. Worrell and J. Page (cornets)—also deserve credit for the manner in which they executed the various items during the performance. At the conclusion of the entertainment, one and • all rose and sang with great vigour, " Bod Save the Queen," " Rnle Britannia," aid " Soldiers of the Queen." Even in such remote corners of the world as Waimamakn.oi! : cannot imagine the keen patriotic feefa that exists, more especially while the preat Transvaal war is raging. After the entertsk ment, the room was soon cleared for darning, when all tripped the light fantastic tmfi j daylight.— Correspondent.] ! S|.

NORMANDY. "ft APTEE several efforts in the past, the Sot manby Cricket Clnb is a real live institution, and this season bids fair to hold its ora with other local clubs. Mr. A. B. Stewart,, a gentleman recently arrived from Hods arid who lias settled in our midst, must to credited with working the club up, and isfusing enthusiasm amongst the member!, ai well as in every other way assisting to' make the club a thorough success. The club's 'ground (Victoria Park) is in very.; good order. A deal of work has been dons to it, and it is now a credit to those connected with the club. 3';f The township generally is looking up. i goodly number of houses and other buildings are being erected. Business is fairly Rood,, and the people contented, and marriages til order of the day. showing that at least amongst ua the old order changeth not, m! why should it, when we have so many ol Eve's fair daughters residing under the shadow of Mount Egmont, longing for the so ciety of Adam's sons. News from South Africa will be eagerly looked for by many in this district, as tto and the Taranaki province is well represented by volunteers (both officers and met),' who have gone with the contingent. '

HUKERENUI SOUTH. J| ?| THE weather \ye have been having of laid 3 lias been a serious drawback to everyone in - this district. November 60 far has been a' thorough wet month. With all the show ; .% of blossom 011 the fruit trees I am afraid $ we shall have very little fruit, for what with : high winds and heavy rains, fruit, blossoms, % and small branches have all met with lie; , : j same fate, viz., laid o» the ground. Slugs '■$ and snails are having high old times of it, \si cucumbers and such like falling an easy 1 prey to those pests. ' "<% Li On Wednesday, November 15, a severe ,1 ' J storm of wind and rain started and lasted ' over Thurs lay and Friday. The roads were . .<a| flooded, so that anyone trying to get to t* Hukeronui or to leave it would have re- ! quired a toat. In fact, if I could have found a place to have fixed a camera I could haw y sent you the interesting sight of one of our. Bottlers fetching his cattle on to higher :„•] ground in a boat. This is one of the farms -.j the Government make such a song about, and have threatened eviction for non-pa? gg ment of rent. It is too cold at present to h grow rice, and the Austrians have had most j of the gum, and in view of the coming elec- j tion our railway has been at a standstill,: $ but a fresh start is to be mado unless some- s thing else crops up to stop it again. Any* ;$ how gangs are being formed on the co* a operative principle to take the railway into > u the settlement proper, for tho present station ; ft at Waiotu leads to nowhere, and is a sort £ of no man's land; the train running only H one day a week, and that is not mail day. * A meeting of this branch of the newly* $ formed Farmers' Union was held in public >1 school on November 20. A. fair number of settles attended. Mr. John Dobbs, sen., occupied the ohair, and explained for the • & information of those who were ( i.. ignorant the object of the union. M r ; [-'j Kobert Hutchinson also spoke in favour of ; $ the aamo, after which a number of tliosd I A present who had not previously joined gar* f m their names as members. It was then |<i decided to elect a committee; Mr. Jamtf ! IirOQSQ in the meantime acting a3 secretary , k?t pro tern. After proposing nearly everyone in } toe room, attentwn was called to the fact J • that a largo number of those who were [*» nominated had no voice in the matter, a 8 ; they were simply hon. members. It was then decided that a committee of seven b* 4 3 formed, and the followingwero appointed:- f>| Mesiirs. Broomfiold, Hutchinson, Cowan, IvOuec, Dobbs, Davev, sen., acid Davey, : $ jun. *33 This business being disposed of. Mr. Oowan spoke in favour of starting a creamery J ll - nukerenui, bo that settlors would be a"® to dispose of their dairy produce to a bete' j, advantage. This matter was not viewed in 11 J;i favourable light by those who had had K' , penence of such things. Mr. BroomfieW showed that it was impossible to start ' creamery and butter factory among » e j'ij settlers, a3 the necessary plant, etc.. ironWi cost £2000, and that it would be hotter I°} *'! a rnonoy company to talio th» matter 'J | hand. He showed several instances inw l ® 'i similar undertakings bad proved failures through people not counting the cost beforfi" ;S nana Mr. Cowan said a gentleman had pro*. 'J mised £10. Mr. Broomfield said if it was® 6 ? j the finish £10 would be very usoful; but 11 *j was ridiculous to think that we could g-' J the money for. the necessary plant >? j ilukorenui. After one or two more o a ° ; » spoken against the proposal, the matt# ij dropped. -A a A committee was then formed to arrang®. g for tho forthcoming show, the names be® » as follow: —Messrs. Broomfield. Cowan. H®' jj chinson, J. Dobbs, sen., Woods, E. W. Da'ff' ; i sen. | Our local storekeeper, Mr. Broomfle'dt [J having extensive alterations to his busing f premises. He lists built a new iron S"". a shed, also a new shop front to the store, aSJ9| added another 9ft to the shop itself k a corresponding increase in counter f. shelves and glass eliding door to hit drape": .j part. He was very much cramped for roc®; i, j previous to alterations. . £ A company has been formed to ptospWi ? 3 •or coal. Favourable indications have <*%. |; met with about one mile from the P°?' r fs office. It is proposed to start boring at <?Z i A A meeting was held on November 22 to for® V a committee and set to work. . 1 An address was given in the -rablic sent-®' ; M on November 25 by Mr. Samuel Browne. " . M Clevedon, on co-operation. A very .Fa audience attended, and he was listened 10 | attentively throughout. Mr. John Wot* l occupied the chair. A committee of five :■ form co, consisting of Messrs. Hatching M Rome, J. Wouldes, Slater .and E. TV. DW* I Jan.—[Own Oorrespondent.] •g.ra