NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11372, 15 May 1900, Page 7

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[FBOM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] TUMKARAMEA.

THE weather of late has kept up a growth in grass and turnios. Some splendid turnip crops are to be seon in the district. Tho difficulty will he to get suitable stock at a reasonable price to graze them. The late advance in prico has been the means of clearing a good number of fat sheep from this district. Tho wet weather has not improved our roads, and as most of tho threshing and chaffcutting has vet to bo done, there will be a good deal of heavy traffic.

TE KOEE. ON Friday evening a concert was held in the schoolroom, in aid of the patriotic fund. Mr. Fell, to whom much credit is due for organising the function, occupied the chair. Notwithstandir"* that the evening was wet, there was a good attendance. Tho total takings amounted to nearly £7. Several settlers had previously subscribed. The following programme was gone through, to the full satisfaction of the audience, who joined lustily in tho choruses:-"The Soldier's Tear," Miss J. Boulton; song, "Her Majesty,' Mr. Cavanagh; song. "Old and New," Miss Oermaim; song, "Soldiers of the Queen, Mr. Partington. The next item was an exhibition of manual drill by four volunteers. Song, " The Last Muster," Mr. Cavanagh; recitation "In a Boy's Pockets." Ma4er M. Mc ; Kinnon: song. "The Bells of Aberdovey, ( Mr. Fell: recitation, "That Fellow Jones, ( _ Miss M. 15. Hodgson; duet. " Armv and Navy. Messrs. Partington and Fell; song. ' Tho Ab-sent-minded Beggar." Captain Aubin; recitation "Mv Dolls." M. McKinnon: song. This and That," Miss Germann; dialogue. Choice of Trades," and manual drill, by 11 schoolboys: song. "Staring Mo in the Face. Mr Walter Bell: song. " The Place Where the Old Horso Died." Captain Aubin. Most of the accompaniments were played by Miss linen, and the remainder by Miss Grace Germann. Tho National Anthem concluded the proceedings. The seats were then cleared away, ana dancing commenced, and was kept up till three o'clock. CAMBRIDGE. THE general committee of the Cambridge Industrial Exhibition has decided to award an artistica'i'Mipstened certificate to prizewinners at the forthcoming exhibition, while special prizes are to bo solicited from the public for any particular branch the donors wish to encourage. ~ Messrs. McNicol held their usrfal monthly sale of stock at Cambridge on Saturday. A fair number of stock were yardod, and satisfactory prices realised.

TE AROHA. THE annual meeting of members and adherents of St. David's Presbyterian Church, To Aroha, was held in the church on inday evening. There was a fair attendance, the chair being occupied by the Rev. T. Walls. From the report, it appeared that during tile last two rears the church had raised and paid away £370, and this, the committee felt, was very satisfactory, considering the very limited number of people they bad to draw unon. The out-stations had very materially assisted the church, their contributions in collections amounting to over £56, made up as follows:-Kiwitahi. £1 17s lid; Waiho-i, £6- Walton. £6 18s; Waharoa, £21 10s; Morrinsville. £14 10s: and Gordon. £6 28, A grant of £25 was also received from the church extension fund. Tho report made reference to the fact that under tho able ministrations of Mr. Walls the church was undoubtedly advancing, his services being much appreciated. Consequent on the increased copulation at Manawaru. Mr. Walls had been approached as to holding a service there, and this would ho arranged for at once. The statement of the general account showed tho total revenue to be £205 19s 11(1, and expenditure £202 9s Id, leaving a credit balance at date amounting to £3 10s led. The building fund account showed a credit balance of £10, which would be applied to liquidation of the £100 loan, reducing same to £90. This loan was kindly advanced bv a ladv in the congregation free of interest and repayable in yearly instalments of £10 ' Tho statement of assets and liabilities showed thart the assets exceeded the liabilities by £174 9s. The report and balancesheet were unanimously adopted. The following wero elected a committee for the ensuing rear:-Messrs. Brown. Wallace. May, Humming. Moore, and r>nmbie 'To Aroha, ■Roil (Waihon), Borne (Waitoal. and Campbell (Morripsvillpl .Auditor. Mr. W. Hill. It was decided that in future the church's financial vear should end on December .11 in each year, and that 'ho annual meeting be held in February. The renort having suggested the oppointmer't of elder*, the following were nomi-nated:-if essrs Wallace (To Aroba). Ross fWaihonl Grev (Morrinsville). Boss (Waharoa). These will be balloted for hv the congregation. As the f""pral fund is indebted to the buildin!? fund to the extent of £6 10=. it was decided to arrange a concert, and that the musical societv be asked to assist. It was remitted to a committee to arrange details. The meetin" was then closed with tho benediction. „ ~ .. \ meetine of the vestry of St. Marks (Anglican) I'hnrph was held on Friday evening, the vicar (Rev. E. J. McFarland) presiding. The matter of enlarging the church was discussed at some l«""rth. the accommodation of the present building heir" altogether inadooiiiite during the tourist season. There being a debt at present, on the building to the ox-tent of HO. it was ultimately decided to make an effort to lirmidato same before proceeding with the improvements. With that end in view it was decided to arrange for a series of church socials during the winter, on the same lines as those held last year, and which wero so successful.