NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11542, 29 November 1900, Page 7

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[FROM OrS OWN correspondents.]

OPOTnci.

AT the statutory meeting of the Opotiki County Council Dr. Reid was elected chairman, and Messrs. Lally and King: hospital and charitable aid representative.

TAURANGA. o.T the annual statutory meeting of the Tau.•anga County Council Mi. R. J. Davidson, the retiring chairman, was unanimously reelected. . . The harmonium belonging to Holy Trinity Church has been disposed of to the Waihi Church, its services being no longer required now the church here owns one of the finest organs in the colony. The town is full of visitors for 'the Agricultural anil Pastoral Show to-morrow, and the capabilities of the place are being taxed to tho 'utmost to provide accommodation for victors. The show to-morrow, and the horse sale the day after will be unprecedented mi -.ceases. HAMILTON. THE annual meeting of the subscribers to the Hamilton library was held on Monday. The hon. secretary read the balance-sheet, made up to December 31, 1899; also a statement of finance to date. It was as follows:—Receipts: Members' subscriptions, £31; fines, £1 Is 3d; Hamilton Chess Club, £2 As; Government grant, £6 10s 3d; due treasurer, 6s 7d. Expediture: Balance due treasurer. £8 12s 6d; salary, librarian. £29 Is 6d; cleaning, £1 10s; sundries. £1 18s 2d; balance. 6s. 7d. Statement at November 25, Receipts: Subscriptions, £23 ss; fines. 8s 6d; donations. Hamilton Comedv Club £5, P. E. Stevons £9 18s; rent, £1 15s; cash Hamilton Borough Council. £5 23 7d; balance debit. £1 9s: total. £46 18s Id. Expenditure: Balance due treasurer 6a 7d; salary, librarian. £26 ss; Sandes and Co., £9 13s; Encyclopaedia Britannica, £7 7s: sundries, £3 Is 6d: total. £45 183 Id. Hamilton Borough Council in account with the library. Expenditure: Building, £195 10s; furnishing, £27 12s 4d; ditto, £5 ss; Fas fittings. £7 15s 6d; books. £15 Is 8(1: miscellaneous. £34 14s lOd: total, £288 19s 4d. Receipts: Subscriptions in aid of building, £101 3s 7d: ditto in aid of books, £37 3s; grant in aid from borough, £100; balance, £50 12s 4d: total, £288 19s 4d. Assets: Grant from borough, 1899, £30. grant from borough, 1900, £30—£60. Liabilities: Balance. £50 12s : 9d; Wildman and Lyell. £6 17s; balance, £2 ! 10s 3d: total, £60. The secretary was requested to have the balance-sheets audited ; by Mr. J. S. Edgecombe foi presentation at j ■next meeting. Some discussion arose as to j the disposal of the funds which accrued from the late library ball. The secretary said he j had no f received any money: he had. however, received a number of books, which were now on the shelves. Mr. Fairer and Mr. Bradley disapproved of the mannei in which the funds had been expended. They thought that all moneys raised in such a manner should be handed to the committee, in order that the most desirable books should be purchased in the cheapest market. It was decided that the secretary be instructed to communicate with the secretary of the Parliamentary Union and of the late ball committee asking for an explanation. The following were elected a committee to select books for the library Rev. H. D. A. Ma lor and Messrs. M. G. Fgrrer and B. Smith. Mr. I J. McCrea was elected hon. secretarv. A statutory meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council was held at noon on Wednesday. Mr. W. Dey was re-elected representative of the borough on the Hospital and ! Charitable Aid Board. A meeting of the Waiknto Amateur Athletic ! Club was held on Tuesday evening. The ob- j ject of the meeting was to decide as to whether ! sports should be held on Boxing Day. The j resolution passed at the annual meeting, de- i ciding not to do so, was rescinded. A conTerence is to take place between the committees of the Hamilton Athletic Club and the Amateur Club, to decid- as to which, if ; either, association shall hold sports on that day. WAITOA. A meeting of the Road Board was held at ; MornnsvilL on Saturday. A committee of ' the Board was appointed to inquire as to the drainage trouble on Mack's Road. A tender ! was accepted for work at Scotchman's Valley | nt £12 10s. Cutting tea-tree on about 4? [ miles of Stanley Road, Manawaru, two chains in width, from Baker's Road Junction | to \Vairahaheke, W. Eastwood, £5 6s 8d per < mile (accepted); W. Lushby, £8 17s 6d; J. Hanks, £9 13s 4d. Cleaning: drain through I Jjoyegrove's section: One tende., J. Tatter- | jail £1 18s (accepted). The clay portion of : Kershaw's Road: J. McSweeney, £12 17s 6d: | 1 Biggs, £10 9s (accepted). Forming 6ft | track from near Manawaru creamery through I Bemrose's to Knight's Road: M. Cronin, £9 I 17b (accepted): W. Eastwood. £13 10s. Form- j ing 21 chains Seddon'e Road : Only one tender, j that of D. McCarthy. £56: considered toe high : and rejected. D. McCarthy also tendered for i .Kangiatea drain, and was rejected for the same reason. No tenders were received for the otnei contracts, and fresh tenders are to : £? fr'H. - Mr - K - Stark's offer to repair the Walton Main Road for £5 was accepted. A petition was received asking that a piece of road at present closed, which separated the properties of Messrs. Hogan and O'Gradv on one side, and Mr. T. Hughes on the other. Bliall not be sold, but opened for traffic at once They point out that opening the road would considerably shorten tin distance from Manawaru to Shaftesbury, also to the New Zealand Dairy Association's factory. The Chairman explained that it was not'intended w> sell the road, but he could not promise mat it would be opened. Mr. Farmer said

needed was that known as the School Road. This would open up ■ a short way to the creamery, as regards some suppliers, to the extent of four or five miles. The foreman stated, that a good job could be made of tits road,for £100,, but that £50 would make it lit tor traffic. A scheme to expend " thirds" to the extent of £31 Is 8d wa3 submitted. In consequence of the resignation of Mr. D. Ball, foreman of the eastern division of the district, the position was offered to Mr. W. Abbey*,' subject to terms. -The foreman was instructed to prepare specifications for work on Knights Road. A committee was appointed to consider as to works necessary in the eastern district. Several accounts were passed for payment. PIRONGIA. ON Friday i evening an entertainment in aid of the funds of the football club was a great success. ■ The Public Hall was filled with a large and appreciative audience. The local amateurs were greatly assisted by visitors from a distance. An excellent programme was submitted, which went off without a hitch. Miss Finch presided at the piano, and played the accompaniments in an effective manner. Mr. George Berry presided. The programme was as Follows:—Song. Mr. S. Conor. " Good' Comuany:" song. " Killarney," Miss Miller; song. "Red, White, and Blue," Mr. Bathurst; song, " Welcome our Warriors," Captain Aubin; song. "King's Own." Miss Germann; song, "Brighton." Mr. W. Boll; song, " Whisper and I shall Hear," Miss Dazeloy: song. "Children's Home," Mrs. Gilford; duet. " Flight of Ages." Misses Bell; song. "Bid Mo to Love," Mr. Bathurst; song, "When Your Hair Grows Whiter," Miss Adeie Aubin. Abundant refreshments were provided bv the ladies of Pirongia. The usual dance followed. WAIEI. ON Sunday the three anniversary services in connection- with the Presbyterian Sundayschool were held in the church, when the Rev. D. Weatherall occupied the pulpit upon each occasion. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers, ferns, and creepers, under the supervision of Mrs. J. Henderson, and the Misses Bright, Lockington. Hume, Clark, and Wbitcombe. Mr. W. Gardiner conducted, anil Miss Arnabaldi capably officiated at the organ. The following took leading parts in the singing:—Mrs. Brown, Misses Hands, Lockington, Hume, Chester, Bright, Chalmers, Wintle (2), Henderson, Craig, and Hardie, Messrs. J. Henderson, Patterson. W. Wells, and Adams. A well-attended meeting of the Waihi Improvement Committee was held on Monday night in the clubroom, Rob Roy Hotel. Mr. J. E. Taylor occupied the chair. The secretary read a number of letters and telegrams with reference to the borough movement, which were duly discussed, and the secretary's replies to the same confirmed. It was decided to appoint an executive committee of five, Messrs. J. E. Taylor, J. Fiett. A. H. Clark, A. Y. Ross, and T. C. Hammond (secretary) to take anv necessary action to combat opposition to the borough. ROTORUA. THE trout season is in full swinff, and large catches are made, keeping two boats busy with nets.

The bath buildings are being renovated and improved. The new artistic band rotunda, the bowling green, and other improvements, at the hands of our landscape urardener. 'Mr. Pearson, considerably add to the charming appearanco of our sanatorium. Mention may also be made of tho magnificent display of roses and flowers, equal to any in the colony. Rotorua is truly progressing, and in a very marked degree. The recent Government land sale by auction or town, suburban, and nival lands was a record sale, and a prhate sale of 40 acres, uncultivated, took pl.tce at £2 ne. acre, subject to ground rent of £6 per annum.