NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11734, 16 August 1901, Page 7

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[FEOJI CUE OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] HAMILTON. THE weather this week has been an improvement on that which has prevailed for some - time past., There has been less rain, and as the sun is getting mure powerful, the roads have improved. During the past few weeks work on the land has been impossible, and work in connection with the spring crops baa been much delayed, so that the crops must be expected to be later than usual. Lambing is progressing: fairly, and notwithstanding the exceedingly unfavourable weather, good percentages and comparatively tew losses have been experienced. The lambs generally are well grown and hardy, and the ewes are mostly in good condition. The re--1 turn from flocks depends greatly on a good lambing, otherwise the result must be very unsatisfactory, as the value of the fleece is at bedrock. The dairy industry is undoubt--1 jdly the mainstay of Waikato. All classes of farmers have now gone in for it. The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council was held on Wednesday ' evening. There were present: His Worship ' the Mayo- (Mr. R. W. Dyer), and Messrs. 1. • Coates, T. Slade, W. Dey, A. Coyle, E. J. . Davey. J. S. Bond, and U. W. Saro. Mr. J. A. Young, the -elected member, made the necessary declaration, and took his seat. i Several residents of Hood-street wrote com--1 plaining of the planting of trees in that street, and asking that they be removed. It | Was decided that the trees should remain. I Tat clerk presented the following financial 1 Statement:— Overdraft at last meeting, £583 17s; accounts passed, £52 Os 9d; paid since, <• £90: total. £725 17s 9d. Received since, £73 Us Id: balance, £652 lis Bd. The Legal and Finance Committee recommended that a general rate of 3d in the £ on unimproved values be struck. The report was adopted. The clerk then read the following estimate for t to year:— Receipts on above basis,: Rate, £700; subsidy, £175: rents. £130; licenses, . hotels. £150;' ditto, auctioneers'. £83; dog tax £10; rent of saleyards, £50; ditto, office, £9; domain interest. £150; licenses, hall, etc.. £15; pound, £6; incidental, £5: total, £1500. In reply to Mr. Slade, the Mayor said the • toount received under the old system as rates was £600. Mr. Sare called attention to the necessity of urging upon the postal authorities the necessity of making up daily, for dispatch from Auckland by the quarter -pit. i four train, which reaches Frackton u.5 eleven p.m. It frequently happened that Southern and English , mails arrived in Auckland shortly after the departure of the morning train, and the letters did not reach Hamilton till the following afternoon. It was decided to make I the representation to the authorities. NGARUAWAHIA. THE monthly meeting of the Newcastle Road Board was held at Ohete on Wednesday. Present: Messrs. Shepherd (chairman). Bycroft, Fullerton, Lebeau. and Poynter. Major George's request that his name be removed from the rate roll for lots 159 and 166. Pukete, and that of A. Gordon substituted was referred to the supervising valuer. It was decided to have a. few days' work done on the ) approaches to Blackett's "bridge: also, to have about 20 chains of tea-tree cleared on the fcinie road. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote consenting to the proposed road ; deviation throned "Mr. -Blackett's leased land, I the survey to be made at once. It was de- : cided to let the water off the Pukete "Road as ■ much "as possible, and make other improvements when the fine weather sets in. It was decided that some members of the Board visit. the Te Kowbai Road with a view to its im--1 provement. Mr. Lang, M.H.R., wrote in reply to the Board's protest against the Counties Bill, stating that he would do his best to carry out the "Board's views. A vote of I thanks was passed to Mr. Lang for his prompt reply. The Chairman alluded to the recent 1 failure to get a good.? shed erected at Pukete ■'■'.station, and suggested that some members of the Board should visit Sir J. G. Ward when in Hamilton, and urge the necessity for the onildintv. It. was decided to do so. The; necessity of" Insuring workmen employed by the I Board was considered, and it was determined Ito attend to the matter. A rate of id in the £ was struck, %:■;• ■ , WAIHI. I & LARGELY-ATTENDED public meeting was -held in the Miners' Union Hall on Monday : night, Mr. J. Rea presiding. It wag resolved S to hold an athletic entertainment and novelty combination performance for the sole benent ,of the Waihi hospital. t _ ... „ A meeting of the Management Committee oftbeWaihi Brass Band was held on Monday evening. Notification of the arrival at Dnnedm of the new Besson instruments ordered from Messrs. Eegg and Co.. was received by the committee. Mr. Mellor, the conductor. reported satisfactory progress having been made by the band since his appointment. , The Ladies' Waihi Hospital Committee met fa the Foresters' Hall on Wednesday after- " soon. A sub-committee was appointed for carrying out the hospital ball, which takes Place on September 5, and promises to be a great success. It was resolved to get ouon | «aihi Hospital badges printed, with red fettering on white silk ribbon, at the New •.ZEALAND HERALD Printing Works. Several I important matters were discussed in connec- | tion «,-ith the hospital movement, and satisfactory progress was reported up to date. It |« intended to present each donor of Is and upwards with a badge on Hospital Sunday. ._ WAITEKAURI. . . 1 WAITEEAtmi was en fete for the laying of | the .foundation stone of the new Wesleyan Church on Tuesday afternoon last. H For the Past 20 years the Wesleyans have conducted service in the township, but only now have they ventured to erect a place of worship. •the function of laying the stone commenced at three p.m., when a large number had lathered in front of the building. The proeeedingd commenced with singing "All Hail the Power," after which the Rev. C. Eaton, « vjaihi, prayed. The Rev. W. Greenstade, J:Paeroa. then read the lesson, I. Kings yi., . m.. The Rev. C. Abernethy, of Te Aroha, who presided, then gave a short and suitable address, setting forth the aims and objects of we people called Methodists. At the conclusion of his address, the Chairman presented a beatitifully.polisheil rimu mallet, with silver Fate suitably inscribed, to Mrs, R. E. Williams, who tapped the stone and declared it : well and truly laid." The Rev. J. Olphert, | sL wa, hi, delivered an eloquent and forcible a Wdresa on the Influence of Christianity and "hat we Owe to it." The proceedings terminated by the Rev. W. B. Scott pronounc|«g'the Benediction. At night the Public lull wis crowded to excess, when a concert I wok place in honour of the stone-laying. The ™ v - W. B. Scott, presided. The foundation \ ™ was a block of Oamaru freestone, which " was generously donated, with the inscription, I ?.Y Mr. Wru. Parkinson, of Victoria-street. I i'ttona.Church is to be opened on September ■•■■« [ or the Rev. C. H. Garland, the president oi the New Zealand Wesleyan Conference. , ~ TE AROHA. * pECUL meeting of the Domain Board "M held ' on Wednesday evening. All the *,« r5, with the exception of Mr. Devey, sin a Present, and Mr. W. H. Wrigh" preono.r Tde first business was to consider the TOMB) of extending the lease of an acre B&rh L ' 01I1 ain reserve, granted to Mr. D. ' «oour at a Previous meeting, from five years I jVa years The reserve in question has 1 is rit, '; on , ti y handed over to the Board, and B.!k„„ ated hind the properties of Messrs. th» r and Donald, and is separated from ' ■ tin". omain props, by Wilson-street and 1 Plant Parties. ' Mr. Barbour wished to Kern,? tlle acre granted to him with ornaDroveTV fruit trees, and otherwise im--1 Sot «, »■ and for this a five years' lease was 1 iectod ? cleat fe ' orne of the members obSJ° 80 lon S it lease as 21 year? being : trust „ °l er 'and which had been given in 1 tims >?J the .Pn'olic, and which might at any Wtot£.i equi r" J tor f"'' purposes. It was 2rant.lv; decided that Mr. Barbour be to be „i e use of the ground for 21 years, Public" lven u,) at anv time if required for Bidflreii puriJo^ - The next business coni draft wn-l at of "rramung for an overPletinn „v . VVils necessary to secure the com- - ffiai n n ° A . un »Jovement works in the Dosita iliß r discussion, it was agreed to eoUinr7V leceiiwl '- deed for the purpose of Quired % overdl 'aft from the Board if rei ma ot t!l - members signed with Bent,,,', 1:t ''-' ilu = e they felt that the Govern--laima n?Hr not sufficiently recognised the fcuutorinm 1 A , r °ha in the past as a public H *bould ri ' ■'" they felt that more assistance «« be g,ve., than had been given.