NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 7

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] CAMBRIDGE. The Cambridge Domain Board met on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs. T. Wells (chairman), J. Ferguson, and Dr. Roberts. It was agreed to grant A. Johansen a lease of sections 363 to M and 380 for 21 years at "J annual rental of ss, provided he ttrst cleared and grabbed them. Amounts totalling *la -» lor recent improvements to the Lake grounds were passed for payment. Tho chairman mentioned that the Seddon Picnic Committee had a surplus of *8 to £10, v. men he understood it was-, proposed to hand over to the Domain Board. The question or settling the conditions of leases, which expire in Aucust next, also tho appointment of a caietaker were deferred till a full meet of the Board. Mr. Ferguson .was homed to get the -Domain scats painted. The chairman said a suggestion bad been made to him thai rough seats should, be erected round the trunks of trees on .various part; of the Do main, and the clerk was instructed to mention the idea at the next meeting of the Borough Council. vinVt MethoThe quarterly meeting of "v™? 1 * " sucdist Quarter was reported, the membership ro«fnl ouartcr was reported, the memuersuiii Invinc increased, and the income exceeded he expenditure. It is !***«"* in J%£l occasional services will be held at Maun.a into the circumstances attending the fire at Fenoourt, whereby a. eontain ins a traction engine and plant, the property of Reynolds Bros, was Destroyed, wa« toW here on Thursday, before Mr. J. »• I nestuy, T V The evidence of Messrs. A. wauace, «. Wallace A L Gibbons, C. .larrett, S. Baldwin. nndi Noah Reynolds was taken, the inquiry HstinK flVe Kb After a short deliberation th« Inrv returned a verdict that there was no e kS To snow how the Are originated. Constable McGilp conducted the inqi tin. while Mr W Souter watched the case on uchalf of iAe New Zealand Insurance Company. HUNTLY. AT the annual meeting of St. Paul's Church, Huntly, the Rev. Mr. Mason presiding, a vote of thanks was accorded to the outgoing officebearers, including the church,vat-dens, vestry organist, and Sunday-school teachers. The balance-sheet for the year ending March 31 (for Hunlly district alone) showed a total income of £165 9s Id; expenditure, £1631 lis sd. credit balance. £1 17s lid showing that the vicarage debt is being rapidly reduced. Ilie vicar nominated Mr. 11. R. Porter as his warden. Air. Edward S. Wright, whose businesslike control of the finances during the past vear, has been of great service to -he church, was re-elected as people's warden. The following were nominated .and elected vestrymen:—Me«3ra. Bailey, Crowder, Ellison. Ball.' B. Housley. Purkes. Trimble, Turner. and Ward. Hearty votes ot thanks were «iven to Mr. E. B. Cox for his valuable and onerous sendees as central treasurer, and to Messrs. Harrison and Wilson for their devotion to their duties as lay readers. The Rev. Mr. Blamlres presided at a farewell and service of song, entitled ■•Jessicas Prayer." The choir, under Mr. Horwood, acquitted themselves very well indeed. The Rev. Mr. Kanderson read the descriptions. The, Chairman explained that Mr. Sanderson was about, to leave the district. He eulogised Mr. Ranrterson's work. Mr. Sheeran presented Mr. Randerson with a gold-nibbed fountain pen, on behalf of the Good Templar?. of Huntly. Apology was tendered lor tho absence of the Rev. Mr. Mason. Mr. Ward spoko a lew words fitting to the occasion. Mr. Francis, who takes up Mr. Randersorr's work, was then introduced. Mr. Kanderson returned thanks for the numerous good wishes expressed on Ins behalf. Miss Randerson and Miss Troughear contributed solos. A pleasant and bright wedding took place at Woodlciffh, when Mr. Walter Steele, of Mamaku, Botortta, was married t:i Miss Emily May Hemrnings. The Misses Hemrnings acted as bridesmaids. The bride" wart' dressed in white, with wreath and veil. Mr. Joseph Steele was best man. The parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hemmings. entertained the wedding party to a wedding breakfast.

Miss Hodgson was selected to act as librarian at the Huntly Library at the recent meeting. The (lucks are patronising Lake Waikare this year. There appears to be less than the usual number on Whangape. Tho Glen Murray tennis court, which is under the care of Mr. Maloney, is now well grassed, and promises to he a success.

A Maori lad at Whereroa accidentally got a large schnapper hook firmly embedded in his hand, penetrating into the joint of the thumb. As the lad had been going about with tho hook as described for the last two months, and was suffering badly, Constable Rock ordered the natives to have the hook removed. Dr. Wilson, of Huntly. got the hook away from the sufferer, which was no easy matter owing to the circumstances of the case.

A full muster of volunteers turned up for drill on Thursday evening. New uniforms are under order. Mr. Burr, of Ngaruawahia, baa been elected lieutenant of the Huntly Rifles. The native meeting at Waalii is to be held on May 18, so as to give time to the Maoris to attend to their cultivations and to bring in the potato crop. COROMANDEL. On Wednesday night, Mr. T. J. Bull organising secretary of the New Zealand Alliance for tho Auckland district, gave a lecture In the Oa-edonian,Hall on' "Liquor and Finance." Tho Rev. T. A. Norrie occupied tho.chair. The lecture was illustrated by a large diagram designed to show the expensiveness and wastefulness of the liquor traffic, as a means of collecting revenue. Mr. Bull contended that " Will it pay?" was not the most important question in the settlement of the drink problem. Liquor being a fruitful cause of crime, poverty and disease, to maintain it simply because it pays financially, was altogether indefensible. DKURY. The annual soiree and concert of the Drury Band of Hope was held in the Public Hall here on April 25, and was well attended, and passed off successfully. The Rev. T. Norrie presided. After the tea was partaken of and the tables cleared away, an interesting and varied programme was gone through, and well received, consisting of an overture by Miss Gulliver; songs by Mrs. Hassell and Misses Lodge. Harding, and McNanghton, and Messrs. Crocroinbe and Rosier duets by Mrs. Hassell and Mr. Crocrombe. and Mrs. Hassell and Miss Gulliver; a glee by a company; recitations by Misses Hamilton, Harding, and Mr. Rosser; and an instrumental selection by the orchestra. Temperance addresses wore Riven by the chairman, Mr. Dixon, sen., and Mr. Rosier. The report and balance-sheet for the year was read by the secretary. Mr. Win. Dixon, which showed that the society was keeping its ground, and was prepared for further progress.

Brown and red the fashion of tho season, for dresses, etc., in England. See our special window display; 52in panne zibeline, the latest and leading material ; wonderful value, 3s\lld.—McCullagh and (lower. A soiree and welcome to the Rev. T. T. Thomas will be held in the Wesley Hall on "Wednesday evening next, followed - by a public meeting in the church. A number of addresses will lie given during the evening, and special music and ringing by the scholars and orchestra.

The p.s. Osprey will run an excursion to Lake Takapuna to-day. The steamer leaves the ferrv tee at two p.m. sharp, leaving the Lake 'Wharf at n-quartet to five p.m., and calling at Victoria Wharf on the return trip. The Newmarket Fishing Club leave in the p.s. Tongariro on a fishing excursion from the ferry tee at half-past one o'clock this afternoon.