NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12708, 10 November 1904, Page 7

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

vv.iiar. TD.E analvorsary of the r aihi Wesleyan Son-day-Bchool = was continued on i Tuesday night, when the church was crowded with a most appreciative; audience. •.;."•-, ;-i. ;t.:-:i ■*■' ...- HF.TiF,ySYILLE. ON Wednesday : last a most successful Masonic lunctivn took place, it being the unniWil installation of Lodge Uuke of Alhany. : -jir. ..U.IC. McJtillaa, W.U.M.. oiluer Oranu; Luuga officers, and visiting ureturen trom wirious parts of the colony -were present, and auauted m the ceremony .or installing Bros. U. it. Sellers, W.M.; £. C. Houaiey, S.W.; A. J. Rdl, J.W.; ■ W, ©owner, ; treasurer; T. Manning, secretary; 8. A. Maurui ana 0..80cae,deacons; and Q. Tiiomp»on. l.a. In th« evening the annual ball sock pace at th© 'fores* te<»' Bail, 'I'Mte were over 108 couples, cesides non-danosd's, present, and ail' appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. '• 'i'no ■ arrangement* ;in connection with the "decora-' tions, supper; tables; and general management displayed artistic taste on the part of Mrs. B. tetewart, assisted' by the lady friends of the :brethren. The craft at Helaasville , is particularly: fortunate in having the active sympathy .of such ladies as Mrs. Stewart, who, tie-sides * rendering f generoqs assistance ' With the ball, presented - the lodge with - a beautifully J worked banner, Mrs. A. J. and Miss 'Hill■:'also,:as a"labour of love, - made new lodge regalia. ; The brethren highly • ap» pieciate these ha mi.;; cine gifts. ! ; v ■ At the closing of the installation ceremony, the retiring P.M., Bro. T.: Hooper, Was presented by the 8.G.M.; on behalf of the Lodge, with a very * handsome P.M. jewel. Bro. T. Manning, P.M., who has acted as secretary for several years, was presented with a hand* some jewel of his office tut a mark of approo'ation-•: ■ ,:;■:,-. -.-:.'-■• '!;:■;•>!--;-i. -.;.■■•■■ ■%'-:-■■■ TAUMAJ&TJjnJI. ' THIS ' houseboat Maltere, which was built for Hatriok and Company, left Taumarunai at two p.m. oh November 4, in charge of Cap* tain Marshall and iv crew of seven men. The houseboat is to bo moored in the Wangaatil River, at the Ohura Falls junction, where «lie will be used to accommodate through pas* sengers from here to Wanganui; a.nd the upriver traffic, fhe should reach her destination in about one : month from date. . Great care is being taken to safely guide the boat down stream by means of ropes from the banks of the river. : v ..:■'■' ;■"-'■. i--.. ''■:'■■ ■■'• Fifteen tourists went down the'Wanganui Eiver last Tuesday, morning. There are eighteen passengers booked for Saturday morning (November 6); and more have been booked for later dates. At present the river service is bi-weekly; later on a dally service will be commenced, when the new river steamboats crime to hand. ■■":';'- Work Is proceeding upon the approaches to Matapuna Bridge, over the Wanganui River, which has been ' docked arid otherwise pre pared for horse and wheel traffic. . The Lands and Survey Department employees are at present forming the road through the township, which was much required. A deputation consisting of Messrs.. Ward, Laird, Braughton, Dallas, and Winkelmann, representing the district, waited on the Auckland and Wellington Land Commissioners on Friday evening, with reference to several local matters. The deputation was assured that no time -would be lost in the opening up of lands for settlement purposes .In the vicinity of Taumarunui; also, that the Tokoanu-Tau-marunui Road had already received favourable consideration, and would probably be started at an early date. \