NEWS FROM COUNTRY. DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13096, 8 February 1906, Page 3

NEWS FROM COUNTRY. DISTRICTS.

[FROM OUR OWy CO It RESPONDENTS.]

HAMILTON. The annual picnic of the Walton school was beldl in .Mr. Bell's paddock. The weather was fine and there' was a large' attendance. 'Die usual sports were, indulged'in, the children enjoying, themselves thoroughly. In the evening a dnjie+i was held in Mr. 'league's woo?shed, and wan kept up till two a.m. ■ .Mrs. W. Bell and the Misses 'league and Campbell contributed the music.. At a meeting of the committee of St. Andrew'* young men's .class, held 011 Monday evening, Mr. Ooodfellow tendered his resignation as leader in consequence of a contemplated trip to America and Europe. The committee,' because of the excellent service Mr. Goodfellow has rendered, refused to accept his resignation, but in placs grained him leave of-absence till next annual meeting. Mr. Goodfellow thanked the mcnibcri in feeling terms.

A meeting of the Hamilton Ratepayers' Association wan held 011 Tuesday evening to considei the. loan proposals of ihe Council. Mr. H. Pari presided over a meeting of 14 members. A resolution w. a (ral l ied that, the estimate of £13,000 tor street improvements was excessive, that the matter of borrowing £12,000 for the acquisition of the gas works lie postponed, and that it was premature to undertake tiie tram service. A meeting of the Hamilton Rowing Club was held on Tuesday evening. A letter was received from the Ngaruawahia .Club suggesting the establishment of a Walkato challenge shield, to be competed tor annually at the Ngaruawahia Regatta by country clubs affiliated with the Anck* land Rowing Association. The shield will be provided by public subscription, the winning .club to hold it lor 12 months. The club approved ol the proposal and. agreed to subscribe £5 to th* fund. In reply to the Ngaruawahia Club, it .was decided to write that a crew of ladies would enter for the forthcoming regatta. MATAMATA. The weather is fine again. The recent rain ha* done a lot of good all over this part of . th«< country. Feed and water, , however, are still' scarce, and more rain is badly needed. On Monday evening last the householder* o!i the recently-divided school districts of MatamaW and Walwroa met to elect school committees, to serve for the ensuing three months. The following gentlemen were —Waharoa: Messrs* Watts (chairman and secretary), Johnstone (treasurer), Petty, Khutz,. Foreman, HcTntyic, and Tyson. Matamata: Messrs. McCaw, Banks, Morgan, James, Tetlcy, and Kilbride. The demand for flax in this district still continues very brisk. Early in the week two flaxbuyers (one iron Te Awamutu and another from Morrinsville) visited this locality in order to purchase the local raw material. Mr. Fred. Walker has secured the County Council contract of forming and gravelling the Gordon Bush Road of over 50 chains, and is now well under way with his work. MAMAKC. AT the annual meeting of the Sports Club the secretary's report was very encouraging, and the balance-sheet showed .1 substantial Jura to credit. It was decided to hold the spurts on St. Patrick a J)av. Mr. W. 11. Jerries, M.H.R., was unanimously re-elected to the office. of president, • and a ballot resulted in the following being elected as committee for the ensuing year•—: *■'****• S. W. King (chairman). W. J. f.alull .1. W. A more (treasurer,), A. , W .\, ,'i V 11. Ford, H. M. Martin, h. Quaid, .1. yuaid, • . Steele, J. Tyndall.