NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13307, 13 October 1906, Page 9

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[FROM OUR OWX CORIIESrOSPESTS.] • : HAMILTON. A MOST enjoyable dance in aid of the funds of the Frankton Anglican Church was held on Wednesday evening in St. Peter's schoolroom. There r was a good attendance. The building fund will be materially increased. '* CAMBRIDGE. The golf season was concluded at Cambridge on Wednesday, when mixed foursomes were played, Miss Brooks and A. A. Kenny proving the winners. Advice has been received from America that , ! the high level bridge for Cambridge, which was to have been shipped on October 1, 1906, will not, owing to« unforeseen circumstances, be shipped till January 1, 1907. . OTAIIUHU. , A bazaar to raise funds to repair the convent , was opened in the Public Hall 011 Wednesday night under auspicious circumstances, and received liberal patronage. The various stalls were handsomely decorated with useful and ornamental goods, the sale of which was energetically pushed by a bevy of enthusiastic saleswomen. The stalls were in charge of the following ladies:—Fancywork stall, Mesdames McAnulty and Davidson, Miss McGee, and several assistants; plain stall, ' Mesdames Goodwin and McCrory; art stall, Mr. and Mrs. .J. O'Connell and Miss Elsie MeCrory; Christinas -tree, Mesdames Rogers and McManits; (lower stall, the Misses M. and T. Martin and Cooper; lollie stall, Misses McAnulty, McCrory (2), and Haydon. Mis. Freeman was in charge of "the refreshment stall, and the Misses J. and E. McCrory superintended the bran tub. The shooting gallery and nail-driving competitions were looked after by Messrs. G. Glynn and W. McAnulty respectively. An excellent string band furnished music at. intervals during the evening. ' A meeting of those interested in the formation of a tennis club in Otahuhu was held at the residence of Mr. A. M. Shepherd on Wednesday night-. Estimates of the cost of preparing three courts were laid before the meeting and considered favourably. A plan of campaign was agreed upon ' by tnose present, who formed a working committee, with Mr. 11. J. Hall as president and Mr. T. W. Phillips as lion, secretary and treasurer pro tern. ' • UUNTLY. A meeting of the shareholders of the Taupiri , West Coal Mining Company was held in the company's office, Iluntly, 011 Monday night and again 1 011 Tuesday morning, Messrs. J. ,T. Craig aWI T. Cotter, of Auckland, being among those present. The chief business concerned the acquisition of certain coal-bearing property 011 the west- side of the river.. In view of the case brought against the company by the inspector of mines, it was re--1 solved to advertise for a manager holding a firstclass mining certificate to supervise operations at the shaft, most of which nas been sunk. Mr. W. S. Meldrum, one of the directors, was elected j honorary secretary pro tem., vice Mr. .John ■ Hughes, who lias resigned. With a view to stocking Lake Waikare with rainbow trout, the. Auckland Acclimatisation So- ! ciety's ranger from Okoroirc hatchery proceeded 1 to Ranglriri 011 Tuesday with a supply of strong and healthy-looking yearlings, some of which succumbed to the discomforts of the railway journey, although the officer in charge worked like a 1 Trojan to supply the trout with the necessary i oxygen.' The usual monthly meeting of the Huntly [ School Committee took place 011 Monday night, the chairman (the Rev. A. J. Beck) presiding. The inspector's (Mr. Crowe) report on his annual ! visit was read and considered most satisfactory. 1 It was resolved to write to the headteacher congratulating him and the members of the staff oil 1 the excellence of the report, as well as to state ; the gratification of the committee on the successful way. in which the work of the school had been conducted. To show their appreciation of the many ser- ' vices rendered to the community by the Huntly. ! Brass Band, and in token of their sympathy with the members in their effort to raise, money for i the purchase of instruments imperatively neces- ■ sary for its success, the public turned out in ; large numbers to their social, which, from all \ points of view, proved a huge success. ; The residents of Kimihia took advantage of Labour Day to hold their annual picnic, which i . took place 111 Mr. Perry's paddock, and which was well attended, the population of Kimihia being largely augmented by large parties from Huntly. Among the latter was the brass band, under Band- [ master Mcintosh, whose programme was greatly enjoyed. The day was very fine, so that with ' dancing and games a most enjoyable day was passed. 1 A second picnic party proceeded in Mr. Greenacre's launch to Lake Rotongaro, situated on the property of Mr. Donald McKinnon, where a pleasant outing was thoroughly enjoyed. , On Wednesday all the mines and places of business in the township were closcd. Labour Day being celebrated by the whole community. ' The annual handicap shoot for prizes held in connection with the Iluntly Rifles took place on ■ Wednesday at the range. Ilmrtly West. The day, though a magnificent one. was, if , anything, too bright, and militated to some extent against tall scoring. The conditions were seven rounds at 200 yds and 14 rounds at 500vds, Bisley targets, any military position. The contest was. fairly ' keen, both competitors and the general public being numerous. The chief scores (including handicaps) were as —Sergeant R. Manning i 88, Captain Elliott 79. Sergeant P. Stone 75. Colour-Sergeant A. Crowder 73. Bugler E. Hall 72, Corporal. George Pearce 71, Lance-Corporal J. S. Fleming 70, Acting-Lieutenant Cummins 68, Acting-Lieutenant Turner 68,: Private A. J. '• Parker 68. ' ' . . PUKEKOHE. THE annual meeting of the I'ukekolie Lawn Ten- . nis Club was held in tJie public library on Friday ■ evening of last wee!;. . Mr. W.-Rdulston (president) occupied tho chair. Mr. W. P. Roberts read the ' annual * report and balance-sheet.- The report stated that the total membership for the year was 71, consisting of 35 ladies ana 36 gentlemen ; nips were honorary members. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year, viz. : — President. Dr. Williams; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. P. Roberts; committee, Messrs. IJ. Andrew," .1 Patterson, J. Kennelly, W. Johns, C. Cooper, F. Deane, L. J. Steele. A. Waller, W. .Tones, C. Schofield, president and secretary ex officio; dies' Committee, Mrsdames Williams, Motion, White. Davys, and Miss V. Webster. It was decided to register the society under the Unclassified Societies' Act; also, that the opening day should be October 13. I'IJHOI. The ordinary meeting of the Puhoi Road Board ! was held on the 6th inst. A report was received { from the chief engineer re tunnel bridge to the 1 effect that it was not erected where specified by the plans, and that until something was done to rectify the error £10 would be detained. It was decided that the members inspect the bridge and see what can be done in the matter. Mr. Parry and party attended the meeting, asking to have* a bridge on the Pukapuka deviation altered to a position lower, as it would make a wider curve. It was decided to erect the bridge all its present site. Mr. Bayer reported the work 011 Moir's Road completed ; that Burns' bridge wanted repairing; also, that Ramier's bridge was in a very unsafe state and wanted attending to at once. It was decided to inspect the bridges and call tenders for the work if necessary, the tenders to be due at next meeting. Messrs. Scholium, Bayer, and Strathers were authorised to inspect and lay off the work on the South-west • Road. The chairman was authorised to do his best to get a grant out of the supplementary grants for road work. The tender of M. .1. Turnwnld (£2l) for works on Turnwald's Road was accepted. It was decided that the meetings of the Board in future be held at five p.m. The weather up to the present has been very favourable for fruit trees. The peach. Japanese plum and pear trees are, looking extremely good, and promise an abundant crop. There are several patches of potatoes well above ground in the dl=•trict, which so far aro looking healthy. The main crop generally will be.planted late in the season, ,ib the experience obtained the last two seasons is that the earlv crops were nearly all destroyed with the blight. However, it has made them wide awake to spraying, which, if judiciously done, will tend to check the disease.