NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13336, 16 November 1906, Page 7

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] ' HIKURANGI.; * " The new Presbyterian Church at Hikurangi was opened on October 21. The Rev. Merideth feoule came to Hikurangi just a year ago. In a very short time he had gathered together a goodly congregation. For a time Mr. Soule preached in the Public Hall, but an effort to get a church was made, and one of the committee, Mr*. W. Christie, collected- £60. Last August Mr. Mander laid the foundation-stone of the fine church. Mr. Mclan. the architect, and Mr. A. Devlin, the builder, ■ are to be highly complimented on the work from every point of view. The extenor is beautiful and imposing, while from an acoustic point of view the interior leaves nothing to be desired. Adjoining the church in a manse of six rooms, which Mr. Soule has constructed out of an old shop, to the surprise of the people who look on ministers as generally useless outside their particular sphere. The opening services on October 21 were of record character. No larger crowd has ever been seen in Hikurangi. . The Rev. T. Scott, of Mangere. conducted the services. At: the tea-meeting on Monday. October 22. Mr. Scott spoke in. most eulogistic terms of Mr. Soule as a man and a Christian. When he saw this large church, as the result of only twelve months work, and when he found that Mr. boule was a carpenter, plumber, gig builder, and landscape gardener, as well as a firstclass speaker and singer, he advised the people to hang on to him and give him all necessary support and sympathy. The church has a very small but excellent choir. Miss feoule is organist, and a,younger sister leading soprano. On Monday, otter tea. a concert was given, which went off splendidly. Mr. Sonle and his daughters sang solos and duets. Mr. M. M. Inness and Miss L. Gager also sang, and Miss K. Rowland recited. After Mr. Soule had gratefully thanked everyone of the numerous helpers the large gathering dispersed, and on Tuesday the schoolchildren were entertained by the Misses Soule on a quantity of goodies left over. - . • - ■• ■ RAGLAN'. Thk i members of (lie Raglan and Kawhiu A. and P. Association held a meeting on November 3 to consider the erection of combined side and «how yards at Kauroa.- The matter - was • discussed at considerable length, and while it was generally admitted that saJeyards were a desideratum fomo of the members thought it was not within the province of .'the association to undertake their erection, but that the farmers should take the matter in hand and the association should bear a share, of the cost on the understanding that the yards be available for show;; purposes. It was-eventually decided to make an effort, to raise sufficient, to defray the cost of the yards by subscription, the association donating £20 towards ' the amount.' When the Rev. Mr. fair was 'driving- home from Okcte on Wednesday, November, 7, he got out, of his buggy to sneak, to the Messrs. Wallis, who were, in their paddock, and his house taking fright at some cattle started off on its own account. The animal soon brought, the buggy to grief, overturning it and damaging it, considerably, but escaped without injury to Itself. Messrs. W. Thomson and Schnackenberg were setting out from Ruapuke for the Waikato show at Hamilton on. Wednesday. November 7, when the horse shied and upset, the vehicle in which they were riding. Fortunately they both escaped without injury. Constable O'Sullivan, the local representative of the Police Department, has "been granted his annual leave, and he and Mrs. O'Sullivan have, gone to spend the holiday at the Exhibition. Constable Murray is in charge." of the police station in the meantime.

Mr. Forsyth, of the Hoards and Bridges Department, has arrived at Raglan' with a party of workmen to take in hand the completion of the Opotoru" Bridge, the contract for the work, held by Mr. Wilkinson, having been cancelled. A steamer is .to be. brought here to facilitate the construction of the stonework approaches to the bridge, and modern methods and appliances will be used (to hasten the completion of the structure., Mr. 11. Coutts, of the Valuation Department, is revising the Raglan county valuations, and is now busy in the Whaingaroa. and Karioi ridings. The dairying industry is giving an impetus to the cultivation of the laud, and large areas in the vicinity of the factories are being got under the plough. The present season has been rather too dry for a full benefit to be obtained from the cow pastures, though what the grass has lacked in quantity if has perhaps made up in quality,' for the growth has not been of a watery nature, as it is in a wet spring. The new Anglican Church at, Te Uka. is approaching completion. The edifice adds materially to the appearance of that part of the district. HAMILTON. Thk stipendiary magistrate (Mr. H. W. Northcroft) sat for. the first time in the new Courthouse on Wednesday. Mr. Swarbrick, on behalf of himself and the members of the local bar, asked permission to say a few words on the occasion. All felt great satisfaction at, the opening of the Courthouse. He said it was important that the administration of the law should command the respect of the people. A suitable building has this tendency, as all men are influenced by their surroundings. Mr. Northcroft said that thev had deserved a new building for a. long time to replace the one built in the olden times. He thought that in the near future sittings of the Supreme Court would be held in Hamilton, and this would; be • a great convenience to the public. -.- -.' >•-: . -. ■:'■ ■■■■■■!{■<■■'„