NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13479, 4 May 1907, Page 9

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

[from, OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENTS.] DARGAVILLE. IT is reported that the Presbyterian Church authorities her© have purchased the Mangaulmo Hall from Messrs. A. E. Harding and Co. It is to be removed on to the church people's section in Victoria-street at an early date, and will be used for religious purposes. A very enjoyable evening was spent last Friday, the occasion being a fare,veil gathering to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Matthews, who are leaving the district. The social was field in Montgomery's Hall, and some 150 friends attended. During the evening Mr. A. K. Harding, on behalf of the residents, presented Mrs. Matthews with a very handsome elect re-plated biscuit barrel and a silver tea service. Mr. Matthews feelingly replied. Mr. Harding then presented Mr. Matthews, on behalf of the Messrs. Mitchelson Bros., with a sealed envelope, which was not to be opened until the recipient had left the district. Bishop Neligan and the Rev. If. A. Hawkins arrived here on Monday, April 22. During the evening His Lordship addressed a well-attended meeting on " Mission Work." On Tuesday the Bishop journeyed to Taita, up the Kaihu Valley, where the ceremony of confirming 49 Maoris look place. Tho annual meeting of the Kaipara Licensing Bench is fixed to be held on June 1 next in the Courthouse. M ATA M ATA. THE weather has been colder and finer, and the roads are all in an improved condition lor traffic. . Road-repairing is now going on extensively all over the county. Messrs. Eastwood Rros., of Manawaru. have secured the contract, of sanding the Waharoa-Mata-mata Main Road, and the.v are at present making good progress with their work. .Several important repairs have .just been completed upon the Tnrangaomoana Road, which is now in a fairly good state of repair, there is still considerable delay in regard to the proceedings of the Hungahunga Drainage Board, as far as the construction of the main drain is concerned, but it is now understood that the various drainage contracts were found to be too extensive, so that they were withdrawn, and afterwards submitted in shorter lengths and greater numbers.

The absence of local metal constitutes a very considerable drawback in the construction and in the repairing of all roads in this part of the country, and owing to the prevailing shortage of trucks it is almost impossible at present to obtain any metal from To Kuiti for that purpose. Many of the Waharoa native* are now absent attending a further sitting of the Maori I/and Court in Cambridge. Church matters are now progressing very favourably. within the Matamata district. It is understood that local subscriptions towards the building of a new Presbyterian Church in Matamata are coming in freely, and while in Auckland Mr. H. I'e'et, the local missioner, who seems full of energy and enthusiasm in regard to the prosperity of his church, recently collected amongst his friends £35 in aid of the new building, which he proposes to erect himself, "so that there should he little further cause for delay in getting to work. On Tuesday evening. April 23, a meeting of those residents in Waharoa interested in the welfare of the Anglican Church was held in the local schoolroom, and a committee, consisting of Messrs. Browne, I!. Johnston, Tyson, and F. Johnston (as secretary), was formed to assist the Rev. Mr. Kdgell in local church matters. On Sunday afternoon Mr. U.. Peet preached to a large congregation in the Waharoa schoolroom. The Mauiiavale residents are complaining in regard to the great delay in establishing a school in their district, although the.v have agreed to find a suitable, building in which to carry on the school until the end of the current year at least. A very successful hack race meeting was held in Mr. .1. Knight's paddock at Matamata on Saturday afternoon, when a good number were present. Of the seven events Ban.jo won three, Tikiroko three, and Trilby the trot. Mr. .his. Mclntyre acted as secretary, and everything passed off satisfactorily. The wind-up shooting competitions of the season in connection with the Piako Gun Club were held at Matamata on Saturday afternoon, during which a, very pleasant and successful time was spent.