NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13451, 30 May 1907, Page 7

NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

, [FEOM OUR OWN, COEEESPONDE-NTS.] '• '• - ' '' ' '""' TE- PUKE. ■.' ' ' JUDGE GILFEpDER opened a sitting of. the Native Land Court here on Thursday Kiel. A large number of cases are gazetted for hearing here and .at Mnkctu. . On. completion [of the business at, To Puke , the court will •adjourn to Malcctu. it is hoped that as a result of Judge Gilfedder'a visit much of |tho idle Maori-owned laud will lie put into | 'profitable'; use, .either by ...the owners themselves or leased to' Europeans. ' At' the sitting of" the 'Wairilu- DistrictI Maori Land Board, at Eotovua, a large numjber'of cases from this neighbourhood are ; being dealt with. S. ;' " : ■ RAGLAN. -,- , - I THE . local dairy factories are. still , running/Tie Mata, receiving milk daily, and I Kauroa every second day. There is some talk of an amalgamation taking place between the two companies,, and as soon aa I the necessary data is obtainable at the enu of the season a conference between representatives of both concerns will be arranged. j Encouraged by previous results, '.Mr. - J. K. iPegler has recently sent a second • shipment of comb honey to England. . The weather continues remarkably fine for the time of the year, and it is generally admitted that there has; never -.been a better 'season for grass. On the other hand, the I turnip crops are very poor, most of them i being more or less affected by blight. A ! plenitude of grass should carry stock in good condition well into the winter, though the scarcity of turnips will be sure to inulaitself felt in many quarters later on. A gentleman representing a syndicate which owns an auxiliary •: schooner was in Raglan- during ' the week to-see if there was any inducement to put the vessel in • the Onehunga-Eaglan-Kawhia trade, but after making inquiries he found that requirements were, fully- met by the excellent steamer service of the Northern S.S. Co. | The Ta Mata butter factory has closed down for the winter, at the end.of a' record i season. The Kauroa Factory, which has also largely increased its output, will discontinue operations at the end of the month. A wire has been received by the local authorities from the Hon. Hall-Jones, regretting that his indisposition will prevent' any chance of his opening., the Opotoru S Bridge. . i A football match. Raglan v. To Aoterei, was played last Saturday; and resulted in a draw, 3 to 3. Dinner was, provided in tae evening at Host Barrow's. . , , A rifle match, between representatives of the Raglan Mounted Rifles and the.Wynyard Rifle Club, took place at Waingaro last Saturday, the former -team scoring 501 points, the latter 559. The visitors were afterwards entertained at dinner at the Springs. Hotel,, ... ~.■•.: ■ .....' MATAMATA. DURING the last few days the weather has been particularly wet and stormy. All the creeks and rivers have been in a state of high flood, but little damage is reported beyond the washing out of a few read fillings. . -. , ' , , Several important road and culvert, contracts have recently been let in the Piako County, but the weather has been so wet that it is in many cases almost impossible to proceed with any road repairing. On Friday evening, the 24th inst., the Matamata Football Club gave a very enjoyable and suocessful social dance in the local hall, a large number of residents and visitors being . present. The music, which Iwas provided by the Carroll brothers from iWardville, was first-class, and all the arrangements connected with the function were quite up-to-date, which reflects great credit upon, the committee of management. It is now understood that the Creamery Road at To Uruwhao will soon be dedicated by the Thames Valley Dairying Company to the Piako County Council. so that the previously promised £50 from the unauthorised expenditure should now be available for the purpose of putting this muchused thoroughfare in a proper state of repair before the local creamery reopens next season. ..',•