COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13702, 19 March 1908, Page 7

COUNTRY NEWS.

PAEROA. [Br TELKGKAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Taekoa, Wednesday. A TOTING man named Bennett, while riding the racehorse Miss Dawson at Paeroa racecourse yesterday morning, fell off, owing to tho saddle slipping. Ho was wtdered unconscious, and was taken to the homo ot Mr. J. Clarkson, being conveyed to tho Waihi Hospital this morning. Ho is believed to have sustained concussion of the brain. A Maori woman named Wehi Piahana was fined £1 and costs at, tho Police Court yesterday for tho theft of 30s worth of clothing. She was also ordered to pay the value of the stolen property. At tho Court to-day James Bobson was fined 103 and costs for using obscene language. Richard Warno was fined 40s and costs for being drunk while in charge ot horses, and 10s and costs for driving at night, without lights. Edward Hart was convicted and discharged for touting for hire on the railway platform. Thomas Saunders was fined 20s and costs for exposing unwholesome fish for salo, and a similar amount for failing to keep his'yard clean. WAIHI. [Br TiXECRAI'H.—OWN C'OItRliSl'O.NDliNT.] Waihi, Wednesday. Tho boys, Gather, Lane, and Saunders, who caused their parents such anxiety by absenting themselves from homo on Sunday and Monday, and wore supposed, according to tho statement of Maoris at Bowcntown Heads, to have been swept out to sea in an open boat, arrived back in Waihi on horseback last night. It seems that they had a somewhat rough experience on Sunday, when endeavouring to return in tho boat from Matakana Island. They were caught in the outgoing tide, and carried out towards the bar, but managed to get clear of the current, and made their way in shallowwater to Katikati. ->--. This morning at, the Police Court (Messrs. H. W. Moore and W. M. Wallnutt, J.P.'s, presiding) "Captain" Nelhi, alias Lillywhite, who recently passed himself off as the now electrician to the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and was convicted for obtaining money by false pretences, was charged with obtaining board and lodgings to the amount of £1 Is from the licensee of tho Central Hotel, with intent to defraud, by a. false pretence. Accused, who did not deny the statements made by the police, was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment in the Thames goal, the sentence to be concurrent with that now being served. ° [FKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] CLEVEDON. The late rains have made a great difference in the appearance of the country. It has come i OO late to ma ! ie any difference to the milk supply, although there is every appearance of a supply ot feed for the winter. +Jw!,« ure u lt)Sl £ the services 0 the headlt\ il? I ''. u- •'• » ieson ' of the Clevedou school, lie having, after a period of 12 years, <wJ'' 0r ? 1 ? ted t,}P the Driving Creek school, ooromandel. The local committee selected ah. J. B.Ramsay to succeed him, and also sent in the name of Mr. A. Miller, thus fulfilling the wishes of the Board of Education mo 81 ?. 8 two out of six names lorwarcled. mr. it. Carter sustained a serious accident on Saturday, has horse falling on him when yarding: cattle, dislocating his collarbone and injuring his leg. The Olevedon Steamship Navigation CoraH a i ly M re erectln »' saleyards. as well as making other improvements. '['he company has acquired a block of buildings in which to i,,™ + . arso ' f- tc - Mr - H. Walsh and staff have .the erection of the saleyards in hand, and hope to have them completed in time for the next & ale ' which will be held hero by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile ■Agency Company on the 28th inst, mini don I>< ? 10 lv & wiJl hold th6ir anS?.?, *£° r u ts - on >**" &> :i n excellent programme being drawn up for the occasion. A team is going to Remuera on Saturday next to try conclusions with the club there. WAIUKU. The district has put on (quite a green appearance . since the rain, and swede turnip seed that was sown at Christmas has just shown up during the last week. & many cases farmers . are sowing again with soft a£"i lps \ thmkin £ that it is too late for swedes to mature. Mr. John Enwright has just sold his farm * A? a . Aktl to Mr. James Given. I understand that the price paid was £20 10s per acre. * The anniversary tea and concert in connection with Wesley Church Sunday-school took place in the Public Hall on Friday evening, and proved a great success, the building being crowded. The Ilev. J. J. Mather presided at the concert, and presented an excellent programme, in which, in addition to local talent, friends from Auckland and Pukekohe took part. There were numerous encores, Miss Alice Simmer's singing meeting with special favour. During the evening the chairman presented the prizes to the Sunday-school children. A hearty vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. C. T. Barnball, was passed to all who had, contributed to the evening's enjoyment. On Sunday the anniversary services were conducted by Mr. Herons, of the Central Mission, Auckland. There were large congregations. Special hymns were sung, in which the children took part. Miss Rinjmer sang at both the morning and evening services, Mr. Herons also singing a solo at the evening service. The collections, which amounted to nearly £3, were in aid of the Sunday-school. MAUKU. The recent rain has had a most refreshing effect on the long burnt-up pasture, which has assumed a verdant green. If the mild weather continues it will be a great help towards winter feed for stock. Farmers are making every effort to push forward the sowing of their autumn grass, so that it may get a good start during such favourable weather, and provide feed during the early part of winter. A number of milk suppliers to the creamery have turned out most, of their cows, as they were giving so little milk, and that will give them a better chance for an early spring milking season. Threshing machines are now on their rounds. Most of the oats are being turned into chaff, which is all of a first-class quality., The annual picnic in connection with St. Bride's Church was held on Saturday last, in the .paddock adjoining the hall at Patumahoe. Though the attendance was not as large as usual, all present had a happy time. Mid-day and afternoon meals were provided. Sports were arranged for young and old, and some useful prizes were awarded to the winners. The vicar (Rev. C. F. R. Harrison), in thanking all those workers who had done so much to make the day a success, said he hoped that next year the picnic would be held during the holiday season. TAURANGA. Mr. J. Reid, of Messrs. Keene and Reid, Wellington, arrived here on the 11th inst., on business in connection with tho erection of gasworks. It is probable that during his visit a site for the plant will be selected from endowments owned by the Borough Council. The county engineer has submitted an exhaustive report on the roads and bridges in the Tauranga County. From this, it, appears that the bridges in many wises are in bad repair, and are likely to be a source of considerable expense at an early date. OPOTIKI. Mr. J. B. Cow's scow arrived at Ohiwa on Thursday, and will be despatched with a load of timber to Opotiki at once. She will trade regularly between Ohiwa and Opotiki in the timber business, and is capable of carrying about 10,000 feet per trip. This will enable the owner of the Waimana sawmill to do away with the carriage of timber by waggon. The native gathering at To Kaha on February 20, was a great success. Natives went from the various parts of the coast between Whakatane and Gisbome. The Whakatano natives chartered the launch To Kaha for the purpose, about 20 persons taking their passage in her. Enough food had been accumulated at Te Kaha for 2000 people, although the number of the visitors did not exceed 300. The accommodation and general arrangements were thoroughly up-to-date, the largest of the houses being thrown open to visitors, and the best quality of crockery, cutlery, and silver plat* being used. The object of the meeting was to collect funds for the extension of the telephone line, and a satisfactory sum was realised, the total contributions amounting to £387 ss. This amount enables these enterprising people to pay off all liabilities, and to carry forward a. credit balance of £87 for further extension work. They now propose to carry the line through to Torero and Opotiki. The following is a list of the tribes that contributed, with their respective amounts: — Ngatiawa, £14 ss; Whakatohea, £13; Neaitai, £20; Whanau-Apanui, £60; Whanau-te-Ehutu, £125; Whanau-Amaru, £14; Ngatiporou, £111. ARIA AND KAEAEA. After the last good heavy rains the grass is beginning to shoot splendidly, and if we don't get any early frosts there will be a fair amount of feed for the coming winter. On the 12th inst. a meeting of the settlers was hold (Mr. Elliott in the chair) to discuss matter regarding the railway route being surveyed through the district, and also the appointment of delegates to meet the Prime Minister at Te Kuiti shortly. Alter discussion, delegates were appointed to act in conjunction with other delegates. It is to be hoped the deputation will' be successful in impressing upon the Prime Minister the advisability and justice of adopting this. route for tho railway.