COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13742, 6 May 1908, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIHI. [BY TELEGRAPH.— COREEbTONDENT.] Waihi, Tuesday. In reply to a communication to the Health Department relative to the establishment in Waihi of a municipal milk depot, Mr. Johnv Newtli lias received a lengthy letter from the district health officer at Auckland (Dr. J. Purely), pointing out the advantages of suclf"».i depot, and. urging a crusade in favour of its establishment. :'■ The Rev. J. Wrigley, recently appointed to the charge of Wesley Church, was tendered ii. welcome social last night. There was it large attendance of church members, the Rev. J. Dukes, .superintendent of the circuit, presiding. Several appropriate speeches were made. v I . ■. otahuhu. .•;:;: TKOJI OUK OWN COKHESrONDEXT.J j ■ *, ;■;! The annual meeting of the ratepayers in the Otahuhu road district was held on I Monday night in the Public Hall, a,; moderate number attending the meetingyi; which was presided over by Mr. J. Todd.l The report, read by , the clerk West), referred to' the progress of Otaliii--hit, sis shown by ' thei keen demand for building sections'. About 30 new dwel-lings-have been erected during the past year, and litany more ate only waiting tor available carpenters and bricklayers. In view of the rapid rate of building the Board has drawn up a series of by-laws, fixing a minimum area for building sites, and stipulating the quality of material to be used. These by-laws have received Dr. Purdy's approval, and will shortly be gazetted, Much important work has : been done, on the roads, especially Station j Road, by raising and widening the embankment at Fairburn's Gully, converting a narrow, dangerous hollow into a broad, level roadway. The health of the township has been, remarkably good, and an improvement much, appreciated by the public is the lighting of the streets with gas. The need of a water supply has been kept in view, and a report will be furnished upon a local supply, after exhaustive tests have, been made. Information has also been received from tho Mayor of Onehunga "as to the tapping of an apparently inexhaustible spring, from which the authorities are prepared to supply water on liberal terms. The balance-sheet showed the total receipts to be £1195 lis ' 2d, expenditure £1334 5s 3d, overdraft, on the Bank of New Zealand £174 17s 7d, and cash on hand £35 4s 6d. Mr. A. Sturges, as a member of the Board, referred to the grant of £200, authorised by the Government, for the proposed Technical School, stating that the subsidy was insufficient even with the amount subscribed by the residents, to build and properly equip the school, and that further steps would be taken by the Progressive League to endeavour to obtain the £300 originally asked for. The urgent need for an improvement in the train service was also mentioned by Mr. Sturges. The motor train promised by the Department has been ready for some time, and the new time-table approved by the authorities, but because no suitable engine is available the old timetable has to be adhered to.

Mr. H. W. North croft, S.M., presided over the sitting of the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Judgment was delivered in the case of J. W. McLarin v. R. B. Frost, adjourned from last Court day for the magistrate's decision. In the first case, in which Frost was charged with illegally impounding a bull, the property of J. W. McLarin, defendant 'was convicted and fined 20s, and costs £4 7s 2d. In the second case McLarin claimed that the £5 damages claimed by Frost for the tiespass of the bull were excessive. Frost was convicted without costs. The third case, where Frost impounded eight calves be longing, to McLarin. was also decided against Frost, he being convicted and fined. 20s, and costs £3 0s 6d. This case excited considerable interest among owners of cattle, and is important to poundkeepers, as showing the necessity of properly complying with all the regulations in connection with impounding cattle. The other business of the Court was unimportant, seven old age pensions being renewed.