COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13767, 4 June 1908, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

WHANGAREI.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WuiXOAEEi, Wednesday. A sirccEssnn, function took place last night at the Commercial Hotel, .when the officer! of the Third Regiment Auckland Mounted Rifles were entertained at dinner by the citizens of -Whangarei. There were upwards of 60 present. His Worship the Mayor presided, supported on the right by Colonel Wolfe, and on the left by Major Eccles. The vice-presidents were Mr. H. Weaver (ex-Mayor) and Drs: Baxter and Good. After dinner the usual toasts were honoured, and the evening devoted to speeches and music, the latter portion of the programme being under the management of Mr. W. Moody, who acted as accompanist. At the conclusion of the evening,- His Worship the Mayor expressed the hope that- the event might become an annual one.

WAIHI. [BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] rWAIHI, Wednesday. _ At a, meeting of the Fire Council, held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening, it- was decided to recommend the Borough Council to purchase for the fire brigade a two-horse reel, with equipments. It was also announced that inquiries wore being made concerning fire alarms, with a view to introducing an alarm system for Waihi.

On the rifle range on Saturday next, the first-class shots of the No. 3 "Ohinemuri Rifles will fire the second competition for Captain R. S. Ready's trophv, the.'distances being 600 yds and 700yd's, with seven shots at each range. On the Saturday following the second-class shots will compete for Mr. Balmer's trophy.

[from our own correspondents']

NORTHERN WAIROA

Captain Cash, of the s.s. Sterling, lias taker* up his residence at Aratapu. The Dargaville ladies' leap-year ball took place on Friday night, and was a great success. The hall was nicely decorated, and an excellent supper was provided. Misses Gavey and A. Marriner were the secretaries, A heavy thunderstorm passed over the Hairoa on Friday afternoon, accompanied by heavy rain and very vivid lightning.

ALBANY. Mr. T. Ingham, an. old and respected resident of Albany, died on Saturday night, at the age of 76. He hud resided here for over 30 years, and had always taken an active part in public matters. The body was interred in the Albany cemetery on Monday afternoon.

lhe Messrs. Charman have lately purchased over 100 acres of uncultivated land here. Large numbers of apples are still being exported from this district weekly. Most of the farmers are now. busy putting in crops of oats for winter use.

RAGLAN. May has been a wonderful month for growth. Warm, sunny weather, alternating with warm rains, has improved the appearance of the country everywhere, grass lieing abundant and of very good quality, while turnip crops have done splendidly, considering their sickly appearance at the end of the drought. Prospects for wintering stock are much better than they were 12 months ago. A very pleasant entertainment was held at Waitetuna. last week, when Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who are leaving the district, were presented with handsome tokens of the regard in which they are held by their many Waitetuna friends. KATIKATf. The following is a copy of a letter received from Sir J. G. Ward,' in reply to a resolution adopted by the Road Board:—" Wellington, May 23, 1908.—Dear Sir,—l am in. receipt of your letter of May 4, forwarding copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the Katikati Road Board and ratepayers, and am pleased to learn that in instituting a trial survey of the proposed East Coast railway, the Government is meeting the wishes of the settlers. "With regard to tho commencement of the line from both ends simultaneously, the representations made are noted, and will receive consideration.— faithfully, J. G. WARD." \>. OPOTIKI. • •The' amount of milk cheques paid out by the Opotiki Dairy Association for April was over £900. The rate was Is per lb for butterfat,", which is a record in the history of the association. , At the invitation of the Waimana Dairy Association the local agent of the Northern Steamship Co.. Mr. C. J. Fox. has arranged with Mr. J. B. Gow to, take timber consigned to Waimana as far as Kiitarere in his scows. The building of Mr. Gow's new scow by Messrs. Savage Bros, will lie commenced without delay. '~..' s ''' HELENS. There are good prospects of very substantial progress being made by this township in the near future, as the forward move has already well set in The valley at the back of the township has been cleared of the scrub which covered it for so many years, and now shows a large area of wellgrassed country, much of it being a level flat. Messrs. Bennett and Green have purchased about 40 acres of this valley at £20 an acre,. and are about to establish an up-to-date nursery there. A road is to be put through the valley, and the township will then have a chance of spreading out on level country within a few minutes' walk of the station. The establishment of a fish cannery on the Mount Bex side of the township is now assured. The Hallway Department has recognised the necessity of very soon taking in hand improvements at the railway station and wharf, in order to cope with the increasing traffic, and their p!aii3, it is estimated, will run into an expenditure of nearly £7000. The Telegraph Department has consented to establish a telephone bureau in the town. One of the great requirements of tho township is a water supply, and this will have to be faced before long. Linked with the water supply is the necessitv for a drainage scheme, and this is emphasised by the existence of several cases of typhoid in the district.

i- TAUKAjN'GA. The building trade still keeps fairly brisk here. At present there arc eight houses in course of construction within the borough. On Friday an election was held, to fill the extraordinarv vacancy on the Borough Council caused by the election of Mr: Bull to the Mayoralty There were two candidates. Messrs. P. Donovan and T. S. Duncanaon, the latter being elected by a majority of 89 votes. ~.,,«_ The extent of the fishing industry here mav in a measure be gauged from the fact that at the present time 52 licensed fishing boats are engaged in the trade in local waters.