COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13846, 4 September 1908, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIHI.[BY TELMjn.VPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAinr, Thursday. At a meeting of the Works Committee of tho Borough Council last evening (Mr. D. Donaldson in the oliair) 54 applications wero received for employment on the borough worka under the co-operative system, the' Council having decided to furnish temporary work to relievo the congested labour market. Twenty of the most deserving cases were chosen. In connection with the failure of the borough gas supply recently the manaper (Mr. W. J. Hookey) reported at length, showing that the trouble arose from one of the workmen forgetting to turn off the pumping machine at the proper time, thus forcing air, instead of gas, into the holder. The committee unanimously agreed that the manager (who at the time was on a visit to Auckland) was in no way responsible for the mishap, and that prooor supervision of the works was exercised at all times. A number of residents assembled at the Waitekauri Hall on Tuesday evening to bid farewell to Mrs. Whitaker, who has officiated as postmistress there for the last 18 months. .The guest was presented with a purse of sovereigns as a recognition of her services and of the esteem in which she is held. .... , ...',, The fortnightly meeting of the Pride of Waihi Lodge of Druids was held last night, and was well attended, the district president and P.A. from Auckland being present. After the business was disposed of a games competition took place, the result being as follows : —Bro. Stanton, 1 ; Bro. Robinson, 2; Bro. Glass, 3. A short musical programme was furnished. PAEROA / [BY TELEGRAPH.r—OWN* CORRESPONDENT.] *;,,'* *"":'; *; ; .**. ,7 '" Pjjeboa, - 'Thursday. " At the Police Court to-day fines were inflicted as follows for feeding pigs on uncooked offal:— Wells, £2, and costs £1 10»; T. P. Vuglar, £1, and costs £1 10s; J. Fisher, ss, and costs £1 lis; William Gossetfc was charged with supplying lkpior to a Maori for consumption off the premises. After hearing the evidence for the prosecution the magistrate dismissed the case. The quarterly meeting of the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee was held to-day, the members present being: Messrs. Burgess, S.M. (chairman), Cock, Franklin, Trezise, and Gay' i. The police reported that the Kanaeranra Hotel was very old and required rebuilding. Mr. Moresby, who ap- j peared for the owners, asked that the question of making alterations be deferred until after the local option poll, find this was agreed to by the- committee, A similar course was taken with regard to the Waihou Hotel, Mr. Porritt appearing for the owners. Mrs. Corbett, widow of the late licensee of the Hikutaia Hotel, was granted permission to conduct the hotel temporarily. HAMILTON. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] At a meeting of the Waikato Bible Class Council, the programme for the Waikato Annual Conference, to bo held at Hamilton next month, was adopted. Special prominence is to be given to junior work. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] . TAUIXAETrNUT. Messrs. Ellis and Dickson have in hand a contract for the erection of a Roman Catholic Church on the Bangaroa Terrace. The Eer. Father Molloy has been appointed to the new parish of Tauniarunui, and will probably reside hore. Some considerable time ago the Minister for Lands promised to throw open some lands in the neighbourhood of Tamnarunui, Eaarimn. and Ohaknne for the men employed on the Main Trunk line, and it is understood that some sections will be ready to be taken up shortly. MarrieW men with families are to have the first chance. ' i The weather in the Upper Kin? Country ; continues very fine. The Maoris predict an j early spring and a long summer. MATTBEE. At the annual meeting of the Matiere Hall subscribers a r6port was read by the secretary, Mr. W. Le Coeg, showing that during the year th© outstanding debt had been paid off. several improvements effected, and the balance-sheet now presented showed receipts and expenditure to be the same. The following committee was elected for the enirainß year:— Hyde. A. O'Brien, Lo Coeg, Hill, and Carter. WOODLEIGH. This district is advancing rapidly. We have now a bi-weekly mail. Government telephone, and a postal note department. The work of the post office has greatly increased. The Maoris are liberal patrons of the telegraph. ■ They are constantly despatching wires, and do not grudge paying for long messages, sometimes spending as much as 7s. The roads arc very different from what they used to be. A four-horse waggon can now come here in the depth of winter. j Negotiations have started for tne erection of a sawmill to cut the timber on the Te 1 Akau run. adjoining Pongitiki. A camp has j been put up for kauri gnmdiggers. Lambjng has started. The weather is very favourable, and there i» everywhere promise of a good percentage. ■';-..''•' , - Last week there was a slight flood on the Awaroa Creek. It rose with unusual suddenness, and did considerable damage to the goods stored in the shed. A number of sacks of potatoes were spoiled, and several tins of biscuits went floating down the stream. There has been a large tangi cut at the coast for Mrs. Tanwhare Pomare. All work has been suspended by the Maoris for several weeks in consequence.