COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13926, 7 December 1908, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

■ WAIHI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waiht, Saturday. A blacksmith in the employ of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, named Grant, met with a painful accident yesterday. A splinter from a piece of steel lie was welding flew off and struck him on the wrist, inflicting a deep wound and burning the wrist. Some of the branch arteries were severed, necessitating a surgical operation and the stitching up of the wound.

' At the Police Court yesterday (Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, J.P., presiding) a man named Charles Phillipson, a prohibited person, was convicted and fined £1 and costs for drunkenness.

The monthly meeting of the Waihi School Committee was held last evening, the chairman (Mr. J.' Munns) presiding. The resignation of the Rev. T. R. B. Woolloxall (who intends to leave the district shortly) . as a member Mas accepted with regret, and Mr. J. Newdick was elected to the vacancy on the committee. The headmaster of the District High School (Mr. A. H. Benge) gave the number of scholars on the primary roll as 683, with an average attendance of 610. and on the roll in the secondary department as 18, with an average of 15.7. The report expressed regret at the fact that the secondary department was not better patronised, in view of the large population to draw from and tho existence of three schools to feed the secondary classes. Tho frequent and long absence of teachers on sick leave of late had made the school work very trying. Since the Board of Education's order not to admit any morechildren to the school 48 had been refused admission. In the course of a discussion the Board's action in not supplying relieving teachers and declining to provide further accommodation was severely criticised, and a motion of protest was carried. The acting master of the East End school (Mr. A. K. Day), in his report, touched on the continued improvement in health of the headmaster (Mr. S. H. Maeky), who had been ill for some time past, and gave the roll number of scholars as 288, with an average attendance of 248*.8. A letter from the Education Board advised the acceptance of the tender of Mr. D. Farrow (£695) for the erection of the new school in the southern portion of the township. >

HUNTLY.

[from OUR OW.V correspondent.]

A special meeting of the Huntlv Town Board took place on' Thursday night, Mr. J. P. Bailey presiding. The new by-laws were considered and passed. A letter was read from Sir Joseph Ward to the effect that the plans and specifications for the bridge over the Waikato at Huntly were in hand, 'and that on their completion the work of erection would be proceeded with. An enjoyable social was held in the Methodist "Church on Wednesday evening, the Rev. C. B. Jordan, 8.A., presiding over a good attendance. Recitations were contributed by Mrs. Wrigley, of Ngaruawahia, and Mr. Geo. Cook, of Birkenhead; a reading by Mr. C. S. K. de Castro; a song by Mrs. Dyer; and a duet, by Mr. and I Mrs. W. Poole. The accompaniments were I played by Miss. Wilson. A pleasant evenj ing was brought to an end by a series of J parlour games played by the children. •

WHAXGAREI.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

\Vkan<mkei. Saturday

Mr. R. W. Dyer. S.M., held an inquiry this morning regarding an irregularity in the Manaia election for a member of the County Council. As a result it was proved that D. Jones had been wrongly declared the elected member, and that Mr. Morey was the successful councillor. *

CAMBRIDGE.

[FROM OUR OWN correspondent.]

A meeting of tho Leamington Town Board was held on Thursday evening, Mr. W. Whit© presiding. A letter was received from the Department of Lands, Auckland, stating there was some delay in getting the municipal reserves transferred to the Board, owing to there being some error in an old survey; but the Department at Wellington had the matter in hand, and would expedite it as much as possible. The Board then sat as the, Leamington Domain Board. Mr. Fisher explained that the finances were in a healthy state, the bank account being .in credit £404 6s, and there was £221 on fixed deposit, making a total of £625 6s to the credit of the Board. It was resolved to Call tenders for various minor works.

THAMES.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Thames, Saturday.

The fortnightly meeting of the Thames Borough Council was held on Thursday, the Mayor (Mr. A. Burns) presiding. A letter was received from the secretary of the Thames Drainage Board, asking for the remission of rates due for the The request was granted. The return of stock slaughtered for the month was as follows:—Cattle. 98; sheep and lambs, 410; and pigs, 4 Letters were read from several firms of electrical engineers, regarding the furnishing of a report and estimate of the installation of an electric lighting plant for the town, and it was decided to accept the offer of Mr. E. J. Fenn to furnish the required report at a cost of £25. The report- of gold purchased during the month of November by-the Bank of New Zealand gave the amount as 1200oz. A combined public schools demonstration and sports gathering was held at the Parawai racecourse on Thursday. ' All the local schools, with the exception of Tararu. were joined, and a successful day's sports resulted. WAIIKWOR'm. [from OUR OWS COltßKifr-OMDP.XT.] A social was lipid in the Masonic Hall last week, when the ladies and gentlemen of the St. John Ambulance Association presented Dr. SicCreidte with a token of their appreciation of his services in the shape of a greenstone paper-knife mounted in gold and suitably engraved. Dr. Me--Creidie presented two gold Maltese crosses for the two ladles'who secured the highest number of marks. Mrs. W. Hamilton and Miss Morrison being the winners. Harvesting is now in full swing and a fair average is reported round about Warkworth.