COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14158, 6 September 1909, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIHI. [By TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Saturday. The monthly meeting of the, "VVaihi Schools Committee was held last evening, Mr. Nettlingham (chairman), presiding. A letter was received from the Auckland Education Board, intimating that the Minister had been recommended to appoint Waihi as an examination centre for the junior scholarships and free place pupils' examinations. The Ministers' Association wrote asking that facilities be granted to impart religious instruction to schoolchildren outside school hours, and it was decided to accede to the request. It was reported that during the last two years the East School staff had collected over £78 for improvements to the school and its grounds. The question of corporal punishment was discussed, and in view of the complaint/? of parents as to unduly severe punishment inflicted on their children, it was decided to direct the attention of head teacher?! to clause 44 of the Education Board's regulations (which provides for the sparing infliction of corporal punishment), and the committee's resolution on the subject, in which the opinion was expressed that the use of tho supplejack as an instrument of punishment should be discontinued. At the fortnightly meeting of the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union last night, ho following amounts were passed for payment:—Accident pay, £41 os 8d ; general expenses (including directors' fees and election expenses), £24 13s 3d. The Executive Council completed arrangements in connection with the payment of a salary to the president, who from Monday next will receive £3 per week and take up the duties of organiser and inspector to the union. At a social held in St. James' Hall last night Miss McClatchey, who is resigning the position of organist to the Presbyterian Church, was entertained by the choir, office-bearers, and friends. During the evening the Rev. W. White, acting on behalf of the choir and office-bearers, presented the guest with a Inndsorno gold neckchain, with amethyst and pearl pendant, in appreciation of services rendered. TE AROIIA. [FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroiia, Saturday. A meeting of the Hungahunga Drainage Board was held to-day, but the business was only formal. Owing to the flooded state of the country it has not been possible to let any works, and all that the Board can do at present is to keep the drains free from obstructions. A special meeting of the Board will be held next week to rearrange the classification and take steps to levy the special rate. The rate of payment* of Board members was raised from 9d to Is a mile. The tennis social was very successful. Over 60 couples occupied the floor, and the music supplied by the Te Arolia Trio was greatly appreciated. During the month of August the rainfall for Te Aroha, as recorded at the Domain Observatory, was 16.26 inches on 21 wet days. For the corresponding month of last year the total was only 4.15 inches on 13 wet days. The heaviest day's fall last month was on the 28th, when the record was 6i inches. Captain Lyons-Montgomery lias resigned his seat on the Borough Council, and Mr. Thomas Mclndoe has consented to stand for the vacancy. There are many public questions of pressing interest, to which, in view of the steady growth of the town and district, the local governing body will have to address itself, including a Town Hall and the completion of the drainage system. A rearrangement of the Valley train service is also a subject- that calls for early attention. The number of suppliers at the head creamery of the Te Aroha Co-operative Dairy Company is 12 in excess of last year. The production of butter at the factory at present is 25 boxes per day. Mr." Fnrrell, architect to the Education Board, is on a visit to Te Aroha, in connection with the proposal to enlarge the school building,'with a view to providing more accommodation for the secondary branch. The settlers of the Lower Waitoa arc making representations to have a daily mail service between Te Aroha and the local creamery They are prepared to pay a fair proportion of the cost of what is,* in view of the rapid growth of settlement in that quarter, a very necessary convenience.

CAMBRIDGE. [FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Cambridge, Saturday. Fourteen representatives of. firms in various parts of New Zealand prepared to buy the output of butter factories were in Cambridge to-day, for the purpose of negotiating with the local Dairy Company for the current season's output. The directors of the company met and considered the offers, but it is understood that none of them come up to the reserve decided upon, so that the acceptance of an offer will probably be made privately with one of the firms represented. Mr. A. Underwood has leased the Central Hotel to Mr. A. Thomas, of Auckland. OTAHUHU. [from our OWN' correspondent.] The annual meeting of the Otahuhu Presbyterian charge was held at Papatoetoe, the -Rev. A. Douli, M.A., presiding. The kirk session report briefly reviewed the main items of progress in the five churches belonging to the charge. It stated that the Sunday attendances bad been good for the whole charge, and a new school had been started at Pakuranga. Special mention was made of the increased giving for missions (home, Maori and foreign). * Twenty-nine names had been added to the communion roll, and tile average attendance at communion was 119 out of 180. The session report concluded with an appreciation of the faithful and zealous- labours of the minister, the Rev. Alex. Donll. and of the assistant, Mr. R. E. Evans, who has been engaged for a- further term of 12 months. The balance-sheets of the whole charge, summarised, disclosed a total income of £1093 15s lid, including credit balances amounting to £75 5s BJ.d. The income lor the preceding year was £1044 18s Bd. The mission collections of the congregation amounted to £94 0s 6d. Mr. M. H. Thompson war. elected secretary, and Mr. W. J. O'Hara, treasurer of the deacons' court, which was re-elected, with the addition of Mr. M, Mudill, jun. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the Sun-day-school teachers and superintendent, the deacons' court, and secretary and treasurer, the organists, choir, auditors, and to all who had helped in the work of the Church.

fW.OXI OUR OWN CORRESrOXD'-'VT.] '• MAN'AWATII*. i A meeting of the shareholders of the .Mum a warn Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, was held on Tuesday evening nt Manawaru to confirm a resolution "passed at a previous meeting to amalgamate with the Thames Valley Dairying Compuny. The resolution wad passed unanimously, so the .Manawaru Company ceases to exist except for the purpose of liquidation, and the l'acron company takes possession at onto of the Manawaru Company's property at Manawaru and M'anlville. The price for land, buildings, and machinery is £1500, to, be paid in instalments Spread over our year, and all the suppliers of the old company pledge themselves to join the new one. TV. AWAMI.'Tt:. The monthly sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held on Friday, when the following; eases were deal* with :—A'ublu v. W. Collin: Claim £43 15s 7d tor goods supplied. Judgment was,given for the amount claimed, with costs £1 13s. SkiiKc v. Hang' Kutipa : Claim £5 17s 6d. Judgment for the amount claimed, with costs 18s. Skuse v. William Coe : Claim £5 12s 6d for goods supplied. Judgment for the amount claimed, with £4 Ob 9d costs. For .stealing an umbrella from the Star Hotel at Kihikihi a native named Tore was convicted and lined £1, with costs £1 19s, or in default 14 days' imprisonment.