COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14237, 7 December 1909, Page 7

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIHI. [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Waxhi, Monday. Miss Henry, of the China Inland Mission, occupied the pulpits in the Baptist and Wesleyan Churches yesterday and delivered interesting and instructive addresses on mission work.

PAEROA. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paeroa, Monday. There was a large attendance to-day at the official opening of the Thames Valley Co-operative Dairying Company's new butter factory at Paeroa. The new factory is a fine up-to-date building, constructed in brick and concrete, at a cost of nearly £3000. The contractors were Messrs. James Lye and Sons, of Auckland, and the architect Mr. Gillman, of Paeroa. The new building has been erected alongside of the old factory and is a very great improvement on the Sid place. The rooms are fine and large, and the very latest machinery has been installed. The power is obtained from a new suction gas plant, and the butter is made with three, combined churns and butter-wrappers. The roofing is of Marseilles tiles. In fact, the factory is not only up-to-date, but is also ornamental. After the opening the suppliers and a number of guests were entertained by the company at a dinner at the theatre, about 250 people being present. Mr. A. C. Hubbard, chairman of directors, presided, and amongst the guests, were: Mr. Mace (Te Aroha Dairying Company), Mr. P. Grace (chairman Ohinemuri County Council), Mr. J. Newth (Mayor of Waihi), Mr. R. W. Bagnall (chairman of the Thames County Council), Mr. L. J. Bagnall (Auckland), Mr. J. A. Pond (Government analyst), Mr. Huddlestone (Government stock inspector), Mr. F. Hubbard (Te Aroha Borough Council), and several representatives of local bodies. A number of toasts were proposed and duly honoured, Mr. Hubbard stating, in the course of his speech, that the company was not only out of" debt, but that it had a credit balance of £750. Mr. Howie, on behalf of the suppliers, presented the manager (Mr. W. Dixon) with a handsome marble clock.

TE AROHA. [from our own* correspondent.] Te Aroha, Monday. Rain has been rather abundant of late, and though it has been welcome to the farmer, and therefore tolerable on all accounts, its regular recurrence on Wednesdays and Saturdays "has given outdoor sports a poor chance this season so far., At the meeting of the Hungahunga Drainage Board' on Saturday, it was again made apparent that labour is pretty scarce in the Thames Valley. Though several contracts for drainage works had been advertised, it was only practicable to let one. For this the tender of Bray and Lupis, at £3 9s a chain, for 90 chains, was accepted. Consideration of several other tenders for works was deferred. A letter was received from Mr. Swarbrick, solicitor,' Hamilton, on behalf of Mr. Laird, objecting to the proposal of the Board to carry the work of deepening the Waipuna ai.<l Waihekau Creeks through Mr. Laird's property unless the job was completed for euch a length as to avoid doing him damage. Mr. Swarbrick intimated that damages would be sought for any injury done. These drains were promised by the Board to Mr. Chudleigh, at a previous meeting, at which the Board resolved to give Mr. Laird a month's notice of its intention. It was now decided to proceed with the necessary legal steps, but to meet Mr. Laird, as requested in Mr. Swarbrick's letter, with a view to making an amicable arrangement of the matter. The Okauia settlement is making substantial progress. The new school was opened recently, and has now about 40 pupils on the roll. Mr. C. B. Beeson is the teacher in charge. ? The opening was made the ooca6ion of a most successful social gathering, which was attended by fully 300 people. _ » The executive committee of the To Aroha Agricultural and Horticultural Association are now actively making preparations for the annual show, to be held on the 29th of next month.

HUNTLY. [FROM our own CORRESPONDENT.] Huntly, Monday. . Splendid weather * favoured the show promoted by the Taupiri Flower Show and Home Industries Association held' in Mrs. Lovell's Hall on Saturday. * In opening the exhibition Mr. Greenslade, M.P., expressed his delight at being present, and congratulated all concerned on the excellence and variety of the exhibits, paying a well-earned compliment to the committee and to the indefatigable secretary, Mr. Joll. No fewer than 500 people, drawn from all parts of the Waikato, visited the show, and all ' were surprised at the number and the quality of the exhibits. The flowers were very fine, while the home industries »' would s take a lot of beating anywhere. The work done by the juvenile competitors was also most commendable.

.' •' .... ''■ ,• , . •' HAMILTON. [BY : telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Monday. At matins yesterday at St. Peter's Bishop Neligan administered ' confirmation, in the afternoon, he conducted > a men's meeting, and at evensong he preached the sermon. There were good attendances at all the services. . The Rev. A. Gow will be inducted as minister of St. Andrew's (Presbyterian) Church to-morrow , evening by the Rev. Mr. Scott. About 100 entries have been received for the floral fete at Claudelands on Wednesday in aid of the band funds. * The gathering promises to be a most satisfactory one.

CAMBRIDGE. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Cambridge, Monday. In anticipation of compulsory military service being introduced a number of recruits are joining the , mounted corps at Cambridge, and it is expected that before long the corps will reach its former strength of 60 men. On Saturday nine new members were sworn in. At the Y.M.C.A. on Saturday evening five patrols of the boy scouts were formed in connection, with the association's boys' department. Scoutmaster G. H. Heath is in charge of the troop, which bids fair to become extremely popular with the lads of the district. The Trinity Preebyterian Sunday-school anniversary services were held on Sunday last, the Rev. W. Woo lines, of Waikato, occupying the pulpit. Large congregations were present.

BUCKLAND. [from our own correspondent.] An effort is being made to liquidate the debt at present existing on the vicarage erected some years since by the Anglican community of these districts. With this object in view, a bazaar and sale of work has lately been held, in addition to which several members of the central vestry are making a combined effort to raise £100 by means of donations. The movement has been very liberally supported by the people of the Buckland and Harrisviile districts, who alone have guaranteed £30 of the £100. _ , Mrs. S. Hewitt, who is leaving this district after residing here for many years past, was, together with the members of her family, tendered a farewell social in the Public Hall on Wednesday evening. Messrs. F. O'Connor and G. C. Munns voiced the regret felt by residents at the departure of the guests of the evening, whose loss will be felt more particularly by the Anglican Church, Mrs. Hewitt und 5 " :'V fr'/'S-'r-h'

her family having worked indefaiigably in the interests of the Church of I England. A very enjoyable social evening was spent, and the gathering terminated with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne." * .Vl A meeting of the Buckland Progressiva League (presided over by Mr. E. Allan) was held in the Public Hall on Friday evening. A letter was received from the district traffic manager at Auckland, stating that the league's request to have a ladies' waiting room provided at the Buckland railway station will be considered with next year's improvements. It was decided to move further in the matter, it being considered that the existing conditions constitute a public scandal. '1 lie district engineer for railways wrote stating that the matter of shifting the level " crossing at Buckland was being arranged with the Pukekohe East Road Board. It was resolved to request the Department to lake immediate action, and have some of the most dangerous parts between the line and roadway filled in. A letter was received from the Minister for Justice stating that the appointment of another justice of the peace at Buckland would be considered when further appointments to the commission are being made.

HELENS VILLE. [FROM OUR OWN (CORRESPONDENT.] Archdeacon" and Mrs. Cole have been on a visit to Helensville to open a fancy fair in aid of the English Church building fund. The result of the fair has been exceedingly good, over £130 having been raised, and the president of the Ladies' Guild (Mrs. Harry White) is to be congratulated.

PAPATOETOE. [FBOM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] The social field of operations the Y.M.C.A. are engaged in has a wide sphere. This was ably demonstrated at | Papatoeloe on Friday evening last, the occasion being a. combination concert, ten- : dered by the Y.M.C.A. in aid of school ; funds. Close on 30 members journeyed i out to the school, and on their arrival they found the building packed to the doors. The Y.M.C.A. orchestra, of 16 members (conductor, Mr. W. J. England), led off with the march " Empire "Veterans. ' Mr. H. E. Lobb followed with the "Song of Sleep." Mr. Fred Marshall proved his capabilities on the mandoline. < Miss i Stokoe recited "The Last Hymn." The Y.M.C.A. gymnasium squad, consisting of Messrs. Alpe, Boucher, Blair, and O'Gorman, next gave the tumbling demonstration "The Tramps." The orchestra followed with "Sea Songs." Mr. Simons sang "Down in - the Depths.' ' Miss Stokoe rendered "Dolly," Mr H.. E. Lobb sang " Melisande in the Wood." Mr. E. Parker played the violin solo " Gavotte," while Mr. E. Blair gave an exhibition of fancy club-swinging.

[from our own correspondents.] papakub£ valley. The first meeting of the newly-formed hranck. of the Fanners' Union at Papakura Valley • was f held on Wednesday : night,, there being: a'fair' at- §|| tendance despite; the wet night. The. election of officers resulted as follows - —President, ;; Mr. D. A., Reid; secretary ; and treasurer, r Mr. iH. Moody;, « committee, Messrs, 0. Middleton, J. H. Hansen, A B. Dunn, Larson, J. Aston, J. D. Bodlo,' and J. Muir. It : was resolved to hold the meetings g; monthly, starting on the nearest Monday to full moon in January. A very successful concert wai held on Friday night in the Alfriston Hall in aid of the Anglican • Church funds. The vicar (the Rev. P. >; ,T. , Fortune) presided, and the following contributed 1 Items tftagjg an excellent S programme Miss $ Carson, Mr. D. |j| Ronnie, Miss , Stone, Mr. C. Moses. Master W. Breckmann, Miss Bac, Mr. Burton, Miss Wedding, •,< Mr. G. Parker, and Mr. I. Moses.

WAYBY. The scholars of the Hoteo Valley school, Waj'by, held their school picnic on Friday in the spacious grounds of Mr. and Mrs. ; George ' Williams. The pupils j performed >: a; pretty little pastoral f. play, "The Witches' Wood," written specially for them, with appropriate ; songs i; and marches, by the teacher (Miss D. E. Moir). ' Miss Margery Williams, as the Witch, was very good, and Miss Una. Dibble, as Queen Bona, the fairy, looked charming.' Little Puck was taken by Master J. Logue.|;|j and Elva, a" fairy sprite, was acted by Mi»s,Myrtl» i!) Smyth.• After "the play traces and other games were .put on, followed by afternoon , tea, ; which closed a Very pleasant afternoon. |" ■v- •■ : '; Wr- ■■■''K-v V'M : : r+i WAIUXU. - •On Thursday ■ evening an enjoyab/e social in • connection with the Waluku • Rugby Union took . place in the Public Hall. During the evening the . cup end caps were presented to the City seniors , and'the cup; and medals !to the City juniors'each r team having won the championship two years in ' succession.; JTie presentations were made by Mr, J. Hone. * . •On Sunday ' last the anniversary services of the Otaua Undenominational Sunday-school were. conducted in the Public Hall. The service in the afternoon was taken by the Rev. F. C. B. Harri- ■ son and in the evening by the Rev. J. A. La- , mond. On Wednesday evening § the • soiree $; and concert took : place, '; there > bei.*s , a {large attendance. The Rev. J. A, Lamond presided at the meeting, and during £ the evening < presented j the scholars 4. with I their * prizes. In ;■ addition to | the l|| local talent Miss Alice .Rimmer,; of i Auckland, contributed to the programme, her singing being . much appreciated - , The late Mr. John Neil, whose death at the • : comparatively: early age of 44 was announced on ' iMonday of ilSst I. week, was}one.! of Waiuku'*~be*t- '»• known i and respected settlers, having resided I here ■/ since ijujte a lad. Whilst still in his teens he ' J had the misfortune through an accident to lose one of his legs. For many years he was a member of the Waipipi Road Board, and ais the time of ' his retirement, which was ; occasioned through failing health, he was chairman. The funeral took place on Wednesday at the Waipipi Cemetery and was largely attended, there being about ■ 60' vehicles, besides a great number of people on:', horseback. The service was conducted .by the ■ Rev. i Father McMillan. The ' chief mourners Were • the » widow .• and y Messrs."'te Dennis, Robert, 1 ';-* and ' ' Samuel Neil, brothers of the deceaued.

THIRTY-FOUR MEN DROWNED. Disaster has overtaken the Glasgow steamer Hestia on her voyage to St. John, New Brunswick. After encountering heavy weather, she went ashore in th*. gale on on© of the ledges in the Bay of Fundy, and became a total wreck. Ofe the 40 men on boardincluding four Scot- j tish emigrants—only six were saved. I'll® I Hestia left Glasgow on October 9, bound* for St. John with a general cargo. She ■ was built in Sunderland 19 years ago, and had a gross tonnage of 3790. On the J voyage across a succession of westerly/ gales was encountered, but she weathered" them all in safety. On Monday night,. October 26, as she was swinging across the lower end of Nova Scotia to enter the Bay* of Fundy, the hardest gale of the voyager was experienced. The north-westenyi blasts, meeting the fast-running tides off the bay, threw the water mountains high., The early watch had just gone on duty,, and the steamer was proceeding at a fair ■ rate of speed, when breakers were seen i right under her . bows. Before the en- ' gines could be reversed she. had plunged i her bows into a solid mass of rocks that' are barely covered at high water. The ; discovery of the ship's plight from the '■ shore was delayed by thick weather. " The , survivors were lashed to the rigging for 38 hours without either food or water, : and when they were taken off by the lifeboat their condition was pitiable. Their sufferings were so terrible that it is feared that one of their number will not recover/ ;•