COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14565, 30 December 1910, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN correspondent] The Christmas week just, ending has been i the busiest and most prosperous ever experiencod in To Aroha. All the tradespeople unit© in faying that never before have tho : takings at all approached those of this season. The town has teen crowded with visitors, but that does not account for the improvement, which is attributable to the steady development, of the dairying industry and the general improvement of settlement in the Thames Valley. There are very full out res for tuc fire brigade snorts on Monday next, and what with these and tho big bowling tournament, and the consequent, influx- of visitors, tho anniversary will be a fete day. Bowlers are hard at practice, and tho turf is reported to be in good order. • There have been two weddings this week. On Tuesday St. Mark's Church wis crowded to witness "the marriage of Mr. C. C. Brunskill, of Taotaoroa, and Miss K. O. Baskett, daughter of Mr. Baskett, of To Aroha. Jho service, which was partly choral, was conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon Willis, of Cambridge, an old friend of the bridegroom's family, assisted by the vicar of St. Mark's, the Rev. P. Cleary. The bride's mother presided at the organ. The church was nrettily decorated for the occasion. The bride was attended by three bridesmaids— _ Miss A. Baskett (sister). Miss Woodhouse, and Miss May Brunskill "(sister of the bridegroom). Mr.'L. Shepherd, of Auckland, was best man, and Messrs. Baskett and Play fair were groomsmen. After the ceremony a large party was entertained at the residence of the bride's parents. Later the happy couple left for Morrinsvflle. en route for Kotorua. Th? second wedding took place this morning at the same church, the contracting parties being Mr. Binstead, formerly on the teaching staff of the State school hero, find Miss Biggs, the daughter of very old residents. The bridesmaids were Miss Smith (twice of the bride) and Miss Binstead (sister of the bridegroom). After the ceremony there 'was a reception at the Domain tea kiosk, which was crowded with guests. COROMANDEL. [ET TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Coromandel, Thursday. At Christ Church (Anglican), Coromandel, a very pretty wedding was celebrated yesterday, "when Miss Minnie Mary Blithe, third daughter of Mrs. Thos. Blithe, was married 'to Mr. Samuel Appleby. The service was performed by the vicar the Rev. Mr. Pepper. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Thos. Blithe, and the bridesmaids were the two sisters of the bride, Amy and Lizzie. Tho best man was Mr. Blandford, of Penrose. The wedding breakfast was served -at the residence of the bride's mother, and the happy couple loft for Rotorua, where they intend spending their honeymoon. BUCKLAND. [FROM OVR OWN COiOSE.SPONnE.VT.] The present season is proving ideal for the dairying industry, and the output of milk and butter in this district, is eclipsing that of all previous seasons. The extended areas of now grass which were laid down last autumn, and the heavy dressing which was applied to other pasture laud, enabled farmers to increase their herds materially. Cows are the picture of health: feed is in abundance, and with the weekly downpours of rain which have been falling with clocklike regularity, conditions for dairymen are idyllic. At the commencement of the season a separator of greater capacity was installed by the New Zealand Dairy Association at the local creamery, but the increased supply of milk is larger than anticipated. The maximum quantity delivered by suppliers in the flush of last season was 8000' ib per day. but this season the average supply during the past few weeks has been 14,0001b per day, which gives promise of a good quantity-bonus at the end of the season. Very satisfactory tesfo; arc also obtaining, and with tho price which is being paid by th» association for butter-fat this season, suppliers and shareholders are jubilant at the roseate prospects. A r*Rular supply of farmers' separator butter is also being maintained to the city, and those who favour this mode of dealing with the product are in some instances making from 50 to 100 per cent, more butter this [season than that obtaining for corresponding periods of last year. Oats and wheat throughout tho district are coming on well. Nearly all the crops are now in ear, while winter-sown oats are being cut, and some are already in stack. Large areas of potatoes are this season undur cultivation, and the crops generally have remained practically free from the blight, and very good yields are being obtained., One crop of several acres in extent is stated to be furnishing 12 tons to the acre, while several farmers hive obtained 10 tons per acre.. Digging has been in progress for some weeks past, and consignments have- been railed away daily to both Auckland and Wellington. At the latter centre tho earliest of the product realised exceptionally high prices. | Although the frequent falls of rain which have been experienced- of late have been of ' immense benefit to growing crops and pastures, the conditions have been most unfavourable for hay-making. .The adverse conditions have entailed, considerable extra I labour to farmers, who, however, have made I the most of the few odd fine days at their i disposal, and the main crops are now safe , ' under cover. TE KUITI. fFROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] '. After much agitation on tho part of the Chamber of Commerce and the Borough 1 Council the people of Te Kuiti were , gratified to learn that the proposed improve- , ments in connection with the local railway station and yards will be commenced during .' the first week of the New Year. The station " building and platform are to be removed to , the town ide of the borough, and an overhead bridge will bo erected, leading out of '■ Queen-street to Rora-street. the chief busil noes street, of the town, which will obviate " the difficulty and danger that exists at pre- ' sent, through people having to cross • the ' lines to get to the station platform. The fence at present encroaching on Rora-street " is to be removed, thus making the street a , chain and a-half wide, and eminently suitd able for traffic requirements. The railway } yarding accommodation is to lie enlarged, ' affording space for about a mil© of sidings, and the unsightly cattle yards, now located directly opposite the business centre of the town,' are to be removed to the site of the | present police station, which is to be removed. Tho goods shed is to bo enlarged,, and will bo placed on the spot where the station building now stands. Another improvement will be the addition of a verandah to tho i present station building. Tho stationl master's residence and other cottages oceu--3 pied by railway employees are to be- rer moved. It is hoped that an entirely new f building will be erected in the near future. . Tho Otorohanga railway station has been reI moved from the river side of the town, and . the lines that formerly ran through tho r goods shed have been taken to the outside 3 of tho shed, thus affording considerably 3 more floor space in the goods shod. The 0 platform has been made 20ft wide, r „'. no settlers' annual picnic was held at fc VVaitomo on Monday, and was well attended. a Sports and pastimes were indulged in by the young folk, who thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as also did their elders. Mr. J. Johnson, a member of the Waitomo County Council, distributed the prizes won during tho day.