COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14587, 25 January 1911, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

WHANGAREI.

[BT TELEGRAJPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Whang arei, Tuesday. At a special meeting of the Borough Council last night it was decided to extend the borough clerk's (Mr. Mervyn Wilson) leave for two months without pay. A report on the position of the Council with the Gas Company was submitted by the borough solicitor. The tender of the local Gas Company for tar was accepted. At the local Court to-day a case that aroused a good deal of interest in the district was heard when William Richardson, of Maungatapere, sought to. recover £20 from William Maseon, late teacher at the Maungatapere school, for alleged damage to the plaintiff's draught mare, and consequent death of a foal. _ After hearing a good deal of conflicting evidence, Mr. Scott Smith, S.M., 1 said lie must give 'judgment for the defendant, as there was not sufficient evidence to sustain the claim.

CAMBRIDGE.

[from our own correspondent.]

Cambridge, Tuesday.

There is evidently an abundance of work in this district, for on Saturday the Hautapu Drainage Board met to deal with tenders they had called for cleaning out tiome miles of drains, but only one was received. : ,

On Saturday Mr. Butler, civil engineer, inspected the site of the proposed swimming bath at Leamington. It is adjacent to the high-level bridge over the Waikato River, and would be very convenient for tho Cambridge inhabitants, and would doubtless be largely patronieed by them, as weir as by the Leamingtonians. There is a small creek running through the land, and the only question is if it would be sufficient during the dry weather. If Mr. Butler finds the flow of water sufficient for the purpose, he will prepare plans of the bath, and submit same to the Town Board at its next meeting, together with an estimate of the cost.

The weather here appears as if it intended to continue fine and hot, which will suit the harvesters. The milk supply, however, will soon be diminishing in quantity if the drought continues. It has been the most wonderful season experienced for. the past quarter of a century. No frosts have been experienced since the beginning of September, and up to about a fortnight ago the rain came every time the farmers wanted it.

A meeting of the- Executive Committee of the Waikato Central Association was held at Cambridge on Saturday, when there were present : Messrs. John Fisher (chairman), J. Hooker, A. W. Gane, R. Fisher, J. Anderson, R. Reynolds, and C. C. Buckland. The secretary reported thai the material for erecting the new buildings was upon the ground, and that the. work was proceeding satisfactorily. Tenders for the privileges connected with the show were received, and the following were accepted :—Publican's booth, W. G. Abbott, £68; No. 1 refreshment booth, G. A. Smith, £12; No. 2 refreshment booth, W. Brown Smith, £7. The secretary will arrange for the champion hack hunt ribbons, at a cost not exceeding £3 3s each. The prizes in the draught entire classes will be £3, £2, and £1, provided the entries are two or over. The following committee will attend to the weightguessing competition : —Messrs. H. Furze, G. Head, A. Cubis, and : W. Powley, with power to add to their number. The head stewards appointed were : Light horses, T. Wynne Brown; carriage horses, A. W. Gane; draughts, H. Russell; shorthorns, J. IS. Allen ; dairy cattle, Gilbert Watt; grade shorthorns, A. Potts; longwool sheep, D. Anderson; Romheys, A. Richardson ; shortwool sheep, W. Powley; pigs, John Watt;' home industries, G. B. Simpson; dogs, W: G. Doyle. Messrs. H. Holcrolt and Innes Taylor were appointed yards committee. Messrs. Hooker, Gane; and R. Fisher were asked to report upon needed repairs to the wards and grounds.

HUNTLY. [from our own correspondent.] The Huntly Presbyterian Sunday-school held its annual picnic at McKinnon'e Island, when a record attendance of scholars, parents, and friends journeyed down the river in the Freetrader, which was chartered for the occasion. A most enjoyable day was spent, and refreshments were provided. Mr. McKtnnon sent down an abundant supply of fresh fruit, which the visiters highly appreciated. " The arrangements were under the charge of the teachers. , ~. "

COROMANDEL.

[bt telegbaph.—own correspondent.]

Coromandel, Tuesday. There was a large and representative gathering at an impromptu social, held in the vestry of the Methodist Church last evening, to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Win. Moore, who are leaving here to take up their abode at the Thames, after a residence of 40 years in Coromandel. Mr. Cochrane, vice-president of the No-License League, presided. A musical programme was submitted, and refreshments were provided. Addresses of an eulogistic character were given by Messrs. Cochrane, W. H. Wise, John Cleave, Ebb Pearce, S. Strongman, G. H. Applegate, F. Jameson, and F. Jeune. A presentation of a handsomely-bound Morocco autograph album was then made to Mr. and Mrs. Moore.