COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15061, 2 August 1912, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OUR. OWN COHIIESPON-nT.KTS.] TE AROIIA. PRESENTATION TO THE MA.YOB. The social in honour of the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. Somers, was held on Wednesday. Apologies for absence were received from the Hon. W. H. Hemes (Minister for Railways), and a number of others- On behalf of the burgesses and settlers Mr. P. Gilchrist presented the Mayor with an illuminated address. Mrs. Somers was presented with a handsome solid silver tea and coffee service. • . ' - The Rev. Father McGuinness has returned to Te Aroha after enjoying a wellearned holiday of three months. Father McGuinness visited Sydney, and the Fijian, Tongan, and Samoan Islands.

CAMBRIDGE. TRINITY, CHURCH. The annual meeting of Trinity Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday evening, the Rev. W. J. Gow presiding. The report of the session clerk (Mr. Jno. Fisher) disclosed a membership roll of 205, about 110 being the average attendance at quarterly communions. The chief items in the treasurer's report were: Ordinary church collections £221 5s 9d, bustentation fund £85 6s, missions £50 6s 6d. The reports of the various departments of church work were of a satisfactory nature. The marriage took place in the Leamington Methodist Church on Wednesday of Miss Annie Simpson and Mr. Walter R. Beer, both of Cambridge. Miss Violet Beer was bridesmaid, and Mr- Geo. Simpson best man. The Rev. J. F. Doherty was the officiating minister. PAPAKUBA. CHURCH CONCERT. A well-attended concert was held on Wednesday evening in aid of the manse improvement fund. The St. James's choir, from Pukekohe, rendered an interesting programme. Mr. E. A. Davys acted as conductor, and Miss Penman as accompanist.

KING COUNTRY. THE COMING SPRING. Matters in connection with dairying are being well pushed ahead in the "district. and another few weeks should see a start for the season in some of the factories. However, the tiino has not yet arrived for very early milking in the district. Even if the farmers were ready with ample, feed the state of the roads would preclude the possibility of bringing supplies to the factory. Early spring is the very worst time for travelling. The roads have suffered by the rain and traffic of winter, and are absolutely dangerous until they have dried sufficiently to carry traffic. The Piopio factory is preparing to get » fair start, and should be in » position to commence operations as soon as any factory in the district. A number of the suppliers are fairly close to the factory, and the roads are rather better than ill souio of the farther out localities. The directors of the factory have been for some time endeavouring to get a supply of coal for running the factory. At first the chief attention was directed to the Wairere district, but a seam on -Mr. Ellison's property on the Mairoa Road is to he prospected anil opened up. The weather has taken quite a change for the better of late. Following the torrential rains of the previous week, several days of fine frosty weather were experienced, The streams have gone down, and some of the mud lias hardened slightly. At first it was feared that, heavy losses in stock would be occasioned by the floods, but reports are reassuring. In certain places a few young cattle havo been lost, but the sheep escaped remarkably well. Ewes have done well throughout the district, and good handlings are expected. Fewpeople go in for early lambs in this district as yet, but the time is fast approaching -when that branch of (he sheep industry will be tackled in earnest.