COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15123, 14 October 1912, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from ovv. OWN* cobrestoxdkxts.]

TE AWAMUTU. TOW'S BOARD MEETIXi;. Tire regular meeting of the Town Board was held on Thursday afternoon, thcro being present Mr. A. S. Wallace (chairman); Dr. Reekie, Messrs. W. Taylor, J. B. Teasdale, and S. Mathews. " Mr. H. Munro Wilson, of Auckland, engineer for the water supply loan, was present, and gave a preliminary report. It was decided that the engineer, together with, all members of the Board visit the Pirongia. ranges on Monday for inspection of tlio various streams. The- Prime ' Minister forward a, letter through the member for Waikato, Mr. J. A. "ioung, saying if it were at all possible for him to visit Te Awamutu at the close of the session and perform the ceremonies connected with the opening of the post office building and the, clock tower he would be happy to do eo. • If unable to come he woidd endeavour to arrange for ono of his colleagues to represent the Government at those functions. The Chamber of Commerce wrote offering to co-operate with the Board in arranging for a fitting ceremony. Tho superintendent of the Waihi Gold Mining Company wrote in reply asking that some idea be given of the quantity of electric current required by the Board for lighting tho township as the quantity to be taken continuously would have considerable bearing on the "cost question. A sub-committee was appointed to go into the: matter. The under-seeretary of the Public Works Department made application for £123 15s ,10(1, being the balance of Board's share due towards the cost of erecting the Punui bridge. The clerk was instructed to attend to the payment. Further progress in connection with the widening of Alexandra-Street another half-chain from Dr. Reekie's corner to the railway station was held over until the property owners' report came to hand. The members decided to inspect the Town Hall with a view to having the building enlarged. The president of the. Chamber of Commerce wrote asking tho Board to move in the direction of having the six soldiers' graves in Lot 118, Crown Settlement, fenced. It

was decided to attend to this, matter. A sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held on Friday last, Mr. Loughnan, S.M., presiding. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, claimed .£l3 18s 9d from a King Country resident named G. Sutherland. Mr. Swarbriek, who appeared. for tho plaintiffs, stated that tho defendant attended the Ohaupo horse sale and purchased a colt for £22, but subsequently declined to take delivery, as the animal had a. blemish. The company later on gave notice to the defendant of intention to reselL the horse at the Ngaraawahia sale. The horse realised £8 Is 3d, and the present claim was for £13 18s 9d, being the difference between tho original price and the resale. Mr. F. Phillips appeared for the defendant. The magistrate said that he could not see what defence could be raised, and gave judgment for tho company, with costs, £4 Bs. Tho Waipa County Council, represented by Mr. Swarbriek, obtained judgment against Mr. F. Nathan,, of Palmerston North, for £49 17s 6d, arrears of rates owing, and costs. £3 Bs. The Road Board also' obtained judgment against the same party for rates owing, £31 10s, and costs, £2 17s. Dr. Reekie was given judgment against H. Enion, of Ohaupo, for £5 ss, feo for medical attendance.

The following cases were also dealt with : —H. Dwen v. H. Lomax, judgment for £3 9s 5d and His costs: T. Bond v, D. Turner, judgment for £5 and 15s 6d costs C. Bygrave v. Dina Thomson, claim for £1 17s, fees' clue in connection with an impounding case, judgment for claim and costs. The hearing of a dispute between J. Carboy and H. Tanner over a deal in forcing-posts was adjourned.

■-~- KATIKATT. OLD RESIDENT UOXOUKED. The friends of Mr. Geo. Vescy Stewart gathered in the hall at Katikati on tho eve of October 4, it being the 81st birthday of "the father of Katikati," as Mr. Stewart is so aptly termed. A fine concert programme was commenced shortly after 3 p.m., after which tho younger portion of thoso present engaged "in dancing. The chairman (Mr. K. Morton) s&,id that tho chief function of the night's gathering was that of honouring the guest of the "evening with a mark of the esteem in which lie was held by the district of Katikati and the district generally. He would therefore call on Mr. John* Wilson, ono of the old pioneers, to give effect to their wishes. Mr. Wilson, in a few wellchosen words asked Mr. Stewart to accept a purso of (sovereigns as a spontaneous gift from the people of the district, and a few outside' old friends.

Mr. Stewart on rising was given a great reception. Ho gratefully acknowledged the gift which had been made to him, and in so doing indulged in some reminiscences of the early history of the settlement with which ho has been connected ever since ihe original settlers emtio out from the Old Country under his guidance. At the conclusion of his speech Mr. Stewart was accorded another ovation, tho audience singing "For He's a Jolly Good Follow," and cheering him.

TE AROHA. THE MILK SfPri.Y. ' ' ■ Some 3000 gallons of milk per day are being received at tho creamery, which represents about 500 gallons more per day than was received for a similar period last year. Mr. George White, of Manawaru, who was thrown from his trap some days ago is rapidly recovering. It will be some time before he can toko up active work. At tho annual meeting of tho Waitoa Cricket Club a match was arranged with Te Arolia. at an early date. The following officers wore elected : Captain, Mr. H. R. Turnbnll; vice-captain, Mr. A. Ivfilliken; secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. Cowper; delegates to the association, Messrs. A. Milliken and H. R. Turnbull. Tho Mayor, Mr. Somers, has informed a deputation that he intends to arrange for the due reception of the Hen. W. H. Herries, member for tho district, and Minister for Railways on the occasion of his visit to. To Aroha about Christmas. A meeting of tho management committee of the Waihou.Polo Club was held at Wailiou, Mr. H. Magill presiding. It was resolved to affiliato with the New Zealand Polo Association, and also to submit the colours, emerald green cap and sash with white shirt, for approval by the association, lite secretary, Mr. P. Farquhar,' was authorised to . obtain all necessary material for the season's play. The opening day was fixed for Wednesday, October 30, at 1.50 p.m., at which it is anticipated a club tournament will be held. It was stated that a challenge for the White Horse Cup would probably be issued.

HAMILTON. BOROUGH KXGINEER'S PROPOSAL'S. At a special meeting of the Borough Council tho recently appointed engineer, Mr. Mansfield, presented a lengthy report in connection with his department's staff, in tho course- of which ho stated that the wages paid were too low, and suggested payment to workmen of Is ljd per hour, leading hands at a slightly higher rate, and foremen Is 6d per hour. Ho recommended the carrying out of the loan expenditure by day labour instead of by contract, as likely to give the best results, and to bo a greater benefit to the town. In order to allow of a proper enforcement of the by-laws, especially the building an? sanitary by-laws, which, lie said, were more honoured in tho breach than in the observance, he asked for an assistant at £100 a year. Tho Council went into committee to consider the matter. It was decided to empower the engineer to increaso the maintenance staff up to 12 men, and to raise their wages to tho rates recommended. The question of appointing another officer was deferred until next meeting, and the Legal and Finance Com-

1 raittcG,, meanwhile, is- to. draw up a schedule bl his proposed duties. A deputation from the town band asked, for the Council's concurrence in the band becoming attached to the- 16th Waikato' Regiment, and also asked for the continuance' of the- Council's subsidy and for the good . offices of the members in promoting too carnival to assist in raising £440 for a set of new instruments. All the requests were granted, tho.subsidy being fixed "at £25, while the Mayor assured .the deputation that the ' Council would endeavour to assist it in any way possible. A deputation from the recently formed _ Beautifying Society presented a .report in connection with the portion of tho river bank from Hillsborough Terrace to Alma-street, near the railway bridge. It recommended that on the lower half the paths should be widened, rustic bridges erected, and seats provided. The other portion required more extensive works in the form of terracing, levelling or grading, and laying out in gardens and lawns, while the forming of a carriage drive was suggested. It was decided to authorise the society to carry out the first portion of the work, and to secure the services of a piac : tical man to advise as.to the second. A recommendation by the Gasworks Committee to let the setting in of the retorts to Mr. Stone, his tender being £1012 lis, instead of carrying out the work by day labour as previously resolved upon, was approved.

The Business Men's League, at its monthly meeting, received a letter from the Raglan County Council asking for cooperation with the Harapepe, Te Balm, and Karamu settlers in having a daily mail service established. The. matter was deferred for further information. The Postal Department informed the league that the erection of slot telephones at Frankton and Hamilton stations was not warranted. Support was accorded to the petition circulated by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce requesting a trial survey for a. railway from Frankton to Raglan. A.holiday will be observed on people's day of the show from noon. A subcommittee was. appointed to wait on the railway authorities to secure a subway with direct, road accommodation from the Frankton railway station.

WHANG ARE I. COUNTY CLERK APPOINTED. A meeting of the Whangarei County Council held last week considered 42 applications for the position of county clerk and treasurer at a salary of £300 per annum. It was ultimately decided to accept the application of Mr. H. C. Hemphill, who at present holds a similar position with tho Otamatea County Council.

CAMBRIDGE. RAILWAY OFFICIAL FAREWELLED. The members of the Oddfellows' Lodge on Wednesday evening last tendered a farewell social to Mr. Jno. Wansbone, of the Railway Department, on. the occasion of • his transfer to Thames. During the evening Mr. Rowe, stationmaster, on behalf of the local railway staff, presented Mr. Wansbono with a travelling rug.

HUNTLY.

BAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS WANTED. The monthly meeting of the Huntly Chamber of Commerce was held last week, the vice-president (Mr. J. Fletcher) in the chair. In reply to the complaint of the Chamber concerning the loss of time caused by shunting operations at the level crossings, to Glasgow-street and Onslow Road, tho Minister for Railways wrote that instructions had been given to reduce the. shuntings as far as possible, and that when the alterations at the stations, necessitated by the construction of the branch line, were being made, the representations 01 the Chamber would be borne. in mind, In reply to the request for a more efficient railway service, as made on behalf of the Chamber by Mr. R. F. Bollard, M.P., the -Minister stated that an experimental train ■would run on Saturdays to give connection with the train leaving Mercer for Auckland at 6.35 a.m., tho continuance to bo contingent upon the patronage extended. The Chamber was unanimously of opinion that such train would be useless,' and an it, must needs leave Huntly about five a.m. the patronage accorded would be small, so that the test would bo a poor one. The.secretary was instructed to write Mr. Bollard to that effect, to point out that a more efficient service was necessary in the interests of the population between Huntly and Mercer, and to ask that if it had been decided to run such train, a day other than Wednesday or Saturday, should be chosen.

Mr. S. Hall, secretary of the Te Kauwhata, branch of the 'Farmers' Union,, wrote that the request of the branch for a better train service had been refused. Ho suggested that concerted action by all. interested should be taken, and a conference of delegates held. The secretary was instructed to express the Chamber's sympathy in the movement, and to ask Mr. Hall to summon a meeting to be held at Huntly on ' a date that would suit the convenience of delegates. The Chamber' decided to ask the • Minister for Public Works to add a foot bridge to the railway and traffic bridge now under construction, and to support the petition of the settlers in the.Pukemiro and Te Akau districts in their effort to obtain an authorisation to continue the Huntly-Awaroa railway to Bnsley's corner, two miles further west than the present railhead, as already authorised.

The resolution as passed by the recent Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in regard'to manure Bags, was supported by the Chamber, whoso members thought that bags should not contain more than 1121b of manure, and that they should be made with four one at each corner, for convenience "in handling by the waterside workers' and the farmers.

. The secretary was instructed to call a special meeting of the Chamber as soon as the dale of the visit of the Prime Minister and Minister for Public Works had been ascertained.