COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15252, 15 March 1913, Page 9

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] 1 a HUNTLY.' ! THE TOWN BOARD. At a meeting of the Huntly Town Board held on Thursday evening, Mr. L. B. Harris, junr., presiding, the new-by-law was confirmed, scaled, and signed by the . members present. Arrangements have been made for the billeting and hosnitising of the members of the Ponsonby Boys' Drum and Fife Band, some forty in number, who intend visiting Huntly on the March 28, with a view to 'the formation of a branch band in the mining town. To raise funds for the purpose, it was decided to hold a conceit and dance, and committees were ■ appointed to carry out the arrangements. From the enthusiasm with which the scheme has been received, there is every hope of a successful issue. Mrs. William Kendall died at Rakaumanga early in the week, almost immediately after her return from the hospital at Hamilton. A fairly well- attended tangi was held over the remains. The supply of railway waggons has been worse during the present year than for some two years previously, with th© result ' that work "at the mines has been seriously interfered with. OTOROHANGA. / HAKVEST FESTIVAL. The Methodist Church held very successful harvest festivals at Otorohanga and Pukitarata on Sunday last. Harvest gifts ; at both places were numerous, and largo congregations rewarded the efforts of the minister (Mr. J. Lamond), and the church members who worked in the interests of the services. On Monday evening the various gifts were all disposed of by auc- ' tion," fetching good prices. The total sum realised bv thank-offerings and the auction sale was* £7 17s 2d, and this will be devoted to paying off the ground rent of the Otorohanga Church, and to circuit ■ purposes. 1 A most successful settlers' and childrens' picnic was held at Kio Kio last week. Local ladies have arrangements well in » hand for the farewell social to be tendered Mrs. Furber on Easter Monday night. ' It was, stated that the Te Awwnutu Minstrel Troupe intends giving an entertainment in Otorohanga for the purpose of providing the town with street lights. The Town Council lias recently under--1 taken the work of construction and gravelling of a number of culverts in the main '• street, with the result that its appearance i is much improved thereby. WAIHI. I ( I ROD AND GUN CLUB FORMED. [ At a meeting held on Thursday-night it , was decided to amalgamate the Waihi Sparrow and Gun Clubs. The new club [ will be known as the Waihi Rod and Gun , Club, and the shooting ground will be at the east end. The members' fee was fixed ! at ss. An open handicap will be held - under the club's a«spices on Good Friday, for £10, at 15 clay birds, entries to be taken on the ground. The following were . elected officers Patron, Mr. E. G. 1 Banks; president, Mr. J. Gilmour; committee, Messrs. Gilmour, Robie, Ridings, Sparks, Smeaton, Morrison, Finn, Durie, and Noakes; secretary, Mr. W. G. Rid- ( ings: treasurer, Mr. N. Noakes. i The ordinary meeting of the Pride of Waihi Lodge,of Druids was held on Thursday night, "Brother A. Collins, A.D., presiding. Arrangements were made for the installation of ""Brother Robinson, as D.P. next lodge night, and invitations to attend will be "sent to all the lodges in * No. 10 district, and to Te Aroha. The weekly meeting of the Catholic Men's Club was held on Thursday night. r Messrs. Lynch and Collins, who will repre- ! sent Waihi in the inter-club debate on the question " Is State control of liquor traffic preferable to prohibition:" debated the i matter with other members, and the evening proved a most interesting one. PUKEKOHE. BIBLE IN STATE SCHOOLS. A well-attended meeting was held in the Oddfellows' Hall. Pukekohe, on Wednesday. The Rev. F. Dobson presided, and : introduced Mrs. Scanlan, prayer secretary ' of the women's leaguej Auckland, who 1 gave a short address explaining the objects of the league, end the working of the New South Wales system. Mr. Dobson read the introduction to the Queensland Scripture text-book, which was ; handed round and approved. An ex- ', school teacher of New South Wales, spoke , very favourably of the system. After a lengthy discussion, the ladies decided to call a meeting to form a branch of the league during the first week in April, and ' in the meantime they will organise. After electoral cards had been signed, a collec- , tion was taken up, and prayer leaflets were distributed. TE AROHA. ,-. PAYMENTS FOR BUTTER.* The following payments were made by •the Te Aroha Dairy" Company to suppliers for the month of February (the amount in parentheses represents the amount paid for the corresponding period of 1912) :— Waihou, £857 15s 4d (£796 0s lid); Te Aroha West, £1134 lis 2d (£1093 19s 6d); Eastport Road, £679 7s lOd (£756 4s 8d) Mangaiti, £587 16s lOd (£594 17s 9d); Turangaomoana, £492 lis 3d (£492 Is 3d) Mangawhero, £487 lis (£5lO 15s 6d); Okauia. £229 16s 6d (£3OB 15s); Tirau, £423 4s 3d (£3lB 14s 3d); Aylesbury £257 14s 8d; home separated cream, ; £470 18s 6d (£538 15s 8d); total, £5629 9s 4d (£5410 4s 6d). The directors paid out Is per lb for February, and will pay , lOd per pound for March: The reduction was brought about on account of the unsatisfactory condition of the Home market, all companies have reduced the price for March. The Frankton and Hamilton East schools held their annual picnic in the To Aroha Domain on Thursday. The weather was ideal for picnicking, and the excursionists thoroughly enjoyed their visit. COROMANDEL. THE MASONIC LODGE. ; The annual installation of the worshipful 1 master and investiture of officers of Lodge Coromandel took place at the Masonic ; Hall on Thursday evening. Four Grand 1 Lodge officers arrived from Auckland to participate in the ceremony. Right \ .Worshipful Bro. T. W. Allen, provincial grandmaster, acted as installing officer, assisted by R.W., Bro. Andrew King, ' past junior grand warden; Worshipful Bro. D. B. Wallace, past grand deacon; Worshipful Bro. Copeland, grand director of ceremonies; Bio. C. E. Smith, grand steward; Worshipful Bro. E. Deeble, ' acting grand steward ; and Worshipful, Bro. ' J. M. Bridson. The W.M. elect, Bro. J. W. Barker, was duly installed in the chair of King Solomon, according to ancient custom. The newly-installed W.M. then invested his offices as follows :1.P.M., Bro. T. W. Rhodes; S.W., Bro. A. J. Gatland; treasurer, Worshipful Bro. Rostgard, P.M. ; secretary, Worshipful Bro. Bennett, P.M.; chaplain, Rev. Bro. T. A. Norrie; S.D., Bro. S. C. James; J.D., Bro. Fred Shrimpton; 1.G., Bro. A. G. Harvey; S.S., Bro. R. Gilroy; J.S., Bro. G. Cleave; tyler, Bro. J. McKubre ; auditors, Worshipful Bro. Bridson, P.M. and Rev. Bro. E. Fletcher. The brethren were subsequently entertained by the new W.M., Bro. J. W. Barker, at "a banquet in the Forester's Hall.