COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15262, 28 March 1913, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

[fbom oca own CORRESPONDENTS.) HUNTLY. THE MINERS' UNION. A general meeting 1 of the members of the Huntly Coal Miners' Union was 'held in the Miners' Union Hall on Tuesday evening, when some 200 were present. The secretary asked the meeting to appoint an acting-chairman, with the result that MrW. Wood was elected.

»V. wood was elected. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr. P. J. O'Regan and ascertain whether the attachment of the seal of the Court was necessary to make the new agreement legal. It was decided that the balance-sheet be printed every six monthsand circulated among the members. . After a ballot had been taken the following were declared elected to the various positions —Scrutineers for Extended - mine, Messrs. J. Patterson and E. Ward for Ralph's mine, Messrs. D. Moles worth, jun., and J. Fanimond; auditor, Messrs. T. Turton and G. Bowen; check inspector, Mr. J. Fulton; members of committee, Messrs. D. Molesworth, jun., J. Patterson, and E. Ward. Notices of motion were given to the effect: (1) That the rules relating to accidents be rescinded, and (2) that clause 6, which forbids members to belong to two' unions, be deleted, and the secretary was instructed to post notices to the effect that all members pay into the old accident society. It was decided that a deputation, consisting of Messrs. J. Valentine, F. Smith, W. Wood, and D. Molesworth, sen., and headed by the secretary, be appointed to meet the directors of the Taupiri mines and ask them to 'reinstate all the men dismissed- For the office of president, two candidates, Messrs. T. Britton and W. Wood were nominated, bo that a ballot will be necessary, Mr. Geo. Bowen to act as returning officer. The meeting decided to take legal advice on the power of the executive to contract loans without the consent of the general body. CLEVEDON. ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. The Wairoa South Road Board is doing excellent work in preparing the roads > for winter 1700 yds of metal was let by contract to be quarried, the larger portion of which has been distributed over the worst places on the principal roads in the district, and the remainder used for repairing the Clevedon-Maraetai Road, and metalling the new grading improvements ! there. The hill is now partly covered, and the necessity for the speedy finish of the work was shown on Monday, when, after a heavy shower making the ground very slippery, a motor-car skidded rapidly down, and only escaped going over a steep bank by a few inches, requiring six men, and ropes to get it back in position. When the metal is all spread, the road will be in a most satisfactory form for all descriptions of traffic.

In connection with the Clevedon branch of the Fanners' Union, Mr. T. F. 'Long, of Auckland, is expected to give - a demonstration on Saturday afternoon, March 29, at Clevedon, of his invention for the destroying of noxious weeds and blackberries.