COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15603, 8 May 1914, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

in'" m ' ."" [IaOU Offtt OWN CORRESPONDENTS/1 SWTLY. :'•■'-. • ■ -7' - ■ v Vv ; '•■'■ | MINERS' UNION. A general meeting of the members of the Tanpiri Miners' Union was held in/theft; King's Hall on Wednesday evening, Mr. . S. Dixon presiding over a good ftttondanco of members. The chairman moved that a levy of one shilling per quarter per mem- . Iter bo struck, the proceeds to be divided equally between the- School of Mines, the brass band, and the Athletic Association. In speaking to the motion, Mr. Dixon detailed the advantages that miners were now able to derive from attendance at the classes held in connection with the School of Mines, which ho considered deserved every assistance the union could givo it. Tho band was also a most deserving institution, whilo, by assisting the athletic association they were supporting a body that intended to secure for the residents a public recreation ground of sufficient area to provide for games of all sorts. The motion was carried unanimously. It v.-as decided to fix the remuneration of tho check inspectors at 15s a day. For tho position five candidates were nominated, those suc- i cessful being Messrs. Geo. Allen and J. Turton. To enable them to carry out their duties more efficiently, the executive was empowered to procure an anemometer. Out of the five nominees. Messrs. W. Warren and J. O'Brien were elected auditors, while Messrs. J. Stewart and T. Cochrane were elected scrutineers for Ralph's mine, and Messrs. J. McLean and Rothwell scrutineers for tho Extended. Tho meeting decided that the rules dealing with members in arrears bo strictly enforced, and it was resolved that a deputation wait on the mining manager, and request him to do what he could to prevent the men from ' rushing the cages as they proceeded .to and from work, and in this way reduce to a minimum tho danger incurred by those who were unwilling to wait their turn. Before'closing the meeting th.c president referred in feeling terms to tho death of Mrs. E. Mackay, the wife of the union's secretary, and moved that the sincere sympathy of the members of tho union be conveyed to the sorrowing husband and family. The motion was carried in silence. A large number of men have started work on the Huntly-Awaroa railway, the number being augmented daily by new arrivals sent on by the various labour bureaux. _ Building continues to bo fairly brisk. Two cottages in Hakanoa Street, built in connection with the Taupiri mines scheme, are ncaring completion, and a ' third is about to be commenced. Two residences arc being built to the order of Mr. G. M. Fraser, in Earner's Road, while tenders are being called for the erection of the School .'of Mines, - The natives of Waahi and Rakaumanga aro going in strongly for the cultivation of strawberry plants, 'the business, done in this line last year having' encouraged them to prosecute the work on a larger scale. PAPATOETOE. ROAD BOARD ELECTION. The ratepayers, by their vote on Wednesday _ last, again endorsed the sitting "■ board's action in opposing the- dedication of McLaughlin's Road. The sitting mem. bers, Messrs! Wyllie and Niccol, were re- ;. turned;by a majority of nearly two to ■ one. Considerable feeling was manifested throughout the election in front of the polling;: booth. One candidate is stated' V V to have resorted to fisticuffs in an attack V upon a sitting member, and it is probable that the matter will later come before' the magistrate. On the announcement of the poll, Mr. Niccol thanked the electors, and Mr. Wvllie said the board was fighting for a principle,'. and it was gratifying to see the way the ratepayers had lacked .it up. V' ' "*i'": Mr. Thos. . Wyllie, " Papatoetoe's patriarch," attained'his 98th birthday on Wednesday. Mr. .Wyllie opened the Bowl- I ing Club's' new, pavallion at the beginning ■■ of the season, and still takes an active - part in local matters. His eldest son was . returned bead of the poll at the Road Board election on* Wednesday.

' ,' .:•;. WAIHI. INSTALLATION;, OF THE MAYOR. The Mayor {Sir. M. G. Power) was installed in office on Wednesday evening at the Borough Council Chambers. The statutory declaration-having been signed, the several members of the council present congratulated Mr. Power upon his return to office for a second term,- and promised to assist and support him in all matters calculated to benefit the community, and make for the advancement of ■.■Waihi. After the M<iyor had returned thanks to the members of the. council for their assistance during ..the past term, .and to the town cleTk (Mr. H. D. Morpeth), and office staff, ' for the manner in which they had carried out their duties, those present were entertained in the Mayor's room. , Mr. A'."* E. • Lovell, chief clerk at the Waihi railway station, has received notice of his i transference to Green Lane as tationmaster..:His removal, while gratifying in that it means promotion, will be regretted by a large circle of friends among •whom Mr. Lovell .was highly esteemed for his personal qualifications, and as an official of the Railway Department. The institution of the Rev. Ernest Fletcher to., the parish of Waihi took place at St. John's Anglican Church on Wednesday evening, the service being performed by" the" Venerable Archdeacon Cowie, of Hamilton, in the presence of a large congregation. Tho Rev. H. M. Smyth, of St., Mark's (TejjAroha)' conducted the evensong. The lessons were read by the Revs. J. C. Fussell and A. Drake, and, an impressive address was.delivered by, Archdeacon C&wie. CXEVEDON.

SUCCESSFUL DAIRY SEASON. __ The dairying season now rapidly drawing to a close has been perhaps the most prosperous one known in the Clevedon district. Feed was plentiful, milk was thereby increased iln quantity, ■ general prices for all kinds of produce hare been satisfactory, and the season's returns just to hand show undoubted proof of the prosperous advance of local dairying. Three hundred more cows than last season were milked this year, and a dozen more suppliers were sending in either milk .or cream to the factory. Several first-class herds of cows, both of Shorthorns and Jerseys, are in the district and have furnished excellent tests, one Jersey herd reading 5.5, with an average for the season of 4.6, while last . year a herd of Shorthorns reached the very high test of 6.4 for three periods. The lowest test lately recorded showed the creditable figures of 4.1. Under the home-separation system, cream is now collected (either by carts or by steamer) from districts that a few years ago were only considered suitable for carrying sheep! or grazing purposes. The price has been per lb. all through the season, including all- charges for cartage, etc. Many new paddocks have been put down to meet the demands of increased stock. Paspalum has been somewhat less in demand than formerly, but other kinds and all varieties of cereals are under cultivation all round.

i The violent rain" storms Of last ' week brought down another slip in the cutting on the top of the: hill on the ClevedonMaraetai Road, but the necessary men and vehicles were sent out without delay, and the road is now perfectly clear and in its usual order. ■ Heavy 'slips have occurred elsewhere and the road formation in progress at Ardmore is being much delayed and retarded by the stormy weather.