COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

[rUO« ova OWN COREESrONDINTS.]

HAMILTON.

[ PLANS FOE NEW FIRE STATION. | A meeting of the Hamilton Fire • Board j adopted the estimates ' for the year, ! amounting to £850, * and including the overdraft of £2§Q. 111 1 . F. Ernest Smith submitted plans for the fire station, emI bodying Inspector Hugo's recommendations, aid' eefimatfecl to cost in "brick £260b, but £400 could be saved in using wood in tho infeal construction. ' Tjio married men's quarters in wood would cost £600, and the tower in 6teel another £250, being a total expenditure, on the plans as submitted, of £3450. Drainage would bo'estra. Action in the matter"was deferred. Inspector Hugo, in his report on his inspection of the fire brigade, "said the methods adbptfkl in conducting practices might be improved, and he pointed- out that hydrant indicators W6ro mussing in "Victoria Street. It was decided to ffcnd the" -report to tho sUperintendant, with instructions to work On the lines' indicated, and to ask tho Borough Council to efficiently mark tho Victoria Stro'et hydrants. The Postal Department intimated that tho installation of the fire alarm system would be put in hand. The Borough Council's terms for payment for the fire station site were adopted. The draft by-law in regard to tho storage of explosives was approved, and the council is to be asked to incorporate it in the borough by-laws, and also to prohibit open fires and to provide a penalty for chimneys catching fire. Tho superintendent's report stated that the brigade now numbered 18. During the year there had been 35 musters, not including eight fire calls, the average attendance being 16. Only two of the fires had been serious.

At tho annual meeting of tho fire brigado the |ollo\ying officers wero elected Patrone," members of "Iho Hamilton Fire Board and Mr. J. A. ioung, M P. : vicepresidents. Messrs. A. Aitken, W. Hog?, senr., J. VaJiiey, J. W. Ellis, H. F. Tristram, P. E. Stevens; N. ' Good all, li. I'. Kandes. A. E. Cook, H. H. Howder., H. Foot, H. J. Greenslade, S. Tombs. .!. Simpson, G. Bodley, W. Mcssana, A. Hell, iS. B. Sims; honorary chaplain. Archdeacon Cowie ; honorary surgeon, Dr. J. Going. Donations were received from Messrs. Messana, Howden, and Culp.'U. Subsequently tho annual dinner was held, and an enjoyable hour spent. During the evening long service honours wore presented as follows I Three year certificates, Secretary Boa van, Firemen McHarrie, and A. <■!. Mathiesbn; two year bar?. Superintendent Enerson, Foreman Mathieson, and Fireman W. Davis.

Tho meeting of the Borough Council instructed the town clerk to write to tho Rowing Club asking that, the boatshed bo lir.ished as soon as possible. It was decided to pay one-quarter hospital contributions, amounting to £458 16s 3d. 'Hie request of tho district health officer that payment of the inspector's salary should only bo stopped for the time ho was absent from Hamilton, was referred to the Lepal and Finance Committee. An application from Captain King ' for permission to erect a miniature rifle range in the horse j bazaar, was referred to tho Bazaar Committee. In forwarding plans 'of a band rotunda, towards "which the Beautifying' Society had contributed 1 £120, the secretary of that, body a sled the council to find any difference tjaero might bo in the cost so as to avoid altering the plans. Tills request was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee. ' A report received from a meeting of the 'council, held on Wednesday last", in which it was recommonded that, tho council buy the 62 acres of Tindty's land, erect abattoirs, sell ■to tho butchers sufficient land to erect boil-ing-down works,' and lease to them such areas as may "be required for paddoclcing purposes, was adopted. An objection was received to the scheme for lowering the southern end of Victoria Street, and on the motion of the Mayor, it waj. decided to havo tho permanent'levels fixed.

CHOPHTLL. MUCH FLAX BEING CUT. Jjarge quantities of flax Jwve been despatched from this district during the past few months. Cutting has been in 'full swing on numbers of holdings bordering on the Waikalo River, and adjacent to the Opuatia Creek. Tho work is also being carried out by a largo number of cutters on many of the swamps ' near Rangiriri. The tlaimills have been unable to cope with tho supplies, and recently a new mill was opened on Mr. 11. Clepiiane's property.

PUKEKOHE. BUTTER FACTORY RIS-OPENING. The New Zealand Dairy Association's central "butter' factory! ""wliicfi "lias' been closed down during- tiro present month for the annual overhaul, will recommence operations on July 1: Under tho auspices of the Pukekoho Association Football Club, a social and danco was held in the Premier Hall on! Thursday evening. Excellent danco music i was provided by. Miss-Pnljcng (piano), 1 and Mr. J. H. Himhnan (cornet), extras j being played by Misses Blake and Milne; arid ''Mr/ -J. Latta. " '" '

I Heaters are being installed in St. James's Presbyterian Church, for the pur. pose of providing for the greater comfort of the congregation during 'tho winter months. " ' Tho second of the series of lectures which are being given at the special classes for fanners, took -placer at the Technical School on T)mfs4ay>Vening. ' 'The' lecturer dealt wftji priming, " r - A movement is on- foot to make a public presentation to Mr. C. K. La.wrie, Mayor of Pukekohe. A committee ' of' townspeople has the matter -in hand. The testimonial is "being • subscribed to freely!

CAMBRIDGE.

ADVANTAGES OF CHEESE MAKING. A general meeting of shareholders, ol tho Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Com' pany was hel<j" at Cambridge on Saturday. Thero was a large attendance, Mr. Jolir Fisher (chairman of directors) presiding. The object' of 'the meeting was to consider the proposal to install'» dual plant, sc that cheese, as well as .butter, might be manufactured- Tjie question -was also the subject of-a petition received from a number of Fencourt shareholders. " A comprehensive 'report on tie whole matter of cheese making was submitted bv Mr. Dempster (Government dairy expert) and Mr. A. Be-ango (the -company's manager at Hautapu). The report wholly favoured manufacturing cheese, f.s well "as hatter. Mr, Hodgson, of Tamahero, formerly chairman of the Eltham company wi'en the latter wdnl in for cheese '-making-, gave figures and facts- in favour of the manufacture of cheese, and said the company had lost £20,000 through not installing etasS-Tilak'ffll! -plant'-"tfton "the subject cropped up two years ago. He estimated the cost of installing- a cheese plant -<<t £10,000, but explained that this only involved tho. sacrifice of § of a penny on their butter-fat'. He was of opinion that tiio Waikato climate was exceptionally favourable for the- manufacture of the highest qualitv of cheese. Mr. Dempster u-lsb addressed the meeting,' saving that be believed cheese, was the coming pro; duct, of New Zealand:' Mr. John Fisher said tho directors had obtained all available information, and they were quae willing to carry out the expressed wishes of the ehireMdets. " At his' suggestion', it was decided that the directors iliojild 1 visit the ■••company's several' creameries and ascertain the feelings of supplied The directors will then submit a-report to a meeting to be held on Saturday next. The first annual meeting of the Cambridge Defence Hifls Club was held on Friday evening, Mr. F. Potts presiding. ' The report dealt in detail with tie opera- j tions' of the' year just closed, 'antl showed ) a satisfactory rate- of progress, with ex- i cellent prospects for the future. The ' meml3orsntp-~TTrf» -stands - n't 1 "45: The financial statement showed receipts £128 19s, and expenditure £80 13s 6d. 'The election-of officers 1 for ' the ensuing year resulted as under-President, Mr. F. j

' •.' -ni#***"■ • - Potts; .'sibe-pesUait, Mr. W. G. Care) secretary, Mr. Edgar James } treasurer, Mr. W. G. Care; committee, Messni J. Peako and McKijjnon (Rotorangi), E. Wallis and R. Hay-Smith (Cambridge), C. Brunskill and T. D. Ormislou (Whitshall), J. W. Garland (Fencourt). Votes of thanks were passed to donors of trophies. It wag decided that & suitable shed should bo erected at tho rifle range. SatisfucWry reports' were receives from "tho newly-formed branch clubs. Several, new members were sworn in. A meeting of those interested in tho formation of a IVaikato branch of tho Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company was held under the auspices of tho Waikaki Farmers' Union in the club's room on Saturday afternoon. There was a moderate attendance. Mr. Tancrcd Cooper addressed the audience, and a number of thoso present expressed themselves in favour of the project, and decided t" take up share?.

DARGAVILLE.

HOBSOX ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. The Hobbon Acclimatisation Society has decided, owing to the difficulty of ai'"ju;r ing- a suitable area in ho Northern Wanna district for a came farm, 10 carry en pheasant-raising fur another year on Mi. Dobson's farm at Waiomio, Thames County. Last year 273 birds were raised by Mr Dobson for tho society, and it is espert'-'i that this year 700 will bo mailable ! ' liberation in the Kaipara. The sum of £50 has been vol?J in order to make the breeding-pens more suitable, and to in crcaso facilities for tho handling of the birds. The society is arranging for the importation of French partridge*, and us this variety of birds hns so far not her.n successfully acclimatised in New Zealand the experiment should furnish keen in terest. to sportsmen. The boisterc';.. weather which has prevailed in the north durine the past month has curtailed spcrl amonest. tho pheasants in Northern Wairn.i and Otamatea districts, and has led t.ho birds to take to bush cover. Judginc, however, by the quantities forwarded ('•> the chief ccntres, settlers are securing good bags.

NGABUAWAIIIA

TELEPHONE EX TEN SIGNS

lhe telephony service to tbo new post office at Glen Alassey, the mining township, is now complete, and is proving of great convenience to the tmblie. The jwM offieo will be open within a day or v>. It is understood that six settlers on the road between Ngaruawahia and Glen Masscy are taking step:; to form a painline connecting with the Ngaruavahui exchange. The erection of the Te Konhai service, for which the full complement of six members has been obtained, will shortiv be put in hand, and services in other directions are being contemplated, with a fair prospect of success. Owing to the increase in tho number of subscribers it is highly probable that an extension of the hour; of tho. service will shortly In* granted. Tho annual basket social in connection with the Roman Catholic Church was most successful, the receipts amounting to approximately £30. A most enjoyable evening was spent by the Lugo number of peoplo present! On the occasion of his approaching departure from Ngaruawahia for the Wliangarei district, the Rev. J. L. Pattiillo, Presbyterian minister, was accorded a social evening by his many Ngaruawahia friend?. when ho was presented with a silver-mounted umbrella bv the members of the Bible c'ass, and with a pnrse of sovereigns by tbo congregation, as tokens of their appreciation of his services during his ministry in Ngaruawahia. During tho coirso of 'the evening many eulogMic references were made to the valuable work Mr., Mrs., and Miss Pattiillo had accomplished in connection with the church.

I At the fortnightly meeting of tho Ngaruawahia Literary and Dobating Society on Thursday last the affirmation, " That the abolition of war would bo detrimental to ■ humanity." was keenly debated. The adjudicators, Messrs. YV. Fuller and \Y. A. f'lavis, ga\o the decision to the affirmative by tho small margin, of four points out of a totaJ of over 400.

WAIHI. HOSPITAL board matters. Th? monthly meeting -of tho Wailii 1 Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held' on Friday evening, Mr. D. Donaldson presiding. The medical superintendent, Dr. Hyde, reported tho admissions to the hospital as 27, discharges I 26, deaths 3. patients remaining for treatj ment 32. The health officer, Mr. Erwin, ] reported five cases of infectious diseases I within' the borough during tho month, j Accounts totaling £437 were passed for i payment. It was decided to extend tho j board's sympathy and support to tho i Palinerston North Hospital Board's echemo : for raising funds for tho establishment ; of a radium institute in the North Island, i The monthly meeting of the council of I the Waihi School of Mines was held on [Friday* Mr. T. Giimoiir presiding, I A letter fiom the Waihi Borough Council ! intimated that the request for an increase i of the annual grant towards school maintenance to £200 had been acceded to. A hearty vote of than leg was accorded to the Borough Council for its action. In response to representations made, letters were received ffop) J,Jk> Karaagahake and Coromjjidel Schools of Mines' supporting the council of the Waihi school in its endeavour to prevept flic "suggested lowering of the' standard of schools of mines' certificates. The director, Mr. A. H. V. Morgan^ 1 m his report, gave tho students enrolled for the second term a.s 62, and tho class attendance as 105. Tho figures showed a' substantial increase on those for the first term.

THAMES.

! EAORAKI FLAILS FERRY. The commission to decide on the moat suitable site for the fern.' across the Thames River, to connect the ' Haurafci Plains with the eastern side of the river, has been e.ngagtd' I,'Viflg evidence at Thames. This question. which is' looked j on as a very important one in the inI terests of (he disfcric.. lias occupied the attention of the' local "bodies fare for some years, and so far no agreement as ts which' is "the most (suitable site, as between the rival sites of Kopu, Turua-, Matatoki, Kirikiri, and the Towers, has been arrived at. As the conflicting interests of the parties concerned appeared to make it impossible to arrive at an aroic- | aKio settlement, the Government was t asked to appoint a commission to go fully j into the matter and to decide 33 to tho , most suitable fiite for the ferry. Mr. 1 Short, the commissioner appointed by t.ho : Government. spent several clays (it Thames in the early part of the month collecting evidence, and was" then compelled to" adjourn. owinfr to other pressing business He returned to Thames'on Wednesday 1 evening, and spent Thursday inspecting i tho river at the various proposed sites" j and during the Friday and Saturday was 1 engaged in taking Wither cvidenQo from j« nuinber of {settlers on the Hauraki 1 Plains lands' and from • thers residue in | tho vicinity. Expert evident is alfo° be- | ing taken with regard to whether a fixed I or movable fern- wntild be mo?! suitable, land with regard to the conditions of'lhe ' tide and the currents of the river and i the approaches on """froth banks. So far ! tho evidence Iw-s been of a somewhat convicting character on all 'questions. The sitting is likely to occupy some davs yet. i as thero is still a considerable' amount of ■ evidence to be taken. Mr. Hogbcn is | conducting the ease for the County Coun- . oil. and "Mr. Moresby, of Eacroa. for tho • Borough Council, the litter boclv being , strongly in favour of the Kopu ate, and : tho former advocating tV Towers."Turua, ! or MatatoW sites as the mo«t sllAjblc--1 11 '

ALWAYS ON' II Ay I). " My little hoy John suffered with colds and croup pi CJiajn be-in's Cough Remedy was the only medicine that would give him relief," writes Mr. John Norton. w ra p u D B ' ! 1 Consi(i « r Chamberlain*- Cough Remedy to be the best medicine fortheso complaints and make a poiafc of always having it on hand."