COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15650, 2 July 1914, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

•[FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] THAMES, HAURAKI PLAINS FERRY. The commission set up to decide on the most suitable site for tho ferry across the Thames River to connect tho Hauraki Plains concluded its sittings on Tuesday. A considerable amount of evidence was taken during tho four days of tho sitting, witnesses differing in . their opinion as to the suitability of tho two sites, in question— and The Towors. Mr. Hogben, on behalf of tho county, advocated the selection of The Towers site and a fixed ferry, while Mr. Moresby, on behalf of tho Borough Council, spoke in favour of a movable i'erry at Kopu. A return was also handed in by tho County Council of a plebisite taken of the ratepayers and country residents on the .question, tho voting being: Kopu site, 297 votes; 'Die Towers site, 10 votes. Mr. Short, the commissioner, thanked the representatives of all parties for the general good feeling shown throughout tho sitting, and stated that lie would go 'carefully through the evidence, and endeavour to arrive at a decision which would be acceptable to all parties and in the best interests of the district generally. I The decision will be given in a fortnight's I time.

ALBANY. ROADING THE OTEHA BLOCK. The reading of tho northerly portion of the Oteha Block, in tho vicinity of Lonely Track, is almost completed. Tho problem occupying the attention of the Survey Department at present is which of two routes to adopt to junction with the main road. Tho winter session of the Albany gymnasium has been opened. Mr. P. Nelson has sold his orchard to Mr. Farmer, of Rangiriri, and has purchased a small property from Mr. Heron. Building is active at present. A sixroomed residenco is being erected for Mrs. Ivingdon, the new store for Messrs. Watson and Gibson lias been completed, and several of 'ho new settlers on tho Oteha Block are building on their sections. NGARUAWAHIA. NAMING A POST OFFICE. A counter petition to the one forwarded to the Postmaster-General suggesting that the post office at tho new mining township should bo called " Glen Massey," has been circulated, and signed by' over one hundred residents. The chief objection to tho name " Glen Massey " is on account of its close resemblance to "Glen Murray," the name of another township near at hand. The suggestion haa been made to the effect that the place should be called " Massey Glen." In other quarters it is argued that as the old To Akatea Post Offico will be closed the name of the new post offico should be To Akatea, as it is a time-honoured and appropriate native name, having old associations connected with it. The objections are not raised on political grounds. TE AROHA. PROPOSED CHEESE FACTORY. The second meeting convened at Te Aroha West, for the purpose of discussing the advisability of establishing a cheese factory, was attended by somo 30 suppliers. Mr. E. Wagstaff presided. The directors of the Te Aroha Dairy Company advised that they were willing to erect a factory at To Aroha West on the condition that 500 cows or 125,0001b of butterfat per annum were guaranteed for a period of fivo years, the suppliers to take up shares sufficient to cover the cost of the erection of the plant, estimated at £2000, and to enter into a joint and several bond with the .bank as security. Mr. Coombs proposed, and Mr. Stone seconded, that a separate company be formed in Te Aroha West. An amendment was proposed by Mr. Ferguson, and seconded by Mr. Cooko that the matter be deferred for consideration at the annual meeting. The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman. CAMBRIDGE, POLITICAL PREPARATIONS. Meetings of the branches of the Liberal League and Reform League have been held! within the past few days. Mr. James Keeley has been elected president of the Liberal League, and Mr. N. Murphy secretary. The Reform League, which includes electors in the Tauranga, Raglan, and Waikafco electorates, unanimously decided to support the candidature of the Hon. W. H. Herries and Messrs. R. F. Bollard and J. A. Young. At a meeting of the Leamington Town Board, on Tuesday evening, a rate of i|d in the £ was struck, and tho gravelling of Wordsworth Street was let to W. Eastwood, whose tender was Is 6d per yard. PAEROA. DRUIDS' LODGE. At the half-yearly meeting of the Star of Paeroa Lodge of Druids, the following officers were elected, and subsequently installed by Bro. W. J. Taylor, D.P., assisted by Bro. H. 0. Scarlo, D.P.A.D., Bro. W. Turner; J.P.A., Bro. E. Edwards; V.A., Bro. A. E. Sim; secretary, Bro. W. Niccol; treasurer, Bro. F. Ott; 1.G., Bro. I. Wilson;' 0.G., Bro. J. King; A.B.'s, Bros. Bourne and Fletcher; V.A.B.'s, Bros. W. King and Moore; M.S., Bro. J. Rush. Bro. H. O. Searle was appointed a trustee in place of the late Bro. F. Beattie. DARGAVILLE. KAIPARA LICENSING COMMITTEE. A sitting of the Kaipara Licensing Committee was held at Dargavillo last week, Mr. E. Page, S.M., presiding, and there were also present; Messrs. G. N. Hayes, J. A. McLean, V. Trounson, D. Finlayson, and T. Bassett. The following renewals of licenses were granted, the police roports in all cases being favourable Northern Wairoa Hotel (Dargaville), F. Hodges; Central Hotel (Dargavillo), S. Thompson; Commercial Hotel (Dargavillo), S. Thompson; Tokatoka Hotel, R. 11. Kidd; Tangiteroria Hotel, J. Mewett; Kaihu Hotel, G. Meale; Pahi Hotel, J. Ryan; Kumcu Hotel, J. Griffin; Riverhead Hotel, T, Deacon; Knukapakapa Hotel, E. M. Loithen; Terminus Hotel (Helens A. Bishop; Kaipara Hotel (Helensville), E. McEwen; Helensville Hotel, E. Cooksey. OTOROHANGA. MINISTER FAREWELLED. On the occasion of his departure from Otorohanga for North Auckland, the Rev. E. 3. Wayne was presented with a purse of sovereigns. In thanking those present, Mr. Wayne stated that four years ago Otorohanga had to be satisfied with one service a month; now, it possessed a line church, with a curate in charge. Mr. John Ormsby, speaking on behalf of the parishioners, regretted that Mr. Wayne's departure was made imperative through illhealth. Mr. Wayne also received a presentation from his Te Kuiti friends.

The organiser and conductor of the boys' drum and fife band, Mr. W. J. Harvey, who has been transferred to Norsewood, was the recipient of several presentations. The boys' band presented him with a safety razor, the senior cadet company, to which the band is attached, with a purse of sovereigns, and the Town Band with a case of pipes, in recognition of his valuable services.

Mr. Robert Ormsby, one of the earliest New Zealand settlers, attained' his 91et birthday last week. A daughter of the Rev. Mr. Piggott had the misfortune to dislocate her shoulder during play.