COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15662, 16 July 1914, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OUR own CORRESPONDENTS.] TUAKAU. WINTER FUNCTIONS.

The first annual ball of the Tuakau Rod and Gun Club, which was held in the Literary Hall, proved an unqualified success. Excellent dance music was provided by Morrow's orchestra, extras being played by Mrs. Goldsmith and Miss Mayall. During an interval, Dr. Cheeseman, president of tho club, presented trophies donated by Messrs. M. Foley, W. Booker, Jno. Grant, W. Wright, J. K. Wells, L. Stevenson, and F. Woolley, which were won respectively by W. Deeble, jun., W. Billington, B. McGahan, S. Thome, E. McGahan, W. Deeble, jun., and J. McNeil.

On Saturday the Pukekoho township senior football team visited here and defeated the local team by 6 points to 3. For the visiting team a try was scored by Pratt and a penalty goal was _kicued by Adams.

The annual meeting of parishioners was held in St. John's Church, Tuakau, the vicar of Pukekohe, Rev. F. B. Dobson, presiding. The report, which was adopted, stated that better progress had been made by the church during the year than had been the case for some years previously. General offertories and subscriptions to the stipend and other funds, had increased, while the sum of £31 had been raised amongst the church members for the purchase of a new acetylene gas plant, which had been installed in the church. The Sunday-school was making good progress, the attendance having materially increased within the year. Oihcors were elected for the en-suing year as fellows:—Vicar's warden, Mr. W. Collins; peoples' warden, Mr. Feather; vestrymen, Messrs. H. Acton, P. Rows. T. Lap wood, T. Roberts, W. Pr*scott, and L. Stevenson. The Tuakau Women's Christian Temperance Union hMd a successful " At Home" on Tuesday, Mrs. Deeble occupying the chair. An address was given by Mrs. LceCowie. In the evening a public meeting was held, when Mrs. Lee-Cowie gave another address on " Birth, .Growth, and Future Prospects of Prohibition Work in Our Dominion."

PUKEKOHE.

FARMERS' CLASSES.

The third lecture- of the series which avo being given at the (special classes for farmers at the Pukekohe Technical School, was delivered on Thursday evening. Tho subject dealt with was "Milk Testing," practical demonstrations being given by the instructor. On Friday lost the pupils attending the classes, accompanied by the instructor, Mr. A. V. Donnan, paid a visit to the Waerenga Experimental Farm, where practical demonstrations in the art of pruning were gi\en. The Pukekohe Hill and Mauku senior and junior football teams met on Saturday. Pukekohe Hill seniors won by 22 jwints to 0, tries beiiur scored by A. Bilkey (2), 0. Bilkey, W. A. Lamont, G. Lcierhton, and 0. Stayto, while a try each was converted by Leighton and Wilson. The Pukekohe Hill juniors also won by 9 points to 6. For the former team threij penalty goals were kicked by Hart: while for Mauku a try was scored by Davy and a penalty goal was kicked by Partner. EOBSONVILLE. EXTENDING FARMERS' UNION. A branch of the Farmers' Union was formed here on Friday night. It was decided to name the branch the Waitemata Upper Harbour Branch. The following officers were elected Chairman, Mr. T. Wake; vice-chairman, Mr. R. H. Ockleston; secretary and treasurer, Mr. R. S. Nixon; auditors, Mr. .S. Dale and Mr, D. S. B. Squire; executive committee, Miss I. Bernecher, Messrs. S. Dale, John Sinton, W. Cuveen, W. Spargo, H. Wil£oo, P. Midgley, and E. JonKer CLEVEDON. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Clevedon A. and P. Association was held on Saturday. Mr. A. D. Bell, president, occupied the chair. The annual report and balancesheet were read and adopted, the latter showing a cash balance of iJiMj., while tile report gave ample evidence of important work done in laying out, draining, fencing, and grassing the new 6how grounds, and the work in progress of erecting pens at an estimated cost of £300. The number of members had considerably increased. A meeting of those interested in bowling was held with a view of forming a club _ and considering the necessary steps required to make a suitable green on the show grounds. Space was heing reserved for polo playing next season. The election of officers resulted as follows -.—President, Mr. A. D. Bell vicepresidents, Messrs. A. McNicol, Jas. McKnight, and G. Bell; secretary, Mr. A. E. Bailey. A general committee' of 24 was elected, and also an executive of 16 members. Mr. C. Munro was appointed delegate to the forthcoming Auckland Provincial Conference of A. and P. associations, and tbu following remit was carried :—" That all harbour boards should be elected on Parliamentary electoral basis." * .

The monthly euchre party and dance for the Wairoa Lawn Tennis Club's general funds was hold on Friday, a very pleasant evening being spent. Dance music was supplied by Mrs. A. McNicol and Miss Maggie Dow, Mr. R. Waters acting as M.C. Misses Maggie Finn and Elsie Dow and Messrs. W. Stephens and G. Level won the prizes. Monthly euchre parties are being held in the Otau Hall with much success, all the surplus receipts being devoted to the ball fund.

The Wairoa junior football team played a friendly match with the Ardmore team on Saturday, Ardmore winning by 9 toO. The third .grade Wairoa team travelled to Papakura and won by 9 to 0. The dense sea fog prevailing in Auckland last week extended to Maraetai, .;nd thence island for over 10 miles, a very unusual occurrence here.

Useful work lias been done on roads shut in by hills, by clearing away stretch of tea-tree and fern that obstructed the view of approaching vehicles and motors, The usual winter farm work is going on, though the rain has somewhat retarded progress. Large contracts for bushfelling and general clearing have been let, and axe now begun. Early lambs are making their appearance, and already there is a sufficient number of cows milking on many homesteads to keep the dairies and the local factory fairly Busy TE AROHA. PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Piako County Council was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. W. P. Chepmell, in the chair, W. H. Milliken, J. B. Thomas, W. Lockver, J. Brady, 'and Orr. It weis resolved to strike a rate of one-sixth of a penny in the £ to provide for the payment of principal and interest on a loan of £7000 to pay off the county's overdraft. The expenditure in the six ridings was reported as follows:—Walton, £138, Morriimille. £209: Waitoa, £326; Waihou, '£222: Te Aroha, £31; Manawaru, £67. The Treasury Department notified that the sum of £125 was available for the Pirinui stream bridge grant and £200 for the Waitoa bridge loan. The Public Trust Office stated that the council's application for £22,000 could be entertained at 5£ per cent., with 1 per cent, sinking fund. The Minister for Public Worms promised to support grants of £300 for Waiwhera drain and £200 for Kawana Road. It.was agreed that the chairman should visit Wellington and interview the Department, respecting the grants. It Was ao-roed id strike a rate of \i in the £ to defray the council's liability to the Hospital Board. ;. / .

At the annual meeting of the Matamata A. and P. Association the balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £268, the total expenditure for tho year being £510. The chairman, amid applause, presented the cup donated by him for the best Holsteins to Mr. Quintan. Tho election of officers resjilted as follows :—President, Mr. Quinlan; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. Grant and Vosper; executive committee, Messrs. S. Gunn, R. Wood, C. Pavze, G. J. Duxfield, I. McNair, M. Madill, C. D. Rollett, J. G. Wyman, B. Barugh, W. F. Harding, J. Montague, B. C. Taylor, and J. Pohlen. A general committee, consisting of 46 members, was elected. A meeting of the Settlers' Association at Springdale was held on Tuesday, when a committee 'was appointed to further the interests of Mr. Joseph Clark, Reform candidate for Ohinemuri.

The monthly meeting of the To Aroha District School Committee was held' on Tuosday evening. The Education Board advised that a grant wjis being asked for to provide accommodation for 60 extra pupils for the Te Aroha school.

PAEROA. BOROUGH MOVEMENT. A public meeting was held at Paeroa on Monday o\oning in connection with the movement for the formation of a borough. Mr. F. Balke,' chairman of the Borough Movement Association, was in the chair, and amongst those present were Mr. W. Norrell, Mayor of Te Aroha. A report was submitted from the association showing the area rateable in . the' proposed borough and other particulars. Addresses showing the benefits to bo dorived by forming a borough were given by Mr. Norrell, Mr. F. Wild, town clerk of To Aroha, and others. The petition for the creation of a borough is being forwarded to the Government, and the usual commission to inquire into the matter will be appointed in about a month's time.

Colonel Logan, officer commanding the district, was in Paeroa on Tuesday for the purpose of meeting the various territorial officers in the district. There was a good attendance of officers, and the colonel explained the method of working the new scheme of defence as prepared by General Sir lan Hamilton.

A meeting of the- Paeroa School Committee was held on Tuosday night, Mr. W. McWatters presiding. It was decided to write to the Hon. W G. Nicholls and to Mr, H. Poland, M.P., asking their assistance towards the endeavour to obtain as a Hi<?h School site a block of native land of 23 acres in Paeroa. Tho observance of Arbor Day was fixed for Thursday, July 23. when the elder scholars will obtain from the bush native trees for planting in the school grounds. It was decided to obtain a legal opinion as to the necessity of children attending technical classes at Waihi, the opinion of the members being that the classes should be held in Paeroa.

ROTORUA. CLERGYMAN FAREWELLED. A. valedictory social was tendered on Tuesday riight to Archdeacon Tisdall and Mrs. Tisdall, it being largely attended by members of the congregation of St. Luke's Church and other religious bodies, as well as a number of citizens, The speakers included the Rev. D. Herd, St, John's Presbyterian Church, the Rev. H. T. Peat, Methodist Church, Captain Hawkins, Salvation Army, the Rev. ,T. L. Greer, curate at St. Luke's, Mr. W. Hill, resident officer, and the Rev, F. A. Bennett, of the Maori Mission Church, Ohinemutu. .The chairman, Mr. Hammond, referred to the interest the archdeacon had taken in horticulture, and presented Mrs. Tisdall, on behalf of the parishioners, with a pair of silver candlesticks, and on behalf of Mr. Patterson, of Mamaku, he presented an illuminated address. Tina presentation from St. Luke's Church people was a very handsome roll-top desk. The Rev. F. A. Bennett, on behalf of the people of St. Faith's Church, presented the archdeacon with a carved walk-ing-stick, the work of one of the late chiefs, who considered one of the I most famous Maori carvers.

Archdeacon and Mrs. Tisdall leave here for their new home at EHerslie on Friday morning. On Monday afternoon Mrs. Tisdall was farewelled by the members of the Mothers' Union, of which she was president, and presented with a silver-mounted inkstand.