COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15663, 17 July 1914, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] PUKEKOHE. FARMERS' VETERINARY CLUB. The annual meeting of the Pukekoho District Farmers' Veterinary Club' was held at Pukekohe on Monday, Mr. Jno. Schlaopfer occupying the chair. The report stated that the club was working most satisfactorily. The membership had steadily increased, and now numbered some 325. Tho balance-sheet for the year showed receipts to have totalled £333, and the expenditure £331. Five members of the Management Committee, namely, Messrs. Jno. Schlaopfer, Pukekoho; D. Jamieson, Paerata; G. Proude, Bombay; C. F. Shipherd, Puni; and F. McGuire, Tuakau, who retired by rotation, wero all re-elected. Mr. F. E. Simpson was reappointed secretary and treasurer. A resolution was carried, recommending the committee to raise- the annual subscription from 20s to 30s for members having 20 head of stock, and an extra charge of 15s for each additional 10 head. A further resolution was also carried, recommending the committee to make the combined districts more intact and workablo by severing from various of the more distant outskirts.

A meeting of the Executivo Committej of the Pukekohe District Horticultural Society was helo. on Wednesday evening, the president, Dr. C. H. Wake, occupy- ' ing the chair. Messrs. Townson, Allan, and Dickens were appointed a sub-com-mitteo to roviso tho cut flower, fruit, and vegetable classes of the schedule for the forthcoming summer show, whilo Mesdames Grijor, Eamos, and Miss Townson, together with the lady members of tho various sub-committees, wero appointed to reviso tho children's classes, and also the home industries and floral artistry sections of tho samo schedule. Messrs". Stcmbridge, Simpson, and Driver wero appointed a printing sub-committee. Arbor Day was celebrated at the Pukekoho East school on Wednesday. The teachers and children mustered at tho school, and, after a special lesson on the uses of tree-planting, adjourned to the grounds, where tho secretary of the committeo prepared the land with the plough lhe chairman and other members of the committee, including the lady member, assisted the teachers and scholars in planting operations. Over 100 treesnative bush trees, wattles, and macrocarpaswere set.

ALBANY.

OBSERVATION OF ARBOR DAY.

Over 300 ornamental trees, supplied by the Department of Agriculture, wore planted on the Albany Show Ground on Wednesday, in celebration of Arbor Day. lhe members of the Albany School Committee, the school children, and some of the prominent members of the Fruitgrowers' Association, assembled on the ground at 9.30 a.m., and by 1 p.m. the whole of the trees wero planted in rows, about 15ft apart. Mr. R. Rowan, of the Agricultural Department, was present. Substantial show pens ■ for stock are to be erected by voluntary labour on Saturday.

WHANGAREI. HOSPITAL BOARD MATTERS. The advisability of stationing a district nurse in the Mangakahia district was considered at the meeting of the Whangarei Hospital Board. The chairman, Mr. R. Y. Kornohan i said that he believed that the settlers there would be prepared to contribute £50 or £60 a year for the services of a nurse. It was decided to defer the matter, pending a meeting of tho interested settlers, to discuss the proposal. A report was received indicating that it would shortly be necessary to provide more accommodation at Whangarei Hospital by enlarging the institution. Tho chairman drew attention to a section of the Act, which! allowed the board to invost a portion of its funds in securities, subject to the approval of the Minister, in order to pro-' vide future buildings. On his motion it was decided to institute a reserve fund for the purpose. , ' The Onerahi Town Board has received advice that its application for a loan of iiiati for reading purposes has been approved by the Advances Board. At a meeting of the Hikurangi Town Board, a. communication was received from the Prime Minister, stating that £100 would be available on the next Public Works Estimates for compensation for tenants' rights in connection with reserves necessary for the township's water supply. The Prime Minister also stated that he was agreeable to other Crown lands being set aside as water reserves, provided the board compensated the present occupiers. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote, advising that a total area of 380 acres would be available. It was resolved that the board should take the necessary steps in connection with tho settlement of compensation claims, and also to thank the Prime Minister for his offer. .

Three applications were received for the position of waterworks engineer Mr. J. Mclntyre being appointed, The annual meeting of the Whangarei Bowling Club was held on Monday evening, Mr. F. 0. Massey presiding. The balance-sheet showed that the club's finances were in a satisfactory condition, the assets over liabilities amounting to £307. Officers were elected as follows :— President, ' Mr. J. H. Horn; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. J. Donaldson and G. Marshall; secretary, Mr. H. W. Briggg, re-elected; green superintendent Mr. P.' O. Massey; committee, Messrs. F; Cobum, A. M. McLeod, W. A. Fendall R. Rule, and F. A. Moore. '

TE KUltl. THE VANISHING BUSH. A fair amount of bush is being felled in the district this winter, but the majority of this work is being done in the further back districts. Within reasonable distance of Te Kuiti.all the bush has been felled, and the land is in pasture. As a matter of fact, the bulk of tile outback settlers have got the greater portion of their bush down, and are felling the remaider by degrees. At Rangitoto, Waitomo, and towards Marokopa a number of contracts are in hand.

Mr. Voyce, sen., who is among the oldest of the Mairoa settlers, has just disposed of his farm, and contemplates returning to South Canterbury, where he previously decided to retire. At a valedictory social Mr. and Mrs. Voyce were presented with a travelling rug and cloak by the Mairoa settlers. Mr. W. A. Thomas made the presentation, and referred to the high esteem in -which the recipients were held by their neighbours. Mr. Voyce, in responding, referred to the fact that he left three sons and their families at the Mairoa to help carry on the work of settlement in the King Country. The local dairy factory is still running, and is receiving a considerable amount of cream once a week. Mr. Stirling, who has been appointed manager of the factory for the coming season, has been in charge of the Whakapirau factory, North Auckland, for somo time. He has an excellent record, his factory's output for last season having an average grade of 92.76. A number of members of the Te Kuiti Golf Club visited Hamilton on Saturday last, and played a scries of games with the members of the Hamilton Club. The Waikato players proved too strong for the visitors, though some excellent gameß were contested by both ladies and gentlemen. Bogey handicaps are to be held on the local links on Friday and Saturday, and combined foursomes the following week. _ The Te Kuiti Football Club is leading in the competition under the auspices of the Maniapoto Kugby Union, and will meet. Ongaruo in the deciding game on Saturday.

Mr. J. Boddie, Mayor of Te Kuiti, who is attending the municipal conference at Wellington, intends bringing before the Government the claims of the borough for assistance towards an important river deviation scheme. The Mangaokewa Stream has made serious inroads at the southern end of the town, and settlers at Waiteti have no access to the town except through railway property. It is estimated that a sum of £6000 will be required to deviate and bridge the river,' but this amount will make a considerable additional burden to the ratepayers, who are already' heavily rated. The residents have already raised over £50,000 for improving a Maori leasehold township, which is without reserves or endowments of any description. It is | understood the Public Works Department contemplated deviating the river some years ago to protect the railway and road, and the necessity for the deviation is becoming annually more urgent. The annual meeting of the To Kuiti Gun Club was held on Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance, and the president, Mr. Mostyn Jones, occupied the chair. A satisfactory report and balancesheet was presented by the secretary, Mr. A. E. Robinson. The handsome trophy presented for competition by the Colonial Ammunition Company was accepted • with thanks, and Messrs. Cochrane, Matthews, and Mora were appointed a committee to draw up conditions. It was docided to hold the first competition on August 6. The same committee was authorised to procure a suitable ground,

WHAKATANE.

TOWN BOARD ELECTION,

I Considerable interest was shown in the ! first election of the Whakatane Town Board. Fourteen candidates were nominated, and the voting resulted as follows: — T. W. James, 161 votes; E. Levy, 159; T. Kirk, 142; G. Harker, 128; M. Flood, 105; D. C. Martin, 99; G.- A. Brabant, SO; T. J. Fleming. 85; M. Bamson, 78 W. B. Boon, 40; W. B. Ingham, 46; A. Bead, 37; C. Reid, 29; J. Stone, 24. The first seven were declared elected. KAUKAPAKAPA. RIFLE-SHOOTING. Tho local rifle club hold a practice shoot on Saturday, when some good scores were made, J., li. Jordan heading the list with 88. Walker made 83, getting one off the possible at 300 yards, Four new members were sworn in, thus bringing 'the club's roll up to 25. On Monday the Rev. J. Colder held a meeting under the auspices of the Bible in Schools League. Owing to the unsuitable hour at which tho meeting was held very few attended. The lecturer spoke on the usual lines, and answered all questions nut to him.

Owing to the fact that most dairymen piefer sending home-separated cream to' the Helensville factory, Ambury's, Ltd., ' creamery is not going to run next seas On. i The Department is making improve- I ments to the station 'buildings. Amongst j other improvements is the raising of tho j floor of the goods-shed and the erection of a verandah to the shed.

In consequence of the almost continuous ' rain during June the outback roads are in p. very bad state, so much so that the Upper Waiwcra cream-cart has not been able to run. Settlers are beginning to talk of a Joan to put the roads in good i order, recognising that bad roads are the ! biggest handicap with which they have to contend.

Amnio supplies of roots and hay are : brincng stock through the winter in fine ! fettle and cows should come into profit in better condition than for soma seasons j past.

MATANGI.

THE ROAD PROBLEM.

Tho monthly meeting of the Tamahero i Road Board was held on Monday, Mr. W. i E. Clark presiding. The clerK reported ' that tho New Zealand Packing Company had so far failed to forward an agreement ; indemnifying the board in connection with | the drainage of tho company's premises. It j was decidod that unless the agreement was 1 forwarded before next meeting the board would take other steps in the matter. Messrs. E. T. Robinson and W. Crunston waited upon the board as a deputation in connection with the library, and j asked for assistance in tho shape of a sub- j sidy. They also desired to know if the I board would act as the controlling author- j ity. It was decided that the clerk report on the question to the next meeting. Messrs. Livingstone, Thompson, and Bern waited upon tho board and asked that the road past their property be put in order. The board agreed to patch the worst places, and to review the position again when the wet weather was over. A general rate of jjd in the £ was struck. Considerable discussion took place amongst tho members over the question of the roads, the general opinion being that it would be the best policy to raise a loan and put the main roads in thorough order. It was pointed out that it would be more economical to raise a loan of £6000. as the general rate would more than meet the interest, and the upkeep would be much less. The board decided to call a meeting of the ratepayers to discuss the question. At this meeting the board will submit a scheme, which they believe will commend itself to the settlers of the district.

HAMILTON. REGIMENTAL BAND. ' The first annual meeting of the 16th, Waikato, Regimental Band was held. Tho report congratulated Bandmaster Salter and the members on a successful though strenuous year. Reference was made to tho success attained at tho Exhibition competition, and the suggestion was mado that the band should compote at Napier in 1915. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £33 15s lOd, and an excess of assets over liabilities of £595 14s lid. The president drew attention to the meagre support given to the band in the way of engagements, the net receipts from which had been only £22 2s 7d. Colonel Cumming, officer commanding the regiment, and Bandmaster Salter complimented the band upon its efficiency, enthusiasm, and energy. The following officers were elected :—' President, Mr. J. T. Brown; vice-presi-dent, Bandsman Hodgkinson; secretary, Sergeant Price; treasurer, Mr. Brown; librarian, Bandsman Jarratt; drum-major, Major Rastrick; executive, Messrs. Birch, Mclntyre, and Veats; auditors, Captain Northcroft and Mr. Veats,

A letter from the Borough Council, asking where and when the band would ronder programmes in return for the borough subsidy, raised considerable dia-. cussion, it being hold that for the subsidy of £25 the band had "not become quite the servants of the council," but as a military band, "servants of the King." It was decided to ask the council the number' of concerts required. A deputation of members of the Waikato Winter Show Association waiter on Mr. F. Pemberton and asked him to allow himself to be nominated as president for the coming year. Mr. Pemberton replied that he would be pleased to accede to their request provided renomination was not accepted by Mr. F. Ernest Smith. The first concert by the Hamilton Glee Club was held on Wednesday night, TATJMARUNUI. BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY. A fancy-dress ball, in aid of the Beautifying Society, was held this week and proved very successful, a considerable sum being added to the funds. Miss Ward, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Ward, met with a painful accident on Wednesday. She was thrown from her horse and had her shoulder dislocated. A large number of representatives of the New Zealand Alliance including Messrs. H. D. Bedford. Mr, L. M. laitt, M.P., and the Rev. Dawson, will shortly hold a meeting at, Taumarunui. Mr. Jones, master of the Oio schoolhas been appointed clerk to tho .Mount Albert Borough Council. After a good deal of agitation a constable has been appointed to Matiere Constable Fletcher, of Waihi, has been transferred to the new station, and will be under the control of Sergeant Millar of Taumarunui. '