COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15664, 18 July 1914, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from ot/b OWN correspondents.] PUKEKOHE. LOAN PROPOSALS. In addition to loans of £8600 for the establishment of municipal gasworks, and £6.500 for the reconstruction of King Street, both of which are to bo submitted to a poll of the ratepayers shortly, the Borough Council recently decided to ask the ratepayers to sanction a loan of £0500, to can-y out a comprehensive scheme of drainage for the town. In connection with the lattor, objections to the .special rating area will bo heard at the sitting of the Pukekohe S.M. Court., on August 6. .Mr. F. lirowu, etationmaster at Pukekolio, is away on his annual holiday, which he is spending in Wellington. At the result of representations mado by Mr. W. C. Cargill, chairman of the technical Advisory Committee, the Franklin County Council has made a grant of £20 to the special classes for farmers, which aro being held at the Pukekoho Technical School. The Franklin Agricultural and Pastoral Society's old 6how ground is to be cut up into 41 sections. It is intended to undertake the work of roading the estate at an early dato.

DARGAVILLE. SITE VESTING BILL OPPOSED. A petition protesting against the Dargaville Borough Municipal Site Vesting Bill, which is now before Parliament, is in circulation and is being widely signed. ibfl Bill provides for the taking of an area adjacent to the Dargavillo Club, on the borough foreshore, on which to erect municipal buildings. The land is an original part of Victoria Street, but for years has been regarded as a park reserve, and considerable feeling is king manifested against its being utilised for any other purpose. HAMILTON BANKRUPT ESTATE A meeting of the creditors in the estate of John Hy Cook, of Frankton Junction, was _ held yesterday, tho official assignee presiding. In reply to the official assignee, tho bankrupt said he had £10 or £15 when he started in business in 1913. H" admitted he bad started at his creditors' risk, having explained his position to the representative of one firm only. He had had no previous experience in estimating, and he had made miscalculations. He had kept no books, and had no bank account before December last. Some of his accounts had been paid in cash and some by cheque. His bank account, therefore, would not disclose his position. No resolution in connection with the estate was passed. Mr. F. Ernest Smith, president of the Winter Show Association, has declined to consent to re-nomination. WHANGAREI. STEAMER SERVICE PROPOSED. A movement is on foot in the Mongonni County to inaugurate a new steamer service between Northern ports and Auckland. A letter was received by the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night inviting the local business people to join in the movement, and stating that favourable concessions would bo offered in the way of fares and freight. It was decided to ask for fuller details before taking any action, but the opinion was expressed that the Whangarei people would not object to anv proposals in the way of cheaper steamer fares and freights. Tho nresident, Mr. D. W. Jack, expressed the opinion that tho present steamer service between Auckland and Whanearei was satisfactory, but if any other company entered into competition there was no reason why the people should not take advantage of it.

HAURAKI PLAINS.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. . Since the sections at Waitakaruru and Pctetonga were announced as open for selection, load-seekers have been visiting the locality daily. Some of them had difficult*- through not knowing the routes. A number of parties have come to tho Pipiroa Wharf under the impression that they could be ferried across, only to find that there was no boat available, and they had to retrace their steps at considerable loss and inconvenience. The need of a bridge, or even a ferry, at I'inivoa is urgent, and it is considered that had tho Government erected a bridge before the land was thrown open, and loaded the sections with a portion of tlu> cost, the Plains would have benefited to tho extent of thousands of pounds, and no one would ha\e felt the burden. Tho Board of Education has decided that the school now under erection at Pipiroa must also servo th<\ pupils at Kouparahi. Tho teacher will take the children across the river by boat, but the arrangement does not appeal to tho Kouparahi householders. Trie winter, owing to improved conditions, both as regards roads and draining, has hardlv ten noticeable. Stock is looking well, and tho creamery has not closed.