COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15715, 16 September 1914, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OtTR OWN COSBESFO •."DENTS.]

TE AROHA. BENEVOLENT SOCIETY FOKMED. A benevolent society has teen formed in Te Aroha,, and the following are the officers :President, Mrs. Fitzgerald ; vice-president, Mrs. T. Stanley; treasurer. Mrs. W. Atkins; secretary, Mrs. M. Lawless; committee, Mesdames W. Norrell. Hanna, Brodie, McL. Wallace, G. G. Kenny, and Kenneth-Gordon. So far tha society has a membership of 60. The following are the results of the advanced grade local centre examinations at the Te Aroha Convent:—Higher division school examinations: Miss Constance YVagstaff, 100 marks. Lower division : Miss Marjorie Johnson, 105 marks. The examinations were conducted by Mr. F. de G. English at the Convent High School on September 5. _ Mr. A. Williams, late manager of the l'e Aroha West creamery, was tendered a social on Saturday evening prior to his leaving the district, and presented with a handsome watch. Mr. Williams has been appointed inspector to the Te Aroha Dairv Company. At the monthly meeting of the Waitoa Drainage Board on Saturday the tender of J. Proud at 9s 6d per chain woe accepted for deepening Horn's outlet drain. The death occurred at Waihou on Saturday evening of Mr. Patrick Moriarty, one of the fast-disappearing band of pioneers of the Thames Valley. The deceased, who had been seriously indisposed for some months past, suffered from miners' complaint. The late Mr. Muriarty, who was en his fifty-fourth year, leaves a wife and one son.

The opening of the Te Aroha, Bowling Club will take place on September 21. The balance-sheet in connection with Waihou patriotic social shows that the receipts wore £60 9s 9d. A credit balance of £58 13s has been forwarded to Lady Liverpool.

DARGAVILLE.

NEW POST OFFICE

The newly-erected Dargaville Post Office was opened for business on Monday wiuuout any official formality owing to the fact that no Cabinet Minister was available on account of the war. The building is declared to be the finest north of Auckland, and during the day the postmaster, Mr. Samuel L. Macaulay, was waited upon by many representative citizens, who voiced their appreciation of the progress <>f the district. The building, which cost £300u, is replete with all postal and telegraphic conveniences, and affords roam,, accommodation for the present staff ot 16 employees. The office is now the centre for 29 sub-offioes, and. has three telephone exchanges, with 120 subscribers, which now warrants it being open till midnight. The postal service has grown to such an extent that arrangements are now being made for a daily connection with Auckland, and it is expected that in a few months a direct telephonic communication will be established with the city. The progress of the district has been such j that the business transacted by the office some few years ago warranted it being placed in the second grade, but it has J since grown to such an extent that it now I surpasses in volume of mails and counter work many first-grade offices.

PUKEKOHE EAST.

A FAREWELL SOCIAL.

One of the most enjoyable socials ever held in Pukekobe East took place in the Public Hall on Tuesday last, the occasion being the farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Latta and family, who are leaving the district after seven years' residence. Both Mr. and Mrs. Latta are members of the school committee, the former having been chairman for some years. To Mr. Latta js also due the formation of the Pukekoh" East branch of the Farmers' Union, of ■which he wag elected president. Mr G. Keane, on behalf of the resident?, wished them every success in their new home.

MATAMATA. DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB. A public meeting was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening last for the purpose of forming a Defence Rifle Club. Lieutenant Moore-Jones, officer commanding the senior cadets, presided, and it was decided to apply to the Defence Department for permission to form the club, i'he following officers were elected :President, Mr. W. Gale; treasurer, Mr. 1. Cummings; secretary, Mr. A. Mateer; lion, medical officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Carolan, V.D.

HAMILTON. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce it was reported that an inspection of the Victoria Street blocks had been made since the last fire and the premiums increased by from 20 to 50 per cent. A committee was set up to approach the Borough Council with a view to getting a better water supply for fire-fighting purposes. It was decided to co-operate with the Wanganui Chamber of Comnv?rce Li the endeavour to secure a guarantee for I ship-owners during the war. No action was takon in regard to a suggestion from the South Canterbury Chamber anent thesheep returns, it being considered that | sufficient details were given by the De- ! portment of Agriculture. In regard to a request from the Napier Chamber of Commerce, for support for the Daylight Saving Bill, it was decided to obtain a copy of the Bill. In view of the probable distress at Hunt I v from the recent disaster, it was decided to suggest, to the No. 4 Group Patriotic Committee that they should devote £100 of their fund to the relief. The following committees were appointed : — Central: Messrs. Wernham, Howden, Pan-. Gwynne, Dey, Griffiths; Railways: Messrs. Ellis, Gruar, InsoD, Whita£er, Laffortv and Wernham; Legal and Financial : Messrs. Tudhope, Wernham, Gruar, In soil and Auld ; Post and Telegraph: .Messrs. Gwynne, Dev, Tristram, Hooper, Smith and Hames. In response to a request from Hually, the Mayor hu opeqei a, relief fund!,.