COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15716, 17 September 1914, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OUR OWN' CORKESPOJTDErrS.] TE AROHA. DAIRY COMPANY'S PAYMENTS. The following payments were made by the To Aroha Dairy Company for the month of August:—Waihou, £235 Os Id; Eastport Road, £385 13s 3d; Mangaiti, £214 17s 2d ; Avlesburly, £51 2s 9d ; Turangaomoana, £145 6s 8d; Te Aroha West. £368 7s Id ; Taihoa, £194 12s Id ; Tirau, £96 4s 4d ; Okauia, £93 ss; home separating, £422 13s 4d ; making a total of £22U7 6s, against £2057 3s 4d for the corresponding month of the- previous year. The increased supply is very satisfactory to the company. At the monthly meeting of the Te Aroha District High School Committee on Monday evening, it was decided to donate the sum of £5. out of the £20 received in connection with tlio recent picture entertainment, towards the cost of a field ambulance to accompany the New Zealand expeditionary force.

At the monthly meeting of the Piako County Council on Tuesday, tho following tenders Wei's accepted:Ko. 85, Alexandra Road formation at Manawaru, C. R. Stanley; No. 86, Mount Pleasant Road formation at Tatua, D. Shine, £12; No. 87, new superstructure for Waiorongomai Bridge over the Waihou River. S. Campbell. £163.

HAMILTON. PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the Frankton Patriotic Committee it was reported that £263 18s had been promised to date, of which £235 16s had been paid in. The concerts had resulted in a surplus of over £31, The paymaster-general acknowledged receipt of a draft for £200, which had been promised by the committee for a team of battery horses. It was decided to contribute £20 from the fund to the Huntly Relief Fund. Mr. D. Moroney, of Karamu, has donated five tons of potatoes to the same fund. A home mission rally was held on Tuesday in St. Andrew's Church, when addresses were given by the home missioners within the Waikato Presbytery. The speakers all urged the claims of the back blocks upon the church as a whole. WAIHI. THE PATRIOTIC FUND. Tho amount, banked to the credit of the Waihi Patriotic Fund now exceeds £1110 with other stuns to come in. To-morrow the committee will meet to consider the question of Tansferring the money in hand to the central committee in Auckland and the objects to which it should be allocated. So far the amount collected in Waikino and the surrounding districts toward the Empire Defence Fund, exceeds £200, of ■which £100 has already been forwarded to the Paymaster-General at Wellington. The Croatians working in the Waitawheta Bush have contributed readily to the fund, their donations being as under: George Curin, £3; John Viscovitch and brother, £2: Steve Seputich, Ivan Urlich, Tony Urlich. Matty Danich. D. Viscovitch and John Frayich, £1 each. The children of the Waikino public school have, also subscribed £3 towards the ambulance equipment funds. A concert, promoted by the Waihi Amateur Operatic Society, in aid of the Patriotic Fund, was held in the Academy Theatre last night and was largely patronised. The features of an excellent programme were the tableaux " Britannia and her Allies," arranged by Mr. Keven. and the singing of "The •Marseillaise" bv the company. The proceeds totalled £32.

MAUKU.

ADDITIONS TO THE SCHOOL.

Very welcome additions have just been made to the Mauku school, consisting of a new and up-to-date class-room, 20ft by 24ft and a new shelter-shed and outbuildings. These improvements have been urgently needed for some time, as the old school-room, which was built for about 60 children, was doing duty for over 90. Consequently the headmaster, Mr. G. A. Gutry, has been working under \erv adverse conditions. To celebrate the opening of the new wing a social and dance was held in the school-room on Friday evening, and a large number of parents, friends, and children attended and spent a, very enjoyable evening. Songs and items were rendered by Miss Muir, Messrs. Guthrie, Gutry, Gillon, Davis, and Mr. and Miss Hemsworth. A collection was taken up, and the proceeds are to be placed towards a school library. The continued dry spell is causing quite a shortage of grass even at this spring time of the year, and many farmers have had to suspend cropnin? operations on account of the impossibility of working th land. " -

Continued progress is being made with the Waiuku branch railway, and the cooperative works are now being pushed forward through Mr. Wright's bush. This bush is one of the most beautiful clumps in the district, and is practically in its virgin state; so it is hoped that an effort will be made to save the portions adjoining the line for scenic purposes. Anart from the contracts that are let there are about 100 men on co-operative works, so with proper management Mauku should be soon linked up with the main line, the distance to Patumahoe being only about five miles from, Paerata, where the junction will be.

HUNUA.

patriotic football match

A patriotic football match was held on Friday at Messrs. McConneTs farm between the local territorials and civilians. After a very interesting game the former won by 14 points to 6. The residents of the district attended in large numbers and a collection taken up at half-time realised -5 ss. At the close of the match afternoon tea was provided. A social and dance is to be given in the Hunua Hall on Friday evening next by the local territorials in aid of the Patriotic Fund.

Mr. J. Butler, a very old resident or the district, has sold his farm to Mr W Tilly, of Oxford, North Canterburv

WAERENGA

I - ROAD BOARD MEETING I- ) " h L,i ftnga ?! ari, l 0 Road Boar"' met I nt lSat S a - v ', Mr J- G. Browne presid inc n, 1 • wowne presid|Pni,n<. ,K h9 , * naan «P°rted that the |P«ohc Works Department had approved | of the propo-ed expenditure of £&0 of Government subsidy on the Te K™k Station to Mill Creek aid. and th^f n : estimates to be submitted to the district j engineer. An application bv "he Ed to the State Advances Office for the *Hi uonal 10 per cent, on their £3100 oan ra .' . with the reply that owing to the Sm .plications no fresh advances could be made at present. Members thought that the position taken up by the Department -•as notX URfail " °, e ' as £ hls a PPIicE .as not for a new loan, but merely for the additional amount that might always | be taken up a required, and which was i never previously refused, in this case, tho I hoard had commenced certain work think- | ing that the advance would be made It •was resolved to call tenders for formation contracts on Drapers' and Waipuna (orge Roads, and to accept the tenders of 1. Keith for metalling on Taniwha Road and J. Singleton, for formation on the Whangamanno Station Road; also that, in future contracts the time conditions be strictly enforced. The board decided to levy a general rate of Id in the £1 over the Waerenga and Rangiriri sub-divisions and a Jd rate in Aharamaru for th« ensuing year. The proposal to amalgamate the offices of clerk and engineer was agreed to. and applications for the combined position are to be called forthwith, at a salary of £180 per annum. Mr. Bennett moved that immediate steps bo taken to constitute the Whangamarino Road District, into a county. The mover stated that the district embraced a larger area than many existing counties, and he thought that the change would ensure

larger subsidies, a more, fuller control •* - locallv collected rates, and power to de I ' with th'& larger bridges, besides giving S? district a standing commensurate with ft.«? importance. The board supported Mr Bennett's proposal, and authorised th"' chairman to bring the matter before tiT I Government, and if possible to get a BUI passed this session. Accounts amounting ' to £236 were passed for payment. *

1 KACKAPAKAPA. i PATRIOTIC CONCERT A lew evenings nco a meeting of - eai [dents was held to consider the question oi holding a concert in aid of the hund. Many offers A help were received and it was decided I hat a concert should be given in a few weeks' time. Since th-s war began a ;ar:;e number 0 ' recruits have joined the ririe .iub and the roll number is now 53. Regular weekiv drills .'ire hold and well attended. M Uc j, difficulty is being experienced in getting arms and ammunition, and the men ex° press great dissatisfaction at hieing &',,. *o lung without tlicm. * The ladies' tennis club held a very eatoessful euchre party a w--ck n- V ' a „;' and donated the gross proceeds to the Patriotic Fund. At a previti« entertain, ment a fair sum was subvrihed toward* the equipment of Trooper W. A. Drinnan who received a hearty send-off and best •wishes for a safe return. So far the war has not caused much difference in the daily life of our pettier* I but gum-diegers feel the pinch badly. Thev ; arc earnestly honing for a • hanee "for the J bitter, as t!i9 market for uriiki : !ed latest i is overstocked just row.

MAMARC

j NEW RAILWAY STATION | The new railway station is now open and is proving a boon to the officials and | public. j The new pott office is to be commenced as soon as the plana have been approved The Domain Board has spent about £40 in stumping and clearing a portion of "the Domain, and a* soon as a further £12 is available from the Crown Lands Office it is intended to plough and grass it i * : TE AWAMTTU. ! TOWN BOARD ELECTION. ; Polling in connection with the biennial i election of the Town Board took plane ve? . terday. and resulted as follows : — « Wallace, 200 votes; G. Spinlev' 165* 8 Mathews 159, Wm. Taylor 151, MO Lawson 137, J. B. Teasdale 155 ' £>," Reekie 101. The first five mentioned were declared duly elected. Much interest w 36 taken in the election. The commission to deal with the consti tut ion of the borough sits to-morrow Mr. W M. Alexander. LL.B.. who* w last _ week admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court is a son of one of our local settlers, Mr Chaa M Alexander president of the Te Amirta branch of the New Zealand Farmers* union.

A meeting of the- local School Committee was held on Monday evening Uet there being present :—The" Rev. F. -ft' Clarke, chairman, M. C T -awson S Clark G. Spinley, Dr. Henderson,' and Rev. D. J. Shaw. The headmaster in hi, report to the committee, stated that the average attendance lor August -was 185 The roll is now increasing, and the appointment of a male assistant should soon be warranted. The Town Board was accorded a. vote of thanks for supplying the water from the mains free of charge Hie secretary reported thai the Technical School Fund was in credit £200. \ letter was received from the Auckland Education Board dealing with the request for a new school, and stating that it was impossible to do other than urgent work I and the matter co-.Jd not bo' considered | for at least 12 months. ! Tho annual meeting of the Te Awamntn lenms Club took place during last Wse ]j when the following officers were- elected tor the ensuing year President* Mr., E rV -~''. "presidents, Messrs' A. Crmckshank, R. S. Galbraith. and Dr Henderson; committee, Messrs J parte \ T^ot^\} V ; G - mUei ' w - Morris*! and E. J,. Clark; secretary, Mr. Kflvtat tnunrer Mr - Burchell < auditor, 'Mr Archibald.

PAEROA. DAIRYING COMPANY'S MEETING. A special meeting of shareholders of th» 1 bames Valley Co-operative Dairying Company was held to consider a notice of motion that the articles of association -be altered; so that the director* would be elected by groups of creamery suppliers instead of by the whole of the shareholders as at present. Mr. A. C. Hubbard, chairman of directors, presided, and after discussion 90 votes were cast in favour of the motion and 52 against it.. As the motion was not supported by hall the exercisable votes, namelv, 329, tb» alteration could not be made. A meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce was held last night, Mr. E. W. Porritt presiding. The postmaster wrote declining to recommend the removal of tie letter-receiving box in Wharf • Street, and, n the meantime, no further action will be taken in the mat-tier. It* < was dicided to write to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, pointing out th.i!the woi k of erecting stop-banks alongside the Wahou River is to be carried out "with loan mc'ney specially provided for the putpose, and asking for assistance in urging upon the Public Works Department'the desirability of expediting the work. On account of the present war crisis, members agreed that the present time was inopportune for urging the carrying out of sevoral necessary works, and consideration was. therefore, postponed to a more favourable season.