COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15769, 18 November 1914, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

[FROM OTJK OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] PAPATOETOE. COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION. Great interest was displayed on Wednesday last in the election of a member for the County Council for the Papatoetoe district. The candidates were Mr. 1. Bryant and Mr. F. Waters. The voting Was very heavy, and resulted in Mr. Bryant being returned with a majority of seven votes.

There is great indigni'ion among the Papatoetoe residents reg... ling the present overcrowded state ol the school. During the last five years the number of scholars has been doubled, the present number on the roll being 170, and, according to the rules of the Education Board, the present building should only be accommodating 83. In view of the coming summer heat it is considered that the health of the scholars is endangered. Even now, so early in the year, the headmaster finds it necessary to let the children out at intervals during the day for fresh air. The school committee has approached the Education Board on the matter, but has received no encouragement.

A start has been made with the erer- , lion of the new post office on a site along- i side the old building opposite the railwav •' station. It is to be a wooden structure. ■ for which the Government grant was I £1000. Some of the residents seem disappointed, as they were expecting a brick < building. ; W ARK WORTH. RODNEY SPRING SHOW. The spring flower show and industrial exhibition opened on Thursday with perfect weather conditions. The display ot flowers, considering the dry spring, was very creditable, roses being especially fine. In the sweet-pea Alasses there was also good competition, though not equal to last year's exhibition. Keen rivalry also existed in the decorated table class. In cookery and fancy work the entries were good in number and quality. Vegetables were almost non-existent. A band of ladies were kept busy providing refreshments. Other voung ladies sold lollies and flowers, etc., for the Belgian fund, while ! guessing competitions and a shooting gallery provided entertainment. Mr. Attwood, secretarv, and a willing band of workers all did their best to make the show a success. In the flower classes, which contained 144 exhibits in all, the principal prize-winners were:—Hoses, Miss Sanvig, Mesdames Hamilton and Lance Phillips, and Mr. J. Greenwood; sweet peas, Misses Edna and Ethel Phillips, Mrs. S. H. Phillips, the Rev. Macdonald, and Mr. Selwyn Morrison: col- , lection of cut flowers, Mr. Hamilton and j Flora Hamilton; carnations, Mrs. Ross; antirrhinums, Mr. Attwood; pelargoniums, Mrs- John Matthews; sweet Williams, Mrs. T. bottom; native flowers and • berries, Stanley Moore; poppies, Mrs. W. , A. Darrach; linarias, Miss Laura Heywood; pansies, Miss Hilda Philiipe; pot plants, Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. A. , Warin; buttonholes and ladies' sprays, Mrs. L. Phillips, Miss Shaw, Miss Bell Roose; table decorations, Mrs. W. Civil and Miss Ivy Carran; bouquets and baskets of flowers, Mrs. Roose; bridal shower bouquet, Mrs. L. Philips. Mr. I Mackay, of Auckland, acted as judge of I flowers, Mesdames Greenwood, Gnbble, Gozar, and A. Woodcock judging the ladies' sections. The show was continued on Friday, the hall being crowded in the evening. MAUKU. SELF-SACRIFICING SCHOLARS. The following resolution passed by the scholars of the Mauku school shows the splendid spirit of self-sacrifice that is at this time everywhere present, even among the school children. Master Laughlm Nobbs proposed, and Master Ernest Gillon seconded, That the scholars of the Mauku school respectfully suggest to the committee that they be allowed to forego their prizes this year, both for examination work and the school sports, as the scholars think that the people of the district have been called upon so much this year and have given so liberally to the Patriotic Fund, Huntly Fund, and the Belgian Relief Fund, that they are quite willing to do without the usual prizes, and so allow even more to be given to suffering Belgium." Unprecedented interest was taken in the County Council elections on Wednesday, and the voting was very heavy. The returned councillor, Mr. J. Henry, received a splendid vote in his own district, Patumauoe, getting 156 votes to his opponent's five. M

Apparently there is to be a very serious shortage of hay this season, for many paddocks that are usually about ready to ' cut at this season are at present almost [ bare, so severe has been the prolonged spell of dry weather. From one end of ; the district to the other there is hardly a crop of hay to be seen. Great preparations are being made to 1 have the roads of the district in good order for next winter. In many places hundreds «i yards of spauls are stacked ready for the crusher, which is to start work shortly. Clearing operations are well forward on the \\aiuku branch railway, and the line is now well defined right out to the Patu-mahoe-Pukekohe Road, within half-a-mile of the Patumahoe settlement. A new camp has also been established in Mr. Cantelin's property, near the Presbyterian Church, so the "route should soon be cleared right through the M auk it district. TE AWAMUTU. ! TOWN BOARD MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the Town Board was held on Friday. There were present : —Messrs. A. S. Wallace, chairman, Wm. Taylor, M. C. Lawson, and Geo. Spinlev. Mr. Mathews was granted further leave of absence, owing to illness. The board's engineer, Mr. H. Munro Wilson, forwarded plans in connection with the levelling of the Park Road Recreation Reserve. Mr. R. Burns, Acting-Consul for Belgium, wrote, in reply, thanking the board for its action, taken in connection with collecting funds towards the Auckland Provincial Belgian Relief Fund. By invitation, Mr. J. A. Young, M.P., waited , n the board in reference to a further £2000 loan to complete the water supply reticulation. The Advances Office reluctantly declined to entertain the application, owing to the unsettled state of matters affecting the Empire. The chairman pointed out that the £2000 represented the additional 10 per cent, en the original water supply loan, and should be regarded as a part of the original loan. On Mr. Young's suggestion, it was resolved to renew the application. It was decided to accept the Railway Department's offer of 7d per 1000 gallons for water supplied to the local railway station, with a minimum of 910.000 gallons per quarter, payment to be made every quarter. A letter was received from the Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, respecting the water supply to the Mental Hospital ~ Estate at Tokanui. The clerk was instructed to forward particulars of the extra cost of pipe-laying, and to ascertain the quantity of water required per day. Messrs. Russell and Campbell, solicitors, wrote forwarding the transfer fee in connection with the Commercial Hotel license, H. Luis to E. J. 1 R. Smith. The Under-Secretary wrote, statins that a poll would be taken to de--1 cide the constitution of Te Awamutu as a 1 borough. The recent commission had reported favourably on the proposal. • A meeting of the Mangahoe Drainage Board was held on Saturday, being the first meeting subsequent- to the triennial election. There were present—Messrs. Geo. M. Ahier, Jno. Middlebrook, Jas. Whineray, Jas. North, and Geo. Glasson. Mr. Ahier was unanimously re-elected chairman of trustees. It was decided. to inspect the works before authorising any

further expenditure. Notice was giver! that a general rate of l£d in the £ bo

made. A most success entertainment in aid! of tile Belgian Relief Fund t'X>k place at Hairini on Friday evening. Tin- total proceeds will amount to close on £60. The sale of a child's doll realised £13 3?. The official opt n:!iix of the -pt.-in season took place on Wednesday, -when a i.'iml,cr of good practise frames were played. The ladies provided aftenio;m tea. .v quiet wedding was lekhraf. I a; St. Tail's Anglican Chun-li or. W-;. :; afternoon, the i-iir.r.'i ting : ir: - ;» • i -Ml. John Tli-vor Williams, ui?-' M's. \V:-.i-fred Sketch, hotii of Xcwp'.:. M shire, Wales. The Rev F. V. •' .1. utlkiati'd. The li'ld- v. i- .j.v-r- ;«.iy v Mr. H. Mandcno Slip «, ;•■! ■- Miss Isabella Mnndei..., l!: d " • 1 , groom by Mr. Jeffrey IV..kt. .X :• e; ' • ! was held at Mr. 11. Man«k-n»'.< >■: - The official • •p<nim: «i : . season took plae.- ->ti Weiirv-.-'l iv :: .v.- . and was attended by iar.'c := • ■ f -f local and visiting '••>!». '!'«• i-•-H. 11 Mr. M. S. Laura . extee-ied a : •. • come to the visit'*.-. Tie. ; '•■v •i-1 afternoon tea. TF KOPITT SUCCESS I)A/' A .* ■: A successful 1. 7a.ir v- i< iv' I .•• ( -r nation Hall on F-id.iy and S: t i i■. when £73 was realised in aid ■ ; in:,: ; it:g fund. The bi/aar was <-pr-1 i lv Mr. T. Webb, who eil-ei.-ed lie v. -k • -l •> ladies' commuter it: the :V>« display. The s il..«ir!.- .v f r,. j : . ;n je of the artistically de- .n-ati-d st..ii- . I'la-.n sewing. Mrs. t Stiii.i.? .•:«! '! v ->>xsen: children's >'. tl-::-_-. M- . 1 M- .

Miss L. Amlers'.i,. and Mis.-. K H- wajd : produce. M'ss F. S:i::tb : M.'., K New. Miss Walton, ami M --~ 11 •• -. dolls. Miss X. plin.ee. M:ss F. He ntpM:'-, and Miss X". Elliott: i-nr-ans. Mi-s A. Hey ward and M -•< A. Gin-., k. Var'.-us articles were railed. and gucssinj ard other competitions served to t-vn- b th» funds.

KLEXSVII.I.K. " BELGIUM DAY On Saturday. Missis C. ami I'. IV.-rott, D. and L. Field. Emu-#, Ciu!.'i.rrt. Whiti-. McAnnally. Mecsm:. Elliott. I>.i,.,vai:, and Bailey made a to-li>*it>c \ :>i; j„r one shilling donations for the Ki-lt::a'i Relief Fund, and io',]c(kd £50 16.- Id. Messrs. Verooe and Hart collected £12 in the Te I'ua. Parkhurst. and I'arakai districts. Mr. lietroft, piopr.etrir of (be Star Picture Palace. also eavc a •• Belgian Night,'" which was largely attended. ..." Kaukapakapa. The churches hcM sjn-ci.i services in connection with the Belgian Relief Funds. After a long sp-11 of hot. div weather, very welcome rain is falling. and the farmers are hopir it will continue, as th* drought is becoming .a serious matter. AEROA BISHOP A VF.KILL S VISIT The Right Rev. Dr. AveiiU. Anglican Bishop of Auckland, was on a shu;t visit to this district on Sunday and conducted, services at Paeroa. Hikntaia and Karangahake. ' He delivered a short address at St. Paul's, Paeroa, at the early morning service when there was a Rood attendance. At eleven o'clock the dedication of St. Mary's Church, it Hikutaia. tcok place, the ceremony 1 eing conducted bv the bishop. The bishop delivered an address at St. Aidan's. Karangahake. when tha church was well filled.

At a meeting held in Pa err..a on Saturday of representatives of boy scouts' troops at Waihi. Waikino. Karangahake. Paeroa, Thames and Te Aroha. it was decided to hold a district camp at Waihi Reach from December 28 to January 4 and to hold sports at the beach on NewYear's Day. ROTOR A. COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION, Only two of the retiring members of the Rotorua Countv Council presented themselves for re-election. Mr. H. S. AY. Kin;?, chairman of the old council, and Mr. H. M. Martin. Both represented the Riding, and both were returned at this recent election, Mr. Martin being second on the poll with 80 votes, and Mr. King fourth, beating Mr. A. Jackson by one vote —78 to 77. The poll for this riding was topped by Mr. C. Hemmings, chairman of the Mamaku Settlers' Association, who received 102 votes. There were three other candidates in the Mamaku Riding. For the North Riding. Messrs. A. Turner. J. Robinson, and S. Dixon were returned by considerable majorities over two other candidates. AR.ATAPU. MEETING OF CAMPEBS-

The annual general meeting of lessees of camp sites in the West Coast Domain was held in the public- library. Mr. W. W. Simons presided. The committee reported that £22 was available for expenditure, and it was decided to apply for a State grant of £50 for planting the domain area. Messrs Morgan, Newman, and Elliott were re-elected as a commit, tee, and were empowered to make arrangements for an increased water supply, to take action against those responsible for firing portions of the reserve, and to request police aid in preventing unauthorised occupation of campers' houses.

DARGAYILLE. HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL The Hobson County elections resulted in the following being returned :A rat arm Riding: J. McCarroll. Kepuru: G. Lendrum. Arapohue: W. B. Giesen. Maungaru: E. Baldwin. Tangiteroria: C. N. Taylor. The following riding member* were returned unopposed:—V. Trouns>>n, E. Trounson. T. C. Hawkins. J. H. H. Williams, and W. Montgomery. In the Northern Wa-iroa portion of am ate a County the following were returned: Tokatoka Riding: J. F inlay son. Ruawai: W. J. Hunt.