COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS.

[raou OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]; ; PUKEKOHE. NEW BUTTER FACTORY. The Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., has purchased the old flourmill site at Tuakau, on which it intends re-erecting tho butter factory now operating at Mercer. Building is to be commenced shortly. A barn holding fifteen tons of this season's crop of hay, together with an up-to-date milking plant, on Mr. W. Barnaby's farm at Tuakau, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday. The origin* of the fire is unknown, as Mr. Bnrnaby was attending the Pukekohe show at tho time. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey informed Mr. J. Batty, chairman of the Karaka Road Board, that he was unablo to perform the opening ceremony of the Whangamairo and Hingaia Bridges on his visit to this district last week, but hoped to be able to fix a date near the end of March. Ho trusted he would be able to attend the official opening of the new post office at Patumahoe at the same time. TE AWAMUTU. HORTICULTURAL SHOW. The first autumn show in connection with the recently-constituted Te Awamutu Horticultural and Industrial Society was held on Wednesday and proved a great success. The opening ceremony was performed by Mi 1 . J. A. Young, M.P. The Ruakura State Farm's exhibit was a show in itself, whilst the local exhibits exceeded tho committee's expectations, both in regard to numbers and quality. The proceeds will be donated to the War Fund. OTOROHANGA. GOLF CLUB MEETING. The Golf Club held its annual meeting on Saturday and elected tho following officers:—President, Mr. T. G. Hosking; vico-prosident, Mr. J. P. O'Sullivan; captain, Mr, F. Ravenladies' captain, Mrs. J. P. o 'Sullivan; committee, Mesdames Hill and Cutfield, and Messrs. Hill, Cutfield and McLean; secretary and treasurer, Mr. F. Foster. It was decided to engage the services of Mr. Blair, professional, for a month and to hold a twodays' tournament at either Whitsuntide or Easter. The Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club has dissolved, and separate clubs for bowling and tennis have been started. It has been decided to allot playing areas 09 the Domain ground. The Bowling Club haa selected a site and arranged for prelimin-, ary work. The chairman of the Town Board, Mr. John Ormsby, has been visiting Auckland, where he interviewed the Prime Minister and Minister for Railways on matters affecting the town. The population is estimated at 800 and it would require an Order-in-Council to gazette it a boroughs As things are, the native township had little powers, and any suggestion to improve the place is met with the statement that no funds are available. The business! community is anxious that a borough be, formed. / The meeting of assembled owners toi consider the sale of 120 acres in Otorohanga township to the Crown for £4997, will bo Held on March 14. The Soldiers Comfort Club is making a special effort to send delicacies to the; First New Zealand General Hospital. | A farewell social was tendered to Mr.' James Robertson, Presbyterian missioner, on Tuesday night. Mr. Robertson, who has been in Otorohanga nearly two years, has left for Dunedin, where he will study; for the ministry. The opportunity was taken to present him with a purse of sovereigns and a pleasant evening was spent by the large number present in tho church hall. A party of Otorohanga residents motored to Kawhia last week and attended the unveiling of a monument erected to the memory of Mr. E. C. Falwasser, who died a year ago. He was much liked by residents, both in Kawhia and this part of the King Country, where he practmod as native interpreter. The ceremony was attended by a large number of Kawhia people—native and European. The Rev. Harris, of Otorohanga, conducted the service. On the way out, the party was shown the now Ngutanui Road, which will .slightly shorten and considerably ease the route from Otorohanga to Oparau and Kawhia. It is to be opened for traffic in about three months' time. The Chamber of Commerce decided to urge on the Town Board the desirability of joining in the electric lighting scheme with Te Kuiti and Te Awamutu, the current to be got from the Horahora Falls. The Waikato Hospital Board is to be asked for the services of a trained nurse in Otorohanga, no medical man being ndw resident. As the number of subscribers ; to the telephone exchange is now nearing the necessary 150, it was recommended that tho hours be from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. An enjoyable soiroe and dance in aid of the Maori Knitting Club was held on Tuesday, Mrs. Olofsson's singling and dancing being the great attraction. The sum of £20 16s was taken for the benefit of the fund. TAURANGA. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. At the last meeting of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: — President, Mr. J. C. Adams; vice-president, Mr. H. S. Hough; secretary, Mr. R. S. Ready; committee, Messrs. Murdoch, Wilding, Robbins, Green, Maltby, Innes. The president, Mr. Adams, moved: "That in the opinion of this chamber it is desirable that Tauranga should assist Rotorua in urging upon the Government to authorise at once a survey of the proposed railway to connect Rotorua with Paengaroa, with the view to the railway being constructed immediately after the war." The motion was carried. The question of trawling in the Bay of Plenty was considered, and a motion carried that tho chamber approach the Government with a view to having the present restrictions on trawling in the Bay of Plenty within the throe-milo limit removed for a period to be fixed. It was stated that the trawling companies interested would erect works in Tauranga and employ a good number of hands. WARKWORTH. RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL. Tho Rodney County Council, at ite ] as meeting, resolved to grant the wish of the Matakana West Road District that a special order be made merging the district in the county. The sum of £10 10s was voted as a donation to the French Red Cross Society Tho council approved of taking portion of Section 167, Parish of Mahurangi, owned by Misses Baitara and Sarah Wilson, for a, road. Accounts to the amount of £1039 17 2d of which £624 3s 6d was for main roads, were passed for payment. CAMBRIDGE. NATIONAL RESERVE. The number of members of the National Reserve on parade of late has been gradually diminishing, and after parade on Wednesday the question was discussed as to what steps should be taken to revive interest. It was stated that there are about 40 members who regularly absent themselves. As indifference was considered to be the cause, it was decided that the committee interview defaulting members with a view to getting their regular attendance if possible in future. It was also decided that following the result of the canvass the committee should take into ( consideration the desirability of enlarging the scope of membership, and admit men who intend enlisting, etc. Mr. Wilkinson, officer commanding, intimated that the Morris tube and ammunition would be available for use next week AbouJ 50. members of.Sk Paul'i Medio-

disfc congregation assembled at the parsonage on Wednesday 'evening, to bid tav-y well to Mrs. Trestrail and family. A pleasant evening was spent, with «rag 3, recitations and games. Opportunity was taken to present Mrs. Trestrail with a dressing-case and a hand-bag. A gathering- of about 100 settlers from Pukeatua, Putarum and Waotu took place at Puketunia on Saturday last, to celebrate the official opening of tho now road • from Pukeatua through Puketurua to Puta- . ruru. Messrs. Bent and Barnett had i charge of the arrangements as chairman, and secretary respectively. The road opening ceremonv was performed by Mr. ' J. A. Young, M.'P- Several members of neighbouring local bodies also spoke. The 5 speakers referred to tho satisfactory dei velopment of tho district and the great convenience the new road would prove. r J COROMANDEL. AGRICULTURAL LECTURE. 1 Mr. C. D. S. Baylis, field instructor, i of the Agricultural Department, last week - addressed a large number of farmers in - the County Social Hall. Mr. D. M. Jones, t president of the Farmers' Union, was in > the chair. Mr. Baylis spoke in a most f interesting manner, referring more ) especially to the importance to the t Dominion of grass and fodder. He gave his experience as to the best methods of producing good pastures and fodder crops. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Baylis met the newly-formed Agricultural Commission. A demonstration in aid of tho French Red Cross Fund was held last week. A 1 procession, headed by the brass band, 1 marched to the hospital grounds. Jfrs. ? Wirth again got up the tableaux of All Nations. A number of brakes, buggies and sulkies were decorated. The 5 committee worked well, and was rewarded [ by over £40 being collected. HOI3SONVILLE. FARMERS', UNION PICNIC. The Farmers' Union picnic and sports, organised by Taupaki, Kumeu, and upper harbour branches, took place at Brijjham's , Creek on Saturday, and were an unqualiJ fled success. There was a large gather- ', ing. Amongst those present were '. Mr, Alex. Harris, M.P., Mr. A. Schmitt, provincial secretary, and Messrs. Kerrj Taylor and Bethell, members of the . Waitemata County Council. In a short , address, Mr. Harris referred in feeling > terms to the splendid part played by , farmers and their sons in the great war. Reference was also made to the wonderful development of Auckland Province during the. past few years, and to the prospects of the export fruit trade. Mr. Schmitt also addressed tho assemblage, and urged all settlers to become members ! of the union. The sports ©vents were keenly contested, the sheaf-tossing and ' chain-stepping being specially popular. 1 Mr. J. B. Johnson, who recently took chargo of Hobsonville school, has been able to start an agricultural class at the school. A Babcock tester and other apparatus arrived last week, the cost being donated by a resident and the Farmers' Union. A comprehensive scheme for 1 school gardens and experimental plots has i been arranged. It probably will be necesI sary to organise working bees to prepare the plots. J " EAIHERE. 1 ' SCHOOL PICNIC. The second annual picnic in connection 1 with the Kaihere, Hauraki Plains, public , school was held in Mr. E. Body's grounds | on Thursday, and was an unqualified success. I The weather conditions were ideal, and I there were upwards of 200 present. An 'excellent programme of events for both^ children and adults was got off, The; prizes won by the children- as the result of the year's school work were presented ito the winners by the member for the ; district, Mr. T. W. Rhodes. An enjoyable 1 dance was held in the school-house in the 1 evening, and proved a fitting finale to a 1 day's enjoyment. WHANGAREI. POULTRY CLUB. The annual meeting of the Whangarei Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Dog Club was held recently. Mr. F. 0/ Barge pre- , sided. Officers were elected as follow:— Patron, Mr. F. Mahder, M.P. ; president,Mr. F. 0. Barge j vice-presidents, Messrs. G. L. A. Hunt, W. A. Parker, C. R. Frioker, T. W. Hannan, and N. Dickey treasurer, Mr. J. H. Gunson; veterinary surgeon, Mr. H. Taylor; secretary, Mr. J. D. Horn; auditor, Mr. W. A. M. Bain; delegate to Auckland Poultry Association, Mr. Allman, Palmerston North; committee, Messrs. R. Dickey, A. Cnfler, H. K. May, R. R. Peters J. Noton, R. H. Allan, T. Middleton, and J. Hannan. It was suggested that the dog classes this year bo deleted, and an effort made to substitute a farm produce and industries class instead. ; SWANSON. SITE OF RAILWAY BRIDGE. A special meeting of tho Swansea [ : Ratepayers' Association was held on Wednesday to consider the site of the 1 overhead bridge, which is to be erected ' at the Swanson station. Mr. Anderson, from the western end of the district, stated that lie had come to the meeting to vote against a bridge on the eastern end. He was now convinced 'that a bridge on the eastern end would serve til© majority, and he would withdraw all , opposition. Messrs. Hall, Kohlies, and i Martin, from the western side, spoke in the same strain, and signed a petition to , nave the bridge built on the eastern end. It was_ unanimously resolved that the association emphatically protest against any interference in the erection of the overhead' bridge which has been com- . menced on the eastern end of the station. , It was also resolved that the bridge, as , now arranged, is in the best position both for the present time and the future development of this district. A copy of ; the resolution was then attached to a , lengthy petition to be forwarded to the Minister for Railways, requesting that the , work already commenced on the eastern end be resumed before the weather breaks