Country News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 209, 11 September 1875, Page 10

Country News.

Mr. Henry Donaldson has been appointed public vaccinator for Rangitikei. Douglas Hastings Macartliur. of Feilding, has been appointed licensing a officer under the Arms Act.

The Taranaki Morald says that complaints are daily made against the practice of the Messrs. Brogtlen of keeping their men at work all day on Sunday. The whole of the Featheivston Wesleyan reserve, consisting of fourteen building allotments, which were recently advertised to be leased, lias been taken up, so the local paper tells us.

The 1 Yairarapa Standard says the new viaduct or platform to be erected at the north end of Greytown is a structure of some size, being 50(5 feet in length, and consisting of 30 piers of piles, with a distance of about 10 feet between each pier. A ploughing match took place at Tauherenikau, Wairarapa, on Wednesday last. There were five competitors. The prizes were, but the ploughing and ploughmen were not, first-class. To encourage good ploughing these matches should be regular ; spasmodic efforts, however liberal, are ineffective.

The committee of the Dunedin Poultry Show have determined on having a rather novel “art union,” according to the local paper. Every person visiting the show, and paying for admission, will receive a free ticket for the art union. The “ objects of art” to be disposed of include Polish fowls, canaries, eggs, fancy bantams, pigeons (jacobins, trumpeters, and black carriers), white dorkings, a ham, an umbrella, a tin of biscuits, and a tin of lollies.

Two imbeciles have lately arrived in Otago from England. One of them is a Government immigrant, and is to lie sent back to England soon. The other is a free immigrant, and the captain of the Aldergrove, in which vessel he arrived, has been served (so says the Daily Times) with a writ, under the Imbecile Passenger Act of 1873, calling upon him to enter into a bond for the support of the imbecile as long as the latter remains in tlie colony.

The Waikouaili Herald of September Ist explains that several communications did not appear in that issue “ for the very simple reason that they could not be put into tyjiu owing to our compositors being wliat is termed ‘on the spree’ this week. Our experience of such instances as above, and the facilities afforded sor debauchery on the Sabbath, make us deeply regret the disallowance of the Town and Country Police Ordinance, 18(52, Amendment Ordinance, 1575, passed by the Provincial Council at its last sitting.” The Wanyanni !U raid of Tuesday last says: —“A large number of Maoris came down the river to-day, and their well-laden canoes gave the quay in the neighborhood of the market place quite a busy appearance, the unloading of the various bags wf farm produce attracting numerous purchasers. A number of the Maoris bad evidently come down for the purpose of attending the native meeting at Pariliaka, which takes place on the ISth inst., and at which a largo number of the natives from all parts of the district will no doubt be present.” As might have been expected after the opening of the Clutlia railway, .the coaches to and from Dunedin did not load very well. The Bruce Herald, says that when Cobb’s midday coach from Dunedin arrived at Tokomairiro, there appeared to be some curiosity to see the number of passengers it would bring. As Southall drove Ids five-horse team in at a dashing pace, it became evident that there were no passengers outside ; and when the coach was pulled up at the White Horse, the only occupants of the inside seats turned out to be three sedate-looking Chinaman.

The Waircerapa Standard has heard of applications being made to the Government for hiring vacant immigration cottages, but they are refused unless the applicants are now arrivals. Now that the number of immigrants who arrive arc less numerous than formerly, it might be judicious to relax this regulation somewhat with respect to letting these cottages.

Some few weeks back much sickness prevailed in the township of Mastei’ton. During the latter half of August the same kind of sickness—an affection of the lungs and low fever—pervaded Greytown, with almost the intensity and universality of a plague. Few families seemed to escape, one or more members being laid up, and in some cases brought nigli unto death. The illness prevailed alarmingly, but tlie last few exceedingly fine days have wrought a very general and rapid improvement. Several children died, and public feeling was very sensitive. The funeral of Mr. ITastwell’s only son was perhaps the largest in the Wairarapa. One of tlie last attacked was Mr. Humphries, who caught a severe cold, and quickly sank under a strong attack of bronchitis or inflammation of the lungs. He was one of those men whose sterling character and severe and economical industry give stability to the material progress and the institutions of a colony. From small beginnings lie had acquired an almost independent competency. He was an excellent example of a good colonist, and earnest and unselfish to an extreme in the performance of his private and public duties, in which latter he was beginning to take a more prominent part. A large family suffer deeply the affliction of his loss. On Tuesday last, says the Ranyilikci Advocate, the coach to Foxton was delayed about three hours at tlie Oroua bridge, through a portion of the line having been removed, and no suitable provision made to carry on the traffic. Some of the passengers came to the conclusion to walk into town, and did actually proceed for a distance of nine miles before they were overtaken by the coach. That night, the coach, while going at a good pace along tlie line, on the incline from the Oroua bridge, came iu contact with a case of iron bolts which had been left oil the line by some careless person, the result being that the coach was considerably smashed and disabled. The passengers narrowly escaped severe injuries, several ladies and children being amongst the number. The driver managed to secure an ordinary truck to bring the passengers and mails on to Foxton, arriving about nine o’clock, in a pitiable-looking state, through exposure to the cold. RANGITIKEI HIGHWAY B( >ARD. (from our own correspondent). The usual monthly meeting of the Rangitikei Highway Board was held in the office of the Board, Marten, on Saturday last. Present : Mr. G. Yates Lethbridge (in the chair), Dr. Curl, Messrs. A. Cameron, J. Bull, A. Milne, C. M. Galpin, and R. K. Simpson. MINUTES. The minutes of tlie last meeting were read and confirmed. correspondence. The Secretary read the correspondence, which comprised the following : Letter from Messrs. J. and R. Mcßetli, notifying that, now that Messrs. Milne and Galpin, with the Inspector, had decided on the line of road to connect Fern Flat with the Tutaenui road, they (Messrs. Mc-Betli > are prepared to fence that portion of the same which runs through their property at 13s. per chain ; and for all laud required for the same they would be willing to take at the rate of £4 per acre. After some little discussion, during which several members of the Board expressed an opinion that the offer was a very reasonable one, it was resolved that the terms offered by tlie Messrs. Mcßetli be accepted. Letter from Mr. C. F. Hamuke, applying for allowance for clearing flax, toitoi, &e., while clearing the furze off the road side along his boundary. It was resolved, —“That there is not sufficient scrub and toitoi, cfcc., on the side of the road referred to, to injure the road, and that the Board wish merely the furze cleared off that particular part.” Letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, forwarding two copies of a map of the province of Wellington, showing the boundaries of the respective highway districts and their subdivisions into wards. THE INSPECTOR’S REPORT. '(’he Inspector read his usual monthly report. In this reference was made to the damage done by the late severe weather. The Inspector detailed the measures he bad adopted to remedy the same, and, incidentally, the great inconvenience the inhabitants of tlie district were subjected to by the delay in forming the approaches to the Tutaenui bridge cropped up. The report was received. f!ENERAI, BUSINESS. It wars resolved, —“That the action taken by the Inspector in the matter of the Tutaenui culvert, near Pauline’s, in No. 1 Ward, be sanctioned.” It was resolved,- —-“That the Secretary bo instructed to write to the Provincial Secretary, pointing out that the Board has already requested the Provincial Government to make the approaches to the Tutaenui bridge, and as they have failed to attend to the matter, the Board now urge upon the Superintendent to allow it to get the work done, the Government guaranteeing to the Board the necessary sum required for the work. It urges this upon the Government as the expenditure already incurred for the bridge, while as now it stands in the middle of the stream, is perfectly fruitless—that high freshets in the stream render it impassable, and low freshets render it dangerous. If the Government sanctions this expenditure, the Board will undertake to get the necessary work done without delay.” It was resolved, —“That the road to connect Mcllardie’s line with the Tutaenui line, through Major Willis’s land, and along Dr.

Curl’s boundary be decided on, and that Major Willis be permitted to erect a gate on either end of this line, to be opened within a fortnight.”

It was resolved, —“ That the necessary power be conferred on the Inspector to open the Mcllardie’s line where closed up by Mi\ Harper.” It was resolved,—“ That the sum of .£2O be placed at the disposal of the Inspector, for filling up and improving the cuttings on the Bonny Glen road, near the church.” It was resolved, —“ That the action of the Inspector, in respect of doing some works on the Porewa line, rendered necessary by the late severe weather, he sanctioned. It was resolved, —“That the sum of £25 be voted to pay Mr. Howie for work done on Howie and Wall’s line, in consideration of his opening the line through his property without further compensation.” It was resolved, —“ That, satisfactory terms having been offered by Mr. McGregor for road through his property, the Board rescinds the former resolution bearing on the same, and now decides to pay Mr. McGregor the sum of £22, in lieu of his expenses connected therewith.”

It was resolved,—“ That the road to Mr. Lawrie’s land, being section No. 225, be taken over by the Board, on condition that Mr. Lawrie bears all expenses connected with the opening thereof ; and that the width of the same be confined to half a chain.” Cameron be paid the sum of £ll, on condition that he waives all claim for compensation in the mattei' of the road through his property. ’ ’ It was resolved, —“ That Mr. Charles Cameron be permitted to erect a gate on the line running through his own and Mr. Charles McKay’s properties.” It was resolved, —“ That the officers of the Board lie authorised to take the necessary steps to open the road through Mr. McKay’s property.” It was resolved, —“ That the sum of £SO be voted for procuring timber for the bridges and culverts required on the bridle track.” It was resolved, —“ That the Warden and Inspector be empowered to spend the sum of £lO in clearing the slips off the side cuttings on the Manarapa line.” It was resolved, —“ That the offer made by Mr. 1). McLean to clear thirty chains of the Williamson’s line, at 3s. per chain of half a chain wide, be accepted.” TUEASUKEr’S .STATEMENT. The Treasurer read his usual monthly statement, from which it appeared that there was, at date, a credit balance of £276 7s. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for paymentßain, £6 (is.; Clarke, £7 35.; Chronicle, £0 165.; McMillan, £l4 11s. Cd.; Edwards, £2 25.; Xicholl, £5 55.; Snellgrove, £7 75.; McNaughton, £5 25.; Lee, £4 11s. 6d.; Slight, £2 45.; Howie, 155.: Cameron, £7 195.; Lawrie, £6 10s. ; Stevens, £2 2s. ; Hentor, 10s. ; Bolton, £7 Is. 6d. ; Hancock, £5 Ss. ; Sylvester, £6 10s. ; Newman, £l6 ss. ; Adcomtc, £6 os. 6d. ; Sutherland, £5 : Watkins, £5.; and Polgreen, £l4 4s. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE CHAIRMAN. The following resolution, proposed by Mr. Milne, was carried unanimously:—“That as this is likely to be the last meeting of the present Board, and as the chairman has not seen fit to offer himself for re-election, the members cannot separate -without expressing their thanks for, and entire satisfaction witlp the able manner in which their chairman had conducted the business of the Board during the term that had just expired.” Ilie Chairman, in acknowledging the compliment paid him, observed that though lie did not consider that he was altogether deserving of it, lie could not refrain from expressing the gratification lie experienced in reflecting how harmoniously they had all worked together. The meeting then ad journed until Saturday, October 2, at half-past 10 a.m.