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Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 153, 8 July 1892, Page 5

be detrimental to the settlors on the land. No Government lias however done more in such a short time for the settlement of the country than the present,and working settlers are finding out that their interests and that of large landowners are not identical.

The Orange Ball takes place on Friday evening next.

The Annbal Sermon to Orangemen will be preached by the Rev. Joseph Blight in the Aratapu Hall on Sunday evening next. The usual meeting of the Aratapu Band of Hope will be held next Tuesday evening and a good programme may be looked for, Messrs R Thompson and Houston, the Northern members, both voted for the abolition of the totalisator. The Hobson County Council meets on Wednesday next for its ordinary monthly business. The Hobson County Council By-laws, five in number, came into force on Monday last, the day of American Independence. Very appropriate, eh ? Lord and Lady Dash wood arrired in the district on Monday last by the p.s. Osprey and are now the guests of Dr. Norton at Mnngawhare. Mr John Black is procuring a larger and more suitable steamer for his work, namely the Waitoa which is expected to arrive shortly. This little steamer is a roomy one of fair speed and of a tonnage nearly equal to that of the s.s. Kopuru.

The Government have included Female Franchise in their Electoral Bill and are prepared to stand or fall by it, so that unless the Legislative Council be obstinately stupid, women will soon have the privilege of voting. Influenza or ‘ la grippe ’ is at present very prevalent in this district and many in various parts have been and are laid down with it.

A new Minstrel Troupe has been formed and lias started practice in Aratapu. The primary object we hear is to raise funds for the maintenance of the Brass Band. Friday, July 23rd is spoken of as the date of their first public appearance. Mr E. M. C. Harrison’s reputation does not seem to have suffered much from the action of the Auckland Education Board in dismissing him from the Beresfcrd Street school. He has beer, selected from among sixty applicants to take charge of the Hawera School in tlie Wangarei district,

A gymnasium lias been started in Ara tapu in the house recently used by the Band for their practices and the young men are bent on the development of their muscles Mr J. W. L. Stubbs, formerly of the Y M. C. A., has been elected to the position of professor and in a few weeks will probably have something to show the public. Thomas Mullins, who distinguished himself in Aratapu during the closing days of last week, would not take the kindly advice offered him so was locked up by Constable Scott on Saturday evening and spent a quiet Sunday at home. On Monday he was taken before Messrs F. Norton and T. Webb J’s P. and fined twenty shillings and two shillings costs. Mr Houston, we are glad to see, has not been slow in taking up the matter of the approach to Opanake station, referred to by us in a recent issue. He lias interviewed the Minister of Lands concerning the charges levied by Natives and the Minister has promised to send a surveyor to the locality and see what can be done. The New Zealand Athletes competed in the English Athletic Championship meeting but failed to secure any championships. They leavo England this month without having achieved anything very great, Mr J, H, Dalton’s big candle was lit this morning and some 15000 guessers are looking forward to the prizes. Our guessing slips were soon called for, Messrs Baker Bros ,auctioneers of Queen Street, Auckland, reports the sale, on behalf of the Rev. F. T. Baker, of lots 7. 8, 0 and 10 Okalau at 11s per acre. The firm advertises in our columns^several other Okahu lots for sale. Messrs Baker Bros, also negotiated on behalf of Colonel Bailey, of the Salvation Army, the purchase of two properties. One in Vincent Street, is to be used by the Army for a Woman’s Rescue Home, and on the other, which is a vacant section is to be built a barracks for the Newton eorps , The work in the office of the Commissoner of Taxes seems to be rather much behindhand for the Commissioner has not yet supplied the County office with a copy of the valuation roll. The Council is unable

to strike the rate for the year until the book is received ; but it is pretty sure to turn up shortly and notice of the intention to strike a rate will probably be given at the next meeting of the Council. The public were much relieved to learn from our telegraphic nows last Friday that the VV. F. Witzemann bad been spoken off Wilson’s promentory, and our extra last Tuesday announcing her safe arrival at Melbourne, as well as the purchase by Mr L. D. Natli an of the N. R. S. N. Co’s business, was read with interest. Large warehouses are about to be erected in Auckland by the New Zealand Shipping Company, and the N. Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co ; the estimated cost being £7OOO.

Mr. A. Holdship, an Auckland boy is distinguishing himself as a cricketer at Oxford University, 26 not out, and 40 runs are his best battings and one wicket for six his best bowling average. Nui Hare, chairman of the Native Schools Committee at Motukaraka, has petitioned parliament complaining of the conduct of a certain European, John Lundon, in endeavouring to remove the schoolmaster. He ask 3 the Minister for Education not to pay any attention to the bad work of this man, John Lundon, and complains that his conduct is most improper. Mr W. Rhodes, we believe, intends taking up bis residence at Te Kopuru, in the bouse formerly occupied by Mr Woodhead. He has been rather unfortunate in the removal of his furniture from Auckland ; it was first shipped in the Clansman and got as far ns Wangarei, but that vessel had to put back to Auckland for repairs and the goods have now been transhipped to the Handa Isle which may be expected shortly. Mr Rhodes’ family will follow as soon as the furniture arrives. Mr Boler had rather a hard time of it last Sunday in crossing to Mititai. In one of the heavy squalls iiis boat was blown on to the Mititai shore, aud in trying to push her off he lost one of his oars, which he has not yet recovered. The oar is a new one and had the owner’s name written on the blade with blue ink. Mr Boler will be very thankful to receive his property should it have been picked up by anyone. Mr Boler would have found it very difficult to reach the wharf had not Mi Kitching gone to his assistance The Quarterly meeting of the officers of the Wesleyan Circuit was held on Wednesday evening at Aratapu when there was a good attendance ; Flaxnnll, Mangawhare, Arapohue, Kopuru, Redhill and Aratapu all being well represented. Rev, Joseph Blight presided. The Balance Sheet showed that the expenses of the quarter had been much heavier than usual and the income left a deficit to be overtaken in the coming period. A letter was received from Rev. R. G. Boler re the arrangement of services in Aratapu and the matter was well talked over after which the Chairman was deputed to send a reply expressing the decision of the meeting against any of the Methodist services at Aratapu being given up. The Aratapu School Committee have secured one hundred Macrocarpa trees which they are planting on the School reserve. They have applied to t,he Wangarei County Council for fifty other trees of various kinds which are also to be planted on the reserve. The draining recently completed has improved the ground considerably and with the planting of trees the place will soon assume a respectable appearance. The accumulation of rushes outside tha fence, especially on the northern boundary, is an eyesore as well as a source of danger and should be removed. Perhaps the old scholars of the school would take in hand to clear them if approached ; a few we have in mind could soon have them away if so minded.