RAGLAN.

Waikato Times, 16 May 1882, Page 3

RAGLAN.

Tiik shooting here is not likely to prove good. The birds are scarce and wild. I am afraid the quantity of hawks in this district do much to bring about this result. I have s~ui but few sportsman at work this sea bn. Probably they are fully aware of the circumstances 1 have just mentioned. Mr W. Powell, auctioneer, held a &ale of the stock and effects of iMr LaTiobe, the late teacher at the Waltetnna school, on the 4th inst. (Fair prices were realised. Cows brought from £2 to £4 10s each. Sheep, 8s 6d ; and lambs 5s 6d each . Pigs sold at the rate of 2d per lb. The books and furniture also brought satisfactory pi ices. Mr Robert Orinsby, of Euapuke, met with a rather painful accident on the 4th inst. While employed scutching flax, his hand became entangled in the machine. One of his fingers was cut fail ly off, and his hand otherwise severely bruised. By last accounts, however, I was infoimcd he doing well, and trust he may soon fully recover fiom the effects of the accident. The flax industry still continues to make fair progress in this district. With the amount of rain t\bich has fallen during the last fortnight the mills have been kept well supplied with water, and have consequently been continually working. Mr Onnsby, of Ruapuke, lias now taken into partnership with him Mr T. Kendall, whose reputation as a good Hav-millor, lias been well established here. The quantity of flax growing aiound this mill is almost unlimited, and no doubt a large amount of the prepared article \\ ill now be sent away from it. Another machine, on an improved principle, and now on its way from England, is to lie erected ; from which the firm expect great results. Seeing that this industry is doing &o much for the district at the present time I hope their anticipations will be fully realised. The educational requirements of the Raglan district appear, at last, to receive recognition from the Central Board of Education. For a long time efforts have been made by all interested in this matter, to induce the Central Board to build a schoolroom. They, however, paid little heed. The country districts, Ruapuke, Mata, and Waitetuna all in their turn got their new school-houses, while Raglan continued to be left out in the cold. The reason appeard to be beyond explanation, except it arose from the fact that the Wesleyans kindly allowed the school to be held in their chapel during the week. Some objected to this, as it gave the teaching a denominational aspect. The Raglan County Council then allowed their chambers to be used for the purpose at the rental of five shilling a weelc. During the next year, the council decided at their last meeting, that th c rent should be i-aised to ten shillings per week. The Central Board probably thought this an overcharge. So ifc may have" been ; but we are to have our new school-house, and we are satisfied. It has been long in coming, but better late than never. I have just been informed that steps have been taken to have an Episcopalian Church erected at Te Mata. A meeting of those interested in the matter has been convened, with the object of securing a site in as central a position as possible. The Rev Mr Philips lid's a fair number of supporters in tbjs district, and the efforts he is now making to have an English Church built at Te Mata have at present a good chance of being crowned with success. A cemetery is also much required here, and the settlers are as a body giving their attention to this subject. Mr Pain, of Te Mata, has kindly made a gift of a piece of land, excellently situated for this purpose. It is to be fenced by voluntary contributions of money and labour, and I have every confidence of sooiiigeeing the whole matter brought to a successful issue. — (Own Correspondent.) • *■