PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 19, 23 January 1929, Page 21

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

CAMBRIDGE.

At the monthly meeting of the Power Board Mr. M. Wells presided. The Waikato County Council wrote offering no objection to the inclusion of portion of the Karap:ro Riding, in the Power Board"s area, for representation purposes. A Wellington firm wrote offering the board loan money at 5i p.er cent. The treasurer presented a statement of finances as follows: —Power fund account, debit, £115*2 11/8; loan account, credit. £221, 3/9; installation loan account, credit, £C 7 7/6. The engineer reported that during the year progress had been made as follows: Increased connections, 40 ; country lighting, 24 ; milking motors, 11; water heaters, 31; ranges, 13; pumps, 18; refrigerators, 5: motors, 8, totalling 49 h.p.; community lights, 14. New consumers for the year, 68. The board was favourably Inclined towards the Government's superannuation scheme for local body employees.

At the monthly meeting of the Cambridge District High School Committee the committee took the opportunity to bid farewell to the headm*ster, Mr. H. D. Prichard, who has been promoted to inspector in the Otago province. Very fine tributes were paid to Mr. IMchard for his services educationally in this district, both in and outside the school. At the meeting the headmasters produced a fine series of prints and etchings just received for the school, a gift from the Mayor of Cambridge, England. Advice was received from the Education Department that the school's second assis-tant-master, Mr. E. B. Hillam. had been transferred as first-assistant at Birkenhead. The hot dry weather continues, and the district is beginning to brown up. The herds are dropping off, though not to any serious extent. Harvesting is now practically completed, and on all sides unusually large stacks are to be seen, while the amount of ensilage put down this season is easily a record.

TE PUKE.

The Te Puke district is having an exceptionally good season. The best on record is the opinion of one of the oldest farmers thetre. Grass is very plentiful, a larger area than usual being cut for hay. Cows are milking well, and the factories and milk lorries are having a busy time. Cattle are in good condition. A good supply of beef is assured. Quite a lot of sheep are being fattened, also sheep are now doing well in the district. Whereever the land is top-dressed, a marked difference in the wool and conditions Is soon noticed. The Waahi swamp near Maketu is now showing good returns wherever drainage operations are successful. It is proving to be excellent dairying and fattening country. Settlers complain of high overhead charges owing to the great cost of drainage. A large area of the lower portion has been set aside for flax growing. This has always been a big industry in the Bay of Plenty, nnd will -certainly hold its own so long as the markets are favourable.

TE AROHA.

I The monthly meeting of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday. Mr. L. Maekie jiresided. A letter was read ftom the borouph council In rejrard to electric lijrht stoppages. The council said it had little or no control, the current being purchased from the Thames Valley Electric Power Board. When possible consumers were notified of probable interruptions. Unfortunately the local power was Insufficient to carry the full load.

It was decided to write again to the borough coimcil with a view to betterment of the position.

A letter was received from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce relative to a conference jof those who travelled in th<> commerce train, and representatives of country Chambers. The Chamber decided to reply th:it it wa6 agreeable, and would send representatives to the conference.

At a farewell gathering given by the Methodist Church to Nurse Stewart, a presentation of £15. with which to purchase a sewing machine to aid the recipient in her work at the Solomon Islands, was made. Norse Stewart was presented by tke MM* Clata with * budflom* mirror, brueb and <tnK