Bay of Plenty Times. Saturday, Feb. 14, 1920. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7339, 14 February 1920, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times. Saturday, Feb. 14, 1920. LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will hold a stock sale atTe Pukj on Tuesday next, and at Ngongotaha on Thursday, 19th inst. Mr C. H. Adams'residence in Arundel Street has been purchased by Dr Tovey. Among the subscriptions to the Memorial Gates Fund acknowledged on Wednesday last was an amount of £l from Mr E. Smedley. This should have read £2, the amount of Mr Smedley's subscription. Mr Martin, late of Ngongotaha, has purchased trie "Bellhaven 1' property in Devonport Road. A marked improvement is shown in the pastures in the Tauranga district as the result of the recent rains. There is now a good growth of feed and the prospects for stock for the winter are very bright.^The maiz? and turnip crops have made excellent progress, and if the frosts are late this year the maize yield will be much better than was 1 anticipated a month ago. A load of eighty-four bales of flax fibre was brought from Mr Broad's flrxmiU, Te Tumu, on Thursday by the ketch Torea for shipment to Auckland Fa "mers will be interesled in the announcement that Messrs Smith and Alach's patent scrub cutter is now employed on Mr Martin Quirk's farm near Hairini en the Ohauiti Road. The rrachine is doing,effective work and will enable property owners desiring to clear gorse and ti tree to have the work carried out much cheaper than by hand clearing. The owners have three scrub-cutters operating in this district, and are willing to hire any of the implements to fa. mers desiring their use. The machine working on Mr Quirk's farm has fully demonstrated., its utility as a suitable implement for the expeditious clearing ol land, and farmers desiring to inspect the scrub cutter at work are cordially invited to do so. Full particulars are obtainable from Messrs Mountfort and Baker.

A large number of special prizes are to be awarded in connection with the horse and cattle sections at the forthcoming Katikati agricultural show. There is c. special prize of £2 2s, donated by Mr E. Earl, for most points in the stock classes, also a special prize of £i is, given by Mr J. Hawkins, for most points in stock classes for exhibitors west of Ghinemuri-Tauranga county boundary. A shield, valued at £5 ss, donated by Mr W. Patterson will be awarded for dairy cow, best type, irrespective of breed. The winner is also to receive a medal valued at £2 2s. Entries for tne show close at Te Puke and Tai^anga on Friday next, and at Katikati on Saturday.

All arrangements in connection with the bowling tournament, which opens here on Tuesday next, are practically completed. The tournament will occupy four days., and the matches will be played on the domain and Te Koa greens. Twenty-eight teams are expected to compete, and the gathering will eclipse anything of the kind that has ever been held in local bowling circles. Bishop Clerry, of Auckland, [is expected to pay a visit to Tauranga and Te Puke in the near future.

The Whakatane Bbrough Council has decided to ask the Minister foi Internal Affairs to include Whakatane in the itinerary of the prospective tour of: the Dominion by the Prince of Wales.

The Secretary of the Tauranga Acclimatization Society, Mr H. Southey, has already liberated fifty young pheasants this season, and hopes to be able to release thirty more.

Two hundred and fifty head of cattle are entered for the Farmers' Auctioneering Company's stock sale to be held at Katikati on Wednesday next. A brief sitting of the Police Court was held yesterday morning before Messrs J. C. Adams and M. Walker, Js,P., when a young man, who does not .belong to this district, pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language at Tauranga on January 3. He was arrested on warrant at Katikati on Thursday, and conveyed to Tauranga. A fine of £5, with costs 7s, was imposed, the default being fixed at one month's imprisonment. Although the demand for properties ;n other localities is not as brisk as it was some months ago, a keen and unsatisfied demand still exists for allotments and houses in Tauranga and for suburban areas. A town property owner has recently disposed of no less than four places at very satisfactor r figures, two of the purchasers being people who have rerent'y taken up their residence in the town.

Mr F. Gordon, who has acted as nightwatchman for a period of nearly four years, has resigned his position. During that time there have been eight outbreaks of fire in the business area, only one of which occurred during the hours on which Mr Gordon was on duty. The rolls for the licensing committee triennial elections close on Monday.

Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, commences a"tonr of the Urewera country on Monday to ascertain the opportunities of settlement. . Some little time ago the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, communicated with Mr F. F. Hockly, M P. for Rotorua, asking for his assistance in the direction of securing a more frequent mailseivice between Tauranga ,and Rotoi ja, via Oropi, A few days ago the Chamber of Commerce received a communication from Mr Hocklv, forwarding a letter on the subject received by hiffl from the Hon. ]. G. Coates, Post-master-General, which read ag follows; "The representations ' you made in your recent interview with me concerning the Rotorus* Tauranga, via Oropi, mail service I have referred to the Department for a special report to be furnished to me, and when this reaches me I will consider the whole matter and advise you of c position."—The Secretary of th* Chamber, Mr B. C. Robbins has written to Mr Hockly, ■ thankjtf. him for his efforts in connection with the matter. A special meeting of the TaU* rarfga Tradesmen's Association will be held at' 16.30 a.m on M&j* day next, when the resignation^ the nightwatchman, shipping afi" general questions will be coA*. s:dered. . 'f