OTAKI NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1909, Page 8

OTAKI NOTES.

(Br Tblegbafh. — Special to The Post.] OTAKI, This Day. The main topic of conversation throughout the district is the proposed severance from the Horowhenua County Council, and the proposal to form a separate county south of the Waikawa Stream. The proposal is not a new one, having been discussed some years ago, ■\vhen it was generally favoured, but nothing denhite was done, the lackadaisical people allowing the matter to drop. For months past a deal of dissatisfaction has been expressed locally over county matters, and occasionally bitterness has arisen. Otaki at present is represented by two councillors. Some of the arguments in favour of the proposed change are : — More direct control of affairs by virtue of greater representation, freedom from the restraining influence of members of the northern ridings, and economy of administration. The Horowhenua county at the present time covers 591 square mßes, with a population of 5337. Meetings will be held at Te Horo and Otaski during the week to decide what appears, for this district, to be a momentous question. The local golf club has declared the following handicaps for next Saturday's bogey competition : — Bevan, Kirk, Gray, Ransfield, and Phillips, scr ; Wilson, F. S. Simcox, Brown, W. M. Simcox, Hopkins, Brown, Bacchus, and Abraham, 6 ; Wilson and Hawea, 8 ; Mason and O'Reilly, 10; St. George, Hartmann, and Podevin, 14 : W. H. Simcox, ]6; Farmer, Paul, and Skerman, 18. A death occurred at the Otaki Sanatorium on Saturday night, when Mr. Robejt Phillips passed away rather suddenly. A fe<v days ago he suffered from heart trouble, which rapidly became worse. Deceased was born at Dumbarton (Scotland), and came to New Zealand for the benefit of his health. He has no known relatives in New Zealand.

The Gisborne Gas Company is making preparations for a large expansion of its business. An order for new plant has been cabled to England. To a meeting of the Petcne School Committee last evening the Education Board submitted for consideration the name of one applicant for the vacant assistantship oti the school teaching staft. While not objecting to the applicant selected by the board, the committee declined to confirm the selection, holding that in forwardiug only one name the board was defeating the spirit of the Education Act. A list of names for consideration will be asked for,