OPOTIKI NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11957, 30 May 1933, Page 7

OPOTIKI NEWS.

SERIOUS CAPSIZE OF CAR

TRAVELLER, GRAVELY INJURED

(Special to the Times). OPOTIKI, May 29. Mr G. A. Ashby, a commercial tmtted to Opotiki hospital this morning suffering from very . severe cuts on the 'head, practically half his scalp being lifted, also concussion. He suffered these injuries when the car he was driving capsized on. Eukumoa Hill, about a mile outside Opotiki on the AVhaka.tane roach

Mr Ashby, on overtaking a cream lorry on the hill, pulled too far over with the result that he ran into a deep vatertable, which he endeavour ed to pull out of, but was unable to do so, with the result that the car capsized, turning over three times.

When witnesses went to the rescue, they found the injured man silting in the car and the engine still running. He was taken to hospital, where Dr. Candy performed an operation.

Tlie car, which was very extensively damaged, was towed to Opotiki.

The doctor reports that, considering his very severe injuries. Mr Ashby's condition is satisfadtorv.

HEAV V THUNDER STORM

Heavy rain lell most of Sunday and through the night when there was also a heavy thunderstorm, 1.05 inches being registered by 9 a.m. to-day. No slips have come down and both roads to Gisborne are open

NATIVE RATES COMMISSION

CO UNTV COUNCIL’S SCHEME

The Native Rates Commission consisting of the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Judge R. N. Jones and Mr Mundeu, secretary, held a sitting at Opotiki this morning and took evidence on the subject of collecting Native rates.

The Opotiki County Council was represented by the County Clerk (Mr J. T. Merry) who submitted rating statistics showing the areas of Native lands in the county and the collections of rates thereon during the lust ten years and other statistical data. He suiid the county was in agreement that the laws relating to tile collection of rates should be the same for both Maori and European. He suggested a scheme whereby’- Natives would be in a position to meet their rating responsibilities. Briefly outlined, the scheme proposed by the Opotiki County includes consolidation and individualising of Native land titles as proposed by the Government. It is held that it 'is useless to propound a scheme for the betterment of the Maori ratepayer while the ownership is held in common, hut that individualising will give an incentive to develop and improve holdings. It is also pointed out that the Maori suffers through fhc lending departments such as the Advances to Settlers Office being closed against him. It seems • feasible that Natives should be provided with financial assistance by. the Government but, perhaps, advisable to confine loans to Natives for purposes of dairy farming only, because from this industry he may derive a regular monthly return, and would "be in a position to repay loans and pay rates by instalments. Loan money' should bo expended under the direction of practical European advisers. This county has 65 miles of secondary highways and the main roads which pass through wholly Native lands'. Large areas of these lands are at present unproductive and (non-ratepaying but, it development were carried out on the suggested lines, a large proportion would become the productive and rate-producing. The Opotiki Borough Council was represented % the Mayor (Mr G. S. Moody) and the Tcwn Clerk (Mr C. H-. Fleming), whose evidence supported the view Of the County that the powers of collecting Native rates should he similar to those applying to Europeans. Mr McLeod thanked the local bodies for the evidence brought- forward, which the commission would, he said, bear in mind when drawing up its report.

CHAMBER OF .COMMERCE. ANNEAL MEETING. (Special to the Times.) There was a record attendance afc the annual meeting of the Opotiki Chamber of Commerce.. the retiring president (Mr. F. W. Britlgor) presiding. i The chairman stated that, owing to the depression, the avenues for discussion by the Chamber had been curtailed, but that it ig felt that, an effort should be made, to revive the meetings, and that many matters affecting local interests could now be profitably brought forward for dis-

cession. He was agreeably surprised at the large attendance, "'lnch augured wol] ior the future success of the Chamber. Tlie election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr. J. R. Sinclair : vice-president. Mr. C. Pipe; auditor, Air. H. Jossop. sec treas.. Mr. C. If. Fleming: council: Messrs, p Bridgor, S. Siialfoon. 0. S. Moody G. Peagram. D. Auld, AV. Barrett, M. O Kidd, S. Clmtimid, G..A. Hathaway, G. Noil sen, A. L. Arrowsm itli. A. E. Payne, S. Patterson, H. 0. Reeves. AV. Crcsswoll. 0. L. Day E. N. Boyce ana 11. Limner. Tlie annual subscription was fixed at ss. A. suh-conimrtl.ee consisting o! the president and Alossrs. Auruwsnvith and Fleming was appointed to revise the rules. Monthly general meetings will be held on the fourth Monday of each month-

RIJGBY MATCHES. Rugby was played on Saturday in Opotiki i(i very cold weather. The senior competition was suspended, and a representative trial game was playecY between 0... M. P. (leaders of the competition) and a combined fifteen from the other three clubs. O.M.P. combination proved too good for the combined team, the result being O.C.P. 14: Combined 6. Junior competition games resulted: —• O.M.P. 22 v Country 8. Old B°vs 3 v. Citv 3.

GOLF

A medal handicap over 18 holes was played on the Opotiki Golf Club s links on Saturday, there were 30 competitors, fho best cards being:— 0. Black. 76—16—60; N. De Lutow, 86—23—63; A. S. Thompson, 87—23 —6l.