LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 December 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pensions and family allowances for this month will be paid as from Thursday next, 22nd inst., inclusive.

Speaking at the opening of the Mokau Bridge on Saturday, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, said that representations had been made to him and be intended to come to the district as early as lie could in the New Year and look into the question of side roads ns feeders to the main roads. “Pace*; .sicein to have a bad effect on ear drivers. They seem to rush to get there- and rush to get back again,” said Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., during the hearing of it by-law case at Palmerston North, in which the accused was charged with speeding home irom the races.

Times have changed! Fifty years ago there appeared in the Tainaina.ki “Herald” one evening three advertisements inviting tenders for binding wheat. Two uf the advertisers were Waitara farmers and the third was a Bell Block farmer, and the areas concerned totalled 194 acres. Would i.t he possible to find that area- under wheat in the whole of Taranaki today ?

A narrow escape from being buried alive was experienced by Messrs F. Waters, J. Millieich and A. Forbes at Whatawbatn. last Saturday (says the Hamilton correspondent of the “New Zealand Herald.”) The three _ men were employed in loading a lorry in the Waipa- County Council's >saiid pit at Whatawhata, when the wall of the pit gave way. Fortunately the men bad warning of the slip by the- rumbling of the earth, and were able to run clear. It is estimated that- 100 tons of earth fe\l. The lorry, which was owned bv Mr Waters and 1 was driven by Mr Forbes, was completely buried. Wild bulls, which are large and grand in appearance, deep and square in form, wide backs, well-sprung ribs, and massive shoulders and thigiis, are reported by Hampers in the mid-island to be a fairly common sight (states the “Auckland Star”). Although the animals are of dangerous inclination, they occasionally prefer to run off at the sight of parties. Apparently they thrive better upon the bush pastures and conditions in the King Country than bulls in captivity. They are handsome specimens, with well-formed horns and silky dark coats. Tiampers who returned to Auckland recently report that they saw a number of these bulls last week, but were not molested.

Representatives of the men employed on the tunnelling operations at Tawa Flat (Wellington; and the contractors met in conference on Sunday to consider the deadlock that has arisen between the two parties, and after several Lours’ discussion and negotiations an agreement was reached on all points in dispute. The question of wages was the most contentious, and the following offer by the contractors was accepted by the workers’ representatives: Shovellers to receive 18s per day of eight hours, machine men 19s 8d per day, shift bosses 22s 8d per day, locomotive drivers 19s 4d per day, outside workers 17s per day. The proposals agreed to were to be submitted to the men at a meeting in the evening.