RIVERLEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 June 1923, Page 3

RIVERLEA.

(From Ouj; Own Correspondent.)

VANDALISM

A most despicable act of vandalism was perpetra^u in the local Hall between .Friday afternoon, i>iay "J,o, and the following Sunday morning, when some evil-disposed person got into the building and broke six. or the. large hammers out- of the piano, and bent back and put out of action a dozen of . smaller ones. Some >ears ago someone entered and stripped the ivories oft' the keys, and the general opinion is that the two jobs were done by one and the ' same individual, and that there is someone in the district who apparently ; has some spite against the Hall Society, ; and vents that spite in destroying the society's property. The matter has j been put into the hands of the police, ; '. and their opinion is that the person 'responsible for the damage has know-j : ledge of pianos owing to the scientific manner in which the instrument has been wrecked, as the portion damaged i is the main playing pa,rt of it. The I act is the more villainous as th« s»- ■ ! ciety had recently spent some £25 in ; having the instrument renovated, and ■ , it was practically as good as new so far as the interior was concerned. It is sincerely to be hoxK'd that the perpetrator of this miserable act will be discovered and brought to book, and one thing is certain, and that is that the society will have absolutely no mercy if the offender is apprehended. STRAYING STOCK. For allowing a grey mare to wander in Gladstone Street, Mr O. J. Hawken ; was fined 5s and 7s costs. j Mr Houston said that defendant had \ seen him, regretting that he Lad been j unable to come to the court,' and said that boys trespassing on his property '. had left the gate open. The ranger said j the horse was found near the property, SCHOOL COMMITTEE,. The monthly meeting of the com- , mittee was held on JVlonday evening. Present: Messrs 13. L. Webby (chair). Gibbons (secretary), J. VV. ' Thorpe, J. Stables, and M. F. Voul- i lane. Correspondence from the secretary of the Education Board and from the School Committees' Association was received. Mr Thorpe reported having c.tired the tank and spouting. The chairman reported on tho work done at the working hoes held on ti-o ground, and it was resolved that the chairman 'arrange the next and, it is hoped, final one when he thinics suitable. I Mr Thorpe offered to provide chain ' and staple for gate into children's horse paddock, and to hang gate into garden. The chairman and secretary were ap- ' pointed to operate the l..'iuk s:c.cou}> +-. Mr Youllaire brought ivp the matter of the light in the school, iayi.ig the \ children complained oi: the |,o,ir light, and it was decided to interv ew rL e inspectors when they came to on the accommodation regaining the matter. This concluded he business, and tne meeting closed. HALL COMMITTEE. A special meeting w;-s held en Tiesday evening. Present: Messrs B. L. Webby (chair), A. E. Mil's (.seer* iary), K. Rothe, F. Schmidt, A Gibson, J. Stables and M. F. VoulLure. An apology for absence was received from Mr Hey. The secretary '^ported that the deficit of £4 as at the annual rieetn,,.: had been wiped off, and there was now a, credit at the Bank of Soutb W; les of £6. Considerable disciiouon took place over the damage m tjie pkmo, ai.d this discussion beded ill for the person responsible if he falls into the society's hands. It was resolved to engage 3lr Yinnicombe to repair the instrument. It was resolved to procure new and stronger locks for the doors and special fasteners for the windows. It was resolved to procure two keys, of which one will be in charge of the chairman and the other in charge of the secre- , tary. and that users or the Kail must return them as soon as finished with, or they would be held liable for any damage done whilst the keys remained in their possession, and would also be charged 2s Cd for each day the keys were absent from the officers appointed to hold them, and that -these rules would be rigidly enforced. t The secretary was instructed to write to regular users of the hall embodying the resolution, and pointing out the committee's intentions regarding same. ; It was decided to call tenders for the i purchase (if Wizard lighting plant, as ! it is not now required since the installation, ol electricity, Tt Was rC-.solved that all users of the hall should pay in ndvame, and befuio the keys are handed to them, and shall also pay a deposit of ss, when deposit shall be returnable when the keys are returned. Subject to his approval. Mr Lloyd was appointed auditor for the ensuing year. BUSINESS CHANGE. Mr J. W. Thorpe, who has been in business here for some time as n general blacksmith, has disposed of his business here and at Awatuna to Mr F. Franks, of Manaia, and will be i leaving at the end of t\\a month for j Kaiterere, in the Bay of Plenty, where he has purchased another business. His ' many friends join in wishing him luck in his new venture. GENERAL NOTES. I understand the local factory is to close down on the loth in.st., and those then having milk still going will require to go into Kaponga with it. Feeding out of hay now seems to be . general, and goodness knows, considering the atrocious weather we have been getting, the cattle badly need it. The weather has been enough to make the proverbial parson swear, but yestereday (Monday) the'wind shifted to the sotith- . east, and Tuesday was fine, though I cold, and judging by the atmosphere ! to-night (Tuesday) there will be a solid | frost in the morning, and it is to be | hoped that we will now get some dry, warm sunny weather. The barometer, after hanging about 29.15 for about a 1 fortnight, has iuniped to 29.58 in the 1 last 24 hours.