NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1928, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

An area of 41,000 acres is to be planted on the Kaiiigaroa Plains, near Taupo, by Tiinbcflands, Ltd., an Australian forestry company (says an exchange). Mr P. M. Thomson, managing director of the company, who airived at Auckland by the last trip of the Aorangi, said that 9000 acres had already been planted' and that it was proposed to plant 15,000 acres next year. “It is our intention to plant for wood pulp,” continued Mr Thomson. “We also intend to find the sum of £320,000 for the purpose of erecting a plant to pulp the trees. This will be done on behalf of our bondholders.”’Mr Thomson said that pulping was a most expensive business.

By reason of the mild weather in South Canterbury, sheep have wintered well, and are coming through the cold months of the year in goou condition (reports the Timaru “Herald”!. It is not unusual, however, for a spell of rough weather to he experienced in August. Up country, as well as near the seaboard, the present winter has been one of the mildest experienced for some years, and as there is no shortage of feed, stock generally is looking well and the wool clip promises to be a good one. There has been no check so far to cause a break in the wool. It is too soon vet for lambing to be general, but odu lambs are now to be seen in various parts of the district.

Some unrehearsed turns at the Barry Cup Rugby match between Poverty Bay and AVairoa, played at Wairoa, created amusement among the spectators (says the “Daily Telegraph”). Just inside the fence guarding the field of play, boards placed across benzine boxes were ptilised as seats lor officials. When one well known and popular Poverty Bay selector settled himself down on a section of this improvised seat there were sonic audible creakings, and then tho box support near this enthusiast’s end collapsed. Later the members of the Wairoa Band seeking rest after some spiiiteil selections, settled down on another portion of the officials’ scat, am again the strain proved too great. Near the touch-line, in front of the stand, a small table was placed, whereupon stood the coveted Barry Cup. A long kick by a Wairoa hack landed the ball, on the full, squarely on the mouth of the cup, sending it spinning to the ground. Fortunately the trophy was quite uninjured py its close contact with the play.

A laugh was raised at the opening ceremony of the memorial gates at the Napier Central School when the headmaster, Air .1. Mislop, was speaking (says tho “Daily Telegraph ”). AD, Hislop was giving the children the success of ex-pupils as something to emulate, and remarked, inter alia, that huge numbers of the old hoys of the school had gone through his hands. Ho had “ spanked ” most of them, in fact, he thought all of them, but he was pleased to say that those he had “spanked” the hardest were now lus best, friends. There were cries of “ hear, hear,” from several old bojs of the school, and one, now a respectable partner in a large business firm, detached himself from the crowd and walked, across and shook hands with Air Hislop, remarking that lie uas “ pleased to hear it.”

Several shafts of humour illuminated the customary seriousness of the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce when it met recently to discuss a number of matters ol interest to business men (says the “Herald ). One advocate of n’ certain course of action with regard to the nigbtwatchinan was gently reminded by another member that he did not himself contribute towards the nightwatchinaii’s salary, observing that both men came from the land ol the heather, the president created a laugh liv drawing attention on the “ entertaining spectacle of one Scotsman trying to put another to expense.” A little later the question was being discussed as to which secondary industries in the town the members would next visit in pursuance of the jxiliev of regular educational visits inaugurated at the previous meeting. ‘ I must admit,” exclaimed one of the Scotsmen amidst laughter, “ that I am a little disappointed that so far we have not had an invitation to visit the tii'cwery.”

The Christchurch Gas Company has decided to reduce its present rate ot 7s 2d per 1000 cubic feet to 4s 2d on the condition that a minimum of 1500 feet of gas is consumed monthly for cooking and washing purposes. The rate l'or the latter is unchanged at 7s 2d (says the Christchurch “Sun”). Gas at the different rates wi.l be separately metered and a service charge of Is Ail a mouth will have to be paid. Unless the meter that records the amount of gas consumed for washing and cooking registers the required 1500 cubic feet the advantage ot the new tariff will not he obtained. If, however, the washing and cooking meter reads, say 2000 fec-t, and the heating meter 1000, the new rate will apply to 1500 feet—that is, 500 feet over and aliovo the minimum shown on Hie former meter, plus tho 1000 on the latter.

Complaints that certain charges by the Railways Department were very uiifair, was made l>y Mr IV. K. ArcAlpine at a recent meeting of the Canterbury Progress League (says the “'Lyttelton Times”). Hie paid that where a settler had property on both sides of the railway line, and wished to take water across the line, the Department charged a guinea for crossing the line and 10s for each water pipe or telephone line which crossed, however far below the line were the pipes, or how high were the wires. The speaker said that his property, Craigieburn, had been cut in two by the railway, and it was not fair for the Depart•mjent to impose the extra annual charge. He could take his wool to Christchurch bv lorry cheaper than by rail. The Department wanted his custom, and yet imposed a penalty on water and wires crossing the line. Tt was a Dominion practice. The complaint was referred to the league’s reading committee.