OTOROHANGA NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 1856, 1 September 1923, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS.

(Our Special Correspondent.)

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY. The Otorohanga District HydroElectric Committee again met in semisecret conference on Wednesday, in the Municipal Chambers. Present: H. B. Mossman (chairman), Messrs H. A. Lurman, F. 0. R. Phillips, Conway Grey Murphy, Roland Hill, F. Potts, Richard Bell, J. A. Ormsby, E. Closey, S. A. Cook, John Walker, Rogers, J. W. W. Seymour, and Clive Tucker (acting secretary). Correspondence was received and considered from the Public Works electrical engineer. It was resolved to seek further informal tion before voting on the issues regarding the Te Awamutu scheme. It is now understood that the committee will give the Press its official report after the next meeting.

CROQUET CLUB. The Otorohanga Croquet Club held its annual meeting in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening. The annual report was read and the balance sheet disclosed a satisfactory state of affairs. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows :—President, Mrs S. A. Cook; vice-presidents, Mesdames Saunderson Senr.,’and H. Benner; committee, Mesdames E. H. Oudaille, R. Cowern, and A. Kerr, with power to add to their number. Mrs Eveleigh was elected secretary and treasurer.

A sum of £l2 had been voted to the Bowling Club towards the cost of the improvements made on the croquet grounds for that body. ' The opening day of the season was not definitely fixed, but will be probably during the month of September.

BUILDING ACTIVITIES. Many new residences are at present being erected within the Town Board’s boundaries, as well as several business premises in Maniapoto Street. A count of the new residences erected here during the past three years places the number at 59, which must be considered a satisfactory progress for a country town. CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS. Otorohanga’s persistent agitation for a large consolidated school is more than likely to bear good fruit. As a result of the Chamber of Commerce action in communicating with the Minister of Education on this subject, the following reply has been received from Mr C. J. Parr:—“l was pleased to receive your letter of the 17th inst., and am glad to know that the movement in favour of consolidated schools is taking hold' in the Otorohanga district. If it is possible during the coming summer to visit your district and meet the school committees, I shall be glad to do so. I have, however, so many engagements already made that it may be difficult to arrange a fixture. I shall do my best to fix a date later on, and will give you due notice.”

OBITUARY. Wo regret to report the passing of a very old and much respected settler of the Whawharua district, in the person of Mr Jas. McColl, Senr. Mr McColl had been in failing health of recent years, dying on Sunday evening, at the advanced age of 83 years. The funeral obsequies took place on Wednesday afternoon, and the deceased pioneer settler was interred in the Otorohanga cemetery, a large concourse of relatives and friends being present.

ARCHDEACON COWIE. The members of the Vestry of St. Bride’s Anglican Church met in Corbett and Mossman’s Buildings on Friday at 2.30 p.m. to receive Archdeacon Cowie upon his arrival from Auckland.

An intercessory service will be held each Friday in the Anglican Church in connection with the Hickson healing mission. All denominations are invited to these services. The Roman Catholic Church funds were augmented to the extent of £27 10s as a result of the Paddy’s market, which was held in the main street on Friday week. The committee desire to return thanks to all helpers and wellwishers. TE KUITI HOSPITAL. Profound disappointment is being felt here at the Bill just passed in the House of Representatives granting rating powers over this town and district for the purpose of building a hospital at Te Kuiti. The percentage of contribution defined in the Bill to be paid by the local County Council is not altered, although now, as a result of the amendment moved by Mr F. Lye, M.P., the town of Otorohanga. is to bear its share of the rates to be levied. The representative for the objecting petitioners, Mr S. J. E. Closey, who appeared lor them at Wellington, is keenly disappointed at the result of his efforts on their behalf.

PERSONAL. Mr and Mrs Colhoun have gone to Auckland for a fortnight’s holiday. Mr K. L. Bedlington has departed for the Whiterless North, oh business connected with his profession as a suiveyor. Mr J Rowland, manager of the local Bank of N.Z., has returned from a few days’ holiday in the Queen City. Miss Louie Vercoe of Raglan is on an extended visit here, and is the guest of her sister, Mrs John Belcher. Dr Nicholson, who lias been on holiday for the past month in the northern city, has returned home and has again ■ resumed his large practice. Miss Nellie Murdoch, of Whawharua, is, we regret to report, rather seriously ill with rheumatic fever and pneumonia. Mr Lome gan, of Whakatane, is a visitor here, and is impressed with the future possibilities of the King Country as a dairying and sheep raising territory. He is accompanied by Mrs Lornegan and their son. Mrs Fletcher who, up to recently, was in business at Kopaki, has, acquired a five years’ lease of _ a Mock or shop and living rooms in Closey s Buildings, where she proposes to at once start in business with an up-to-date dining and supper rooms.

Misses Cannons and Alexander, of the; local public school staff, have gone to Te Kawa to spend the school vacation.