MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1924. Brief Mention of Happenings in Matamata and Vicinity.

Matamata Record, Volume VII, Issue 586, 1 December 1924, Page 4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1924. Brief Mention of Happenings in Matamata and Vicinity.

As showing the damage done by rabbits, the case is quoted of an Otago sheep farmer whose ground ran 2000 sheep. He cleared out the rabbits, and now runs 12,000 sheep.

By far the cheapest way to subscribe to the Record is to order the paper regulai-ly, paying for a year in advance, amounting to only 13s per annum if secured from an agency, or by delivery, or 17s if posted.

Hinuera is losing the services of a capable and courteous public official. Mr. F. Wade, for some time the local postmaster, has secured a situation on the permanent staff of the Auckland Savings Bank, and takes up his new duties as from to-morrow (Tuesday). A good story is told <of a country blacksmith carrying on business within a Sabbath day's journey of Matamata. He advertised in the Record for a strong boy, and on the day of publication his wife presented him with his desire. The boy, though strong, is still rather small to blow the bellows, but as the new arrival has two brothers, two and four years respectively, older than he, it looks as if there will be no need to advertise for help in the smithy, in the not far distant future. , .

As will be seen from our advertising columns, the Walton. Brass and Reed Band is holding a monster bazaar at the end of next week. The object is to pay off the balance of the debts incurred in the purchase of uniforms and so on. A great dear of credit is due to a small community like the Walton one, in launching such an ambitious musical project as a brass band, and it behoves residents in both the Piako and Matamata counties to give it all the support it deserves.

During his term of driving Cobb coaches through the Upper Waikato district in the early 'eighties, Mr. Henry Ken-, of Howick, took many j prominent people to and from RotoI rua. Among these may be mentioned that brilliant " young man " discovered by Dickens, namely, George Augustus Sala. The clever author of "Captain Dangerous," who was a man of great gastronomic powers, was accompanied to the thermal town by Mr. Henry Hortorf, one of the founders of the well-known firm of northern newspaper publishers. Returning to Rotorua from the Tarawera district (this was, of course, before the great eruption of 1886) the party was met by a pressman, who asked Sala what he thought of the pink terraces. The distinguished guest looked someperplexed and said he couldn't recall then. "You know," interposed Mr. Horton, coming to the rescue,, " the place where we had lunch." " Ah, yes," exclaimed Sala, smacking his lips," "I remember them fine—thev were delicious." Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Banks, of Rangiora (Canterbury), paid a visit to Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Banks and family, of "Ngarata," Matamata, last week. Mr. W. E. Banks is a very wellknown figure, especially in Canterbury, though his expertness with the rifle has earned him a much wider reputation. He has football, tennis, cricket, golf and bowls; was rifle champion Lincoln Rifle Club, Kowai R.C., N. Canterbury R.C., member first N.Z. Bisley rifle team, teacher 25 years, pupi teacher Rangiora, student Normal Training College, headmaster Aylesbury, Carlton, Lincoln and Belfast public schools; farming last 23 ! years at Lobjrn, Hurunui, Kirwee, The Peaks and Waiau; president Northern A. and P. Association 1904-5 and Hawarden A. and P. Association 1910; judge at Kaikoura, Waiau, Che'viot, Hawarden, Oxford, Rangiora, ; Sheffield, Kirwee, Leeston, Little Riv!er Temuka shows; chairman Ashley ;Roard Board 1901-4; member Loburn, Hurunui and Waikuku Domain Boards; chairman Canterbury Education Board 1918-19; member last 12 years; member council of education; , Mayor Rangiora 1921-23; president North Canterbury Farmers' Union 1919-21; was corporal Christchurch Hon. Reserve Corps 1891-8. And still he is hale and,hearty, taking a keen interest in the general activities of life, and particularly the aspirations of the country dwellers. Another new business is opened in Matamata. Mr. Geo. Menary announces that he is calling on families frequently where required daily with fre«h fi=fi direct from the sea and smoked fish, and what could form a better item in the Christmas fare than fish.*

Mr., Justin Walsh, who passed away at Tauranga on November 25, was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brown, of Hinuera.

The Matamata Town Board is calling tenders for two contracts in connection with its sewerage scheme. Specifications may be seen at the Town Board office.

Mr. Graham, of Wairakei, stated at a meeting in Auckland recently that many American toursts welcomed the unfamiliar conditions in New Zealand as a new experience. He himself was shaving in a hot swimming bath at Wairakei when an American espied him. The latter remarked: "Well, I've travelled all round the world, but had to come to New Zealand to see a man standing in his own shaving water."

Speaking at the meeting of the Elstow Drainage Board on Friday of the great changes that had been brought about by drainage, a member referred to a piece of land which ten years ago was used as a cattle run. He had seen as many as 1500 head of cattle in one mob on the area. Seven years ago there were no roads and not even a survey peg, but about that time the Government cut up the land and now the whole area was in 50 to 80 acre sections. Most of the sections were in good order and there was a house every ten chains along a good metalled road. Mr. Carter attributed the progress made very largely to drainage.—Te Aroha News.

Some little consternation was caused in the vicinity of Arawa street and Tower road, one day last week by, first of all, a cart containing pigs, losing one of its wheels, to the accompaniment of shrill protests from its porcine passengers. The two horses attached to a waggon belonging to Mr. J. Downie, of the Peria road, became startled and bolted along Tower road, as if homeward bound. Narrowly avoiding a vehicle standing at Pomeroy's corner they rushed across the railway line, and turning on to the Waharoa road collided with an electric power pole some couple of hundred yards along that highway. Here the horses fell, one of them sustaining badly grazed knees and some injury to the nose. The waggon had its shaft broken and its axle-bar fractured.

The ways of American people in regard to many things are usually reckoned by the more stolid Britisher as freakish. A recent visitor to Honolulu told a Gisborne Times reporter that he happened to hit Honolulu during a carnival week. One of the stunts put on was to place lads in charge of the various civic activities for the day. There was a lad in charge of the municipal offices, another lad took over the city's police, and still another lad took over the city's traffic. And.so on. These lads had, of course, had some preparatory training, and they carried out their duties in a remarkably capable manner. It was not difficult to s£e, added the visitor, that the people Wert justly proud 1 of their ju"e*i> temporary administrators. He had learned, too, that on that particular day, the people were most careful to be on their very best behaviour.

A humorous incident happened in the Wanganui Show. It was just at dawn and the sheep stewards decided to commence their duties by partaking of a stimulant. The whisky bottle was produced (states the Herald) but there was no water to break it down. Then one of them had an inspiration and thought of the dairy cows, but who could do the milking? A well known local stock agent decided to undertake the milking task, and, borrowing a billy, slipped quietly over to the shed where the milk cows were housed. He was not long in locating a cow'with a big udder, and commenced operations. Then the owner came on the scene and applied the boot to the milker with considerable force. No wonder, for this happened to be one of the cows entered for the milk test. The question" who milked the cow" was frequently ash* ed round the sheep pens on show day.