HERE AND THERE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 8

HERE AND THERE

(P.A. Messages.)

The total pay-out. for the first Auckland wool sale, on November 26 and 27, was £495,876 for the 21,991 bales sold, 22,267 having been offered. The average price per bale wa.s £22 lis, and the average per lb. 15. Md. After having voted as an absentee at one booth in Wellington on election day, Alfred Grisodale went to Kelbiirii and recorded his ordinary vole at (tie booth there, When seen by the police his excuse was lhat ho was advised by friends that he nuisl vote at IColburn. He acted tinder a misunderstanding. He had not voted in New Zealand before. To the magistrate in Wellington to-day the returning officer said he had no reason to doubt accused's explanation. Accused was committed for sentence on bail.

Lyftelton : Arrived, at 7 a.m. to-day, Waliine, from Wellington.

In reference to the request made by the Gisborne Borough Council to householders to turn off- their hoses and taps immediately the lire siren is heard, certain residents point out that on, a perfectly calm day ,01' night the siren can be heard distinctly all over Gisborne, but when a. strong wind is blowing it is very bard to hear the signal from the opposito direction. The residents mentioned further state, that the moment the siren is heard they cut off the water. At a meeting of the council on Tuesday night, however, it was agreed that in parts of the town where the siren could not he heard, householders could not be expected to know that their hoses should be turned off.

At a meeting of the Opotiki County Council a number of letters from ratepayers were read protesting ogauisfc the large, increase, in the rates and asking for an explanation. Some writers said the rate exceeded 3d in the £ on the capital value, which was the legal limit. The county clerk said the amount must not exceed 3d in the £ over the whole county. Mr. McDonnell said he believed it. was the intention of some people to test the position. After discussion it was resolved that the solicitor to the Counties' Association be written to for* a. ruling on the matter whether 3d in the £ was counted in individual eases or over each riding. Members said they considered that the rating in tho county should be done by classification. It was decided to have a scheme drawn up by the clerk, after which representations could be made to the authorities to get suitable legislation passed.

The Opotiki Chamber of Commerce met at the week-end, Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith presiding. A letter was received! from Mr. K. S. Williams, in reply to representations from the chamber asking for a trial survey of the new route on the Opotiki-East Cape road. The) letter stated: "This matter has been investigated by the department, and from the report received it would appear that the probable saving in distance compared with the surveyed road would bo negligible and tho capital cost would be much greater than that! of tho present road' along the coast. In addition to this there is no doubt that the coastal road would still be requited. In this circumstances I am of opinion that the whole question will have to receive very careful consideration before, the Government will be justified m authorising the expenditure of funds ori the work."