The Te Aroha News Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Mornings. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6572, 5 February 1925, Page 4

The Te Aroha News Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Mornings. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1925. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dr. E. E. Porritt and Mr Frank Spencer, of the Wanganui Automobile As sociation, enrolled 50 new members as the result of one day’s canvassing.

A Wairarapa fat stock buyer stated that this season easily constituted a record for the quantity of fat sheep and lambs sent away from the district.

Records taken by Mr F. M. Strange at Mangaiti show that for the month of January 3.13 inches of rain fell on 10 days. The average for January for the past eight years was 3.26 inches.

Someone asked Hilaire Belloc shortly after he arrived home what the greatest change was he had noticed in the United States. He answered: “Formerly everybody used to run away from the man who reached for his hip pocket; now they all crowd round him.”

Referring to the current price of butter, the Minister for Internal Affair.-, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, said at Te Uku that he was very pleased to note that prices were showing a slight increase. “A fluctuation in prices is always likely,” remarked Mr Bollard, “but I am sure that when the scheme of the dairy Control Board is in proper working order matters will be different and better prices will rule for our producers. That will be to the benefit of the whole Dominion.”

Fresh tenders are invited for the painting of the Te Aroha West Hall, closing on February 17th.

The Sensational Boot Sale of J. Horton (late E. H. Jones) commences Saturday, February 7th. Get in early. 13

Borough workmen were engaged engaged yesterday afternoon in .giving one of the footpaths in Whitaker street a fresh coat of tar and sand.

The Minister for Public Works has issued a certificate that the Te Aroha Bridge requires to be re-built, and advice to this effect has been received by the Borough Council.

The burgesses list for the Borough is now open for inspection, and all entitled to have their names on the list would be wise, if they value their privileges, in seeing that they have not been overlooked.

Mrs G. M. Nash announces a dance in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, the 10th inst. There will be a waltzing competition, for which a small entrance fee will be charged. Good prizes will be offered.

Mr Walter C. Russell Wood, teacher of elocution and voice production, Hamilton, and instructor at the Southwell Boys’ School, is prepared to open a class at Te Aroha if sufficient inducement offers. Names of prospective pupils may be left at the Te Aroha News office.*

Further diaeuision amongst members of the Wairoa Farmers’ Union is about to ensue anent the blackberry nuisance, in connection with the Government offer of £IO,OOO for means whereby the pest can be wiped out at a reasonable cost per acre. It is stated that the ufaion considers the amount insufficient to tempt investigators. “Solid tyres, in my opinion, are less severe on highways than are inflated tyres. Of course the pneumatic article is more expensive, but in the long run it is decidedly economical. I am firmly convinced that the time is not far distant when the equipping of motor trucks with hard rubber tyres will be universal.” —Mr T. Ball, chairman of the No. 8 Highways Council.

Centenarians among the Maoris had no birth certificates, caligraphy being an unknown art to the kaumatuas, and Europeans are sometimes rude enough to doubt the verbal records of the natives. There was evidence at the proceedings of the Native Land Court at Tuahiwi, however, that some foundation exists for the reputed longevity of the old-time Maori. One of the claimants for a share in the Government’s grant of £354,000 for the sale of the Ngaitahu land in 1848 was able to prove that the ancestor in whose right he lodged the claim had a child, a grandchild, and a great grandchild, all alive in that memorable year. A court official held that early marriages more than longevity was the special Maori characteristic reflected in this instance.

A correspondent supplies the following to the Oamaru Mail: A rather amusing incident occurred at Ngapara. A young couple just returning from their honeymoon were passengers by the Oamaru-Tokarahi motor ’bus. On arriving at Ngapara another young man, who was dressed very much like a bridegroom was surprised by two ladies coming out of the local store and thoroughly showering confetti over him while the young couple made a quick retreat across the road. There was very hearty laughter from all sides when the ladies discovered their mistake. The young man was heard to remark: “I wish to live a happy bachelor for a while yet, but the sensation was very nice.”

“The memory of Robert Louis Stevenson is still cherished dearly by the islanders,” said Captain Edward Reffell, of the Royal Air Force, who arrived in Sydney recently from a trip round the Pacific Islands. “General Richardson, the Administrator of Samoa, has helped splendidly to perpetuate the memory of the great author,” said Captain Reffell.'" Until he took over control Stevenson’s old home resembled a wilderness. The proper measures have been taken, and now the grounds are like a beautiful park. A steep path leads to the monument erected on the top of a peak to the memory of Stevenson. I had an interesting conversation with Mr H. J. Moors, who was a friend of the author, and who lived with him at Samoa.” Captain Reffell praises General Richardson, who, he says, is very popular, and gives the impression of being a great leader. While in Fiji Captain Reffell was entertained by Ratupopo, the native leader at Bau.

An advertisement appears elsewhere in this issue to the effect that the Waihou Polo Club is holding a meeting of members and players on February 6th.

“Take the d thing away; I want British goods.” It was thus that a settler delivered himself upon finding that a motor he had ordered from the Thames Valley Electric Power Board bearing the letters “U.S.A.” had been left at his gate. The member who brought the matter before the Board at its meeting on Tuesday said that the settler had been very angry and he suggested that customers should be given a choice between British and American motors. The manager (Mr Sprague) said that the motor in the case referred to had been replaced with one of British make.

Mr Claxton stated at the Power board’s meeting on Tuesday that the Board had had a visit from the organiser for the Electrical Trades Federation with a view to examining the methods adopted by the Board in general trading. Every facility was afforded him for obtaining information, both with regard' to the system of trading and the administration, and he was perfectly satisfied that the methods employed were most up-to-date, and would be difficult to improve upon. A further report would be placed before members of the Board at its next meeting which will deal minutely with administration from the point of view of the Traders’ Association.

Campers at the Waihi Beach were on Tuesday last week afforded an opportunity of witnessing at intervals a series of waterspouts which occurred several miles out at sea. With the aid of binoculars, one party, between the hours of 2 and 3 o’clock, saw six, five of which broke before junctioning with the trumpet-like cone which usually proceeds from a cloud. The huge yolume of vapour rising from the surface of the sea, as the spiral columns of water collapsed resembled, according to one of the spectators, an eruption on White Island, and this was the impression conveyed to a lady on witnessing the first of the series. One column of water rising from the sea with spiral motion united with the cone descending from a cloud, and traversed the ocean surface for several miles until it disappeared behind Bowentown Heads.