OTOROHANGA NEWS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3759, 22 May 1936, Page 7

OTOROHANGA NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

PADDY’S MAIRIKET. (Our Resident Representative.) The Presbyterian community of Otorohanga conducted a very successful Paddy’s Market at the local Town Hall, on Wednesday, when a considerable sum, from the sale of produce, home confections, etc., was raised for church purposes. NEW COAL MINE. A syndicate, termed “The. King Country Coal and Mineral Mining Syndicate,” has been granted a license to prospect an area of some 30 acres (to the westward of Otorohanga), where there are definite indications of a large coal seam, the product of which is said to be of excellent quality. An interested party considers that there are also good prospects for gold in the same locality. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. At the annual meeting bf the Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce the election of officers resulted:— President, Mr C. A. Jackson; vicepresidents, Messrs S. Mcßobie, F. P. Rowe, and A. H. Larsen; executive, Messrs J. Turnbull and R. H. Cooper; secretary and treasurer, Mr F. W. G. Johnson; chairman, Mr C; A. Jackson; vice-chairman, Mr S. McRo’bie.

The financial position of the Chamber is satisfactory, there being a cash credit of £7 5s 6d, with no liabilities. The annual report stated that Otorohanga had been selected, by the South Auckland Associated Chambers of Commerce, as the location of their last conference, and delegates were generously entertained by the local Chamber. GOLF. The ladies’ competition on the Otorohanga golf links on Saturday afternoon was won by Mrs Hitchcock, with the score of 95—23—72, Mrs Austin being runner-up with a score of 88—11—77. C. Prescott won the men’s competitions with a score of 85—20—65.

WAITOMO ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

The Waitomo Electric Power Board’s operations for the past year resulted in a profit of £lOO4 14s 4d, as again a profit of £2486 16s 7d, for the previous year. The N.Z. Co-Op. Dairy Co.’s butter-making plant at Otorohanga, which formerly paid the Board some £6OO per annum for light and power, have lately introduced steam, consequently this revenue is a severe loss, as is also the £3OO-odd formerly paid annually by the Otorohanga Shingle and Gravel Co.—now closed down. The revenue from the sale of electricity totalled £18,482 8s 9d, compared with £18,301 4s 9d, in the previous year. The increased revenue from cooking and heating charges for the period under review, was £3ll.

On March 31st of this year, there were 207 milking motors connected with the system, as against 129 five years ago. Most of the new installations were in the Otorohanga district, and in the northern area of the Board’s territory. The cost of purchased electricity has advanced in the year, from £6434 9s lid, to £6974 9s lid. During the year a new loan of £20,000, for extensions to the reticulation system was sanctioned by the ratepayers, and an instalment of £5OOO was raised at 31 per cent. With the exception of industrial motors, all ciasses of revenue show an increase. There are 1401 consumers as against 1125 in 1931. Last June the Board reduced the lighting from 7d to 6d per unit, and any future reduction will depend on the extended uses of electricity likely to be made by customers. ANNUAL DANCE. St. Bride’s Anglican Church parishioners held their annual dance in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, when there was a comfortable attendance of dancers and spectators. O’Rlourke’s Orchestra provided the music, while an excellent supper was enjoyed.