LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 52, Issue 3767, 10 June 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Apparently magistrates intend to make fines for bookmaking salutary, for in Hamilton, Wanganui, and Wellington during the past few days convictions have resulted in fines ranging from £lO to £lOO.

The Borough Council on Monday evening accepted the recommendation of the Finance Committee to purchase one hundred chairs for seating accommodation at the Town Hall, from the local firm of Messrs Clark and McMillan.

At the Hamilton Supreme Court on Monday, among a number of discharges from bankruptcy granted were those of Frederick H. Vile, saddler and sports goods dealer, Te Awamutu, and Leo Horace J. Whiting, share-milker, Ohaupo.

Commenting on the applications for building permits, at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening, the Mayor said that it was evident the town was growing, and it seemed certain that a good average of applications would be maintained.

The Te Awamutu Women’s Institute has arranged a very attractive programme for its monthly meeting on Friday afternoon, when members are invited by the executive to bring their friends. The Drama Circle is to “make its bow” as entertainers, and there is to be a gift stall to raise funds for the Institute’s needs.

“It would not be so bad if it were not for that confounded cornet,” commented Cr W. J. North at the Borough Council meeting, when Councillors were complaining of the difficulty of conducting Council business while a dance was in progress in the Town Hall adjoining. The dance orchestra seemed to be making very attractive music for the dancers, but the Council did not appreciate it.

The half yearly installation of officers of the Loyal Te Awamutu Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., took place in the lodge room on Monday evening, when there were visitors present from Morrinsville, Kereone, Hamilton and Otorohanga. The installing officer was Bro. T. W. Thompson (Hamilton), Immediate Past D.G.M., and he installed Bro L. A. Johnston as N.G., Sister W. G. Adams as V.G., Bro. Fred. Palmer as elective secretary, and Bro. Allen Loomb as I.P.N.G.

It is not often that a large quantity of building timber and galvanised iron is offered at auction in this district in lots to suit purchasers, but next Tuesday morning about 15,000 feet of timber and two tons of iron are to be disposed of at the Kakepuku cheese factory, six miles from Te Awamutu. This opportunity should be one particularly attractive to farmers, who have planned to effect improvements to their sheds and' other /arm buildings. The cheese factory was dismantled, and all the timber (tome of it of exceptional quality) prepared for sale in suitable sized lotc.

Opportunity was taken at the Oddfellows’ dance in the Town Hall last Monday evening to present the secretary, Miss E. Clarke, with a jewel presented by the Auckland district officers for any member who nominates at least twenty candidates to the Order. Mr T. W. Thompson, of Hamilton, who is the Immediate Past D.G.M., made the presentation, and referred In appropriate terms to Miss Clarke’s enthusiasm and popularity, and expressed the hope that she would continue to work for the good of the lodge. After the presentation Miss Clarke was accorded musical honours.

The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, has announced that the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill will be postponed until after Parliament resumes, as there are a number of points on which interested parties should be consulted. “The Government aims to make the Bill as strong as possible,” said Mr Semple. “I want to take the people of New Zealand into by confidence and make the roads of the country 100 per cent safe. I see during the week-end further hit-and-run cases are reported. That makes the legislation all the more necessary.”

A grim record of road accidents in New Zealand—l2so deaths and 35,000 casualties in the past seven years—formed the main subject for debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon, when the second reading of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill was taken. Appreciation was expressed at the announcement by the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, that it had been decided to defer the passing of the measure until after the mid-winter recess in order to enable local bodies and motor associations to consider its provisions. The Opposition expressed approval of the Bill and several members congratulated the Minister upon his efforts to make the roads safer for the people and bring about a substantial reduction in the lamentable loss of life. ■

The following building permits were approved at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening:— N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co., alterations and additions to butter factory, £1000; J. G. Wilson, new dwelling, £485; Te Awamutu Power Board, new double garage, £4O; and A. Rowan, new office building, £2O.

“ Well, he is at liberty to form a union of his own if he wants to,” commented the Mayor at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening when it was stated that only one employee of the Council was affected by the proposed formation of a local bodies’ employees’ union, with branches in all centres.

Reporting to the Borough Council on Monuay evening, the works foreman, Mr R. H. Close, said that for the two weeks prior to June Ist the outdoor employees had been planting trees in the water catchment area on Pirongia mountain. A total of 8000 trees had been planted. Most of the trees planted earlier were growing satisfactorily.

A sharp rise has occurred in London prices for butter. New Zealand is now quoted at 112 s per cwt, which is 4s above the price at the end of last week, and represents a gain of 24s in a month. The equivalent value in New Zealand currency is 138 s per cwt, and it means a factory pay out of about Is 2d per pound butter fat. At this time last year the London quotation was 83s. New Zealand cheese is selling at 62s per cwt, a rise of 2s to 3s. Both markets are firm.

A motoring collision occurred on the Great South Road last Sunday evening by which a small Ford ear, owned by Mr J. D. Mackay, of Waihou, and driven by his newly-married daughter, was considerably damaged. It appears that at one bend in the road south of Tokanui Crossroads the Ford came into collision with a Chevrolet car occupied by three men. The Ford was struck a glancing blow, and while the front part of the car escaped injury the part from the driver’s scat rearward was badly crushed and buckled. How the driver escaped in jury was a marvel, but she was, naturally, suffering from shock. The car was subsequently brought into Te Awamutu for repairs.

The Oddfellows’ Lodge celebration dance in the Town Hall on Monday evening, as a fitting finale to the half yearly installation of officers of the Loyal Te Awamutu Lodge, proved a very happy affair. Mrs Leckie’s orchestra provided inspiring dance music, and this was supplemented with extras by Miss W. Gilbert and Messrs R. Willis and E. Penny. Mr E. C. Linton carried out the duties of M.C. A Monte Carlo competition was won by Mrs W. G. Adams and partner, and a statue waltz by Miss E. Clarke and partner. An exhibition of tap dancing by Miss W. Gilbert was much enjoyed. The supper arrangements were in the hands of the Social Committee.

Peak prices are expected to be realised: at this week’s rabbitskin sales in Dunedin. A broker in that city said a few days ago that he was certain that the previous high price of 12s per lb would be surpassed. This meant that for unblemished skins the trappers would receive about 2s 6d a piece. The prices this season, he said, were the highest received for many years, and were proving a very profitable business for trappers. In his own business he had just sent outcheques to trappers amounting to £12,000 for the week’s supply. Practically the whole of the skins being placed on the market were bought for American interests, which had made rapid progress in recent years in the treatment of skins for the production of fur garments.

A Hamilton correspondent reports that a disappointing response has been experienced with the farm school which commenced on Monday at the Ruakura Farm under the ausjpiees of the Auckland Employment Committee, only some 22 boys arriving at the farm instead of the 40 that were expected. Originally the quota was for 50 students, but recently the authorities at the farm were told that 40 could be expected. After catering for a party of 40 the response is particularly disappointing to the farm officials, whose efforts to provide for a large number have been to a large extent wasted. However, the senior course for farmers’ sons and under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, which is to commence at the farm on 22nd June, has met with an excellent response and applications have had to be declined. A party of 65 students will attend the senior course.

When Cr Monteflore was explaining his report and recommendations in favour of permanent work being ■carried out in various streets, including Young Street, he said the work in that thoroughfare entailed breaking the metal surface and remodelling it. Cr Jourdain expressed his doubts as to whether the street would be surfaced, reminding Cr Monteflore of a statement made months ago that he would press for the sealing of Young Street this year. Cr Monteflore said the promise had not been lost sight of, but there were some more pressing works in other streets. Cr Jourdain retorted that that meant that Young Street would never be surfaced in the present year! But Cr Monteflore assured him that Young Street would receive fair treatment.

The deliberations of the local Borough Council were carried on last Monday evening under difficulties, the trouble being that a dance was in progress in the Town Hall, adjoining. The dance music was bright and “toe tickling,” but however much dance patrons enjoyed it, there was abundant evidence in the Council room that Councillors did not appreciate an orchestra and dancers so close at hand while Council business was being discussed. The town clerk admitted that he had departed from an earlier instruction that the Town Hall was not to be let for dances on nights when Council meetings are held, explaining that he had not thought so much inconvenience would be caused. At times the Councillors could not be heard at the press table, and the press representatives moved their table nearer to the Council table—witbout improving matters much. Maybe, though, the opposion function shortened the deliberations of the Council, for the Mayor announced before 9.30 that the meeting was at an end,

During the course of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Feilding Methodist Church last week end the Rev. J. H. Allen announced that the thanksoffering for Sunday totalled £876 (te 4d—£6oo 16s lid from the morning service, £lOl 7s 5d from the youth rally in the afternoon, and £173 16s from the evening service. With the exception of £9O 10s the entire offering was received in cash. The whole of this money is to be devoted to a new Sunday school in commemoration of the jubilee.

When the matter of the formation of a union of local body employees was before the local Borough Council meeting on Monday evening, the Mayor said it seemed that every worker must join a union. That may be all right in theory, but the conditions obtaining in France just now indicated that if one big union is formed in New Zealand there may be a national strike called by some people in Wellington, resulting in widespread disaster. The idea, if given effect to, would mean employment for a number of secretaries.

Our readers will no doubt be interested to learn that Miss Nita Rosslyn, popularly known as “The Girl in Red,” in the course of her tour through the length and breadth of New Zealand, arrived on her red bicycle at the Bluff yesterday, at approximately 3 p.m. She will cross to Stewart Island to-day and remain there a week. On returning she "will revisit Invercargill then turn towards the West Coast and Central Otago, en route for Nelson and the North Island. After touring Hawke’s Bay and North Auckland she will leave for Tasmania and Australia.