LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3799, 24 August 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A ear and a motor lorry collided in Alexandra Street on Friday evening, but little or no damage resulted. A reminder is given of the meeting of householders in the Mangapiko school district to be held to-morrow evening re the proposed school consolidation scheme. Te Awamutu Municipal Band assisted at the Cambridge Jubilee celebrations on Saturday, and competed in the jubilee band contest. For the quickstep march Te Awamutu, with 236 marks, were placed fourth to Hamilton Citizens 268, Cambridge Municipal 249, and Morrinsville Municipal 337. Waikato Regimental were fifth with 2281.

A schedule of weekly working hours varying from 38 to 52 in cheese.factories and from 40 to 48 in butter factories has been fixed in a judgment issued by the Arbitration Court. “In our opinion,” states the Court, “this industry, which is a seasonal one, cannot be carried on efficiently on a 40-hour week.”

The dance at the Town Hall last Saturday evening arranged by the Wlaipa Hockey Association in honour of the visiting team of ladies from Taranaki attracted a very large attendance. Music was provided by a Ngaruawlahia orchestra, with extras by Mrs Trass (Taranaki) and Mr Don. Shaw (Kihikihi). Mr Bert Sniers carried ou|t the duties of M.C. and the function was thoroughly enjoyable in every respect.

Prices for New Zealand butter on the London market are Is per cwt lower at 120 s to 121 s per cwt. The damland is quieter. Cheese values also are a shade weaker, although top quotations are unchanged. Forward buyers of butter land cheese have been active, but the quantities of last season’s produce available have been limited. As high as Is 2Sd f.0.b., equal to 122 s per cwt, London, has been paid for end of season’s butter for shipment in August. Offers for cheese have ranged up to 7id per lb, f.0.b., equal to about 65s per cwt, London.

The question of native land rates ’n the King Country was considered at a conference of Ngati-Maniapoto tribe representatives at Te Kuiti on Friday. It was emphasised by the elders that by the Rohe Potae pact the railway was allowed by the Maoris to be laid through the King Country on certain conditions, namely, that liquor for all time should be excluded, and that the Government was not to bite further into the Maoris’ hereditary land. It was added that the liquor question should not again be brought forth bv certain parties in an endeavour to violate the sacred pacts of the past. It was urged that the administration of - nativle land boards and ' Courts should be investigated, particularly in regard to leases.

Te Awamutu Cribbage Club held the third of a series of cup matches in the Oddfellows' Hall last Thursday night. There was a big attendance of members, and very keen play took place. The honours went to Mrs Blackburn with nine games and to Mr C. M. Reed with ten games. The usual tasty supper was served, to the enjoyment of all present. The fourth cup match will be held next Thursday, and the following week will see a return match with the “ Vicar’s Bachelors ” in the Parish Hall, when the proceeds will again be devoted in aid of the stained-glass window fund.

Several old Cambridge footballers attending the reunion last Friday evening made reference to the great influence “ Buff ” McPike had on Rugby football in and around Cambridge, and recalled incidents where he had figured prominently. Mr McPike was a former Auckland player, and after his return to Auckland attained representative honours. At Cambridge he led the representatives to victory time after time. One of his old associates, speaking in lighter vein, remarked that on one occasion Mr McPike was seen late at night in a street at Cambridge West (now Leamington) walking about and holding a lighted candle. When asked the reason he replied that he was looking for Te Awamutu !

Information as to the future administration of loans under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act was sought by Mr C. H. Burnett (Government, Tauranga) in giving notice of a question to the Minister of Lands, Hon. F. Langstone, in the House of Representatives. Mr Burnett referred to the fact that legislative power had been given for the transfer of accounts under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act into the State Advances Corporation, and asked what the future policy of the Government would be in regard to land boards’ administration. The policy of the Government was to eliminate board control as far as possible, Mr Burnett added, and the position affecting land boards was involved on that account.

Just before the close of the Taranaki versus Waipa ladies’ representative hockey match at Albert Park last Saturday one of the visiting team, Miss G. Hale, met with injuries that necessitated surgical attention. In a melee for possession the ball struck her on the face, her nose being badly damaged. St. John Ambulance officers rendered first aid. As the game was nearly ended, with the visitors leading by four goals to two, it was decided not to continue. In the evening Miss Hale was sufficiently recovered to be present at the dance arranged in honour of the Taranaki players, though she will feel the effects of the injury for some time.

At the footballers’ reunion at Cambridge last Friday evening, there was a very large and representative attendance, including old Rugby players who had worn the Cambnuge colours even half A century ago. The oldest player present was Mr Fred Keeley, well-known in Te Awamutu when employed by Mr F. H. Vile. Mr Keeley told the assemblage that as a youth he had played against the Airmed Constabulary team after the latter force had returned from Taranaki following the Parihaka troubles. He laughingly remarked that the Constabulary team were big men, and his own captain (advised him to avoid contact as much as possible, and concentrate on kicking to the line as far down field as he could kick. Mr Keeley said he didn’t really need that advice—one look at the size of the opposition was enough!

At the instigation of the Maniapoto Maori Association a conference was held in conjunction with about 41 elders of the Maniapoto tribe at the pa near Te Kuiti on Friday. Marakopa, Waitomo, Hangatiki, Otorohanga, Hauturu, Te Kawa and other outlying districts were represented. The purpose of the conference was to discuss statements made by the Minister of Native Affairs, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, regarding the equal status of the Maori and pakeha and the observance of the Treaty of Waitangi in the spirt and word in which it was made. The conference decided to forward a resolution to the Prime Minister to the effect that the NgatiManiapoto were not yet ready for equal status and, though they appreciated the sincere desire of the Prime Minister to improve their standing, it was felt that much improvement could readily be effected without the institution of equal status.

The Australian Rugby team, which will play Wanganui next Wednesday, Hawke’s Bay next Saturday, Wairar-apa-Bush the following Wednesday, and New Zealand the Saturday after that (in Wellington), began its New Zealand tour on Saturday, playing Auckland, when the home team won by eight points to five.

Severe floods were experienced in North Auckland districts on Friday and Saturday, due to the almost continual rain throughout the week. Road and rail traffic was interrupted.

The stormy weather experienced in Auckland caused a postponement of the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s race meeting at Ellerslie from Saturday until next Wednesday.

Te Awamutu was represented at the old footballers’ reunion at Cambridge last Friday evening by Messrs A J. Shepherd, A. A. Reese and L. Reiter (all three associated with Rugby at various periods between 1903 and 1916), and Messrs J. G. Wynyard (Wiaipa Union president), and his son Jim Wynyard, the All Black. Mr Shepherd proposed the toast of the “Cambridge Sub-Union and its representatives,” in appropriate terms, and recalled some incidents of the game when he resided in Cambridge.

For the third year in succession dozens of daffodil blooms have been stolen from the flower pots at the Te Awamutu District High School. The latest theft was perpetrated on Thursday night, and in the past two years tiie thefts have taken place just before the holidays commenced, The theft is a mean one, for the children had taken a great pride in their gardens, and the daffodil blooms, many of them specimens, were the subject of general admiration. Rather remarkably, our sister borough of Hamilton also has flower thieves with a penchant for daffodils, for during the past week some person has stolen hundreds of bulbs that had been planted in the Lake Domain. Obviously it was a planned theft, as at Te Awamutu, and the guilty person waited until the hour and conditions were deemed favourable for the raid.