LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3941, 18 August 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On the recommendation of the Finance Committee the Waipa County Council on Monday authorised the purchase of two new trucks at a cost of £795.

“Britain gives preference to outproduce, and we should reciprocate,” said a Councillor at Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council, when consideration was being given to the purchase of trucks.

An old resident, discussing football, asked when Rugby was first played in Te Awamutu district. He explained that in his boyhood no Rugby was played, and in recent years he had tried to recollect the year when “our national pastime" was introduced.

“I am satisfied if the vehicle to be purchased is British or nearly all British,” said a Councillor at Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council. Another member, supporting, said that New Zealand local bodies should, if possible, purchase overseas needs in countries where New Zealand produce was used.

A peculiar position was revealed at Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council. Some time ago, among others, nine ratepayers sought remission of penalties on rates overdue, and the Council agreed to do so, provided it had legislative authority. Recently it was found that the Council had no authority to remit the penalties, and consequently at Monday’s meeting they were reinstated.

When electoral boundaries were under discussion at the Waipa County Council meeting on Monday, it was stated that the north-western and south western boundaries of Waikato electorate would be the boundaries of Kaipaki, Mangapiko, Rangiaohia and •Pukekura ridings. Most of Kakepuku riding and the whole of Orakau riding remained in Waitomo. Presumably Rukuhia riding went into Raglan electorate, with Newcastle, Hamilton and Tuhikaramea ridings. To a question, the chairman said any objections must be lodged in Wellington by August 31st, and he understood some objections would be lodged.

An unusual accident befel Mrs Jean Thorne, aged 26 years, the wife of Mr A. H. Thorne, at Te Akau, when she dislocated her neck while dressing on Saturday evening. She was taken to the Waikato Hospital, where her condition is regarded as not serious.

On Monday evening the Borough Council accepted the works committee’s recommendation that, the works foreman be instructed to proceed with the formation and concreting of Fraser Street footpath for its whole length.

The Government has decided to drain and develop about 12,000 acres of land at Kerepeehi, in the Hauraki Plains district. The work is to be carried out by unemployed labour recruited from Thames, and the wage to be paid will be £4 weekly. Single men will mostly be engaged on the work.

“ The sooner New Zealand ceases to pay the heavy overhead required to keep eighty members of Parliament and an ever-growing army of civil servants to rule a million and a half people and reverts to the status of a Crown colony the sooner will it really get somewhere,” said a fairmer at a Southland gathering last week.

A Te Awamutu district farmer who takes an interest in such matters relates that the birds are already building their nests, starlings being particularly active. This, he asserts, is a sure sign that the spring-like weather experienced of late will continue, “ and then,” he added, in a vein of prophecy, “ look out for a very dry summer.”

It was mentioned at the Waipa County Council meeting on Monday afternoon that it was proposed to rename the road leading from the Kihi-kihi-Te Awamutu to Park Road. Instead of St. Leger Road East it will in future be known as Golf Links Road. Similarly the piece of road linking Park Road with the Te Awa-inutu-Cambridge main highway will in future be officially known as Montefiore’s Road.

A lady who is a good football fan, like most of us these days, thoroughly enjoyed listening in to the first Rugby football test in Wellington on Saturday. About an hour after the match was over she tuned in to London, and was much surprised to hear he announcer giving the result of the match. He made an error in the figures, however, stating that New Zealand had won by 18 points to 7, instead of 13 to 7.

“ Driving with five persons in a three-seater car is a dangerous prac-

tice,” said Senior-Sergeant G. H. Lambert in Hamilton Police Court on Monday, when Robert George Ferguson, a youth (Mr McMullin), pleaded guilty to charges of negligent driving and driving without a license. The senior-sergeant said defendant picked up some friends, including two girls, at a dance hall, and drove on the wrong side of the road. The car was involved in a collision with a taxi. Defendant was fined £1 on the first count and 10s on the second.

During the meeting of Te Awamutu Domain Board on Monday evening the chairman, Mr G. Spinley, mentioned that a request had been made to him in connection with removing one of the Albert Park dressing sheds to a site more convenient to the hockey playing area. It had been contended that at present, through the grounds having been re-arranged, the dressing sheds were too remote. If, however, players could run miles during a match, surely they could walk to the sheds. He added that provision had been made in the new grandstand for a dressing room for lady players, but presumably the provision had not been availed of.

Mr D. Craven, vice-captain of the South African football team now in New Zealand, spoke to a number of young people on the value of religion in life at the close of the service at St. James’ Presbyterian Church, Newtown, Wellington, last Sunday evening. Mr Craven said he felt strongly that God was in everything that happened, and in all things he wished to feel the Divine guidance. Even on the football field he felt that he could rest in God’s care. Ohce after an injury he was told by a doctor that he could not play again. He felt that he would rather die than give up the game, but then he realised that he could live for religion, which was the greatest thing in life. Within a fortnight, concluded Mr Craven, he was able to play again.

A steady rise in the price of potatoes is taking place in Te Awamutu, as in other parts of the Auckland province. It has been stated that growers in the south are taking advantage of the continued export to South America to demand increased rates, and as there are no other sources of supply merchants in the North Island are compelled to buy. No figures showing the quantities shipped to South America have yet been issued, but it is evident that this new avenue is being exploited to the full. As prices are rising from day to day there is no stable market, but on Monday whites were selling at about £l3 10s a ton, through store, and reds at about £l4 a, ton. The previous highest price was £l9 a ton, which was reached in September of 1935.

The town clerk was instructed at last meeting of the works committee to arrange with the engineer of the Public Works Department to meet the Borough Council’s representatives in Hamilton to discuss matters concerning (1) widening of Robottom’s corner, Puniu Road; (2) a special subsidy for top-dressing Alexandra Street on account .of the whole of the main highways traffic being turned into that street during the construction of the new bridge over the Mangapiko stream on the Ohaupo-Te Awamutu Road; and (3) the widening of Alexandra Street sealing towards the railway crossing. Reporting to the Borough Council on Monday evening, the Mayor, as chairman of the works committee, said he had conferred with Mr Hall-Jones, when the latter had stated that the cost of widening Robottom’s corner was entirely a matter for the Borough Council, as also was the top-dressing of Alexandra Street; and no help could be given in the work of widening the latter street. Mr Spinley added that he was not satisfied with this, and hoped the Department would yet be induced to view the requests more favourably.

The next sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Te Awamutu is fixed for September 15th.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, Cabinet will consider the guaranteed price for dairy producers at a meeting to be held tliis afternoon.

Tenders are to be called immediately by the State Housing Department for the erection of ten single-house units and two two-house units at Taumarunui. Now, what about the prolonged delay in the erection by the State of houses in Te Awamutu ?

The railway authorities at Te Awamutu have received advice that the carriage of bobby calves on the railways is to undergo an improvement. Only J waggons are to be used and it will be compulsory to cover them with tarpaulins for distances of over 50 miles.

A sum of over £3OO was raised by means of a “ popular girl ” competition in aid of Te Kuiti Roman Catholic Church. When the final results were announced at a dance to terminate the competition the voting was as follows: Miss M. O’Dwyer, 10,285; Miss K. Cotter, 8871; Miss G. O’Keeffe, 5307.

The theft of a photo album, a razor and cash 19s 6d, at Papamoa (near Tauranga) on June 22nd, the property of Robert Gilmour, was admitted in the local Court this morning by a young Maori, Haupiri Tipiwai. As he is at present a “guest of the State' for twelve months, his Worship imposed a sentence of one month, to be served concurrently.

The work of ragwort eradication is already in progress in Piako county. A party of men started work on rag-wort-infested land in the Tahuna riding this week, under the direction of a riding foreman. The engineer has made a list of ragwort-infested properties in the county, and will endeavour to have them cleared during the next two months.

Ministerial approval has been received by the Waikato executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association of the agreement the Association had made with Waikato Hospital Board for the free treatment of members in the Board’s hospitals on payment by members of 30s per annum into a special hospital fund. The Board will be paid half rates from the fund.

The annual meeting of the Te Awamutu Girl Guides is to be held on Friday afternoon at the Borough Council Chambers, when it is expected that Mrs G. L. Taylor, of Cambridge, the Commissioner, will be present. Mrs Taylor is also expected to be present at the enrolling ceremonial for Guidos at 6 p.m. in the Presbyterian Hall. Tlie president, Mrs Downes, invites all interested in the movement to attend one or both functions.

“ This sort of thing is going to be a curse, if allowed to continue,” said Mr E. J. Phelan, chairman of the No. 1 Licensing Authority, when referring to the case of a farmer who bought a truck and put in a low tender for cream cartage on condition that he received a goods license against the whole-time goods service nian who had pioneered the service and borne the brunt of many years of hard work when the roads were very bad.

At the local Magistrate’s Court this morning, Stanley Victor Millan, of Te Pahu, was charged with operating a motor vehicle on July 3rd without having a license, and also with careless driving by which he damaged an electric telegraph pole on the Te Pahu-Hamilton Road. Millan did not attend, but wrote admitting the charge. Constable Carseldinc, in evidence, detailed the facts. The damage to the pole was assessed at £5 6s. Millan was ordered to pay this amount, and costs, on the first charge.

One of the most enjoyable concerts ever given at the Waikeria Borstal Institute was presented by Mr G. Kingston’s Black and White Dandies on Monday evening, when the company entertained with singing, dancing and playettes. The party comprised Misses H. Hopkinson, M. Lander, A. Burton, A. Barnett, F. Redwood, Messrs L. Dreadon, H. Liddy and A. Dawson. Last week the inmates of the institution were entertained by a lecture on astronomy by Mr A. Bryce, of Hamilton.

A short meeting'of th'e Te Awamutu Domain Board was held on Monday evening after the Borough Council meeting. The chairman (Mr Geo. Spinley) said the annual balance sheet had been deceived from the AuditorGeneral, without any “tag,” as usual. He mentioned also that the Rugby authorities had assured him gate receipts had improved at Albert Park since the grandstand was erected there. Improvements were being made to Victoria Park, several large trees having been cut down and smaljer ones planted in their place—much to the betterment of the Park.

Many important matters relative to the dairy industry will be discussed at the eighteenth annual meeting of the shareholders of the N.Z. Co-opera-tive Dairy Co., which will be held in the State Theatre, Hamilton, on Thursday. Reviews of the past season by the chairman of directors, Mr R. H. McKenzie, and the general manager, Mr C. J. Parlane, will be of particular interest. This morning the anpual meeting of the N.Z. Dairy Board Ward was held, and this will be followed by the annual conference of the committee convenors of the company. In the evening the committeemen’s annual smoke concert will be held.

At a meeting of the Waitomo Electric Power Board several applications for supply were received, of which the following were approved, providing the necessary guarantees were forthcoming: Somerville’s Road; J. L. Cowan, Mangaorongo; HangatikiOtorohanga main highway; and Mrs D. Ormsby, Puketarata Road. Several other applications were held over to enable further inquiries to be made, and it was resolved to write to a block of settlers who had made application, stating that owing to the nature of the country the cost of line construction would be unduly high, and as there was no likelihood of further consumers on the line the necessary guarantees would be excessive. The matter would, however, be placed before the Power Boards’ Conference and an endeavour made to obtain assistance for the settlers concerned.