LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4043, 4 May 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The construction of the new Waikeria bridge has been completed and it is now ready to carry traffic. The metalling of the approaches will be completed in a few days and the bridge will then be opened for traffic.

As an outcome of the split in the Citizen’s Committee at Hamilton, Di F. D. Pinfold has withdrawn his nomination for the mayoralty of that borough, leaving the contest to be a straight out fight between Mr H. D. Caro (Citizens) and Mr C. Croall (Labour). Dr Pinfold has also withdrawn his nomination for the Auckland Harbour Board, so that Mr R. T. Reid, the sitting member, has been declared re-elected unopposed.

At the monthly meeting of the Otorohanga County Council yesterday, the following self-explanatory resolution was passed: “Respecting the metalling of part of Waitomo Valley Road, part of Bush Road and Taihaia Cross Roads, in expenditure of the special grants for those purposes provided on the 1938-39 Public Works Estimates it is hereby resolved that th ’ Council will maintain in future to the satisfaction of the local representative of the Public Works Department the roads metalled under these proposals.”

Gradually motorists and pedestrians ''\n Te Awamutu are observing the regulations governing the street crossings, the motorists slowing down and giving the right of way to pedestrians and the latter using the recognised crossings with increasing frequency. It is unfortunately noticeable, however, that the great majority of children almost totally ignore the regulations and cross from one footpath to the other at all sorts of places and mostly in the dangerous “j” manner. Perhaps the matter has only to be mentioned and the local teachers will give some instruction to the children, emphasising the danger to which they expose themselves at present.

An amusing story of the type of criticism a Government had to contend with was told by the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) when he performed the ceremony ?-f laying the foundation stone of the new M.E.D. building at Christchurch. The story was of two farmers who were motoring over a Canterbury road. Crossing a newly-scarified stretch the going was rough, and one farmer remarked that this was the sort of th’ng they had to put up with from the Government. A little later, when -kimming smoothly over a paved surface, the other farmer informed his companion that it was in making roads such as this that the Government was squandering the people’s money!

Following the latest meeting of the Waipa County Council, Cr. G. S. Hall, of Rangiaohia Riding, has arranged to accept Te Awamutu Fire Boards’ offer to make available its fire brigade and equipment in case of fire in the Ohaupo Road area, adjoining the borough at a fee of £5 5s per annum. It will be remembered that when the Ohaupo Road area receded from borough control it had water supply mains already laid, and the Fire Board undertook fire prevention supervision at an annual fee of £lO 10s. Then the fee was reduced to the nominal one of £l, and more recently increased to £5 ss. The residents of that area new have fire protection, water supply and street lighting at practically no additional cost to the general rate.

When he was visiting Kawhia at the week-end, the Minister of Lands and acting-Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. F. Langstone, inspected the small farms _ and native development blocks in that district. During the hearing of deputations, Colonel J Matson, chairman of the Kawhia County. Council, discussed the question of the necessity of the contraction of a new wharf at Kawhia. The Minister referred the chairman to the Public Works Department for the money required, estimated at £7OOO. Mr Matson also mentioned the necessity for certain road works to be put in hand to enable settlers to have access to markets. Sandhills encroach for some miles near Kawhia township and a request was made for money to plant marram grass. Mr Langstone also referred these questions to the Public Works Department.

A decision to ask the Government to set up a committee to investigate the position in regard to the manufacture of cheese was reached at the last meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Board, when members voiced anxiety at the steady decline in the quantity of cheese manufactured and the tendency of cheese producers to change over to butter. The question was brought before the Board by the Bruntwood Dairy Company and the Hukunui Dairy Company. In a letter from the Bru'ntwood Company it was stated that at a meeting of cheese companies called by the South Auckland Dairy Association an emphatic protest had been lodged to the Minister of Marketing regarding the serious position that cheese companies were placed in owing to the restricted hours of work in cheese factories. The letter stated that the Minister’s reply was unsatisfactory in that he put all the responsibility on the Arbitration Court.

Vivid recollections of a business tour of New Zealand will long be retained by Mr J. -W. Hely-Hutchinson, a London director of the Union Bank of Australia, Limited, who, with the Napier manager of the bank, Mr W. P. Newton, who is well known in Te Awamutu, was isolated by floods and slips at a country farmhouse in Hawke’s Bay for five days last week. Mr Hely-Hutchinson and Mr Newton were trapped by floods and slips between the Tangoio Gorge and Devil’s E bow when they were motoring from Napier to Gisborne on Sunday, April 24. Heavy rain was falling and a strong wind blowing, and the travellers, unable to find shelter, were forced to spend the night in their car. Fortunately they had a supply of food with thorn, so that they did not suffer any great inconvenience in that respect. The next day they found the farm ocupied by Mr and Mrs C. A. Sigvertson, at Kaiwaka. Cold and wet, they greatly appreciated the warm hospitality of their host and hostess during the five days they were “marooned” there. Even then the return journey to Napier was only made with considerable; difficulty.

The Cambridge Fire Board decided at its annual meeting to purchase a new fire engine fitted with a special “booster” pump. The cost will be about £BOO.

The advent of colder temperatures has apparently not affected a number of bathers in Hamilton and each morning several of the more hardy are seen making their way with swimming costumes and towels, in the direction of the river. The Lake also continues to receive a certain amount of patronage among bathers.

All fat sheep offered at Frankton stock sales in future are to be eartagged for identification killing purposes and previous to the sale will be inspected by Government stock inspectors. This action has been taken as a result of the agreement between auctioneers and butchers to guarantee to the public supplies of meat absolutely free of facial eczema.

“Since last meeting,” reported the engineer (Mr G. A. Jackson), at the monthly meeting of the Otorohanga County Council held yesterday, “weather conditions have been more favourable for road maintenance. The corrugations that resulted from the excessively dry weather are being dealt with. As usual with the autumn rains pot holes have developed, but pot holes are more easily dealt with than corrug*ations»”

For the first four months of 1938 no fewer than 14 petitions in bankruptcy were filed with the Official Assignee in Hamilton, compared with 17 for the whole of 1937, according to a return furnished by the Official Assignee’s office. During April two petitions were filed, one by a baker and the other by a carpenter, both of Hamilton, compared with one bankruptcy in the same month of 1937 For the first four months of last year there were, six petitions filed.

A collision occurred on the State highway near Lake Road at an early hour this morning when a delivery van being driven towards Hamilton met a car coming from the north, and both vehicles were fairly considerably damaged, though the occupants ol both vehicles escaped injury. The driver of the van was Ron. Sherley, oi Te Awamutu, who had with him two companions, while the car was driven by J. Thornton, of Panetapu, who was accompanied by a young lady.

After a successful season the Milford Track was closed on April 19. The last party left Invercargill on Good Friday to cover the track in five days. This would mean double journeys between Pamplona huts and Milford Sound. During the winter months the steamer at Lake Te Anau will undergo its annual overhaul, and it is proposed to recondition the cabins thoroughly. The new wing has been completed at the Te Anau Hotel. It was furnished in readiness for the Easter traffic and provides for single-room accommodation, which was previously limited.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Otorohanga County Council, the engineer (Mr G. A. Jackson), in the course of his report, stated: “Application is made on behalf of J. H. Onion to have a road closed through Tokanui ID 2B 2 Block in conjunction with Waipa County Council. The road is mostly in Waipa County and is of no interest to Otorohanga County, although a small portion of it adjoining the Puniu River is in Otorohanga County. The law provides that in such cases no steps shall be taken to close a road until the applicant has paid in the estimated cost of the closing. I recommend that the Council agree to the road being closed and disposed of on condition that the provisions of Section 152 of the Public Works Act, 1928, are complied with.” The Council agreeed to adopt the procedure recommended by the engineer.