LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4234, 22 January 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A district farmer, discussing storm hazards, stated that during the height of the storm a week ago branches broken off trees were carried fully 300 yards; and another case was cited of a sheet of corrugated iron from a hay-stack being blown nearly half a mile away.

The Railway Department announces another week-end train excursion to the Centennial Exhibition. The train leaves Te Awamutu at 9.12 p.m. on Friday next, and leaves Wellington on the return journey at 2.45 p.m. on Sunday.

The whole of the Auckland province appears to have shared in the heavy rain during last week-end, and though some districts will benefit greatly, it is reported that other places received far more than was needed, with consequent damage and inconvenience.

Mr A. H. Storey’s gelding Mintlaw, trained at Auckland, recorded a surprise win in the Goldfields Cup at the Thames Jockey Club’s meeting at Parawai on Saturday, and returned his supporters on the win totalisator a very substantial dividend. Mr E. J. Murtagh’s Corato ran third to Lornacre and Trilliarch in the Flying Handicap.

Recently a paragraph appeared stating that one Leslie Mathers, of Te Awamutu, had been fined in Hamilton for a breach of the transport regulations, in that he had no warrant of fitness for his car. Many people assumed that this referred to Mr L. J. Mather, of Te Awamutu, but he assures us the assumption was not correct.

Although the No. 4 area’s quota for the Third Echelon has not been determined, the entire South Auckland disttrict, which embraces portions of the No.l area, No. 2 area and the No. 4 area, has ben asked to provide 570 recruits under the national recruiting campaign scheme, which has been undertaken by the Patriotic Committees at the express request of Cabinet. In the Waikato district the campaign will commence at an early date and arrangements are already well in hand.

The old, old story of damage to electric lines by overhanging treebranches was again referred to at Friday’s meeting of Te Awamutu Electric Power Board. Colonel Matson, a new member, was seeking information as to the Board’s policy, and when that was supplied members pointed out that most of the settlers had invariably helped the Board to give reliable service, bpt one or two took up the attitude of “ spare that tree.” and did not relax until supply to their own> farms was either interrupted or imperilled.

At to-day’s meeting of the Waipa County Council Cr Hall moved that the engineer (Mt W. G. Macky) be authorised to apply for the special grant from the Public Works Department for improvement to certain dangerous corners. The Council’s cost would be £75 for Te Mawhai main road and £l5O for the Hairini-Puahue main road. The engineer said it was proposed to do the work with the county plant and staff. It was agreed that the Council’s general fund and the two ridings (Kakepuku and Rangiaohia) supplement the Public Works Department’s grantjo at least an equal amount.

Although no definite figures are available, it is estimated that close on 80,000 store lambs have been sold at Waikato saleyards during the last fortnight. Large entries of store lambs have been a feature of recent sales, and despite the large numbers offering, highly satisfactory clearances have been reported. Prices however, have been lower than expected. Those associated with the trade have been at a loss to explain the comparatively poor values frequently realised, as it was considered that with reasonably good prices assured for finished stock the demand would be very animated compared with past years, when the future of markets was rather uncertain.

It was stated at Friday’s meeting of the: Te Awamutu Electric Power Board that a district farmer had recently interfered with power supply on or near his farm, and that he had thus made himself liable to a very heavy penalty for such interference. Actually the government regulations strictly require that nobody but an authorised person should effect repairs or alterations to existing lines. In certain parts of the borough attention is needed to water supply pipe services where, they cross footpaths on to private property. In Herbert Street a length of piping crosses the full width of clay footpath above ground. In other places almost similar conditions exist.

The large assemblage of local and visiting bowlers at Victoria Park last Saturday afternoon accorded a mark of sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr John T. North, by standing in silence for a few minutes before play commenced. The Te Awamutu Bowling Club president, Mr A. E. Patterson, referred to the high esteem "in which Mr North was held in the bowling world, his long association with the local club, his presidency of the South Auckland Bowling Centre and his representation of the local club on the Centre executive. Mr Patterson added that there was no more popular man in bowling circles in South Auckland than their esteemed friend, and thus everybody felt his demise as a personal loss.

Quite the largest individual money contribution to the task of winning the present war, so far as New Zealand is. concerned, is that of the well known Hawke’s Bay runholder and sportsman, Mr T. H. Lowry, who has forwarded a cheque for £lO,OOO to advance the work of the Young Men’s Christian Association. Mr Lowry has stipulated that the money must be used for the establishment and maintenance of a Y.M.C.A. hut for the welfare of the New Zealand fighting forces overseas. The hut is to be established at the base camp, wherever, that might be, and will be maintained during the whole period of the war. During the last war Mr Lowry and his family donated the hut which was at the base camp at Estaples. It was known to thousands of New Zealand soldiers.

Accounts totalling £9300 3s 3d were presented and passed for payment-at to-day’s meeting of Waipa County Council.

Te Awamutu Tennis Club’s dance at the Town Hall last Saturday evening was well attended, patrons including visitors from several of tie neighbouring districts, and the dance proved a distinct success in every respect.

A desire was expressed by Cr W. McGee at to-day’s meeting of WJaipa County Council for metalling the old Parawera School Road, and it was decided to endeavour to get a grant from, the Public 'Works Department to assist in the work being done, if possible before the winter period.

The Waipa County Council to-day accepted a recommendation from its engineer to ask the county solicitor to take action under section 110 of the Public Works Act to have the registration of the Te Rore Landing Road reserve completed.

Mention was made at last Friday’s meeting of Te Awamutu Electric Power Board to the damage caused to wires during the recent storm by overhanging branches of trees, and the need of attention thereto was emphasised. In many parts of the district supply to dozens of farms was interrupted

The eradication of ragwort on native and abandoned lands, as well as lands occupied by indigent owners, is being undertaken by both the Wanganui and Waitorara county councils. The workmen are engaged and paid by the counties, and the Department of Agriculture refunds 40 per cent oi the wages in addition to paying the cost of chemical and the'transport of the men to work.

Hawke’s Bay advices state that with a thick string tightly bound about its body, a prize ram owned by Mr C. L. Crooks, of Waipukurau, was found in a bad way in a paddock on the Takapau Road. The fact that it would have taken two strong men to throw the ram before winding the string round its body indicates that the action was not that of children. The ram was to have been exhibited at the Waipukurau show.

It was evident during discussion at Friday’s meeting of Te Awamutu Electric Power Board -that it was about time prosecution, or other drastic action, was taken against people who interfere with electric lines without authority. In one case the owner of a farm: illegally altered a switch, resulting in another man receiving a severe electric shock when he was engaged in work on the farm. So severe was the shock that the man had to be forcibly freed from the implement he was using. It was said that the switch had been damaged earlier, so that faulty gear contributed to the accident.