HAWERA NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1924, Page 2

HAWERA NEWS.

KING EDWARD PARK. PRECAUTIONS AND IMPROVEMENT (From Our Own Reporter.) Hawera, Dee. 16. “This piece of ground spoils the park,” remarked a councillor at. the meeting o.f the Hawera Borough Council last night, when discussing the advisability of allowing the Park Tennis Club to use a portion of the ground set aside for the Bowling Club, should it be required, and lying between the present bowling green and the tennis courts. The area is overgrown with grass and weeds, and is an eyesore near the most used entrance to the park. No definite action was taken by the council. Cr. J. G. Osborne complained of the fairly general practice of some people in riding not only push bicycles, but also motor-cycles on the newly-formed pathway leading from the Camberwell Road entrance to. the park to the cricket grounds, and the council decided to erect notices forbidding cycling on the path. Cr. J. M. Townsend (chairman of the reserves committee) asked for and was given authority to place a gateway leading from Waihi Road into the “Soccer” ground. This, he said would enable vehicles to be brought close up to the pavilion without damaging the grounds.

WAR ON RATS. In view of the recent outbreaks of plague in Los Angeles and South Africa, the New Zealand Department of Health sis urging a continued drastic campaign against rats in New Zealand’. When the department’s circular on the subject was received by the Hawera Borough Council last night, the council decided to procure a fresh supply of poison, advertise it, and supply it free for the eradication of rats. PARKING OF CARS. The New Zealand Automobile Union has approached the Government asking that an Order-in-Council he passed authorising local bodies to allow motor-cars to stand at night without lights in approved places. Last night the South Taranaki Automobile Association sought the support of the Hawera Borough Council to these representations. The Mayor (Mr. L. A. Bone) said there were streets in Hawera that could he well set aside for this purpose. Certain streets were now safe places to 'leave cars without lights, but under the present laws the council could not give permission to leave unlighted cars anywhere. The council agreed to support the Automobile Union in its request to the Government. CATERING FOR SPORT. The progress made by the committee promoting the scheme to provide a pavilion for the use of all sports bodies at King Edward Park was reported*, to last night's meeting of the Hawera Borough Council.

Cr. J. M. Townsend said the reserves committee had done nothing yet. The sports bodies had no intention of spending any money on tlie A. and P. Association’s produce shed as suggested, the oiganiser of the movement believing that there was no security of tenure on the A. an<l P. grounds. They had put the gymnasium idea out of their minds on account of the expense involved, and their chief idea now was to provide dressing sheds. this shed to serve both the park and the A. and P. grounds. The cpuncil decided to meet the sports bodies’ representatives on the grounds as soon as possible and go further into the matter. x BATEA HARBOUR RATES. The Patea Harbour Board rates as they affect the borough of Hawera, were discussed in committee by the Borough Council last, night. Cr. E. Morrissey desired the discussion in open council. There had been a good deal of talk about the rates, ho said, and if the .council went into committee the whole thing would be under cover, ami those who had been discussing the topic would be none the wiser. The Mayor (Mr. L. A. Bone) assured the council that the matters for discussion. as they were divulged, would satisfy the council that they should be taken in committee, and on his motion the council went into committee. On the council resuming it was reported that the finance committee had been appointed to confer with the borough solicitor in respect to the matter of the rates with power to act. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The Hawera Scottish Society have decided to hold a picnic at the Ngaere Gardens on January 21, and to employ a special train for the occasion. The Hawera retailers have already collected £5O towards the cost of decorations for the Christmas season. Greenery, special lighting swung across the main street, and a Father Christmas arid distribution of sweets, etc., form the main items of the programme. The decorations will be carried out by a working bee of retailers . ott Monday next, and the Father Christmas event will take place on Tuesday, Mr. and Miss Whitelaw and Mr. J. Hopkirk, who are leaving Hawera. were farewelled' last night at a function in the Presbyterian Hall. Air. Whitelaw was presented by the Bible Class, choir, managers and elders of the church with a gold c’hai'n and pendant, suitably inscribed. and Miss Whitelaw with a manicure set ‘by the Sunday School teachers. Mr. Hopkirk was presented j with a brush cabinet by the officebearers. At a special meeting of the Borough Council last, night the balance-sheet for the financial year ending- March 31, 1924.. returned by the Auditor-Ge'nefal, was received and settled.