MANGATIKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1929, Page 6

MANGATIKI NEWS

FARMERS’ UNION DANCE. The dance held by the Mangatoki Farmers’ Union on Tuesday evening was well attended, despite counter-attrac-tions, ami a very enjoyable time was spent. During the evening the president, Mr. W. E. Carter, presented the points prizes won at. the winter euchre tournament. These were awarded to Mrs. Cooper and Mr. A. Schicker. The dance music was played by Sait s orchestra and an excellent supper was provided by the ladies. The proceeds of tlie evening were handed over to the women’s division of the union, Mr. Carter complimenting the ladies on the growth of their movement and congratulating them on their good work. A mild sensation was caused round about midnight when it became known that cars had been stolen from outside, tlie hall, and the various owners anxiously'and hurriedly made their exit to see if their own cars were still there. Mr. Carter’s car was missing, and after communicating with the police motorcycle parties scoured the surrounding roads, but without success. Strong indignation was expressed at the depredations, such actions being very annoying to car-owners, and it was the general opinion that severe punishment should be meted out for this class of offence. This untoward incident put a damper on the enjoyment of the evening. The Mangatoki Dairy Company, which will hold its annual meeting next Wednesday, has had a very successful year. The cheese output of 1675 ton.? shows a small increase on that of last year. In view of the advantages that sellcis have obtained during the past season the pay-out of Is 8.07 d on the company’s consigning policy is very satisfactory. It is not always easy to see whether consigning or selling is going to turn out the better. The company adopted “standardisation” from the time the new regulations were gazetted, and the experiment appears to have been successful. There is, however, to be offset against the advantages the extra labour and cost involved in testing and analysing samples under standardisation. But as the. work becomes more scientifically organised as the result of past experience it may be possible to curtail much of the extra working costs. Although prices are on a lower level than during the previous year, this is considered by some to be partly accounted for by the additional supplies, estimated at 10,000 tons, reaching the British market - . The high tariff in the U.S.A, against foreign dairy produce, is also considered by many to be causing a diversion of produce to a more restricted market, with consequent depreciation in prices. These tendencies are certainly a problem for the dairy industry. ( MILK VENDORS FINED. ANALYSIS SHOWS 10 PER CENT.

4P For selling milk not complying with the regulations made pursuant to the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, two Hawcra milk vendors, Henry Thomas Carpenter and Henry Peter Dornauf, were lined £lO and costs and £2 and costs respectively in the Hawera Court yesterday by Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M. Sergeant Henry conducted, proceedings for the police and Mr. T. A. Kinmont appeared for both defendants, who entered a plea of not guilty. A sample of milk was purchased from each defendant on June 23 by a Health Department inspector and the borough inspector and was divided into three sample bottles and sealed. One sample was retained by the vendor, one by tlie Health Department and one was forwarded to the Government analyst. Subsequently the analyst submitted a icport showing 12 per cent, of added water in Carpenter’s milk and 10 per cent, in Dornauf’s. The case had been adjourned a fortnight previously to allow an independent ■ analysis to be taken of the third portion of each sample. It was explained to the magistrate that the analysis' could not be made owing to the state and age of the milk. . For the defendants Mr. Kinmont contended that the delay of five ■weeks in bringing the charges had been responsible for defendants not being able co have their own samples tested. Under the Act they were entitled to have an independent analysis taken as a check on the Government analysis. Both had sworn that they had not adulterated the I milk. , . , , I “There is no doubt that defendants understood that the samples were taken for analysis/* said the magistrate. *hey had been aware that a prosecution might follow and could have had their samples tested. It had been suggested by counsel that if the milk had been adulterated the water had been added befoie the defendants purchased it. Milk vendors had adequate protection in such a case, for they could obtain a warranty as to the condition of the milk w len supplied to them. He viewed Carpenter’s offence as the more serious one foi he had been convicted before. Dornauf, who purchased his milk from Carpenter, who in turn had bought it from a thud person, had been a vendor for about only two months. POWER BOARD PROJECT. PUBLIC MEETINGS TO BE HELD. Three weeks from to-day the South Taranaki Power Board will take a poll of ratepayers on its proposal to borrow £187,500 for the purpose of buying out the IRiwera County Electric Company, Limited, and extending the present system of electric distribution and reticulation. In order that the people who are to vote on the proposal m a y . e •riven every opportunity of acquiring information about it, the board has decided to hold meetings of ratepayers throughout the district. The first mee - ing of the series will take place at 8 p.in. to-morrow at Auroa, and dates have been fixed next week for meetings a Otakeho, Okaiawa and Kapuni. A number of the members of 10 Power Board will attend the Auroa meeting, and the principal speaker wi be Mr. J. B. Murdoch, the board s chairman. He will explain the policy the board has laid down and discuss the financial prospects of the undertaking. Ratepayers will be invited to ask questions in order that the whole subject may be thoroughly ventilated. Air. Murdoch states that the board hopes ; ratepayers in every part of the distixC I will attend in .large numbers.

DAMAGES CLAIM SUCCEEDS. BREACH OF TERMS OF LEASE. The reserved decision in the case in which Daniel Jarvis Willis and Hallette Thomasine Willis, Greatford, sought to recover from Edward Norman, of Hawera. farmer, the sum of £l7B Ils 4d as damages for breaches of covenant of a farm lease, was given in the Hawera Magistrate’s Court yester-. day by Mr. J. IL Salmon. Plaintiff received judgment for £97 with costs amounting to £l2 12s. It was stated that in 1926 plaintiff leased a farm at Ararata to defendant for a term of three years, and that defendant, in contravention of the terms of the lease, failed to keep in good order and repair fences, gateways and trough approaches, neglected to keep down ragwort and gorse, failed to sow an area of 20 acres, and failed to keep the dwelling house and other buildings in repair. Plaintiffs were represented by Mr. J. Houston, while Mr. P. O’Dea appeared for defendants. REPRESENTATIVE HOCKEY. Hockey enthusiasts in South Taranaki are keenly interested in the first ladies’ representative match of the season, to be played on Saturday at Hawera between the Taranaki and Wanganui elevens. Good form has been shown in the ladies’ matches throughout Taranaki this season, and the representatives, should give a good account of themselves. As a curtain-raiser the final of the South Taranaki ladies’ championship will be played by Rovers (Hawera) and Pihama. GENERAL ITEMS. Mr. W. E. Carter’s motor-car, which was stolen from Mangatoki on Tuesday evening, was discovered yesterday morning in Milmoe Street, Hawera, by Mr. J. Nairn. Shareholders and suppliers of the Normanby Dairy’ Company are to receive substantial payments to-day, as the company will distribute 4 per cent, interest on shares and an additional halfpenny per pound for butter-fat supplied during the past season. This brings the amount so far paid for the seasons supplies to le 9Jd per lb., so that the Normanby Company’s return to its suppliers is one of the highest in the Dominion,

The Hawera Amateur Athletic Club is arranging a plain and fancy dress masquerade ball, to be held in St. Joseph’s Hall on Tuesday evening. Numerous prizes will be given for fancy costumes. Thursday, September 25, is the date selected for a ball in the Matapu hall to help the funds of the Kaponga Band. Preparations are being made for a large gathering.

A “wind-up” ball will be held in the Matapu hall on Wednesday night. Free buses will run from Hawera, Eltham and Kaponga.

If Saturday evening is fine the Hawera Pipe Band, under Pipe Major J. Nairn, will play selections in High Street.

Mr. J. C. Smith has a varied offering of foods for his sale at 1-30 p.m. today 3 at the Central Mart, Hawera. The poultry includes special pens of ducks and fowls, and various lines of furniture will be offered. At 11 a.m. Mr. Smith will sell fittings and stock at Messrs. Lala and Son’s shop, High Street.

A frost fish about five feet/ long was picked up at Kaupokonui beach on Monday. The fish was still alive when found. This is the only recorded instance of a frost fish being discovered this year, but some years they are found* on the shore in great numbers during the frosty vveathei.

A wild boar over 3001 b. in weight was secured by Messrs. Wright and Cate, Hawera, while hunting in the Mere Merc district recently. Tho animal showed fierce resistance and killed one of the dogs and ripped three others before being dispatched by the huntsmen’s knives.

Speaking yesterday on the subject of subsidies from tho Main Highways Board tho chairman of the Waimate West County Council considered that if tho council received tho full amount of money it collected in motor taxes it would require no help from tho Highways Board.

The necessity for trimming certain hedges at road, corners was stressed, by the engineer (Mr. J. A. Hansen) at the Waimate West County Council meeting vesterdav. “There arc also some councillors’ hedges that require trimming,” he added. The chairman (Mr. E. Long): “Rub it in.” • PERSONAL ITEMS. Tributes to the late Mr. J. F. Stevenson were paid by the councillors at the meeting of the Waimate West County Council yesterday. Sympathy with the relatives expressed and the council adjourned for 15 minutes. Mr. and Mrs. L. A, Bone, Hawera, arrived in-London on Tuesday. Both were in good health. OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT. “THE MAN WHO LAUGHS.” An enthralling story of an amazing love, set against a background of rare splendour is “The Man Who Laughs,” which opened last night at the Hawera Opera House. This Universal super-pro-duction, co-starring Mary Philbin and Conrad Veidt, was directed by Paul Leni, Continental screen genius. A love story as beautiful and as sweet as anything ever captured for the enjoyment of audiences has been built with clever hands into this Victor Hugo story, following closely the action of the novel. The story concerns a little blind girl and her love for Gwynplaine, a clown maimed in his youth by a fiendish surgeon who carved a perpetual grin on him. The story has a startling and daring denouement. Miss Philbin has never"appeared more beautiful nor played her role with greater emotional finesse than in “The Man Who Laughs.” Conrad Veidt’s marvellous performance will doubtless place him at the head of character actors, even' though this is but the third American vehicle for this European favourite. “The Man Who Laughs” will be screened at the matinee to-day and again to-night and tomorrow night.