DORMANT LAND MARKET

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1931, Page 8

DORMANT LAND MARKET

INACTIVITY IN SOUTH TARANAKI. GENERAL REDUCTION OF RENTS. South Taranaki was once noted for a semi-floating population of small farmers, who leased various properties in the district for a few years at a time, or bought and sold their farms at fairly frequent intervals. The present depression seems to have ended that. A land agent told a News reporter that there was less activity in the property market than for 20 year® to his knowledge, and probably longer. Occupiers of land prefer to hold on in the hope of a rise in produce prices, rather than sell at the considerably reduced values that would tempt purchasers. Very few sales have been made this season as compared with the’numbers of other years. In the towns, too, very few properties are changing hands; in fact, there is a number of empty houses at Hawera which it is impossible to sell, and for which it is practically impossible to find tenants. In accordance with the general movement towards the reduction of living costs, and influenced by the over-supply of dwellings, rentals are coming down substantially. In almost every case the reduction has been at least ten per cent., and it varies up to 20 per cent. HAWERA BOROUGH FINANCE. PARK CROQUET CLUB REQUEST. The treasurer’s statement to the Hawera Borough Council on Monday showed that all accounts were in credit except the general and cemetery accounts. The balances were:—General, £174 0s 4d; water, £234; cemetery, £2O 15s; hospital, £BB9 7s 7d; special rate (original area), £2905 16s 6d; special rate (added area). £47 Is Id. The Park Croquet Club forwarded, a donation of £lO with a request that the courts be top-dressed and. extended by using th© ground set apart foi - a high school tennis court, but not used. Ur. W. G. Strange explained that there was a good supply of earth near the courts, which would be just what was required. He supported the use of the high school court as part of the croquet grounds. It was decided to thank the club for its offer, top-dress the lawns and prepare the disused tennis court for croquet, the High School Board to be given an opportunity to object to the last item. On the recommendation of the engineer it was decided not to continue a project to provide a swimming pool at the Waihi beach. SOUTH TARANAKI WINTER SHOW. NEW ZEALAND. WOOL CAMPAIGN. The Hawera winter show, which is the home of the Empire shopping movement, is always creating a. fresh page for the history of this movement. This year, in conjunction with the women’s branch of the Farmers’ Union, arrangements have been made for a special display of manufactures made from New Zealand wool. Several New Zealand woollen mills are sending exhibits and a large collection of home-made New Zealand wooll will be displayed. This is an effort worthy of the best support and recognition by the public. The arrangement of this exhibit is in tlie capable hands of Mr. A. Bone, who has a worldwide reputation as a window dresser. FIRE AT MOUMAHAKI SCHOOL RESIDENCE DESTROYED. Fire destroyed the old school residence of the Moumahaki jschool on Saturday night at about 8.30. Numbers of eni'ghbours were brought t© the scene of the fire but found they were too late to do anything, as the roof was about to collapse. , The house was about four rooms and had been occupied by the school teachei until recently. At the time of the fire it was occupied by Mr. Wishnoski and his wife, and family. ■ The cause of the fire is a mystery as on Friday Mr. Wishnoski left Waverley to meet his wife, ■who had been on a holiday near Feilding, and on the w r ay home was taken seriously ill and could not proceed. MEREMERE NOTES. EUCHRE AND DANCE. A euchre party and dance in aid »f repairs to the Meremere monument , was held on Friday evening, the winners of th© prize being Miss D. Radford and Mr. H .Davison. -The consolation prizes went to Mrs, 11. Davison and Mr. W. Barclay. Mr. W. Murray kindly supplied the music for the dancing. As the cows are nearly all dry the factory ceased work on Sunday. Much sympathy is felt in the district for Mrs. G. Williams and Mr. M. Reeve in the loss of their father. GENERAL ITEMS. Prizewinners at the Hawera Bowling Club’s last card tourney were Mr. M. Campbell first and Mr. W. T. Rudge consolation. The third round in play by members of the Hawera Ladies’ Golf Club for the ■Tonks Rose Bowl produced one exceptionally close encounter. Miss W. Huggins and Mrs. Thomson halved the first match and were again all square in a play-off.’ At the third attempt Mrs. Thomson was successful. The fortnightly meeting of the Hawera Lodge of Druids was held on Monday night, A.D. Bro. S. N. Reece presiding. Considering the inclement weather, there was a fair' attendance. One new member was initiated. A lengthy discussion took place on certain matters forwarded by the Grand Lodge for the' approval of the lodge, and at the close of the proceedings the members adjourned to the supper room, where refreshments were served and games of cards concluded an enjoyable evening. BUSINESS NOTICES. In the Te Roti hall on Monday, June 29, a tennis ball will be held. A good orchestra will provide the music for oldtime and modern dances. There will be a free bus from the Criterion Garage, Hawera, at 7.40 p.m. A dance in aid of hall funds will be held in the Normanby Hall to-night. Wills’ orchestra will provide the music. There will be novelty dances, a good supper and free buses from Haweia, Manaia, Okaiawa and Elthani. Arrangements for the provision of relief in the form of food supplies for the unemployed of Hawera are advertised. Mrs. Morse will be at the Hawera racecourse to receive further contributions from the people of the district from 1 a.m. to-morrow. South Taranaki people are reminded that to-morrow will be the pound gift day. Clothing gifts would also be most acceptable. In addition to cows and heifers, Newton King Limited will oiler hay ana fodder crops at the Kaponga sale on i'riday.