LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14741, 22 August 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Gazette extraordinary summonses Parliament for 2.30 p.m. on September 22.

An Auckland message states that the Dorset has arrived from Liverpool with 150 immigrants aboard.

Several small wash-outs along the Coast Road have occurred during the last few days, but the road, although somewhat pot-holed, is open to . traffic.

It is said that a number of farms sold in the Wairarapa during the pex'iod of high prices, are now back in the hands of their original owners. "Another old landmark of former days is about .to disappear. The old brewery building in Mackay Street has been purchased for removal-by Mr. J. Pratt, the price being stated at £530. ""

. The New Zealand cross-country championship contested at Hutt Park on Saturday, resulted in a win for Wellington, with' Otago second and Canterbury third. A Carterton nurseryman sent to Belgium for glass required in a largo greenhouse. The duty and freight charges exceeded by £2 the amount paid for the glass. The work of repairing the Mata Bridge which was recently damaged, has been completed by the Thames County Council. A new boom has been fixed in position.

In future, Cadet companies are to be organised into battalions, and, when possible, will consist of four •companies. An endeavour is to be made -to amalgamate a number of small in country districts. The flower and produce stall recently held by the Thames Branch of the Women's National Reserve was a distinct success, the proceeds amounting to £23. In addition to the two seats seats already donated, the branch has promised an. additional two for the Cemetery Road.

A most enjoyable, evening was tendered the visiting Waihi hockey teams on Saturday evening- in the Masonic Hall by the members of the local clubs, and dancing was kept up until a late hour. The visitors spoke in eulogistic terms of the progress made in hockey since their last visit, and they extended a hearty invitation to the Thames teams to visit Waihi.

A harrow escape from a serious accident on the Coast Road yesterday afternoon, was experienced by a party of motorists. On nearihg Waiomo, at a narrow part of the road, the steering wheel refused to act,, and the car proceeded for some distance without control. The brakes were quickly applied, aind the car brought; rfto a standstill, when it was found,.that the steering rod had become detached.

Some of the Borough employees were yesterday engaged in effecting repairs to a leaky tap on the water main along Campbell Street. An attempt was recently made td turn this tap with the result that the thread gave way, thus causing a leakage. A new spindle wag, put in and the tap is now in working order. ■'■-••

Several of the 26ft poles, the property of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, which have been for some time lying at Kopu are to be immediately despatched, to Morrinsville for the reticulation of that town.

A Masterton telegram states that Ivy "Cooper, licensee of the Gladstone Hotel was fined £25 for supplying a Maori with liquor for .consumption off the premises.

Mr- Thompson, orchard inspector, when in Thames, last week, said that while the elimination of hawthorn would not entirely stop fireblighfc, it would minimise its effects to such an extent that orchardists could cope with the menace and keep it in check. As far aa scientific' research had gone it ■had been fotind that, only apples, pears, and hawthorn were subject to fireblight. . There was, - however, reason to, believe that rose s were subjeefc to it, but so far they had not been affected in New Zealand.

A Napier taxi-driver had a 'serious accident under simple but unusual conditions. He was driving a car along a road in a high wind which suddenly lifted a rug that was hung over the rail at the back" of the front seat, and a coat that was laid across the back of the seat. These settled' over the driver and before he could clear his head his car Bad crashed into a telegraph post. About £IOO worth of damage was done to the machine, the front near wheel being torn off, the body badly damaged, and the chassis bent. The driver escaped without serious injury.

A belated protester appeared at the Assessment Court just as Marton Borough objections were concluded. He apologised for his late arrival, stating it was due to, a misunderstanding. The Court graciously gave him permission to state his case, and, having solemnly taken the oath, he was asked what he thought was a fair unimproved valuation on his property. "Oh," he airily exclaimed, ''about'£4o." "Well," said the President, "that is exactly what your section is valued at!" And, realising that he had again misunderstood, the objector left the Court, somewhat dejected.

The construction of the new structure at Kiri Kiri to take the place of the old Comers and Kopata bridges, is to he undertaken hy the Thames County Council, and when completed will do away with the two bridges.

Three inebriates who had heen arrested hy the police on Saturday were charged hefore Mr. J. Finlay J.P. this morning. Tho trio who did appear, forfeited their hail. They were convicted. Two were fined £1 and one man was fined 10s.

Considerable additions are heing made to the Thames South School, Parawai, and the carpenters are now engaged on the work. The 'additions include two rooms, a headmaster's and a teachers' room, while there will be new entrances to the School.

The recent spell of fine weather experienced in Thames, has had a beneficial effect upon the roads, which are now drying up. The Wharepoa Road is still stated to he in a had condition but the roads on the Plains are said to he in a much hetter condition than the ones on this side of the Waihou.

"St. Paul was wrong when he said that' woman should not speak in church," said the Rev. Wyndham Heathcote at the welcome given to the Rev. E. Rosalind Lee and Miss Hargrove, at the Wellington Unitarian Church. "He might have been more correct < if he had said 'not to-speak so much out of it.'" (Laughter.)