LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 108, 7 May 1912, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Talk carnival. At a meeting of the Te Awamutu Hockey Club, held last night, Mr L. North was elected secretary.

A meeting is advertised to take place at Hairini on Wednesday, 15th inst., when Mr Wm. Goodfellow, of the Waikato Co-opera-tive Dairy Co., will address the meeting on dairy business generally.

By advertisement to-day Messrs Lawson and Swain notify that they have been favoured with instructions from Mrs L. M. Raikes to sell. 20 residential sections, about five of which range from 5 to 8 acres, the balance being one quarter acre in area.

Mr H. D. Bedford, who opposed the Hon. J. A. Millar for Dunedin West, and gave him a “ great run,” says now that he considers the present Government to be a very good one. “If I were standing for Parliament again,” added Mr Bedford, “I would support the present Government.”

The Waipa County Council invites tenders for carting gravel.

The first practice of the Te Awamutu Minstrel, Concert, and Comedy Club will be held in the Town Hall, on Friday evening. It is the intention of this club to hold-concerts from time to time, the funds to be devoted to some worthy institution. v

The removal of the old telegraph poles this morning marks the completion of the shifting of the telegraph lines in Alexandra Street. It is hoped that the Town Board will have the kerbing removed without delay, and so complete the widening of the street.

Owing to several requests having been made it has been decided to postpone the meeting convened for the purpose of devising a scheme for the permanent maintenance of St. John’s cemetery until B'p.rn. on Wednesday evening, instead of 3 p.m., as formerly announced.

A commonsense remark : “ Were 1 Prime of Minister New Zealand,” said Mr George Elliot, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, “I would make every other question subservient .to the opening up of Maori and other, undeveloped land.” He made no difference between undeveloped land held by the Maoris, Europeans or Government.

For every pound that the Valuer can see has been spent on the land, the settler has probably spent another pound that can’t be seen,” said Mr J. Georgetti, of the Wellington Land Board, at a social at Wellington recently. He went on to explain that the valuer would probably allow to 30s-an acre for logging, stumping, and burning, and 15s for grassing, and he would not think of the insurance of the men, the packing of the grass-seed, and the other expenses and.labour before there was a sole of grass. Five or ten pounds an acre might be spent on the homestead paddocks, with nothing to show for it.

A private telegram received as we go to press advises us of the death,'which occurred this morning of Mrs G. Warburton, of Mount Eden. The deceased lady was in her 82nd year, and was one of the’ very early settlers of Auckland, having resided there for the past 46 years. She leaves a grown-up family most of whom reside in the Auckland province. Mr A. G. Warburton, of this town is a grandson. Mrs Warburton was predeceased by her late husband eight years ago. . The latter was a well-known figure in the early days of Auckland, and took considerable interest in public affairs, and acted on many public bodies.

Matters in connection with the Parliamentary library (says -the Auckland Star) have,reached the proportions of a public scandal. The staff,-which costs the consolidated revenue £2242 per year, administers the expenditure of a little more than £6OO per year, in books for the use of 130 members of the'Legislature. The administrative expenditure is so remarkable that anyone acquainted with the principles of library economy would be staggered by itwiere he not aware that when members of Parliament vacate their spacious rooms and luxurious lounges their places are taken by the elite of Wellington, who, fortified by recess privileges granted by members ’of. Parliamenjt, flock in.and have the right to borrow two books atone time free for home reading. ' '

In,the course of an address at the opening of the Porirua post office, Hon. IT. G. Ell, PostmasterGeneral, said : —“ While the present low rate of per word scarcely enables the telegraph division to do more.than pay its way,' attention is being given to the introduction of special telegraph instruments for use on congested lines. These instruments not only increase the speed of the telegraph operators, but turn out the message in Roman type at the receiving end. I hope before long to have several of these instruments in use. The use of typewriters for telegraphists receiving telegrams in the ordinary way is being rapidly extended. A large number of machines have been issued in the last year or two, and I propose to vigorously' carry out this policy.”

"W e are informed that Mr J. A. Young, M.P., together with representatives from the Monovale Settlers’ Association, is making a visit of inspection of the Roto-o-Rangi swamp lands. The object in view is to formulate a scheme for the drainage of the affected area.' It will be remembered that the settlers brought this matter under the notice of the Prime Minister on the occasion of his recent visit to Hamilton, who .favoured the proposals, and asked that a definite scheme be submitted to the Government. AIT that area of valuable land adjoining Rangiaohia and on to Cambridge will be made available for settlement if the proposals are carried into effect. During his visit to Cambridge and district Mr Young will also confer with the residents on other matters of public interest, included in which is the matter of a better train service between Cainbridge and the main line.

The Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce is taking steps to see that its district is well abvertised at the forthcoming Auckland Exhibition. This item may be of interest to the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce.

By advertisement Mr R. E. Partridge, district representative of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, announces that he will be pleased to interview residents and explain the principals of insurance. Mr Partridge’s appointment to this- district is the result of the requests of several local policy-holders.

In view of the far-reaching effect of the Local Government Bill, it has been decided by the Minister for Hospitals (thb Hon. G. W. Russell), that in addition to several copies already sent to the chairman of local bodies, a full supply will be forwarded to all members of local bodies.throughout the Dominion in order that they may familiarise themselves with the proposals. These should be in the hands of local authorities in a week’s time.