LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 112, 21 May 1912, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Talk carnival

The Land and Income-tax Department gives notice that returns of income must be furnished not later than Ist June.

The total number of butter and cheese factories at present registered throughout the Dominion is about 195 and 220 resoectively, exclusive of private dairies.

One hundred and seven men, representing the first contingent of skilled artisans sent out from England to Victoria, found employment within three hours of their arrival in Melbourne.

What the local paper describes as a “ massive seam ” of coal has been discovered in the Ohura County. The seam is 12 to 15 ft. thick, and 14 miles distant by a good summer road from Mangaroa.

Mr W. H. Field, ex-M.P for Otaki, was presented last week with a purse containing 100 sovereigns in recognition of his services to the district during the twelve years he had represented the constituency.

At the present time there are no less than 124 counties, 113 boroughs, 60 town districts, 149 road districts, 41 river districts, 43 harbour boards, 31 education districts, 42 land drainage districts, and 37 hospital districts existing in New Zealand.

A meeting of the committee in

connection with the Te Awamutu Philharmonic Society was held in the V AIPA POST office on Saturday evening, when arrangements for the forthcoming plain, fancy, and masquerade dance were further considered. Numerous replies accepting the committee’s invitations were received.

j A donation from Mr W. A. Fenj ton was also handed in. The ] programmes were drawn up, and ] Messrs J. H. Ansell, R. G. | Blennerhassett. G. Galloway, ! and H. Lenehan were appointed j Ms.C. Other preliminaries were | considered, and arrangements are now well in hand, and a most successful dance is assured. The ladies’ committee will meet this afternoon.

By advertisement to-day'chess players are notified that a meeting to form a club will be held in the Cosmopolitan club room on Saturday evening next.

It is generally understood that in the event of Mr Wm. Jennings not contesting Taumarunui seat at the next general election, Mr A. Scholes (chairman of the Waitemata County Council) v/ill be a candidate in the Government interest.

At the meeting of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce it was reported that twenty-eight replies had been received from various local bodies in support of the Palmerston Chamber’s resolution commending the attitude of the Minister of Defence in reference to militaiy training. One noncommittal reply had been received and one negative reply. — Standard.

A branch of the Church of England Young Men’s S ;ciety has been formed atTe Awamutu, and is receiving very general support. Its meetings are held twice a month in St. John’s Church. When more suitable accommodation is available the intention is to extend the society somewhat so as to become more of a Young Men’s Club.

While speaking at the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, Mr E. Basil Jones said that in 1909-10 the Friinley Canning Company had employed 60 women and girls in the busy season, in 1910-II the number had been about 80, whilst this season only 45 had been obtainable. He added that unless more labour were obtainable next season the Frimley works would have to close down.

The following alterations are announced in connection with the Te Awamutu telephone exchange : —New subscribers : G. M. A. Ahier, private residence, 46 ; R. J. Atcheson, private residence, 45; House, Daking, and Sindel, Ltd., 44; W. Jeffery, chemist, 17; R. J. Ross and Co., storekeepers, 16. Deleted from list: Goodfellow, Ltd., 16; A. Gifford, 17; W. North, is.

At a meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce held last week, Mr J. A. Young, M.P., brought forward the question of the draining of the Monavale or Roto-o-Rangi swamp. It was pointed out that the opening up of this land would be of the greatest benefit to Waikato, and it was unanimously decided that the Chamber would do all in its power to help the matter forward.

The Post and Telegraph Department is now issuing a new form of stamp booklet containing eighteen Id stamps and stamps for 2s. The booklet is done up in a neat blue cover small enough to be carried in a vest pocket, and, instead of the usual waxed paper, has a sheet of advertisements between each row of stamps. No extra charge is to be made for the new booklet, the full value of 2s being supplied in stamps, it is therefore expected there will be a great demand for this serviceable little article.

At the Waikere Prison Reformatory, in the Tokanui Block, about six miles from Te Awamutu, the'first building containing 20 prison cells has been erected. The foundation-stone for the main buildings was laid by Sir John Findlay some months ago, and it is expected that a definite building scheme will be undertaken at an early date. The contractors for the Tokanui Mental Hospital (Messrs Donald McLean and Co.) have the work of erecting tbe new mental hospital buildings well in hand. At present over 60 men are employed in this latter work.

A private letter received from Miss S. L. Mandeno, of Hairini, dated Hth April, and written aboard the R.M.S. Otway in the Red Sea, reports all well, and describes the trip as delightful in every sense. Miss Mandeno says: “We are travelling .under the most delightful conditions ; never once has the boat been unsteady; the attention of the staff is all one could wish. Entertainments of one kind and another are always going on. We have 1200 souls on board. Sunday is kept a real Sunday, and the music from a choir chosen from the 120 stewards aboard .is something to be remembered. The timing of the arrival and departure at and from the different ports of call is a marvel of exactness, so that definite arrangements can be made and full advantage taken of opportunities to go ashore. Our visit to Colombo was a never-to-be-forgotten one ; it is a most enchanting spot, and we had time to visit Kandy, the most lovely place one could imagine. We have crammed so much into the time that it seems months since we left Te Awamutu. We reach London in a fortnight. All is well with us.”