LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1416, 16 October 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The meeting called for the purpose of considering the formation fof a Kihikihi Rabbit Board was inadvertently advertised for Thursday. Actually the meeting is convened for Friday. There are indications of another boom period from the statistics of the six months' revenue made available by the Minister of Customs. The revenue .figures show a big increase in the main articles of import, with a remarkible growth in the volume of motor cars coming into the TViminion. It is a rare occurrence in a tender for any job, least of all one that ran into nearly 2000, to see the price cut to a fraction ,of a penny, but at the last Patea County meeting (says the Press) one tenderer made his figures run out to £1526 18s s,sd, fearing, perhaps, that another might put in one to beat him by three farthings. One councillor was of opinion that the tenderer must be a Scotsman. •An interesting record is held by 'a Taranaki farmer (says the Daily News). Mr George Keighley. of Matapu, has in his possession the actual factory book recording details of milk supplied by him for his father to the Te Awamutu Cheese and Bacon Company in the spring of 1882, over forty years ago. This is surely a record for a man still actively engaged in farming. Mr Keighley drove eight miles each morning to the factory from the farm his parents were then occupying.

During the little inaugural ceremony at the new Waipa county offices yesterday afternoon the county chairman took the opportunity to thank the Mayor and Borough Council for the consideration shown the county executive in conection with the housing of the county clerical and engineering staff in the Town Hall buildings for many years past. Mr Reid added that the County Council had been very generously treated in regard to rental, while the happy relationships that had existed between the two staffs was unique, in that it served to cement the two local bodies together in amity and goodwill. Replying, the Mayor said that he appreciated the kindly remarks, and would convey them to his councillors. The Borough Council, added Mr Armstrong smilingly, had an object in view when it treated the county so well in respect to rental, for it realised that having the county headquarters here was an asset to the town. However, he also could bear testimony to the pleasant associations between both staffs.

There is an improved tone in the pig market locally, and the good prices now offered by the buyers ,of baconers and porkers has had a good effect, for prices under the hammer have shown a sharp rise. At a meeting of the KahuweVa Rabbit Board last Saturday afternoon, Mr F. Hockly presiding, it was decided to employ a rabbiter and purchase a supply ,of poison, so that the extermination of the pest can be proceeded with without delay. The poll on the Dairy Produce Export Control Bill closes at noon tomorrow, and all voting papers arriving at the returning officer's office at "Wellington after that hour will 'be invalid. No definite statement appears to have been made as to when the poll will be declared. In the Rugby football match at Hamilton on Saturday for the Binnie Cup City beat Waitoa by 22 to nil. Rev. H. White (Te Awamutu) controlled the game. Next Saturday Pirongia will meet City at Hamilton in the last game of the season for the Cup. When the question of pole erection plant was mentioned at the last meeting of the Tararua Power Board Mr T. Hodgins referred to the record reported to have been established by the Manawatu Board's employees. The engineer replied that the particular plant in operation by the Manawatu Board cost over £3OOO. A charge of failing to keep proper books, preferred against the bankrupt. John O. Kersey, formerly in business in Te Awamutu and Matamata as a motor garage proprietor, resulted in him being sentenced at Hamilton last Friday to two months' imprisonment. Several local bowlers journeyed to other centres last Saturday to assist at the opening of clubs' seasons. Among the trippers were .Messrs P. W. Peate and A. S. Wallace, who journeyed to Whitiora" (Hamilton); Messrs McCarroll, Andrew and Jourdain, who went to Te Kuiti; and Messrs Weatherell, McMillan, Wood, Ross, and Metcalf, who visited Cambridge. All report very pleasant experiences.

We are asked to point out in connection with the Boy Scouts sports in the Albert Park on Monday next (Labour Day) that the programme of events is primarily fort: ompetition by Boy Scouts, but that some of the events will be open to all-comers. The sports are being promoted to raise much needed funds for the organisation. With 6311 bs of butter fat to her record at the 'last semi official testing date, and with 30 days to go, Pretty Flirt, one of Mr W. H. Miers' herd at Rukuhia, gives every promise of putting up a New Zealand record for Jerseys. The performance of this cow is a tribute to the breed, and moreover is an evidence of what can be done on the once disposed land of Waikato. Mr F. J. B. Rybum and other Jersey breeders in this district have cows under test whose productive qualities place them high on the official test sheets. It is confidently predicted that within the next week or two Mr Miers' Pretty Flirt will have established a new Jersey record for the Dominion.

The New Zealand Go-operative Dairy Company has fixed its September advance price for butter and cheese at Id per lb less than last month, i.e., Is 4§cl for superfine direct delivery of butter-fat for butter making, and Is 6d per lb for superfine where milk grading is undertaken at the cheese factories. Casein suppliers receive 2d per lb butter fat over the butter price, and skinr milk suppliers Id. In an interview yesterday Mr Sinclair, acting manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, stated that the market certainly looked firm at the moment, but the shipping position was far from satisfactory, and in the opinion ,of Mr Wright (the London representative) a considerable drop in prices of butter and cheese would inevitably take place after Christmas. The chairman (Cr Spinley) of the works committee reported to last evening's meeting of the Borough Council that his committee recommended that a sewer connection be made from the main sewer just beyond the Victoria Park main entrance in Bank St. to a place where a ladies' convenience to a place in the park near tine ga'es, where a ladies' convenience will be erected. The sewer would also be taken to a point beside the bowlers' pavilion, where a men's convenience will be erected. Then the sewer would be continued to serve the croquet and tennis pavilions. The whole cost of the sewer would be £172, and of this sum the three clubs —bowling, tennis, and croquet—would find £72. The clubs would also have to install patents in the pavilions. The cost stated did not include building of public conveniences. No finality could be reached, as each club would have to discuss the matter and provide ways and means. The plan he had outlined was considered the most efficient for sewering Victoria Park.

A young man named Sewell was before the Magistrate's Court at Hamilton last Friday on charges of obtaining money by false pretences. He was convicted and sentenced to two years' reformative detention. Sewell had been operating of late in Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, where he had the effrontery to sell art union tickets (with considerable success, it is said) on behalf of a local religious institution and for an art union in Australia. The respective, art unions closed some three years ago, accused explaining that he found the books of tickets in a rubbish heap, and he sold them as he was penniless, adding that he intended to refund the money later on. The magistrate was unconvinced of Sewell's good intentions, and imposed a sentence of two years' detention. People may wonder how it was that purchasers did not discern that the art union was obviously old, but we are informed that the tickets bore no date for the actual drawing. Sewell had "observed this little point, and proceeded "to make hay while the sun shone." Constable Doyle was too smart for him, though, and issued a warrant for his arrest on hearing of the incidents.

The three auctioneering firms held a combined bull sale in the local municipal saleyards yesterday, when there was a good attendance ,of buyers. The best quality bulls were in demand, but it was noticeable that inferior quality sorts were not wanted. Top price for Jerseys was 30 guineas, for Shorthorns 19| guineas, and for Friesians 15 guineas. Quite a good proportion of the offering was quitted.

Next Friday afternoon and evening all roads will lead to Ohaupo, judging from a note to hand this morning from a conespondent in that township. He writes: "At least three members of dozens of members of local bodies, scores of parents of deceased soldiers, and hundreds of other folk, will be present for the opening of Ohaupo's Memorial Tpwn Hall. We are going to have a red letter day all right, so use your best influence with the weather man to ensure a fine day. Ohaupo is going to keep its name on the map after all." It is with regret we have to record the death of another old identity of this district in the person of Mrs J.. M. Ingham, which took place yesterday at a private hospital in Hamilton. The deceased lady, who was 77 years of age, had been a great sufferer for years, but was always so bright and took a keen interest in church work. The late Mrs Ingham came to New Zealand with her husband about 40 years ago, and took up farming pursuits in the Te Aroha district and afterwards Hiving at Ngaruawahia, Tauwhare, and Hiairini, finally settling in Te Awamutu about 14 years ago. She is survived by her husband and the following family: Mrs Ibberson i(Pukeatua), Mrs Moltzen (Auckland), Miss J. Ingham (Te Awamutu), J. Ingham (Motumaoho), H. Ingham (Mangaoronga), W. and J. Ingham (Te Awamutu). The funeral leaves the Methodist Church this afternoon for the Te Awamutu cemetery.