LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1764, 29 May 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Waipa Post will not be published on Thursday next, King's Birthday. The next annual demonstration of the Auckland provincial fire brigades is to be held at Waihi. The local Bowling €lub intends to close its 1926 season on Thursday - ,xt, with a progressive pairs tournament.

Te Awamutu branch of the R.S.A. is to be represented at the 'forthcoming conference in Wellington by Mr Joe Chadwick, a former president of the Te Awamutu branch.

The Wanganui Education Board decided recently to prosecute parents in cases where children were kept away from school for the purpose of attending competitions.

A record .believed to he without equal in the Dominion is that of Mr Walter E. Dolman, engineer to the Ashbur'ton Fire Brigade, who has completed 50 years' service with that organisation. The United football team to journey to Te Aroha on June 3rd is as follows: Head, McGhie, Rodgers, Bridge, O'Halloran, Parrish. F. Johnson, Maddern, Walsh. Balme (2), Johnson, Shepherd, Bryant and Batty. Emergencies forwards: Wallace and Wenham. Backs: C. Johnson and Hall. The local Cribbage Club tourney last Tuesday night was single-handed play and thirten games were played. Mr T. Hinton topped the score with ten wins, Messrs R. Pellow and G. Reid being equal second with nine, and Messrs M. J Wheatley and J. A. Millen equal third with eight.

During the discussion on noxious weeds at the Farmers' Union Conference at Wanganui last week a member remarked that if the growth of noxious weeds was allowed to spread as it wa ; s doing at present. New Zealand, instead of being God's Own Country, would be the devil's own country.

While discussing the means of punishment by which football teams could, *be penalised for not taking the field punctually to time, at the weekly meeting of the Southland Rugby Union, one member said: "The rules say we can fine them 55." "Yes, but we caVt collect it," was Mr Courtis' reply.

In view of her approaching marriage Miss Betty Civil was the guest of honour last evening at a complimentary social at Mrs K. C. Richie's residence. Many of Miss Civil's girl friends attended and, by all accounts, a happy evening Was spent. The bride-to-be Avas the recipient of unanimous good wishes and quite a. host of dainty articles as wedding gifts. Pickers are gathering Cape gooseberries at the rate of a ton a day at Mr Petty's gardens, Feilding. From one bunch 261 b. of fruit was picked, and as Mr Petty has two acres under crop his total yield will be verv large. These Feilding berries are being distributed over a district extending from Auckland to Ashburton.

During the course of a Farmers' Union pmoke concert, Mr W. A. Veitch. M.P., in commenting on a previous speaker's remarks about an occasion when a/Parliamentarian burst into song in tire House, said he often wished that some of the speakers he had to listen to would burst forth into song.

At a public meeting held at Morrinsville it was decided to form a Municipal Band. Mr L. Buchan, formerly of Te Aroha, offered to give his services free, and has been appointed bandmaster protein. The instruments and other property connected with the band are to be vested in the Borough Council as trustees.

A good representation of Te Kuiti returned soldiers was present at the Te Awamutu branch's smoke social on Thursday evening, and the visitors were accorded a very hearty welcome, the chairman (Mr Jas. Oliphant) remarking that the two branches had a few months ago held a very happy reunion at Kawhia, and so successful was that innovation that it was proposed to make it an annual fixture.

Arrangements are being made for a popular concert to augment the funds of the local branch of the Plunket Society, and Miss Maud Rirnmer, of Hamilton, ha s undertaken to present the programme, in which leading local and Hamilton artists will appear. Miss Rirnmer informs us that •the Harmonic Four (male voices) wfhich has proved so popular in Hamilton, will be assisting, and she predicts that patrons will have a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. Mr Reg. Cooke, who until a year ago was very frequently a contributor at local social functions, attended the smoke concert of the Te Awamutu R.S A. on Thursday evening, and was accord.ed a. rousing welcome. 'Mr 'Cooke contributed materially to the programme with stories, and songs, his adaptation of popular melodies with the men on active service quite "bringing down the house."

Mr D. J. Lundon, one of the younger members of the Cambridge Bowling Club, was unanimously elected president at the annual meeting on Tuesday evening. The Te Awamutu Power Board yesterday decided to summon four consumers who collectively owe about £9O. The debts have remained unpaid for an inordinate period,. Endeavours are being made by the Waipa Hockey Association to induce an Auckland team to play a match at Te Awamutu on Thursday next (the King's birthday):

The Returned Soldiers' Association annual meeting to have ben held on Thursday evening, was postponed until a later date, but the socia'l smoke-o was very well attended, and a most convivial evening was spent. The Waipa Rugby Union's junior rep. team to play Cambridge junior reps, at Cambridge next Saturday for the Boyce Cup is expected to be announced this evening. Nominations for four vacancies on the directorate of the Te Awamutu Terminating Building Society close'on Tuesday next. Three of those to be elected will hold office for three years, while the fourth will hold office for only one year.

It was stated during the returned soldiers' social on Thursday evening that the local branch of the RjS.A. had increased its membership from 40 odd to considerably over 60, and it was hoped to bring the total to 100 before the end, of the present year. Arrangements are being made for an early commencement with the interclub cribbage tournament for the challenge shield, at present held, by Puahue. The draw ha s had to be delayed as some of the clubs intending to compete have not forwarded their nominations.

Contributors of entertaining items at the returned soldiers' smoke social on Thursday evening last in the Parish HaM included Mr A. F. Walker, songs; Mr Randall, recitations; Orphans' Orchestra, march and selections; Mr G. Osborne, recitations; Mr H. Hey. songs; Mr R. Cooke, stories and songs: Mr C. Over, pianoforte selections; and Mr C. Corboy, songs.

Topical subjects of local and overseas interest are attractively illustrated in this week's N.Z. Sporting and Dramatic Review. The s culling match Mason v. Ceruti (N.SjW.) at Whangarei, is prominen'tly depicted, also the Rugby matches at Eden Park on Saturday last. For the racing inclined are the photographs of the Wanganui and Egmont meetings. Other topics of interest are also displayed. We have previously issued a warning to motorists and motor cyclists regarding speeding through the main streets, and the result has usually been satisfactory, for -a short period at any rate. However, we have again had numerous complaints and from what we have seen ourselves know that such complaints are justified. We can finally issue a warning that a lookout is being kept for offenders, and if the trouble continues an example will be made of some of them.

There is every promise of a large attendance at the function at Pokuru next Wednesday evening, . when the newly-erected Kakepuku Public Hall will te officially opened, with a ball. Last issue we inadvertently referred to the function as a smoke concert, conveying the impression that therefore only menfolk would be present, but we are assured that the ladies will take a prominent part in affairs at Wednesday evening's"'sbciar gathering.

At the Farmers' Union conference in Wanganui instances of land aggregation in the Wairarapa were given by Mr H. Bennett, who said that along one stretch of 50 mileV of road there were only 12 settlers. In another place, where there were • formerly 19 settlers, there were now only six. Mr Bond (Rangiotu) supported a remit which urged, preventive measures, hut Mr R. Farley (Wanganui) opposed it, on the ground that there was already too much land going 'begging. The remit was carried. "Mine is a very dry job," said, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, Minister of Defence, Avhen approached by a Christchurch. Press reporter on the railway station on Saturday night last. "I'm afraid I have very little to tell the newspapers as a rule. Mine is not like the job of the Minister of Health, 'for instance, who can always find something to talk about." Mr Rolleston mentioned that it*, was said that those w>o spoke least had most time to think. "A Wellington newspaper." he said, "comnuented on this saying with the remark that some members of the Cabinet must be very deep thinkers indeed. They included me in that category."

Speaking at the returned soldiers' reunion last Thursday evening, when responding to the toast of "The Empire," Mr 'Stewart Reid, M.P., put in a plea for a better reciprocity of buying within the Empire, and asked: Are we as lbyal in this respect as we should be? He said the Homeland is passing through a period of .travail and there is much unemployment and unrest. If we in the Dominions were as patriotic as we like to imagine we would give preference in our purchasing to British-made good.s, and thus assist in giving employment to our kin in other parts of the - Empire, many of whom had fought in the Great War. Mr Reid's remarks were heartily applauded.

"No one can accuse Mr' F. K. Hunt, i S. M., of excessive severity when he threatens careless and reckless motorists with cancellation of their licenses for a third offence (says the Wellington Post. "The. driver who' offends three times within a Reasonable period has certainly proved himself ■ a menace to other users of the road. In their interests he must be removed. The law reciuires proof of fitness before a driving license is issued, and there is every justification for withdrawing that license when the holder shows that he is unfit. Traffic, especially in the cities, is now too heavy to allow juggernauts to be abroad. Three offences is more than the careful motorist will need, and we are inclined to the view that three may be more than enough to prove the recklessness of some drivers. We do not wish to create a variation of the 'one dog, one bite' precedent in our law: 'One motorist, three accidents,' "

Preparations are being made, under the auspices of the Te Awamutu and Paterangi Jersey 'Clubs, for a special combined sale of Jersey female stock in the Te Awamutu saleyards on Friday, 18th June.

Two popular young residents of the Te Mawhai district, Miss Isabella Gregg (of the mental hospital staff) and Mr Thomas Ferguson, were united in the bonds of matrimony last Thursday evening at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. The Rev. W. Butterworth officiated, the ceremony being a very quiet one. Later in the evening Mr and Mrs Ferguson 'Left by train for the north on their honeymoon. A complimentary social was tendered to Miss Bertha Kurth. a very popular young lady, in the Pukeatua hall last evening, in view of her approaching marriage and consequent departure from the district. The proceedings were most happy throughout, and the bride-to-be was heartily congratulated by her many friends. Dancing was indulged in during the evening, antl proceedings terminated with, cheers and good wishes for Miss Kurth and the brid.egroom-elect.

'Speaking in regard to the benefits of electric energy at the Thames Valley Power Board at Te Axoha on Thursday, the chairman. Mr F H. Claxton, pointed out that in one instance it was quoted that a man who milked 100 cows, with an average return of 3001 b. butterfat, stated that on only one occasion since he had, installed electric energy had his product been graded other than superfine, and in that instance it was not due to the electric, plant. On the other hand, it had often been his experience to suffer the brand of second grade when milking by old-time methods. This, said Mr Claxton, was a great tribute to the great energy they were prosecuting.