OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1781, 10 July 1926, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

ITEMS FROM KING COUNTRY.

(Own Correspondent.)

The vote for the main highways appearing on the Estimates is more than double that of last year's, so perhaps the asked for subsidy for the Ngutu-nui-Kawhia road may yet become an accomplished fact. It is to be hoped so.

Among other signs of progress here there, is the fact that the Town Board has decided to have the necessary levels taken for a sewerage scheme, and the project is to be discussed' at the next monthly meeting of the Board. The regulation against the parking of cars and other vehicles in the main streets here is to he gazetted, as are also the authorised parking places in Ballance and Tuhoro Streets. It may be mentioned that there were no less than SO motor cars parked in our narrow main thoroughfare to-day (Friday). The Town Board has paid off a debenture of £750 in respect to the Town Hall, and which was not due until February, 1928. This is the second debenture out of three paid off, and the Board is to be congratulated on its financial position, and it may be hoped that this time next year the third debenture will be paid off. The fact that it did not possess a typewriter came as a surprise to the members of the Town Board, when at its monthly meeting the town clerk requested the obtaining of one for the office. As a matter of fact the clerk has been using one of his own ever since he took office, and now it is worn out and unfit. The Boai d having expressed its surprise at the position, instructed the clerk to obtain a machine.

An application was received by the Town Board at its meeting for permission to remove a corrugated iron building, at present in the brick area, to another section in the same area. The application was refused, as such a removal would be against the building regulations.

All town rates that are in arrears are to be the subject of special enquiry and are to be sued for without fear or favour—or delay. Crs Green and Bell are a committee to go into the matter.

The long contemplated planting of Te Kanawa Street with trees is about to be put in hand at once. This street is about the widest in the town, being 11 chains wide, and its ornamentation with trees will be the making of a very pretty avenue in the near future.

The Railway Department having stated that they had to use limestone chips for the top dressing of the road past the station, the town clerk has been insructed to write and call the traffic department's notice to the fact that, Otorohanga shingle was both very much' cheaper and more satisfactory. Our .worthy and respected townsman, Mr Richard Bell, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace, and, he is worthy of the congratulations which are being showered upon him in connection with the honour conferred upon him.

The removal of the late fee letter box on to the south end of the platform is proving quite satisfactory, and though the express still pulls up near the water tank, a s before, the mail agent finds there is plenty of time in which to clear the box and return to the mail van, which is next the engine. Two well known drovers lost a valuable dog each on Thursday night from poisoning. Both men had come into town from the country and left their dogs outside whilst they had their evening meal. On going outside after the meal the dogs were discovered in their last throes, having apparently had a dose of strychnine. Though it was suggested that someone in the town had been indiscriminately placing poison about. I am inclined to think that the dogs picked the poison up whilst on their way to town. The clearing sale of Mr A. C. Smith's grade dairy herd wa s well attended and the stock sold well. I am told the average price realised was 16 guineas, which is considered very satisfactory. The ravages of influenza are likely to affect the football clubs interested in to-day's matches, fo r difficulty is being found in getting full teams. It is quite on the cards that Otorohanga will forfeit their match, which was to have been played against Teroa at Te Kuiti to-day. The Railway Department having written to the Otorohanga Town Board asking that it renovate and paint the existing danger signboards at the railway crossings into the township, saying that the necessary work devolved upon it, the Town Board questioned itihe responsibility in the matter, and as a matter of principle has decided to obtain legal opinion as to the position. I well remember the time when the railway traffic department used to have special gangs of painters out at the proper season to do the work referred to. The fact that certain firms are in the habit of allowing carriers and others to back into their premises to load or unload, and allowing the horses to stand across 'the pathway, was brought under the notice of the Otorohanga Town Board at its meeting on Thursday by a local business j man. He complained that horses were i allowed to obstruct the pavement in the manner referred to., and this meant not only disadvantage to his business but also inconvenience to the general public, who often had to step out on to the muddy roadway in order to progress on their way home or to his place of business. The town clerk was instructed to enquire into the matter.

Our new railway station is certainly a great improvement on the old, and of course give<s satisfaction, but it does not appear to be finished inasmuch as there is no fireplace in the waiting room. It has been painful during the late and present" cold weather to see women and children, as well as men, shivering and looking quite downhearted whilst waiting for the night expresses and other trains. The cost of a slow combustion stove in the centre of the room would not be much, and would be highly appreciated by the travelling public. The general rate on the unimproved valac in the several ridings of the Otorohanaa County has bee;: confirmed as follows: Honikiwi 15-l6d, Mangaorongo ij, Te Rau-a-mca 1 l-Bd,

Waipa Id, Wharepapa 1 :.-'..Gc. r,, e hospital rate id 3-Sd over th<i whole county.