OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1783, 17 July 1926, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

ITEMS FROM KING COUNTRY. (Own Correspondent.) The,continuance of the rough wea■the.r has not decreased the number of influenza cases here, and several wellknown residents are confined to their beds with the malady. Mr W. Black, who has had to lie up, is reported to be progressing towards recovery, and hopes are entertained that he will be able to return to business in a day or two. There was no auction sale at the mart yesterday owing to the fact that Mr R. R. Morton had to "down tools " and take to his bed. There is no doubt that the experience of the 1918 epidemic year is being borne in mind, and people, the men especially, are to-day inclined to take as great care aa possible of themselves at the slightest sign of influenza. At the fortnightly stock sales here to-day there was not a very large entry, or was the bidding brisk. The prices realised were not up to expectations;! and on the whole tne sale was unsatisfactory.

Heavy showers of rain, accompanied by thunder .and lightning, have been tine .weather paogramme here for the past twenty-four hours, the temperature being, however, comparatively warm; thua there should be an impetus to the growth of grass. Complaints are made of what appear to be wholesale petty thefts from motor cars and other vehicles on the occasion of the Power Board dance. There were many cars, etc., parked around the hall, and their owners lost, not only bottlete of liquid refreshment, but also electric lamps and motor car accessories. Owners of cars should be more careful, of their property, and have some locked-box arrangement in which to secure their tools and accessories. They should also see that their cars are not made common use of by guests at a dance as " sitting-out" quarters. It was quite interesting the other night to hear, when passing a long line of vehicles, sounds of osculation and sweet nothings emanating from the supposed empty cars.

For the information of several residents who have made inquiries of me I may state that section 135, part 5, of the Otorohanga local by-laws readsas follows: "No person shall keep, or suffer to remain, any swine or goats within the township, without first having obtained permission of the Board so to do. 1 ' Ido not know of any pigs being kept within the town area, but there may be a goat or two, and these are for the purpose of keeping down the growth of blackberry on certain sections of land, and ar e doubtless very brobably allowed by silent consent of the Town Board. At the Power Board staff dance in the Town Hall on Monday evening it may be said that everything went off with great brilliance. The hall was tastefully decorated with palms, etc., and the lighting scheme was far beyond anything of the kind that has ever been seen in this district. In this connection two much praise cannot be given to the band of enthusiastic men who devoted so much time to it. The floor had been Ispecially treated, and 'proved in splendid condition for dancing The attendance was beyond expectation, no less than 248 paying for admission, so that the door returns mulst have meant close on £9O. The supper catered for by Mrs G. Jeffs gave every satisfaction. The dance music, which was provided by Swift's (Te Kuiti) orchestra, was all that could be desired and so dancing was enjoyed under the best of conditions. The many pretty costumes worn by the ladies, together with the clever manipulation of the coloured floodlights, made the dance, as before remarked, a most brilliant one. Many v&itors attended from Te Awamutu andl Te Kuiti. ; The Tui Ladies' Hockey Club intends having a dance at the Town Hall in order to finance the expenses of the season. It must be remembered that whilst keeping up the reputation of the 'town as a hockey centre the club has always paid its own travelling expenses in connection with outside matches There were four members of the Tui club in the Waipa representative team which travelled to Auckland, and the club had to find the railway fares, which amounted to some £6 This sum was lent to the club bv an enthusiastic lady admirer, and of course has to be repaid. Hence one of the reasons for the inauguration of the dance, which it is thought will be loyally supported! by the sportsmen of the town and district. A live committee has been appointed, and all arrangements for the dance will be made with a view of making th e - gathering one of the successes of our winter entertainments. •The Huntly Ladies' 'Hockey Club having intimated its willingness to send a team on a week-end visit'to Otorohanga to play the Tui team, arrangements are being made for the match. The date will probably be fixed for the end of August, and the visitors will be entertained at a social on the Saturday night, and will also be entertained at private houses during the Sunday. ( The status of the Otorohanga railway station is, I understand, to be raised in grade, and therefore there is likely to bp an increase in staff, and more railway cottages will probably be erected. Perhaps, too. we will get a stove put in the waiting room, and also see the electric light installed.