OTOROHANGA NOTES

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2179, 5 July 1928, Page 4

OTOROHANGA NOTES

ITEMS OF INTEREST. .•> (Own Correspondent). The Loyal Otorohanga Lodge, Manchester Unity, 1.0.0. F., is now making progressive strides since its recent reopening. A dance will be held this month to celebrate the reopening of the Lodge. The membership has increased to 40, and the lodge is fortunate in its musical talent, which includes an orchestra. A strong social committee is showing considerable activity in the interests of the institution. Although many members reside in the country districts it is to their credit that there have been no absentees from the offices since the opening night. Bro. E. Rhodes is in charge of the social executive. The children of the Otorohanga school were v given a matinee in the Picture Theatre yesterday afternoon (Wednesday), when the picture "The Campus Flirt," was screened. The children were again admitted free at the evening session, when there was a crowded house. The Town Board gave the theatre free of charge, and the net receipts will be devoted to the school funds. A printer's error in our last issue { made it appear that J. L. Black went rounrL the Otorohanga golf links in 124 —this should have read 34, which is considered a wonderful score. That the pastures of the King Country can promote splendid returns from dairying activities, is evidenced by the fact of an Otorohanga herd of 110 cows, having (under test) produced an average of 361.841bs of butterfat for 276 days of their lactation period. The herd under review is that of Mr P. H. Rowe ("Jersey Crest"), and the results were reached after an adverse summer for dairying. The herd included no less than 20 2-year-old heifers. The best twenty annuals averaged,, 406.141bs of fat, and the three highest 4921b5, 4901bs and 4811bs respectively. It is considered that these three, cows will each produce well over 5001bs of fat before they are dried off this term. A two-year-old Jersey heifer at "Jersey Crest" has already produced 399.271bs of fat in 203 days. This fine animal is still being milked regularly. The animals have been depastured on grass alone, and it is only quite recently that their menu has been varied with the addition of soft turnips. ' The funeral, at Auckland, of the late Mrs Henry Benner, was very largely attended by King Country friends. As showing the resuect in which the deceased lady was held by all who knew her, no less than 150 telegrams of sympathy were received by Mr Benner. The Otorohanga County Council have now accepted the offer of £2,000 in settlement of • rates on Native Lands,, up to 1930, and the sum of £230 on account of charging orders. The natives—not the State are finding the whole of this money. The clerk of the Native Consolidation Committee, Mr P. H. Jones, waited upon the Council and referred to the consolidated scheme of settlements which had been so successful on the East Coast, where natives had made good at farming. Mr Jones is trying to' organise a' similar scheme in the King Country, which it was hoped would solve the problem. The question of whether the natives would pay rates in 1931-32 had been answered in the affirmative by others, but in the King Country especially, he saw- many difficulties ahead, owing to the old valuations in most countries.

I regret to report the death, at the Thames Hospital on Tuesday, after a long illness, of Mrs Williams, mother of Mrs H. W. Smith of Otorohanga. A large number of town and country district people visited the Tokanui Mental Hospital, for the monthly staff dance, at that institution. Themusic for the function was supplier by the orchestra, and_ one and all snent an enjoyable outing. Musical people of Otorohanga greatly regret the departure, for Dunedin, of Mr E. J. T. Moeller, who was the able conductor for the Otorohanga Amateur Operatic Society. At the poll of ratepayers on the proposed loan of £6OO in the Waipa River road special rating area, the results proved that all ratepayers voted for the loan. The County Council has struck a rate of Id in the £ over a repayment period of 15 years. The Otorohanga Town Board are asking the County Council to contribut £3 for each £2 paid by the Town Board towards the cost of the upkeep of the local cemetery. The holder of a £750 remaining debenture on the Otorohanga Municipal Hall loan of £2.250 has written the Town Board asking for an expression of their intentions as to renewal. It has been decided to renew for a further term of-5 years. The Education Board have appointed Miss E. Tierney as an additional grade assistant at the Otorohanga High School. The headmaster reports that the present roll number is: Primary 328, and secondary 31, with an average attendance of 253 and 29.4 respectively. The school committee have decided to make amplication for the establishment of a Manual Training centre at Otorohanga. Miss Kerr has been appointed as Commercial instructress at the High School.