OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume 38, Issue 2271, 21 February 1929, Page 4

OTOROHANGA NEWS

KING COUNTRY NOTES.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

(Our Resident Reporter.)

Messrs Sparks and Blackman, of Te Kuiti, were visitors to Otorohanga yesterday, making final arrangements for the production of the opera "Rip Van Winkle" in the local theatre on Friday night. The Waikato - Maniapoto Native Land Board have advised the local Chamber of Commerce that the Town Board have now been authorised to employ men to clear the noxious weeds' within the boundaries Of the town. This work is now being done, and, as regards ragwort, is merely a foolish waste of time and money, as the plant has flowered and seeded. The blackberry has also ripened and seeded, and here again the work is futile at this late stage. The work of clearing should have been done before the blackberry bore fruit, and before the ragwort blossomed. United and determined action to prevent the above happenings is required from, say, about the end of November until January. The local water supply is rapidly diminishing in volume, and the Board has prohibited the use of all garden hoses, and is cutting off the water between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The extremely warm weather of the past week continues, the temperature during the past four days ranging from 70 to 83 degrees in the shade. The pastures are looking brown and very dry, and the milk yield of the herds throughout the whole district has been severely retarded. Heavy rain is wanted badly. The citizens of Otorohanga are petitioning the authorities with a view to obtaining the permanent services of a district nurse.

Mr Robert Sklenars, a popular settler of the Honikiwi district, was farewelled there on Tuesday evening by a large number of his fellow settlers. He was presented with a suit case as a token of remembrance. Mr Sklenars resumes farming activities in the Mangaorongo district. An erstwhile Honikiwi sheep farmer, Mr R. L. Harty, wa& successful in gaining second place in the threemile swimming contest for the Kellerman Cup at Wellington last week. Harty finished strongly just behind the winner and received an ovation from the spectators for his fine effort. The representative team from the Otorohanga Fire Brigade leave by express train this evening (Thursday) en route for the fire brigades' annual demonstrations at Hokitika.

The local Town Band, under their new conductor (Mr A. Newsome) played on the Te Kumi racecourse last Sunday, the occasion being the transport workers' picnic. At a social in the evening several speakers referred to the pleasing programme of music provided during the day by the band. At the local sheep fair yesterday there was a good yarding of all classes of sheep and a large attendance of district and outside buyers/ as well as representatives of the various freezing plants in Auckland and Taranaki. A splendid clearance was made under the hammer. The sheep were in tip top condition, although many lines advertised had bidi-bidi weed around their necks and limbs. Forward wethers brought up to 28s 9d, fat do up to 33s 6d, two' tooth wethers up to 25s 9d, s.m. ewes 255, 2 tooth ewes 33s 3d to 39s 6d, good average 4 and 5 year ewes 27s 3d to 31s, fair f.m. ewes 26s to 27s 3d, cull ewes lis 3d to 21s. Stud rams met a keen demand and were sold at average prices. An outstanding feature was the exceptionally keen demand for Romneys. , During the final negotiations with the native owners of the newly acquired island reserve at Otorohanga (as a sports ground), it was suggested to one Parikina (a local Native lady) by Mr F. O. R. Phillips, that the location be for ever known as Parikina Park. The lady sternly retorted "No, call it Tahai (Steal) Park."