LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3190, 14 June 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The local Chamber of Comtmerce meets this evening.

The finance committee of the Waipa County Council held a lengthy meeting yesterday.

The quarterly meeting of the Te Awamutu Fire Board is to be held next Thursday evening. At the monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council the Otorohanga and .Kawhia County Councils and the Te Kuiti Borough Council notified their objection to co-operate in the proposal to employ a group traffic inspector on the main highway.

,A recommendation that all expenditure in connection with the Municipal Band must be approved by the Bandmaster, (Mr R. H. Close, was presented to the Borough Council last evening. This was agreed to, and the Bandmaster is answerable only to the Borough Council.

To a question at the Borough Council meeting last evening, the town clerk remarked that the new year's rates are coming in very satisfactorily, and he anticipated that by the end of this month very many ratepayers would avail themselves of the opportunity to secure the 5 per cent discount fior prompt payment.

At a meeting of the newly appointed committee of the Taumarunui branch of the N.Z. Returned Soldiers' Association last week, the question of the formation of a King Country Land Board was discussed and the opinion was expressed that it would be of inestimable benefit to the King Country and that the local branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association should use its endeavours to bring about the formation of a King Country Land Board.

The practice of people buying carcases from freezing woi-ks and then cutting them up and seuling the joints to friends or hawking the pieces round the neighbourhood has developed to such an extent that it is making seriour inroads into the trade of master butchers over the counter (some of them told a Christchurch reporter). They regarded it as unfair competition, and expressed satisfaction that a new by-law governing the sale of meat in the city would eliminate such sales s

Evidence that there is an active demand for the right clas of farm land at reasonable prices was supplied by a Hamilton land agent. Particulars were furnished of seven recent sales of properties within 20 miles of the town of Hamilton. The following were mentioned: 85 acres at £39 an acre. 150 acres at £36 an acre, 112 acres at £33 an acre, and 246 acres at £25 an acre. All these changed hands as going concerns. Other sales included 340 acres at £ls an acre, 165 acres at £ls an acre, and 129 acres at £24 an acre.

One way in which costs could be reduced was by tackling local body closts (remarked Mr H. E. Blythe, president of the North Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union at a recent conference). .It was imperative, he said, that New Zealand should investigate the position at once. There were in New Zealand nearly 700 local bodies, or one for every 2130 of the population. That multiplicity of separate authorities led to unnecessary duplication of staff, function, and plant, and encouraged inefficiency and unnecessary expense. Although he was not a believer in centralisation if it was carried too far he thought there was a strong case for the absorption of some of the smaller local authorities.

" I venture to say that vast areas of land in the Waikato Valley from the sea coast to Lake Taupo will, when impi-oved, easily support a cow to three acres. With the cow can be run two or three lambs, which may be bought for a few shillings, and will grow into good mutton. On the remaining two acres a man can, if he will, grow nearly all the food necessary for himself and his family, and a small crop of onions, carrots, parsnips, etc., etc., for sale. He can also keep poultry with great advantage. These resources, which the settler will hold independently of any employer;, together with such casual wages as may be available, should enable him to live quite comfortably." —Mr E. Earle Vail e (Rotorua).

There was seen at Advance Cars, Ltd., the other day a new "pleasure" for motorists —a tyre which " offers every prospect of a change in tyre service which is quite revolutionary. The experimental model—for as yet only these models are available — showed the full wheel assembled. Of the complete diameter only about onethird is of solid wheel, the other twothirds 'being pneumatic. It is quite the most revolutionary change that has come'in motoring service for some time. The tyres are fully inflated with an air pressure of! only ten pounds, and the effect will be to do away with all road shocks. It is stated that supplies will be made available for the motorists of this district immediately marketable quantities are delivered in New Zealand.

An application by G. H. Wood for a taxi license was granted at the Borough Council meeting last evening.

It was reported to the Borough Council last evening that the library fund is now in credit to the extent of £1132. It was decided to invest this money for three months.

A number of members of the Te Awamutu Orphans' Club journeyed to Cambridge last Saturday evening fay the opening social of the Cambridge Club's 1932 session.

A minor stabbing affray caused momentary excitement in Te Awamutu the other day, a youth in a hasty moment attacking another youth with the spiked- end of a file. The affair is to engage the attention of the Court here to-morrow.

Chimneys in at least four residences in different parts of the borough have caught fire within the past few days. In two instances a telephone call was sent to the fire brigade station, and a turn-out of the brigade resulted, the outbreaks being easily controlled.

Included in the Waikato rep. hockey team to play Auckland reps, for the New Zealand Shield shortly are three Waipa players: Bert and Len Spiers and Geo. Finch, all of the Paterangi Club. G. H. Wood, of Te Awamutu, is one of the reserves.

The proposal to erect a new traffic bridge across the Waikato River at Whitiora will be considered at a conference between'the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Finance and representatives of the local bodies concerned in Wellington on Wednesday.

The Te Awamutu Fire Brigade held another of their popular socials last Saturday evening in the brigade's social room, and a very pleasant time was spent dancing to excellent music contributed by Miss Gerrand, with an extra contributed by Mr A. Morris. The duties of M.C. were capably carried out by Superintendent B. F. Morris. >

The Membership Shield recently won by the Loyal Te Awamutu Lodge of Oddfellows in competition with all lodges in the Auckland Province is at present on view in Mr G. Gifford's shop window, and has attracted a considerable amount of attention. The local Lodge members are deservedly proud of the distinction gained, for it betokens a real live interest in Oddfellowship.

Convicted on a charge of inciting lawlessness on 14th April, the night of the Auckland riot, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Couirt at Auckland yesterday, James Henry Edwards, a canvasser, aged 40 years, lodged an appeal on the ground that the decision was against the weight of evidence. After argument whether Edwards was,, in the circumstances, entitled to bail, he was allowed his freedom until the appeal has been determined in the Supreme Court. Evidence on a second charge of taking part in a riot was also heard yesterday, and, on his plea of not guilty, Edwards was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

A suggestion for Uhe suppression of rabbits made at last meeting of the Wanganui Rabbit Board was that a charge should be made on the farmer for every rabbit caught by the rabbiters in the employ oj3 the Board. Cfl the farmers knew that every rabbit caught would cost ten shillings or so tney would soon watch the veMmin and keep them down to a minimum, said a speaker, who advocated a rate in the first place to provide the nucleus of a working fund for the Rabbit Board. The rest of the money would be collected from the farmers on whose property there might be caught any of the vermin. It was pointed out that the Board was carrying out a policy laid down by an original meeting of ratepayers, so that the suggestion was not discussed further.

The half-yearly installation ceremony of the Loyal Te Awamutu Lodge, M.U.. 1.0.0. F., was held on Monday evening there being a good attendance of members. The installing officer was P.G. Bro. White, of Hamilton, and there were visitors from Hamilton, Otorohanga, and Kereone. Bro. Eric Storey was installed as N.G., and other offices filled were: V.G., Bro. Chas. Kite;, elective secretary, Bro. C. Bridge; and 1.F.N.G.,, Bro. E. Findsen. A Past Grand collar was presented to Bro. Jas. Fleming/he having completed his offices, and he was congratulated upon this attainment. After the ceremonial business had been completed, a social ensued, with dancing to excellent music provided by Bro. J. P. Maguire, with extras supplied by Miss Roach and Mr J. Dalton. A Monte Carlo competition was won by Mrs Findsen and partner. Supper was served by the social committee.

The death occurred rather suddenly early on Monday morning of Mrs Isabella Smith, relict of the late James Smith, of Paterangi. Mrs Smith had been living for some time in Te Awamutu, and though she was not in robust health her demise was unexpected. She came with her husband and young family from Scotland about thirty years ago, residing in and near New Plymouth for about ten years, and then came to the Waikato, first settling at Hamilton, and a little later coming to Paterangi, where Mr Smith carried on farming operations for a number of years. Mrs Smith was highly respectedj for her many excellent qualities. She leaves a grownup family to mourn, including Mrs G. Macmillan (Auckland), Mrs G. Sadd (Wellington), Mrs B. Johnson (Ngutunui), Mrs Scott Macky (Paterangi), Miss A. B. Smith (Dunedin), and Messrs Ralph (Kio Kio). Sidney (Paterangi). and Keith (Australia). The interment takes place to-morrow morning at the Paterangi Cemetery.