LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3505, 14 August 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Te Awaimutu Chamber of Commerce meets this evening. The usual monthly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Te Awamutu fakes place to-morrow, when several interesting cases will came before Mr F. H. Leve'n, S.M. The extent of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board’s operat ons is indicated by the following figures: Total consumers, 9099; water heaters connected, 2539; milking motors, 2369; al’l farm motors, 3696; electric ranges, 751. Information handed to us for publicat on last issue to the effect that the Binnie Cup challengers for tomorrow’s Rugby match at Albert Park was Leamington Club proves incorrect. It is United Club, winners of the Cambridge Union championship, (hat will meet Suburbs, Waiptu champions. The Un'ted team defeated Leamington last Saturday by 16 points to 6, and is regarded as a very capable combination, likely to give Suburbs a great battle for the honours. Incidentally it may be added that Mr R. Callis will referee the contest. A couple of cyclists, wearing bright blue and gold jerseys, attracted some attention in Te Awamutu on Saturday iiajst. They were two youths from Trinity College, Auckland, venturing on a fivs-day ride to Well ngton, via New Plymouth. They had set out late on Friday afternoon, stopping for the night at Hamilton, and expecting to reach Pio Pio or even Mokan for Saturday n : ght, thence on to Wellington, where they are due to-day. The return journey is also to be made per cycle, travell ng to Wanganui, then via Raetihi, National Park, Taupo>, and Putaruru. An announcement that the prev ous day at Wellington the Rural Intermediate Credit Board had decided to reduce its rate of interest on loans on live stock and chattels to 5 per cent was made by Mr J. N. Massey, M'.P. for Franklin, at a public meeting at Patumahoe on Saturday evening. Mr Massey, who is a member of the Board, predicted that within a short time rates of interest generally in New Zealand would be lower than ever before in the history of the country. Interest, he said, was one of the major items in the cost of production, and it had to come down in the endeavour to bring costs within the present level of returns.

The Te Awamutu Drama Club’s next rendering will be he'.id on Thursday evening, when the popular Milne play. “Michael and Mary,” will be presented. Those who saw the picture some t l.ne a,go will, no doubt, w.sh to see again, and we feel sure will be very satisfied with the Club’s choice. The following handicaps have been declared for a cycle road race tomorrow afternoon, approximately 7 a miles, under the auspices of Te Awamutu Amateur Cycle Club: J. Robertson scratch, K. W,alker 25 secs., W. Dalziel and W- Allen 50 secs., J. Rainey 2 min. 25 secs., Robertson, Jnr., R. Hardleigh, G. Lee, and G. Allen 2 mins. 50 secs., Quinn 3 mins. '2O secs. Although beateft by 25 po:nts to 11 by Australia in the first Rugby Test ■match for (he Bledisloe Cup, the New Zealand team gave a fine exhibition of bright football, according to the messages from* Sydney. Never once during the game did they play for safety when there wias a reasonable opportunity of keeping the game fast and* open. Time and aga n, part'culnrly during the first spell, risks were taken w r hich resulted in sparkling movements drawing warm admiration from a crowd approaching 40,000. /Wjord was received in Te Awamutu yesterday to the effect that at about 4 a.m, fire totally destroyed business promises at Kawhia, owned and occupied by Mrs Jones, draper. It appears that the owner awakened to find the living rooms filled with dense smoke and the shop portion ablaze. The alarm was given, but as there are no fire-fighting appliances in the township nothing could be done to save the building. However, a bucket brigade was quickly formed to save the adjoining hall and Mr Oldbury’s private hotel and store just across the street. Insurance covers on the property destroyed are not yet available.

The Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Finance, has announced that it has now been decided that premi ulnrs credited on the conversion of Government stock represent an accretion of capital, and are not assessable for income tax or unemployment tax, except in cases of taxpayers whose business or part of whose business is to deal in securities. “ A large number of investors and taxpayers is affected by this decision, which will, I know, meet with general approval,” sajys Mr Coates. In its review of roading improvements contemplated in the South Auckland d'stricts, with particular reference to the Great South Road, the Herald remarks that negotiations are proceeding between the Main Highways Board and the Waipa County Council in connection with the reconstruction and permanent surfacing of the main route frc,m Ngaruawahia to Kihikihi, about 32 miles. The Ngaruawahia'-Hamilton portion, about 11 i miles, presents an uneven surface, badjy pot-holed and corrugated in places. Even a slow-mov-ing vehicle raised clouds: of dust at the week-end, making driving unpleasant. This section has long been complained of by motorists and it is hoped that arrangements for permanent surfacing will be speedily finalised.