DISTRICT NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 10

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAITERIMU—MATAHURU. i Ratepayers’. Association. The Ratepayers’ Association held a meeting in the district hall, at which , the settlers experienced keen disappointment with the council’s action in delaying the construction of the bridge over the Matahuru River, the channel of which at the ford becomes worse and more dangerous to cross with each succeeding flood, more than ! one car having been caught in a hole. Strong objection was also voiced to the interference with the clock this last and previous summer. The meeting also desired to draw attention to the state of the Lake Road on the eastern side of Lake Wai Rare, leading to the farms and properties of Messrs J. Waugh, Harvey, J. Muir and Fyers. At some remote period this road was laid out and though rough, was passable, but now the action of the lake-waters has in some places washed the sand away. Some members brought forward a motion with regard to the sharp bends on the road from Ohinewai to Matahuru, pointing out that the narrowness of the road and the sharpness of tho bends, with poor or no visibility, have on several occasions nearly caused accidents. Coal. There is a report going about that a seam of coal has been found on .one of the settler’s farms in Waiterimu. Football. The Waiterimu Football Club has joined up with the Taupiri Union, and will probably enter a team in the seven-a-side tournament to be held on Saturday. The team for the seven-a-side tournament is: W. Robson, J. Spencer, C. Hill, Buckridge, W. Lowry, L. Keir, Poynton; emergencies, R. Grundy, E. Cowan.

NGARUAWAHIA. Obstetrical Appeal. , The obstetrical appeal is beginning to claim the sympathy of many people in this district. At a meeting convened by the Mayor to discuss means and ways of raising funds locally there was a good attendance. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr W. Patterson, Deputy-Mayor, presided, and explained the situation. Dr. Isdale and Dr. Martin were also present, and gave their views on the subject. It was Anally decided to make a collection from house to house. The borough was divided into areas, and collectors for each area were appointed. Pukemiro and Glen Massey were also included. The collectors appointed were Mesdamcs Hail, T. Paterson, Hunter, Payne, Crothers, Birkett, Martin, Clarke, Sampson, Joy, and Messrs Eyre and Warburton. The lowd clerk was appointed treasurer,, to whom all collections will be for- i .warded. .... 1

PIRONGIA. I

Welcome Rain. Splendid rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning broke the dry spell on Tuesday, and continued at intervals throughout Wednesday. The weather is w’arm, and a noticeable movement in the growth of the grass is apparent. ministerial Visit. The ideas of the Hon. Mr Atmore, who visited the local school on Monday morning, coincide with those of the people of Pirongia to a remarkable degree on the question of Junior High Schools. Without exception, the recommendations put forward by the committee concerning the value of a country venue in preference to that of a town, and a strong agricultural bias in the curriculum of the school, were endorsed by the Minister. A Neglected Bridge. The bridge known as the Waipa Bridge at Pirongia is fast falling into disrepair, as very little has been done to stay the ravages of time and water to the rimu decking. There appears to be a division of responsibility between the Raglan (whose exclusive territory the bridge serves) and Waipa County Councils. The settlers concerned feel that the original allocation made when the bridge was erected 17 years ago, when a third county (Waitomo) was concerned, should be adjusted on a fifty-fifty basis, so that the work of repair may be put in hand without delay, as the heavy underdecking is rapidly deteriorating. Breaking-in Costs. The heavy cost of breaking-in the weed-infested absentee land here, in comparison to the cost of reclaiming fern country free from weeds, was emphasised by a settler here recently. He declared that if the absentee lands of Pirongia were given away with a pound of tea, they would still be too dear, when the cost of definitely clearing the land of weeds was' taken into account. To look at some of this neglected land one would think that all one required to clear it was a match, as is the case on heavy fern country, but a fire on this land simply discloses a mass of roots and stumps which must be grubbed before the land can be cultivated at a cost the equivalent of which would be sufficient to meet the whole cost of laying down to grass virgin fern land. Cultivation, says this settler, brings forth a wonderful variety of weeds every time the land is disturbed, and if a careful estimate of the cost of clearing the land is made by anyone interested it will be at least five times that of the clean fern country, or £25 per acre. Aeroplanes. Pirongia appears to be right in or under the main trunk airway. During the past week or two there have been an unusual number of planes passing—so much so that most of us | have ceased to gaze open-mouthed l whenever the unmistakcable drone, reaches our ears- 1

School Affairs. Monday next promises to be unusually interesting regarding the annual householders’ meeting. This is likely to be the case throughout the whole Te Awamutu district. So far as Pirongia is concerned, householders here have every reason to feel proud of their attitude regarding a proposed Junior High School in this district. Altogether two meetings were convened by the chairman of the School Committee, and after a full, free, and open discussion on the possibilities of a Junior High School, on the lines of Kowhai or Matamata, Pirongia on both occasions turned the proposal down for the reason that, in the absence of a proper agricultural bias in the curriculum at present in use in Junior High Schools, it was not necessary to have a Junior High School to secure for our children what was already available in our local primary and District High School. The difficulty of transport was an additional reason.