NAPIER’S REPAIRS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 87, 7 January 1935, Page 2

NAPIER’S REPAIRS

Cost of Rebuilding

FIGURES SINCE QUAKE

Dominion Special Service. Napier, January 5. Since the earthquake of February. 1931, a sum of £l,llB 554 has been expended on reconstruction works in Napier, irrespective of something like £120,000 spent upon repairs to houses through the Napier Relief Committee and the Public .Works Department. It :.s estimated that a sum in excess of £lOO,OOO has been expended on the restoration of damaged wool stores, and the provision of extra facilities to accommodate the increased produce which Hawke's Bay has shipped overseas since 1932. The building returns for the borough of Napier for December showed that work to the value of £9251 had been put in hand, this bringing the total for the year to £97.628. December's figures included £1350 on the erection of two dwellings and £7400 for the construction of a wool store at the port for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.. Ltd. Alterations to houses and business premises are estimated to cq»‘ £5Ol. ’ BUTTERFAT PAY-OUT Items From Levin Levin, January 5. That the expected seasonal fall in price of New Zealand butter has not eventuated to any appreciable extent, is reflected in the monthly advance pny-out of the Levin Dairy Company. At the meeting of its directors a pay-out of 74d. per lb. was decided upon. Although this is the same as the previous month, it is 14d. per lb. in advance of the pay-out for December, 1933. In 1933 the December pay-out (6d.) was 2d. below that of November, This makes the present payout doubly encouraging, since prices have risen when a dron would reasonably be expected, since the stocks are comparatively high. Swimming Club. Since the commencement of the, season the Levin Swimming Club has been very active. Keen interest is displayed by members who participate in the practice races which are held every Friday evening. Much promise is shown by younger swimmers, and hopes are held that at least one ccytre championship will be gained for i,.: club. A team of approximately 16 swimmers will participate in tiie Feilding carnival on January 19, while later in the season Levin will be similarly represented at Dannevirkc and Palmerston. North. Gladioli Displays. In accordance with the decision of the Levin Horticultural Society some time ago to exhibit gladioli at the appropriate season, colourful displays in the various shop windows may shortly be expected, since these bulbs are now blooming freely. Girls’ Long Ride. Four Nelson girls, who left Auckland on Christmas Day. and who have cycled 556 miles, arrived in Levin last evening. They expect to return to their homes on Monday. FARM TRAINING Howard Estate Report Waipukurau, January 5. The annual report of the trustees of the Howard Estate AdvisoryBoard has been issued. Many years ago the late Josiah Howard, of “Smedley,” Tikokino, bequeathed to the King his 7700 acres sheep farm, which is situated toward the Ruahine mountains in Central Hawke’s Bay. For some years the farm was handled by the Public Trustee. Later an advisory board, of which the District Public Trustee of Napier is the chairman, was set up. Each year a certain number of eadets are admitted to “Smedley,” where they undergo training in sheep-farming. These cadets are kept at “Smedley” for two years, being paid for their services.

Since 1931 7000 shelter trees have been planted. Sixteen miles ' of subdivision fences have been erected, and 379 acres have been ploughed and laid down in permanent pastures. One thousand acres of manuka have been cut and 150 acres of gorse grubbed and ploughed in. Excellent quarters have been provided for the manager, staff and cadets. The following seven youths have been granted cadetships for 1935-1936: W. H. Amner (Napier), A. 11. Scott (Eskdnle), P. Crompton Smith (Havelock North), R. McLennan (Hastings). A. I. Macintosh (Putorino), ' R. D. Fairbrother (Ormondville), V. J. Mildon (Norsewood).