Local.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 13 March 1914, Page 2

Local.

An account ot the proceedings of the last school committee meeting, held over from last week on account of pressure on , our spa.ee, appears in to-day’s issue. Particulars of Excursion trains in connection with Paeroa races on the 14th and 17tli insts., and Ngaruawahia Regatta on the 17th inst., appear in to-day’s advertising columns. Judging by the morning and evening processions of watercarriers the precious fluid is decidedly scarce in many households, the long continued drought having had the effect of causing a decided shortage in the supply.

Do not niiss the remnants at half price to be sold during the last few d a y s of Mr Fi Littlcproud’s Sale. Ladies, when you visit G. and C’s to-morrow have a look at the prints, cotton dress goods, millinery and underwear. Quite a number of members of the Territorial and Senior Cadet forces will appear before the Stipendiary Magistrate next Friday to answer the charge of failing to attend parades. The thrifty housewife’s attention is directed to Green and Colebrook’s annual cash sale which starts tomorrow. Reductions of from 15 to 50 per cent, rule in all departments except in groceries. The Maiden Plate of 45 sovereigns at Te Aroha Races was wen by Mr A. McKinnon’s Hemisphere. As the horse was regarded as an outsider, a big dividend rewarded his supporters. A general meeting of the members of the Huntly Branch of the N.Z. Political Reform League will be held in the King’s Hall on Monday next at 7 p.m. A full attendance is requested. After having been in force for the past ten years the restrictions which closed the Ngaruawahia - Waignaro road to motor traffic, were removed by the Raglan County Council at the meeting held on Thursday. Owing to a shortage of waggons both mines worked short time on Wednesday. At this period of the year when regattas, sports and other gatherings are so frequent, shortages of the kind are not exceptional. A Rod and Gun Club has been successfully started at Ngaruawahia with a membership of over 100, Messrs F. Littleproud, T. Moir and W. Spiers, of the Huntly Club, who attended the initial meetings, were cordially thanked for their valuable advice and assistance. The minor accidents at the mines during the week have again been almost negligible. In the Extended, Mr John Shandley sustained a sprained arm, and in Ralph’s, Mr Wm. McLennan, inflammation of the right hand. Mr Beetham, contractor for the erection of the public school at Waikokowai, though hampered by the difficulty of obtaining transport for the material required, is making highly satisfactory progress, with the result that the contract will be finished shortly. Mr Elliot will sell by public auction on Saturday, commencing at 2 p.m., a quantity of furniture and household effects, Rexophoues, potatoes, apples, fowls, ducks, pigs etc. (if forward in time) on the vacant allotments between the Post Office and the King’s Hall. The grounds committee in connection with the Sports put in a useful afternoon’s work on the track last Saturday. Mr C. Bailey had previously mowed the ground, the members of the committee going over it with lawn mowers, while others repaired the fences. When roiled the ground should be in capital order. Work in connection with the subway has been started in earnest, the preliminaries consisting of a barricade on the edge of the eastern footpath and the cutting down of the path on the west side of the Great South Road. The drain to carry off the surplus water from the lowest level of the cutting has been completed. A meeting of the executive of the Huntly Miners’ Union was held on Friday evening when the secre(Mr E. Mackay) reported that matters were proceeding quietly and without friction, while the membership was gradually increasing. Several tenders for carting the miners’ coal were received, that forwarded by Mr D. Suttie being accepted. It was decided to call the attention of the Mining Manager to the necessity for certain sanitary improvements. In our advertising columns the Mines Department notifies candidates that an examination for) Underviewers’, Firemen and 1 Deputies’ certificates (under the Coal Mines Act), will be held ati the Mines Court, Auckland Exihibition, on Friday, 27tli Marcth at 9 a.m. This examination iSs unique, in that candidates arts asked to attend in Auckland in order that the benefits of the Hailwood gas-testing apparatus may be fully demonstrated. A knowledge of gas-testing by means of the safety lamp will in future be compulsory as all examinations of the kind. In response to the request forwarded by the native residents of Waahi and Rakaumanga, one of the inspectors of Native Schools visited the district to enquire into the necessity or otherwise of re-opening the native school at the latter place. He conversed with several of the parties interested, and promised to return shortly in order to ascertain ho-w many pupils of school age might be expected to attend the school in the event of it being re-opened. A large native meeting will commence at 'Waahi on Saturday, 28th. inst., when it is anticipated that representatives of the various tribes located thoroughout the Dominion will be present. The attention of the meeting will be directed to the alleged grievances under which the natives labour with a view to the introduction of remedial measures anticipated by the personal presentation of these to King George and the Privy Council by “ Kingi ” Te Rata Mahuta and Tupu Taingakawa.

The hush fires that have been prevalent of late did considerable 1 damage to the mile or more of : seneing that separates Mr W. J. ; Ralph's Awaroa estate from Mr D. Petrie’s property, while the j sparks set fire to the grass round I the house on the Hu-liu estate. ! Fortunately, Mr J, B. Harris ; arrived on the scene in time to prevent the spread of flames to j the building. Members of the territorial forces I and the general public should note that a social will be tendered j on Wednesday night, to Sergt. Major Leech who, during his -residence here, has helped every movement tending to promote the social and general welfare of the community. Territorials, Sappers and Senior Cadets are j requested to attend in uniform.