LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4363, 9 January 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The picture, “The Devil’s Passkey,” screened on Friday night at the Central Theatre, was a fine piece of characterisation, and very spectacular. The photo work was much above the average, and the acting distinctly good.

Messrs Bernard Stansfield and Co. are now well settled in their new (lately occupied by the Paeroa Engineering co., Ltd.), and the public are cordially invited to inspect the numerous articles for sale. Regular auction sales are held every Friday afternoon, starting at two o’clock.

“Your town evidently offers great attractions for honeymoon couples,” remarked a Christchurch visitor to a Wanganui Herald reporter. He then went on to add that he had spent holidays in a large number of towns in New Zealand, and never had he seen so many newly-married couples as in Wanganui at present. “Why, th J train I arrived in was ifujl of them,” he added. “And how do you manage to pick them 1 ?” queried the reporter. “I have been through the mill myself,” replied the visitor, “and it is not a very difficult matter to pick a young couple just married. Why, their new attire alone gives the show away, and if that is not sufficient just watch them strolling round in a sheepish manner any morning.”

The name of Ngarua Landing now ceases to exist, and it is now called Kaihere Landing. The object of the change in name is because there had been much confusion and inconvenience caused by parcels intended for a place called Ngarua on the Waitoa River being delivered to Ngarua Landing. Little confusion should result now the name has been altered, but if a townhsip or settlement springs up : at the Kaihere landing (several miles from Kaihere), what will be the name of the new township ?

Only four miles from Paeroa is the wild and rugged beauty of the Wai-, tawheta gorge, the mouth- being at Karangahake, where the old Crown mine batteries are situated. Here the Waitawheta stream, from which- the gorge takes its name, flows down a bed of rocks and boulders, the gaunt precipices rising sheer for hundreds of feet, looking majestic in their stern solidity and steepness. The lovely native ferns and shrubbery luxuriating at the water’s edge and all up the hillsides between the massive faces of rock make admirable contrasts. The extensive buildings of the old mine, the tunnels and shafts, the ponderous machinery, and the great water conduits bear witness to the romance off mining and the greatness of human endeavour. Nature and man combined have made Waitawheta gorge an interesting place indeed. The stream is of pure mountain water, and. men, women, and children take advantage of the pools for bathing. There is n’6 other spot within such a short distance of Paeroa that is so attractive for a day’s outi ing, and it would doubtless be frequented much more by picnic parties if its existence were better known.

While the new Bucyrus and walking dipper dredges are making rapid progress on the Awaiti Block the construction of concrete flood-gates is to be commenced. This work will begin to-day. The other Bucyrus dredge at Ngarua (now Kaihere Landing) and the Rbod machine at Kerepeehi are rapidly nearing completion.