LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4368, 20 January 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Paeroa-Ngatea mail car had the misfotune to break an.axle near Netherton yesterday on its afternoon run to Ngatea. Another of Mr Regard’s cars, however, was handy, and the mail arrived in each centre about the usual time.

Out of sixteen applicants, Mr W H. Taylor of Paeroa was appointed last night by the Borough Council .o the position of clerk of works in connection with the sewerage installation. It is satisfactory to note that a trustworthy local man is the success ful one.

Applications for the erection pf five shops were granted by the Paeroa Borough Council last night, as described in the building committee’s monthly statement, published elsewhere in this issue.

Applicants desiring the Paeroa Borough Council to remit the 10 per cent, penalty on overdue rates have been advised that this penalty is equivalent to a rate, and that the Council has no power to remit the extra charge, any more than it can remit the rate itself.

An artificial waterspout off rather pretty appearance was to be seen a few days ago in the Waihi gorge, just beyond Karangahake, where a hole has appeared in one of the great water conduits. The water spouts up to a height of ten or twelve feet in, a column of about two inches in diameter. At the apex the stream of water opens out, falling gracefully and resembling white plumes. Where the volume descends on the rocks Delow it is partly dashed into spray and spume, through which and the falling cascade the sun strikes rainbow hues.

Great interest was shown at Ngatea on Wednesday evening, when the results of the day’s voting on the Hauraki Plains County Council’s loan pro-\ posals were being gathered from th# various booths. A crowd of interested ones gathered round the post office, where the returning officer, Mr BWalton, was endeavouring to get Into communication with his deputies. The proceedings eventually reached a stage when no more returns were available, and with Netherton, Patetonga, Tahuna, .and Thames figures yet to be added, there was a majority df five for the proposals, and the interested ones were forced to retire still conjecturing as to the result. It was nearly mid-day yesterday before the last return (Tahtina) had reached the returning officer, and after the loan at one stage appeared likely to be carried all hopes were dashed to the ground when the final results were announced. There are still a few, however, who are clinging to the forlorn hope Chat the official count may reverse the decision.