LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4377, 13 February 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Parker and Marks held another successful clearing sale on Saturday last at Station Road, Paeroa. Cattle and farm implements sold at good prices, and household effects sold very well, and brought tip-top prices. Watch their notices for future sales. Mr R. Whitten has decided to hold a clearance sale, at an early date, of the whole of the oonteri'.r. of his shop and yard; also pig-sties, workshop (16 x 12), and sheds. Particulars will appear in our next issue.* Though the entries for the Hauraki Plains Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Show, which is to be held next Saturday, are not as large as the, previous year, they are very cred* itable indeed. There are 267 and 195 entries in the horse and cattle sections, respective)y, making a total of 462 for live stock, as against 595 last year. The horticultural and industrial section has attracted 252 entries, as aghinst 266 last year. A telegram regarding the absence of any provision in the Public Works Estimates for the Pokeno-Paeroa railway line was sent to Mr H. Poland, M.P., on Thursday last by the chairman of the Auckland Railways and Development League, Mr P. E. Cheal. Mr Poland is asked to make an ini quiry regarding this omission. It is pointed out that this line, If constructed, would provide economical transit between Auckland apd the Hauraki Plains, Paeroa,, Thames, , Waihi, and Tauranga. .

One of the many difficulties oE farmers on peat land is the subsidence of the ground. Drains have to be* continually .widened as the peat closes in, and in a comparatively short/ space of time the drain is only Half its original width. If nothing is done to the /drains they would in time close up altogether. An instance of this is' at Kaihere, where a .drain which was four feet wide 18 months ago is now' only two and a half fieet across. Another drain in softer peat land, dug only 12 months ago, when it was five feet wide, is now reduced in wiffih to two and a half feet. With the object of clearing stocks Messrs Isaac Brown and Co., cyc'.e merchants, Thames, are offering 54 bicycles at unprecedentedly low figures. A p'erusal of the firm’s replace advertisement will interest all cycl-j ists. A good yield of turnips is seen in the Netherton district on Mr T. Vowles’ property. From two .acres of Devonshire Greystone turnips, Mr Vowles lias taken a ton a day for a month, and there is still over an acre left. S'ome of the roots have attained fair proportions, the largest being 26 inches in circumference. The two acres of turnips were planted in October last with 4cwt of manure. “The general public would undoub'.edly welcome an investigation by an impartial body of experts in regard to the probably effects of the present scheme of operations." The foregoing is an extract from a leading article wlych appeared in the “Gazette” on Monday, February 6, in reference to the Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers works Since that date the report of the Rivers Commission has been made public, and the view on February 6 has been confirmed by the discussion ini Parliament and articles in the city K dailies, with especial reference to the estimated total cost, £625,000. It looks as though the Public Works Department’s scheme is go.ng to have a rough passage before the voyage is over.